When is jihad an individual obligation?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
He asks: When is jihad an individual obligation?
Answer:
It becomes an individual obligation in three cases. The first case is when battle is present and he is able to fight; it is not permissible for him to flee, because this is fleeing from the ranks, which is one of the major sins.[Al-Anfal 8:45]. [Al-Anfal 8:15-16] This is the first case: when battle is present between the Muslims and the disbelievers and he is able to fight, it is not permissible for him to flee or to sit idle, but he must fight.
The second issue: if the one in authority orders him, it is obligatory for him to obey and go out to fight. Allah the Exalted said:[At-Tawbah 9:38] when [At-Tawbah 9:38] to the end of the verses. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So if the one in authority designates him and orders him to go out to fight, it is obligatory for him to obey and not lag behind. If he is designated, it is an individual obligation for him. The third issue: if an enemy arrives at his town and besieges his town, if an enemy besieges his town, then it is obligatory for him to defend his town under the leadership of the one in authority. Defending is obligatory for everyone, not just for individuals, but for all the people of the town to defend under their one in authority, under his banner. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
He asks: When is jihad an individual obligation?
Answer:
It becomes an individual obligation in three cases. The first case is when battle is present and he is able to fight; it is not permissible for him to flee, because this is fleeing from the ranks, which is one of the major sins.
O you who have believed, when you encounter a company [from the enemy forces], stand firm and remember Allah much that you may be successful.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمْ فِئَةً فَاثْبُتُوا وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ(15) O you who have believed, when you meet those who disbelieve advancing [for battle], do not turn to them your backs [in flight]. (16) And whoever turns his back to them on such a day, unless swerving [as a strategy] for war or joining [another] company, has certainly returned with anger [upon him] from Allah, and his refuge is Hell - and wretched is the destination.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا زَحْفًا فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ الْأَدْبَارَ وَمَن يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُ إِلَّا مُتَحَرِّفًا لِّقِتَالٍ أَوْ مُتَحَيِّزًا إِلَىٰ فِئَةٍ فَقَدْ بَاءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَمَأْوَاهُ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُThe second issue: if the one in authority orders him, it is obligatory for him to obey and go out to fight. Allah the Exalted said:
O you who have believed, what is [the matter] with you that, when you are told to go forth in the cause of Allah,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ انفِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِyou adhere heavily to the earth? Are you satisfied with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter?
اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ أَرَضِيتُم بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِAnd when you are called to mobilize, then mobilize
وإذا استنفرتم فانفرواThe presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Source
شرح كتاب الكبائر للإمام محمد بن عبد الوهاب، بداية من باب طاعة الأمراء — islamhouse.com (57:03)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.