Jabir Bin Samrah reported:
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said:
This religion (i.e. Islam) will never cease to exist and a group of people (Usba) among the Muslims will continue to fight for its protection until the Hour is established.
(Muslim)
Al- Qamus - an authentic lexicon of the Arabic Language explains 'Usba' thus:
'Usba' is a group of people, horses or birds that
consists of 10 to 40 member. 'Usaabah' also implies the same meaning.
This hadith of Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him)
decides the matter that Jihad will never stop, whether there exists an Islamic State or not.
The Muslims will continue to perform this obligation whether with a large army or with a group of only ten or twenty people. If the existence of an Islamic state or the existence of a Caliph is declared necessary for the
performance of this duty, we cannot continue, at present, to fight for the Cause of Allah because these days neither does there exist an Islamic state nor does there exist any Caliph.
If we discontinue (to do) Jihad on this pretext, what explanation can we offer for the above - mentioned saying of Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him)? Let me know whether this prediction made by the Prophet (Peace be upon him) be considered true of false. The existence of an Islamic State or a Caliph does not matter in this regard. This principle goes as far as in case a Muslim does not find even a single companion to stand by him, he can go on fighting all by himself.
Allah Ta'ala says:
"Then fight (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in the Cause of Allah, you are not tasked (held responsible) except for yourself, and incite the believers (to fight along with you).
(An-Nisa: 84)
In six A.H. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) made a peace treaty with he disbeliveers in Makkah (that was to remain valid) for ten years. The Peace Treaty consisted of many clauses, including a certain one (that was quite distressing for the Muslims and) which said that in case a Makkan embraced Is-lam and went to Allah's Messenger (to take shelter), he would be handed over back to the Makkans. After making this treaty, Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) returned to Madina. Now it so happened that in Makkah a young Quraishi, Abu Baseer by name, embraced Islam and came over to Allah's
Messenger (Peace be upon him) at Madina.
The Makkans sent two men to Madina to bring him back. Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) delivered him up to them. On the way back (to Makkah), they camped at Zul Halaifah and started eating dates. Abu-Baseer addressed one of them and said, "By Allah, you
possess an amazingly bright and fine sword. Could I have a look at it?" He handed it over to him. Abu-Baseer at once put him to the sword.
The second one fled from there and came straight to Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him). Running as he entered the Mosque, Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said that he seemed to be frightened. That man approached the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and said, "By Allah! My companion has been killed and I also fear to be killed." Abu-Baseer, chasing the man, also approached there. Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: He would kindle a war it he had some others to stand by him.
Hearing the Prophet's words Abu-Baseer believed that he would be handed over to the enemy. So he fled from Madina and reached the seacoast on the way to Syria. Abu-Jandal Bin Suhail, another Makkan newly converted to Is-lam. Who was being persecuted in Makkah at the hands of the Makkans, also managed to escape and joined Abu-Baseer. Now it is so went on that whosoever entered the fold of Islam among the Qureshies (of Makkah) would escape and join Abu-Baseer until the formed a fair - sized group (usaaba).
By Allah, when-ever they learnt that a craven of the Makkans was on its way to Syria, they would fall upon it, kill the men and snatch their goods. The Makkans finding themselves quite helpless before them begged Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) by Allah & by their ties of kinship to do away with that particular clause and send a message to Abu-Baseer and his companions that whosoever approached him (Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) would be guaranteed peace & safety. Therefore, Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) sent them the message to this effect.
(Sahih Bukhari, with reference to Mishkawat-ul-Masaabih, kitab-us-sulh)
The Hadith cited above tells us: -
1. Abu-Baseer all by him started fighting against the disbeliveers without waiting for companions to join him. After wards, he had some companions to stand by him & he got himself engaged in guerrilla war. This very act of his was quite in accordance with Allah's command:
Then fight (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in the Cause of Allah, you are not tasked (held responsible) except for yourself, and incite the believers (to fight along with you).
(An-Nisa: 84)
The time he took sword was with a view to defending him and
saving his life. After wards, he himself started attacking the disbeliveers. In other words, he also launched offensive against the enemy.
2. Abu-Baseer did not carry out these activities under the command of a Khaleefa (Caliph) because Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) had handed him over to the Makkans. He himself was his commander when he all by himself put one of his enemies to death and afterwards he led himself and his companions to launch offensives and engage in guerilla activities.
3. He could not find refuge in the Islamic State of Madina. This first Islamic State rather refused to extend its help to him because it had entered into a Peace Treaty with the enemy, and it is quite plain that he was not yet able to establish an Islamic State of his own. Notwithstanding these facts, he went on fighting & gradually he had strength enough to defend himself as well as to give refuge and protection to the oppressed Muslims. He
subdued & humiliated the disbeliveers to an extent that they, finding them-selves quite helpless before him & his companions, had no other way than to do away with the inhuman clause which they themselves had got
included in the treaty.
4. Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) did not condemn the activities of Abu-Baseer. Rather keeping silent he, in fact, seconded them. But it is a pity that a few days back a "BIG" philosopher tried to lessen the worth and importance of Abu-Baseer's valorous deeds saying that they amounted to nothing but tumult & clamor.
To sum up, the episode relating to Abu-Baseer, sufficiently &
categorically proves that a believer is quite free to start a war against the
disbeliveers, particularly when it is with a view to saving his life.
The establishment of an Islamic state & the existence of a Caliph cannot be regarded as necessary
conditions for it. If it comes to that believer has no one to lead him, he himself is his own leader & commander. Those waiting for the fulfillment of these self-imposed conditions are bound to lose their freedom, honor, lives, & property.
