The Book of Jihad, Expeditions, and Authority-10b
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The reciter: Yahya ibn Yahya and Ishaq ibn Ibrahim narrated to us, saying: Jarir informed us from Mansur from Mujahid from Tawus from Ibn Abbas, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said on the day of the conquest—the conquest of Makkah: Sahih Muslim 1353c.
The Shaykh : His saying: [An-Nisa 4:59]. Second: if one is present at the battle line, it is obligatory for him to remain and not flee, because of the saying of the Exalted: [Al-Anfal 8:45-46], and the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Anfal 8:15-16]. Third: if the enemy besieges his town, it is obligatory for him to fight, because this fighting is a matter of defending oneself, especially when the cause is the fighting between Muslims and disbelievers, which is obligatory.
Fourth: if he has a role in jihad that no one else knows how to perform, it becomes specific to him that he must fight, and this is the meaning of our saying that it is a collective obligation, because if it is a collective obligation, then if enough people perform it, it drops off the others. And if this specific man has a specialization in a certain piece of weaponry that no one else knows, it is obligatory for him to fight.
So these are four places where jihad is an individual obligation, and other than that, it is not possible for jihad to be an individual obligation; rather, this is contrary to the Noble Qur'an. The Exalted said:[At-Tawbah 9:122] meaning that a group remained behind, [At-Tawbah 9:122], and because if we made it obligatory upon all people, all people would sin, for if they all stood up for the obligation, the lands would be emptied of their inhabitants.
Therefore, it is not possible for jihad to be an individual obligation except in specific cases, which are the ones you have heard.
There is no Hijra now, but (only) Jihad (fighting for the cause of Islam) and sincerity of purpose (have great reward) ; when you are asked to set out (on an expedition undertaken for the cause of Islam) you should (readily) do so.
لَا هِجْرَةَ، وَلَكِنْ جِهَادٌ وَنِيَّةٌ، وَإِذَا اسْتُنْفِرْتُمْ فَانْفِرُواThe Shaykh : His saying:
And when you are called to battle, go forth.
وَإِذَا اسْتُنْفِرْتُمْ فَانْفِرُواO you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you
يأيها الذين آمنوا أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول وأولي الأمر منكم(45) O you who have believed, when you encounter a company [from the enemy forces], stand firm and remember Allah much that you may be successful. (46) And obey Allah and His Messenger
يأيها الذين آمنوا إذا لقيتم فئةً فاثبتوا واذكروا الله كثيراً لعلكم تفلحون، وأطيعوا الله ورسوله(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.
يأيها الذين آمنوا إذا لقيتكم الذين كفروا زحْفاً فلا تولّوهم الأدبار، ومن يولّهم يمئذ دُبُره إلا مُتَحرّفاً لقتال أو متحيّزاً إلى فئة فقد باء بغضب من الله ومأواه جهنّم وبئس المصيرFourth: if he has a role in jihad that no one else knows how to perform, it becomes specific to him that he must fight, and this is the meaning of our saying that it is a collective obligation, because if it is a collective obligation, then if enough people perform it, it drops off the others. And if this specific man has a specialization in a certain piece of weaponry that no one else knows, it is obligatory for him to fight.
So these are four places where jihad is an individual obligation, and other than that, it is not possible for jihad to be an individual obligation; rather, this is contrary to the Noble Qur'an. The Exalted said:
And it is not for the believers to go forth [to battle] all at once
وما كان المؤمنون لينفروا كافةFor 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.
فلولا نفر من كل فرقة منهم طائفة ليتفقهوا في الدين وليُنذروا قومهم إذا رجعوا إليهم لعلّهم يحذرونTherefore, it is not possible for jihad to be an individual obligation except in specific cases, which are the ones you have heard.