Is an imam required for jihad in the path of Allah? And what is the response to those who declare it an innovation to say so?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Our Shaykh, they also accused us of innovating, and our scholars also innovated by making the imam a condition for jihad. Is this statement correct, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : They accused us of innovating by making the imam a condition for jihad. Is this statement correct?
The Shaykh : Jihad is of two types. Defensive jihad does not require this condition. For defense, if the enemy attacks the lands of the Muslims, an imam is not required; rather, they all go out, even the women who are able to carry weapons, and they fight. As for jihad in the path of Allah and conveying the call to other lands, an imam is necessary.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And this is sufficient for you.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O our Shaykh. May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : They accused us of innovating by making the imam a condition for jihad. Is this statement correct?
The Shaykh : Jihad is of two types. Defensive jihad does not require this condition. For defense, if the enemy attacks the lands of the Muslims, an imam is not required; rather, they all go out, even the women who are able to carry weapons, and they fight. As for jihad in the path of Allah and conveying the call to other lands, an imam is necessary.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And this is sufficient for you.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O our Shaykh. May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.