Is defending the homeland considered fighting in the path of Allah?

Question : Is what is called defending the homeland jihad in the path of Allah, especially if the homeland is Islamic?

Answer : Yes, defending the homeland is divided into two categories. Defending the homeland simply because it is one's homeland is not in the cause of Allah; this is not in the cause of Allah. In this case, the disbeliever and the believer are equal, for even the disbeliever defends his homeland, as we hear in the words exchanged among disbelievers: they are defending their homelands. However, if one defends the homeland because it is an Islamic homeland, then his defense is jihad in the cause of Allah. Why? Because he is fighting in defense of Islam and out of fear that a disbeliever or one of the disbelievers will seize control of the country and change its methodology. So, if he fights in defense of the homeland from this angle, that is, in order to preserve Islam, which is the religion of his homeland, he becomes a mujahid in the cause of Allah. This is the standard. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about a man who fights out of tribal loyalty, fights out of bravery, and fights to be seen in a prominent position: which of these is in the cause of Allah? He said: "Whoever fights so that the word of Allah is the highest is in the cause of Allah." So that the word of Allah is the highest, not for the sake of his homeland simply because it is his homeland. Therefore, we should advise the youth who join the military ranks to base their intention solely on the goal that the word of Allah be the highest, so that their work becomes jihad in the cause of Allah.