Is it permissible for Muslims to refrain from fighting due to their weakness?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
He says: What is your opinion regarding those who say that fighting is not obligatory for Muslims because of their weakness at this time, and they cite the fact that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not fight the polytheists in Makkah?
Answer:
This is what we said at the beginning of the discussion: if Muslims are unable to fight the disbelievers, they are excused for leaving off the fight until a time when they are able, postponing it until the time of capability. However, it is obligatory for Muslims not to remain in a state of weakness. They must prepare, make calculations, and become a strong force. Allah the Exalted says:[Al-Anfal 8:60] Therefore, it is not permissible for Muslims to surrender and remain in their current state. Rather, they must address this issue and work on the means that enable and strengthen them to wage jihad against the disbelievers. Yes.
He says: What is your opinion regarding those who say that fighting is not obligatory for Muslims because of their weakness at this time, and they cite the fact that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not fight the polytheists in Makkah?
Answer:
This is what we said at the beginning of the discussion: if Muslims are unable to fight the disbelievers, they are excused for leaving off the fight until a time when they are able, postponing it until the time of capability. However, it is obligatory for Muslims not to remain in a state of weakness. They must prepare, make calculations, and become a strong force. Allah the Exalted says:
And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy
وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، هل إعراض المسلمين عن القتال جائز لضعف قوتهم؟ للشيخ الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.