What is better for students of knowledge who came from Bosnia and Chechnya: to remain in the pursuit of knowledge, or to engage in jihad in their homelands with their brothers?
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The questioner : The questioner says: O honorable Shaykh, what is better for students of knowledge who came from Bosnia and Herzegovina or Chechnya? Is it better for them to remain in the pursuit of knowledge given the state of their brothers here, or to fight alongside their brothers?
The Shaykh : Seeking knowledge and jihad in the path of Allah: the best for each person is what suits him. So if we find a man who is intelligent and a good memorizer, but not very good at fighting, we say: the best for him is seeking knowledge. And if we find a man who is strong and brave, but less accomplished in acquiring knowledge, we say: jihad is better for you. For this reason, we find that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), when asked: "Which deed is best?" would address each person according to what his situation requires. Sometimes he would say: "The best is such-and-such," and in another hadith he would say: "The best is such-and-such," taking into account the condition of the questioner. So every person has what his situation requires. The person who is a vessel for seeking knowledge in memorization and understanding, in tracing issues to their sources, and in debating the people of falsehood, for him seeking knowledge is better. And the person who is brave, bold, active, and strong, knowledgeable about the methods and equipment of war, but less so in knowledge, for him jihad is better.
The Shaykh : Seeking knowledge and jihad in the path of Allah: the best for each person is what suits him. So if we find a man who is intelligent and a good memorizer, but not very good at fighting, we say: the best for him is seeking knowledge. And if we find a man who is strong and brave, but less accomplished in acquiring knowledge, we say: jihad is better for you. For this reason, we find that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), when asked: "Which deed is best?" would address each person according to what his situation requires. Sometimes he would say: "The best is such-and-such," and in another hadith he would say: "The best is such-and-such," taking into account the condition of the questioner. So every person has what his situation requires. The person who is a vessel for seeking knowledge in memorization and understanding, in tracing issues to their sources, and in debating the people of falsehood, for him seeking knowledge is better. And the person who is brave, bold, active, and strong, knowledgeable about the methods and equipment of war, but less so in knowledge, for him jihad is better.