What is the ruling on jihad at this time?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : Please, go ahead.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. What is the ruling on jihad in our time? Is it a collective obligation or an individual obligation? And if it is a collective obligation, when does it become an individual obligation for this Muslim community?
The Shaykh : First, you must know that jihad cannot be an individual obligation for all Muslims; that is impossible. Allah the Exalted said:[At-Tawbah 9:122] And Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, explained the wisdom, saying: meaning those who remain behind [At-Tawbah 9:122] because if the entire community went out for jihad, the rest of the laws and rituals would be neglected. However, it becomes an individual obligation in specific instances:
The first instance is when a person is present in the battle line; then he must complete it. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said:[Al-Anfal 8:15-16] This is one instance.
The second instance is when the enemy besieges his land; here he must fight in defense of himself and his Islamic land.
The third issue is when the imam mobilizes him. Note the word "imam" and write it in large letters: when the imam mobilizes him. So, there must be an imam who leads the Islamic army. If the imam mobilizes him, he must go out. For example, if the imam says to the people of the town, "Come, go out for jihad," they must go out, because disobeying the rulers is forbidden. And when the address was directed to these people, it became obligatory for them to carry it out.
The fourth instance is when there is a need for him, such as when this man knows how to use this type of weapon and others do not; here it becomes specific to him to engage directly. In any instance other than these four, jihad is not an individual obligation.
Then, jihad, O brothers, must have the banner of an imam; otherwise, it would be banditry. There must be an imam who leads the Islamic community. Therefore, you will find that those who engage in jihad without the will of an imam do not have a stable situation; rather, they may be wiped out entirely. And if victory is decreed for them, discord arises among them. In any case, we ask Allah to help us in the jihad against our own selves. We are now in need of the jihad of the self. The hearts are sick, the limbs are negligent, and the hearts are divided. This requires jihad before anything else. Glory be to You, our Lord, and praise be to You. I testify that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.
Until further notice, if Allah wills. And you should consult Brother Yusuf regarding resuming the meeting, because people may have travel plans. Yes, it is difficult for them to leave their travel or leave the gathering. Glory be to You, our Lord, and praise be to You. I testify that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. What is the ruling on jihad in our time? Is it a collective obligation or an individual obligation? And if it is a collective obligation, when does it become an individual obligation for this Muslim community?
The Shaykh : First, you must know that jihad cannot be an individual obligation for all Muslims; that is impossible. Allah the Exalted said:
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
وما كان المؤمنون لينفروا كافّة فولا نفر من كلّ فرقة منهم طائفةto gain understanding
ليتفقّهواin the religion and warn their people when they return to them
في الدّين ولينذروا قومهم إذا رجعوا إليهمThe first instance is when a person is present in the battle line; then he must complete it. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said:
(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.
يا أيّها الذين إذا لقيتم الذين كفروا زحفا فلا تولّوهم الأدبار ومن يولّهم يومئذ دبره إلاّ متحرّفا لقتال أو متحيّزا إلى فئة فقد باء بغضب من الله ومأواه جهنّم وبئس المصيرThe second instance is when the enemy besieges his land; here he must fight in defense of himself and his Islamic land.
The third issue is when the imam mobilizes him. Note the word "imam" and write it in large letters: when the imam mobilizes him. So, there must be an imam who leads the Islamic army. If the imam mobilizes him, he must go out. For example, if the imam says to the people of the town, "Come, go out for jihad," they must go out, because disobeying the rulers is forbidden. And when the address was directed to these people, it became obligatory for them to carry it out.
The fourth instance is when there is a need for him, such as when this man knows how to use this type of weapon and others do not; here it becomes specific to him to engage directly. In any instance other than these four, jihad is not an individual obligation.
Then, jihad, O brothers, must have the banner of an imam; otherwise, it would be banditry. There must be an imam who leads the Islamic community. Therefore, you will find that those who engage in jihad without the will of an imam do not have a stable situation; rather, they may be wiped out entirely. And if victory is decreed for them, discord arises among them. In any case, we ask Allah to help us in the jihad against our own selves. We are now in need of the jihad of the self. The hearts are sick, the limbs are negligent, and the hearts are divided. This requires jihad before anything else. Glory be to You, our Lord, and praise be to You. I testify that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.
Until further notice, if Allah wills. And you should consult Brother Yusuf regarding resuming the meeting, because people may have travel plans. Yes, it is difficult for them to leave their travel or leave the gathering. Glory be to You, our Lord, and praise be to You. I testify that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.