What is the ruling on some young men going out to jihad in Afghanistan while their parents are weeping, given a fatwa that it is an individual obligation?

The questioner : We have some people among us who issue a fatwa that jihad in Afghanistan is an individual obligation (fard 'ayn) for every individual in this Ummah. Consequently, many young men go out, and their father, of course, and their mother are weeping, and so on. So, of course, does this fatwa have a valid basis in the Book and the Sunnah?

The Shaykh : There is no doubt that jihad in Afghanistan is an individual obligation (fard 'ayn), and not only in Afghanistan, but also here in Palestine, and in every part of the Islamic lands that is cut off from these Islamic lands. However, this must be done in a gradual manner. So, jihad before the events in Afghanistan was an individual obligation (fard 'ayn), yes, and all Muslims are sinful because of the occupation of Palestine by the Jews and their failure to fight the Jews with the jihad that, yes, heals the hearts of a people of faith. And it is not only in Afghanistan. But I say that this jihad, which is an individual obligation (fard 'ayn) and not only in Afghanistan, requires many, many things in terms of preparations and prerequisites that must be presented before any jihad that Muslims undertake, within the limits of the saying of Allah, the Exalted: . So, in my belief, Muslims today are unable to perform jihad, and the reason is that they have not prepared for it. The first of these, in my belief and in the belief of many scholars and people of opinion, is that Muslims must first be prepared psychologically and educationally, and then materially. And there is no doubt that the well-known verse: , although the immediate impression from the Qur'anic text is that the intended preparation is material, we can take from His saying, Mighty and Majestic, strength that is broader than that; namely: the spiritual, moral strength, as they say today, and the material strength. And every researcher and student, when he studies the life of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), his biography, and his establishment of his state... knows that he spent more than about fifteen years raising Muslims on the correct creed and proper conduct until he prepared them to enter into jihad in the path of Allah with their souls pure and pleased. So, Muslims today are surrounded by many, many problems and calamities. They are divided in everything. They are divided in creed, in tawhid (the oneness of Allah), which is nothing more important than tawhid. So, if these people were to prepare all the preparations, they would not be able to fight in the path of Allah as long as they are divided in this division. They are divided in this severe division. And in the Noble Qur'an there are texts that division and discord are among the causes of defeat and failure. And if not... on... I say it is not upon Muslims in general, as some people imagine when they hear this from us. No, all Muslims, nine hundred million Muslims? I do not want to say that it is obligatory for those who truly want to fight in the path of Allah to prepare for this jihad. And that requires preparing the group that is on one heart, as came in the description of the people of Paradise, all of them on one heart in creed, worship, and conduct. Of course, they should not be equal in everything, but in creed they must be equal and in complete agreement. Then, in morals and conduct, there is difference. For example, among the Companions, as we know, there was one who used to steal and one who used to drink intoxicants, like Abu Muhajir, whose story is known to you.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Even so, he went out to fight in the path of Allah, and he was in a state of ihram (consecrated state) after his wife, the wife of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, had released him from his captivity. Even though he drank intoxicants, he was a founder and preparer for such jihad in the path of Allah. Therefore, in brief, I say: purification and education are necessary. We return, as we always say, to this. So, this jihad is an individual obligation (fard 'ayn), there is no doubt in that. And the fact that Muslims today are incapable of this jihad does not remove from them the ruling of jihad and that it is an individual obligation (fard 'ayn). Perhaps in that is what encourages them and drives them to prepare for the day of individual obligation jihad, and thereby they please Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, and they honor themselves after humiliation. And perhaps it is appropriate that I conclude this word, and indeed this session, by saying: He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
Today, Muslims are falling into these sins and disgraces and others. So, humiliation is necessary for them, and it is not possible, I mean, for anyone to escape from this humiliation except as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) concluded the hadith with his saying: ... peace be upon you. And religion, as you know, Professor, today has many concepts, so these concepts must be corrected and Muslims must be raised on these concepts. And then the believers will rejoice in the victory of Allah. And peace be upon you.

The questioner : But you did not answer my question, O our Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Good, if Allah wills, there is nothing in the habit.

The questioner : And the young man who went out and, I mean, disobeyed his parents.

The Shaykh : He did not disobey, no.

The questioner : He did not disobey.

The Shaykh : No, he did not disobey.

The questioner : I mean, if he went out.

The Shaykh: It depends on him and his intention.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : We say this here regarding Palestine, even though the flag is not Islamic. The one who goes out... in the path of Allah, even if they have not prepared for it, it is his intention.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : The one who goes out, for example, to Afghanistan, and unfortunately, in Afghanistan, as we have been informed, there are also differences between Salafis, Sufis, and the Muslim Brotherhood, and so on. But the one who goes out in the path of Allah to support these weak ones against those strong disbelievers, we cannot say that he disobeyed. All that is the case is that all Muslims are falling short and are not prepared to enter into this battle. And we say: deeds are, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , to the end of the hadith. But as a jihad that yields its fruit, this is not its way.

The questioner : And for example, if we adopted the call to purification and education on the basis that we are raising people, so we did not go out to Afghanistan and did not fight... would sin fall upon us?

The Shaykh : No, as long as you are, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , what?

The questioner : .

The Shaykh, so as long as the intention exists and the preparation for the full expedition exists to the extent, of course, then there is no sin upon us, if Allah wills. And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The student : ... .

The Shaykh : How?
The student : ... .

The Shaykh : If Allah wills, yes.
The student : I was imagining someone would ask a question, I mean.

The Shaykh : No, this is him asking me that the prayer will be...