Clarifying the Meaning of Jihad Against the Khalaf in the Hadith

Question:
A believing man from this country, may Allah make him happy, cites the hadith mentioned earlier and the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): “Whoever fights them with his hands…” He argues that this indicates that rising up against the ruler and waging war against him is based on his intention.

Answer:
This falls under enjoining good and forbidding evil. These khalaf (the later generations) are those who say what they do not do and do what they are not commanded to do. They are “fought” in the sense that their misguidance and deviation are made clear, because they do not act according to the Sunnah but rather act according to bid'ah (religious innovations). Their error is clarified, their deviation is explained, and their arguments are refuted. This does not mean rising up with weapons against the one in authority. The one in authority is not mentioned in this hadith. This hadith mentions the khalaf; it mentions the Salaf (the earliest generations) and the khalaf. Does he speak about the kingdom? It is the best kingdom he is in. The kingdom he is in is the best for him. How can he look only at the kingdom and want to corrupt its affairs? He wants, if he is able, to fix the country he is in and the kingdom he is in. Yes.