We mentioned last Friday that Jihad means to struggle to the utmost of one's ability in order to strive to please Allah (S.W.T.), and to uphold His word. A person can make jihad using good words, spending his wealth for the sake of Allah (S.W.T.), and by giving his life for the sake of Allah. A person may practice one or more of these different types of jihad depending on a person's situation and conditions. We also mentioned that Jihad has 4 categories: Jihad against personal desires, jihad against the whisperings of Satan, the Jihad against the disbelievers, and finally, the jihad against the hypocrites.

We also talked about the Jihad of Da'wah or when one struggles to convey the message of Islam. The prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and his companions spent 13 years in Makkah before migrating to Madinah. At this time, the Muslims of Makkah struggled against their own desires, against the temptations of Satan, and they even struggled in the delivery of the Message. They had to struggle to keep themselves patient at a time when giving Da'wah meant they could be tortured or even killed. Yet their response to this abuse was always forgiveness to the non-Muslims—no violence was ever allowed. At that time, jihad in the form of fighting was not yet ordained.

Today, we will discuss the Jihad for the sake of Allah's cause using force. This kind of Jihad is against anyone who stands as an obstacle in the way of Da'wah . The obstacle can be from someone or a government who prevents Muslims from delivering the message of Islam, or it could be the one who prevents people from choosing Islam, or the one who persecutes any one who chooses Islam. These are the ONLY reasons that Islam allows one to use force. Keep in mind however; there are rules to how one should apply this force.

When we remove these obstacles from society, then the people will have the freedom to choose and practice any religion of their choice without fear. Allah has given the people the freedom to choose the faith they want without any compulsion. If we are granted this freedom in any society, then there is no valid reason to fight. But, if this freedom is restricted, then we should only fight the oppressors who restrict this freedom—not all the non-Muslims.

This type of jihad that allows for fighting was prescribed by Allah (S.W.T.) to allow the Muslims to deliver the message of Islam to all people. We can understand this from what Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Al-Baqarah, (Verse 256), what can be translated as, "There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path…”

And what He (S.W.T) also said in surat Al-Anfal, (Verse 39), what can be translated as , "And fight them until there is no more fitnah and the religion will be for Allah alone…”

It is important for us to know that Allah did not prescribe fighting as a way to establish an Islamic state, but rather, He allowed us to fight as a way to protect the Islamic state from any aggression only after it has been established. We know this from the practices of the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and the progression of the stages of Da'wah from the beginnings in Makkah up until the establishment of the Islamic state in Madinah.

The way to re-establish the Islamic state as prescribed by Allah (S.W.T) is by giving Da'wah using strong evidence and presenting yourself with patience, perseverance and forgiveness. This is the Jihad that the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and his companions exercised in Makkah before migrating to Madinah.

This type of forceful jihad descended in three different stages:

• The first stage: This stage gave Muslims only the permission (not an obligation) to fight only the aggressors and those who cause aggression. This was revealed when the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) was on his way from Makkah to Madinah. Imams At-Tirmithi and An-Nassa'I reported on authority of Ibn-Abass (R.A.) that the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) was on his way to Madinah, when Abu Bakr (R.A.) said: “They hurt their prophet. They will definitely be destroyed.” So, Allah (S.W.T) revealed in surat Al-Hajj, (Verse 39), what can be translated as, "Permission to fight is given to those (i.e. believers against those disbelievers) , who are fighting them, and because they (the believers) have been wronged, and surely, Allah is able to give them (the believers) victory…” Abu Bakr said: “I knew that there would be a fight.” Ibn-Abbass (R.A.) said: “This is the first verse from the Qur'an revealed concerning fighting.” This verse is strong evidence that fighting was not permitted before this stage.
• The second stage: In the second stage, Allah orders the Muslims to fight, unlike the first stage where He only gives them permission. Also, Allah limited fighting against those who attacked first, and he ordered them never to start a fight against anyone. This can be understood from the verse revealed in the second year of Hijrah: Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Al-Baqarah, (Verse 190), what can be translated as, "And fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress the limits. Truly, Allah does not like the transgressors.” This verse orders the believers to fight those who started the fight. This stage ended at the end of the fifth year of Hijrah. This is understood from what Imam Bukhari reported that the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said to his companions while he was on his way from the fight against Bani Quraithah after the battle of Al-Ahzaab: “From now on, we will invade them, and not wait for them to attack first.”
• The last stage: The final stage calls for fighting against any obstacle that blocks someone from conveying the word of Allah (S.W.T). We must use this type of jihad in the following cases: when someone stands in the way of giving Da'wah , when someone or a government prevents Muslims from delivering the message of Islam, when someone prevents people from choosing Islam, or when someone persecutes another who chooses Islam. This final stage makes fighting acceptable when people do not have the freedom of religion. We should not fight if our freedom to choose and practice Islam is not in jeopardy. From this information, we can say that the Mujahideen are truly freedom fighters. Also, keep in mind that the fighting should be limited to those who take the freedom of religion away, and it should not be against all disbelievers. This Jihad is obligatory till the Day of Judgment and it is the highest honor of Islam. Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Al-Baqarah, (Verse 216), what can be translated as, "Fighting is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and you may like a thing which is bad for you. And Allah knows but you do not know.”

Another common misconception of today's media is that jihad in Islam is viewed as a Holy War. This is a misconception and it is totally false.

Holy wars, according to the west, are wars where people are killed because they do not believe in the same religion as the aggressors and are forced to adopt the religion of the oppressors. The media today, views jihad as the modern holy wars, however, today we learned that Jihad in Islam is fought so that the masses of people can be given the liberty to worship the faiths of their choice.

Who has the authority to call for the fighting form of jihad?

The Khalifah has this authority. He is the ONLY one who can call for this type of Jihad, and he is the only one who can make peace treaties and agreements. So the Khalifah has the exclusive right to call for Jihad in the form of fighting. Individuals or groups of Muslims cannot call for this Jihad; it has to be the Khalifah. So, nowadays, no one can call for the Jihad in the form of fighting.

Rules concerning Jihad in Islam:

The fighting form of jihad is not obligatory on every Muslim—if some Muslims make jihad, and they accomplish their goal, then the mission is complete, and no one else is obligated to fill the duty. However, if the Mujahideen did not complete their mission, then it is obligated for other Muslims to complete the mission. Allah (S.W.T) said in surat At-Tawbah, (Verse 122), what can be translated as, "And it is not proper for the believers to go out to fight in Jihad all together. Of every crowd of them, only a group should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may get instructions in the deen , and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware (of evil) .”

When is Jihad obligatory upon Muslims?

• If the fighter is present on the battlefield, then he must fight. Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Al-Anfal, (Verse 15), what can be translated as, “O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve, in a battle-field, never turn your backs to them….” The prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) warned Muslims of withdrawing while being attacked and he considered it one of the major sins.
• When an enemy takes over a Muslim land, then every Muslim of that region must fight. In this case there is no requirement of permission from the Khalifah because it is self-defense, which is legitimate fighting. However, we will discuss this topic at a later time.
• If the Khalifah orders a Muslim to fight, then he must fight. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: “…So if you are summoned to fight, go forth.”

Who must fight?

The regulations of fighting in jihad:

• Muslims must fight only those who are fighting them. Islam prohibits killing women, the children, the sick, the elderly, and the monks. Also, Islam prohibits killing animals, destroying plants and trees. Islam also prohibits infesting and poisoning waters and springs, destroying homes and civilian establishments. All these are supported by many sayings of the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
• We should now have a clearer understanding of jihad in Islam. We should remember that there is no person living today who can call for this fighting jihad unless there is an Islamic state and the khalifah is the only one who has the authority to call for it.