By Abu Khubayb
and Abu Zubayr
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THE SLANDERED JIHAD
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Among the erroneous notions aimed at stifling the
spirit of Jihad in this Ummah is the idea of
'greater' and 'lesser' Jihads. According to this belief, striving against
desires of the self is considered the Greater Jihad, which makes the Jihad of
the battlefield the Lesser Jihad. This idea is based upon a story mentioned by
al Khatib al Baghdadi in his book, "The History
of Baghdad", by way of Yahya ibn
al 'Ala', who said,
"We were told by Layth, on the authority of
'Ata', on the authority of Abu Rabah, on the
authority of Jabir, who said, 'The Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhee wa sallam) returned from one of
his battles, and thereupon told us, 'You have arrived with an excellent
arrival, you have come from the Lesser Jihad to the Greater Jihad - the
striving of a servant (of Allah) against his desires.''"
This concept, despite the fact that it is based on a hadeeth,
can be refuted from several aspects, of which we shall mention the following.
Firstly:
This hadeeth cannot be used to establish proof, for
Al Bayhaqi has said regarding it, "Its chain of
narration is weak. (Da'eef)", Al Suyuti also pronounced a verdict of weakness on it in his
book, "Al Jam'i al Saghir".
Somebody might claim that da'eef (weak) Ahadeeth can be accepted in matters of supererogatory
virtuous deeds. This is unacceptable, for we do not believe that Jihad can be a
supererogatory deed. Indeed, how can it be so when the Messenger of Allah (salallaahu 'alayhee wa sallam) has said that the
asceticism of his Ummah lies in Jihad?
Furthermore, anybody who follows up on Yahya ibn al '
"He was accused of forging Ahadeeth."
Al Dhahabi said in "Al-Mizan",
"Abu Hatim said that he is not a strong
narrator, Ibn Mu'in
classified him as weak, al Daraqutni said that he is
to be neglected, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal
said that he is a liar and a forger of Ahadeeth."
Secondly:
This hadeeth explicitly contradicts clear verses of
the Qur'an. Allah the Mighty, the Majestic, says, (Translation of the Meaning),
"Those believers who sit back are not equal to those who perform Jihad in
the Path of Allah with their wealth and their selves. Allah has favored those who perform Jihad with their wealth and their
selves by degrees over those who sit back. To both (groups) has Allah promised good,
but Allah has favored the mujahideen
with a great reward, by ranks from Him, and with Forgiveness, over those who
sit back. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful." Qur'an [4:95-96]
Thirdly:
This hadeeth contradicts mutawatir
(mass-narrated) Ahadeeth which have been reported
from the Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhee
wa sallam), and which make
plain the excellence of Jihad. We will mention a few of these.
"A morning or an evening spent in the Path of Allah is better than the
world and all it contains."
[Bukhari and Muslim]
"Standing for an hour in the ranks of battle in the Path of Allah is
better than standing for sixty years (in prayer)." [Sahih
al- Jami']
Abu Hurayrah (radiallaahu 'anhu) said,
"Is any of you able to stand in prayer without stopping, and to fast
continuously for as long as he lives?" The people said, "Oh Abu Hurayrah! Who could endure that?" He said, "By
Allah! A day of a mujahid in the Path of Allah is
better than that."
The claim of those who say that the 'struggle against the self' is the Greater
Jihad because the individual is put to test by day and by night, may be refuted
by the following hadeeth:
On the authority of Rashid, on the authority of Sa'd
(radiallaahu 'anhu), on the
authority of one of the Companions, that a man said, "Oh Messenger of
Allah! Why is it that the believers are all put to trial in their graves,
except for the martyrs?" He (salallaahu 'alayhee wa sallam)
said, "The clashing of swords above his head was sufficient trial for
him." [Sahih al-Jam'i]
Fourthly:
This erroneous and slanderous notion involves injustice and wrong to the status
of the Mujahideen. Allah (Ta'aala)
has ordered us to practice justice in our verdicts, saying, (Translation of the
Meaning),
"Be just, it is closer to piety; and fear Allah. Allah is aware of what
you do." Qur'an [5:8]
Is it any part of justice and fair treatment for us to say that our brethren in
the land of attention and battle are in a lesser Jihad when the mines are
exploding beneath their feet, with the result that their bodies fly into the
air, and their limbs and blood are scattered all over, to the extent that their
pure corpses cannot be contained in a grave?
And that is for the sake of Allah, and if He wills, He may bless the limbs of a
body torn to pieces.
Were these youths in a lesser Jihad, while our fasting,
and breaking our fasts on the most delicious of food are then a greater Jihad?
By Allah! This is an unequal measure, and if you were to put the matter before
the most knowledgeable people on earth, they would never arrive at such a
disparate verdict.
Fifthly:
The Egyptian, Dr. Muhammad Amin says, in his book,
"The Path of Islamic Propagation",
"Jihad of the self and Jihad by wealth, if they do not lead one to
establish the Call of Truth, and to stand beside it, enjoining the right and
forbidding the wrong, and contributing one's life and wealth in the Path of
Allah, are deficient Jihads containing inadequacy. It is astonishing that the
hour of testing and of severity, in which the feet are shaken and the heart
reaches the throat, can be called the Hour of the Lesser Jihad, while the hours
of safety and comfort in secure homes, in the midst of one's family and
friends, can be called hours of the Greater Jihad! In the like of such
appellations do the holders-back rejoice in their
sitting behind from obeying the Messenger of Allah (salallaahu
'alayhee wa sallam) and his Companions (radiallaahu
'anhum)? Such people find contentment and comfort in
this way, while in reality they only deceive their
weak souls, for the true values of the deeds are entirely the opposite."
Finally, we conclude with some verses which were sent by the mujahid scholar 'Abdullaah ibn al Mubarak, from the land of
Jihad to his friend Al Fudayl ibn
'Iyad, who used to preach to the rulers and make them
cry, yet did not seek any payment, being a sincere worshipper.
Oh worshipper in the Two Sanctuaries, if you could only behold us, You would see that you, in your devotions, are only playing.
If you are one whose cheek is tinged with his tears, Then
our chests are dyed with our blood.
- Abu Khubayb>
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The Pretended Jihad
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Some people may be astonished
when they hear a person describing Jihad in person as a lesser Jihad, or who
deems fighting in the Path of Allah (Ta'aala) little
in comparison to other acts of devotion. However, if we pursue the lives of
these people, look at their histories and investigate the reason for their
confusion regarding the matter, we will find that the explanation for their
stance is simple. These are the people who people undervalue Jihad and give
priority to studying in universities, writing in magazines, and giving speeches
in conferences over fighting and being martyred. By examining their lives, one
will find a common denominator, which brings them together in deficiency and
unites them in their viewpoint.
The common denominator among the feeble and those who hold back from Jihad (the
people of theories and concepts) is that they have not participated in Jihad.
The opportunity has not presented itself to these people (by the Will of Allah Ta'aala), nor have they had the good fortune to join a camp
of mujahideen. In such a camp there is a lack of
luxuries and a scarcity of necessities which would make them feel the
difference between a day in the camp and a similar day in the university with
its food, entertainment, and air-conditioned class rooms.
How can these people recognize the true value of Jihad when they have not
participated in the regiments of war nor entered into the arenas of tumult?
If a man plunges into a single battle, it will be sufficient to correct all his
misconceptions. The mujahid, in only a few hours, may
see things whose horror would make children gray
haired: bombs and splinters sweeping away the souls of the most beloved of his
Brethren who shared with him his traveling, training,
ribaat (guarding the front line), and Jihad. What
will be the situation of these people when the rockets and shells are exploding
over their heads and beneath their feet? How will it
be when they see with their very own eyes the scattering of arms, legs and
intestines so that a healthy body with well-proportioned limbs will become
handicapped, dismembered, or paralyzed?
This then is the underlying reason for the confusion on the part of those who
underrate Jihad.
In a few hours or days, the mujahid sees, with his own eyes, such hardships, trials, and tribulations, as
others do not see in decades. It will be impossible for anyone who engages in
this experience of Jihad to equate physical Jihad with other pacifistic means
of Da'wah. Therefore, anyone who disputes with the mujahid in the issue of Jihad or who calls people to
abandon fighting should join a camp, even if only as a servant. Or he should
participate in a battle even if only as a cook. Then after that, we will see
if, in his opinion, the pen is equal to the Kalashnikov.