Is the Islamic religion a religion of defense or of aggression?

The questioner : Is the Islamic religion a religion of defense or of aggression?

The Shaykh : What does aggression mean? The Islamic religion, Allah the Exalted said in it: This is the striking. Therefore, Islam accepts from non-Muslims that they remain on their religion by paying the jizyah (the tax on protected non-Muslims), and this means that the Islamic religion is the highest and the manifest.

The questioner : Their borders are not respected; for example, the borders of states are not respected.

The Shaykh : No, they are respected between us and them; we have treaties with them, some of which are specific covenants and some are general covenants. Then, the Muslims today, with great regret, do they have the capability for jihad? Yes, I say no, they do not have the capability for jihad. First, the Muslims themselves are divided, and perhaps some of them would like to fight some of the others; that is one thing. Second, they do not have material strength to face the disbelievers. Therefore, we do not say that jihad is obligatory upon the Muslims today because they are unable to do it. And Allah did not command His Prophet while he was in Makkah to fight the polytheists due to the lack of capability. Rather, He commanded him to fight when he migrated to al-Madinah and he had a state. He commanded jihad. Yes, what?

The questioner : If it were obligatory, meaning we would attack this state.

The Shaykh : Yes, if we had strength, we would attack them in their cities and their capitals, and we ask Allah to bring about that day.