Seeking Knowledge and Jihad in the Path of Allah
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And Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) made knowledge equal to jihad in His path,So He, the Exalted, said: [At-Tawbah: 122] So Allah (Mighty and Majestic) made it clear that it is not possible for all the believers to go out for jihad in the path of Allah. This indicates that jihad in the path of Allah cannot be an individual obligation for every person, like the prayers, for example. Rather, it is necessary that every aspect of the Islamic Shari'ah has its people who are responsible for carrying it out,He said: (So why did not there go forth from every group of them a party) From every group, a party, not the entire group, whether the groups are tribes or countries, a party to gain understanding in the religion,Meaning: those who remain,Because the meaning of the verse is: (So why did not there go forth from every group of them a party) and a party remained, to gain understandingMeaning: those who remain—in the religion, (and to warn their people when they return to them, so that they may guard themselves).
So if you know that seeking knowledge is equal to jihad in the path of Allah, then know that it is jihad in the path of Allah. And in some cases, jihad is not possible except through knowledge. For example, the hypocrites cannot be fought with weapons; because when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked for permission to kill them, he refused,And he said: (lest people say: Muhammad kills his companions) And because hypocrisy is concealed. We are commanded to deal with people based on what appears of their condition in this world, while in the Hereafter, their affair is with Allah. So the hypocrite, for example, cannot be fought with weapons, but rather with knowledge, argument in the best manner, warning, and the like.
And it is not for the believers to go forth [to battle] all at once. For there should separate from every division of them a group [remaining] to obtain understanding in the religion and warn their people when they return to them that they might be cautious.
وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنْفِرُوا كَافَّةً فَلَوْلا نَفَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ طَائِفَةٌ لِيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ وَلِيُنْذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَSo if you know that seeking knowledge is equal to jihad in the path of Allah, then know that it is jihad in the path of Allah. And in some cases, jihad is not possible except through knowledge. For example, the hypocrites cannot be fought with weapons; because when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked for permission to kill them, he refused,And he said: (lest people say: Muhammad kills his companions) And because hypocrisy is concealed. We are commanded to deal with people based on what appears of their condition in this world, while in the Hereafter, their affair is with Allah. So the hypocrite, for example, cannot be fought with weapons, but rather with knowledge, argument in the best manner, warning, and the like.