The obligation of jihad is the foundation of a peaceful society within the Muslim community when oppression and tyranny take the upper hand. It isn’t only an obligation to war but is a way for the Muslims to protect their honor and dignity while maintaining good relations with others to the best of their capabilities.
Keeping this in mind, this blog will lay out a detailed explanation of the scenarios in which jihad becomes obligatory upon Muslims and the opinion of scholars regarding this obligation.
The Obligation Of Jihad: The First Time
To understand the reason for the obligation of jihad, it is important to understand the first time jihad was enjoined on the Muslim ummah in the form of armed conflict. Allah SWT decreed jihad for the Muslims in the second hijri, after the migration of the Prophet PBUH to Medina. During this timeline, the main aim of jihad was to establish justice. And because the message of Islam was reaching every ear in the world, it was essential to take a combative stance against those who were raising arms to conduct attacks on the Muslims and their state.
When the Muslims settled in the new city and no longer feared the Quraysh for persecution, they could establish and practice Islam without hostility. Therefore, the newfound freedom and manpower of the Muslims laid the groundwork for the first battle after nineteen months of migrating to Madinah. Also known as the Battle of Badr, this battle was significant as it gave the religion of Islam a separate identity and established Muslims as a true force.
The Obligation Of Jihad: In Modern Times
According to the Shariah, there are four scenarios in which physical jihad against the kaafirs becomes obligatory:
- When a Muslim is present in a situation of jihad,
- When the enemy invades and attacks the Muslim land.
- When the ruler calls for the mobilisation of the army, it becomes obligatory upon the people to respond to this call.
- When an individual is needed and no one except him can perform the task.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen explained that jihad becomes an individual duty (fard ‘ayn) when a person is present at the site of fighting. This is one of the scenarios in which jihad turns into a personal obligation because Allah SWT said,
“O ye who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them. Whoso on that day turns his back to them, unless manoeuvring for battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless journey’s end. ”
[Surah Anfal, Verses 15 and 16]
The Prophet PBUH said, Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “Stay away from the seven sins that lead a person to Hell.” When asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what are they?” he replied, “Associating others with Allah (Shirk), practicing magic, killing a person whom Allah has forbidden killing—except in cases justified by Islamic law—consuming Riba (interest), unlawfully taking the property of orphans, fleeing on the day of battle, and wrongly accusing innocent, chaste women who are good believers and never even think of engaging in immoral acts.”
[Sunan an-Nasa’i 3671]
From both the Quran and Sunnah, it is clearly evident that running away from the battlefield is one of the most dangerous actions that one can commit. However, Allah SWT has made two exceptions regarding this.
- It is permissible if the Muslim joins another group. Meaning that someone told him that there is another group of Muslims who are close to defeat, so he goes and joins that group to strengthen them and help them gain victory over the enemy. But one thing to remember is that this is only permissible if the group he is leaving is in no danger from his departure. If his absence poses a risk, then he is not allowed to leave because, in this situation, jihad becomes an individual obligation.
- It is also permissible if his leaving is part of a military maneuver. Meaning that his departure is to bring in reinforcements.
The Obligation Of Jihad: Unauthentic Invitations
In today’s world of falsehood and lies, there are many unauthentic voices of self-claimed scholars who intensely call and invite the Muslim youth towards jihad. Among all these invitations, a moderate and controlled voice of reason is needed. The action of declaring war and calling for jihad is one that needs to be put in an appropriate juristic framework. The declaration of jihad is a responsibility of the state’s rulers because of their appointed position and their knowledge of things that the general public might not even be aware of.
The ruler is the only one who can correctly calculate the results of such a decision. Furthermore, for combative jihad, all aspects are to be carefully examined, and the enterprise should be free of all kinds of weakness and negligence. Therefore, no person or single group should declare jihad on their own, as this is considered a transgression and may bring more harm than good. Therefore, some guidelines must be followed, such as:
- Ensuring the security of Muslim nations, their citizens, and their interests.
- The capacity to confront and withstand the decision to go to war.
- Jihad should be officially declared and explicitly defined to prevent Muslims from being manipulated by notorious organizations that may exploit their emotions and zeal, leading them to pursue suspicious agendas under the guise of jihad.
The Obligation of Jihad: The Neighbouring Countries
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz said:
The Muslims in Africa, Saudi Arabia, North Africa, and elsewhere have an obligation to do the most that they can do. If there is a jihad in a country, then the neighboring countries should hasten to help the country going through jihad. After this, the country closest to them should help, and then the next closest. If one, two, or three countries are able to fulfill the obligation, then the rest of the states are free from the obligation.
The country going through jihad deserves to be supported, and it is an obligation to defend and help them against their enemies because they are under oppression. Allah SWT has made jihad an obligation upon all Muslims, and they must combat the enemies of Allah until their brothers achieve victory. If the Muslims fail to do that, then they will be sinning, but if enough people fulfill the obligation, then the rest of them won’t be sinners.
The Obligation Of Jihad: Personally
There are certain conditions in which jihad becomes obligatory on every able-bodied person. One such condition is stated below:
When a city is surrounded by the enemy. Then the person has to fight and defend the city because when the city is surrounded, there is no other option than defending the city. And if the enemy is going to stop the people from entering or leaving the city, if the enemy is going to stop provisions or aid from reaching the city, and other things, then in this case, the people are obligated to defend their city.