The Ruling on Jihad When the Enemy Attacks

The questioner:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: What is the validity of the statement of some jurists (may Allah have mercy on them) that jihad is an individual obligation (fard 'ayn) for the people of a town that the enemy has besieged or attacked?

The Shaykh:
Whoever repels the aggressor. If they are attacked by this aggressor, it is obligatory for all those who are able to fight to fight alongside their imam, the imam of the Muslims, as an individual obligation.

The questioner:
He says, may Allah keep you safe, in the rest of his question: If they are unable to defend themselves, does the obligation extend to those around them?

The Shaykh:
The obligation extends to those around them, the neighboring towns, and then the neighboring towns. I do not know who is around them; whoever is able to help them should help them. If they ask their brothers for support, they must support them, unless there is a treaty between those asked and the disbelievers, in which case it is not permissible to break the treaty with those with whom they have a treaty. Yes.