In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Gracious

As-Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu

ISLAMIC

RESEARCH AND INFORMATION CENTRE

The Concept of Jihaad (The Holy War)

Many people, both Muslims and non-Muslims, without understanding the Islamic concept of Jihaad properly, have disgraced Islam a lot. So there is a need of understanding the Islamic concept of Jihaad, so that misconceptions may not exist.

Islam is not a collection of fairy tales or of some impractical fancies. It is a perfect and practicable code of life. It guides man in all walks of life. So it does not overlook the facts of life.

Islam respects human life. The Holy Quraan says:

1)      “If anyone slays a human being unless it be (in punishment) for murder or for spreading corruption on earth – it shall be as if he slain the whole of mankind; whereas if anyone saves a life, it shall be as if he saved the lives of all mankind.” (5: 32)

2)      “And do not kill any nafs (living being) that Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause.” (17: 33)

But when any human life becomes a source of terror and aggression or constant peril to the lives of innocent people, then it loses its sanctity and its termination becomes indispensable and therein is the welfare of the humanity.

As individuals become a source of terror and aggression or constant peril to the lives of innocent people, so nations too become the same. At that time war is indispensable if, at all, humanity has to survive. Islam asked Muslims to deal with the wicked nations in the same manner as they deal with a wicked individual.

The human society always contains a number of anti-social elements that need a check. When the evil becomes parasitic upon the good, it becomes the primary duty of humanity to restrain it with all the means at her disposal.

So long as there exist aggression, injustice, tyranny, mischief etc. in the world. War is unavoidable. If war is avoidable and if justice, freedom, peace and safety can be restored without war, why have America, Europe and all other nations of today’s (so called) civilized world maintained military and develop dangerous weapons, to defend themselves? Why do they spend billions of dollars on the same? They should not have kept them. They should not have spent even a single dollar. But they are doing because they too realize that they may, at any time, come across such situations when only war is the solution. If the money that is spent on military and weapons by most of the nations of today’s civilized world, is compared to the money that is spent on any productive and constructive work of the nations, we come to know that the money that is spent on military and weapons of any state is much, much more than the money that is spent on any productive and constructive work of the same state. This shows that the top priority is given to defense and security of the state by all the nations of today’s civilized world. When the nations of today’s civilized world can do so much to defend themselves, why can’t Islam do anything to defend Muslims and their states? What is wrong if Islam asks Muslims to fight against wrongdoers, evildoers, oppressors, tyrants and those who spread mischief and all other Munkaraat, to defend the followers of Islam?

To mislead people and to make them against Islam, some non-Muslims, instead of quoting the complete Quraanic Verses that are regarding Jihaad, quote only a portion of it. They do not mention when and why, under what conditions and circumstances, on what occasion and against what type of unbelievers Islam has asked Muslims to fight. Let us study it. Allah says:

1)      “To those, against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight), because they were wronged. And verily, Allah is all Powerful for their aid. (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right, - (for no cause) except that they say, ‘our Lord is Allah.’” (22: 39, 40)

2)      “Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress the limits. For Allah does not love transgressors. And slay them wherever you catch them (during war), and turn them out from where they have turned you out. For persecution is worse than slaughter. But do not fight them at the sacred mosque, unless they fight you there. But if they fight you slay them. Such is the rewards of the kaafirs. But if they cease, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Merciful. And fight them until there is no persecution and the Religion (Law) becomes Allah’s. But if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression.” (2: 190-193)

3)      “And what happened to you that you do not fight in the cause of Allah and on behalf of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed) – men, women and children - who cry: ‘Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors. And raise for us from You one who will protect. And raise for us from You one who will help!’ Those who believe (in Allah) fight in the cause of Allah; and those who reject Faith (in Allah) fight in the cause of evil (Taghoot). So fight you against the friends of Satan. Feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan.”  (4:  75, 76)

4)      “Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of the Truth, from among the people of the Book, until they pay the Jizya (tax) with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” (9: 29)

5)      “Allah does not forbid you, with regard to those who do not fight you about the Religion, nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them. For Allah loves those who are just. Allah forbids you, with regard to only those who fight you about the Religion and drive you out of your homes and support others in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship), and those who made them friends, are the wrong-doers.” (60: 8, 9)

6)      “(Because) they but wish that you should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they). So do not take friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (from what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever you find them. And (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks except those who join a group between whom and you there is a treaty (of peace), or those who approach you with hearts restraining them from fighting you or fighting their own people. If Allah had pleased, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. Therefore, if they withdraw from you, and do not fight against you, and (instead) send you (guarantees of) peace, then Allah has opened no way for you (to war against them). You will find others that wish to be secure from you as well as that of their people. Every time they are sent back to temptation, they succumb thereto: if they do not withdraw from you, nor offer you (guarantees of) peace, nor restrain their hands, seize them and slay them wherever you get them. In their case, We have provided you with a clear argument against them.” (4: 89-91)

7)       “Fight is prescribed for you, and you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing that is good for you, and that you love a thing that is bad for you. Allah knows, and you know not.” (2: 216)

8)      “And did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief, but Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds.” (2:251)

9)      “Say to the unbelievers, if (now) they desist, their past would be forgiven for them; but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them). And fight them on until there is no persecution and the Religion becomes Allah’s in its entirety, but if they cease, verily, Allah does see all that they do. If they refuse, be sure that Allah is your Protector, the Best to protect and the Best to help.” (8: 38-40)

10)  “But if they (unbelievers) violate their oaths after their covenant, and attack your Faith - fight you the chiefs of unfaith. For, their oaths are nothing to them, that thus they may be restrained. Will you not fight people who violated their oaths, plotted to expel the Messenger, and attacked you first? Do you fear them? Nay, it is Allah Whom you should more justly fear, if you believe! Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and help you (to victory) over them and heal the breasts of believers.” (9: 12-14)

11)  “But if they incline to peace, you also incline to it, and (put your) trust in Allah. Verily, Allah is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” (8: 61)

After studying above noted Verses of the Holy Quraan, it is clear that Islam asks Muslims to fight against oppressors, wrongdoers, mischievous and unbelievers, to defend Islam and Muslims, to implement Ma’roofaat (right) and to eradicate Munkaraat (evil). Allah’s Messenger said to his companions: “Help your brother whether he is the wrong-doer or the wronged.” Thereupon people asked him: “We can help the man when he is wronged, but we fail to know how a wrong-doer can be helped.” On this, Allah’s Messenger replied: “You can do this by holding his hand from oppression.” (Saheeh Bukhari)

  Allah’s Messenger said: “He who fights under the banner of people who are blind (in prejudice), who gets flared up with ‘Asabah (prejudice), or calls people to fight for ‘Asabah (prejudice), supports ‘Asabah (prejudice), and is killed (in the fight), his death will be the death of ignorance.” (Saheeh Muslim)

 If unbelievers abstain from fighting Muslims, Muslims have no way to war against them (see 4: 89-91; 8: 61). Similarly, if oppressors, wrongdoers and mischievous people turn in repentance, Muslims have no way to war against them too (see 8: 38 - 40). Moreover, Allah says: “If one amongst the pagans asks you for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the Word of Allah. And then escort him to where he can be secure, that is because they are men without knowledge.” (9: 6)

It clearly means that Islam is not against non-Muslims. It is, in fact, against unbelief, persecution, terrorism, oppression, tyranny, evils and other wrong things. Dr. Hammudah Abdalati says: “War is not an objective of Islam nor is it the normal course of Muslims. It is only the last resort and is used under the most extraordinary circumstances when all other measures fail. This is the actual status of war in Islam. Islam is the Religion of peace: its meaning is peace; one of God’s Name is (the Source of) peace; the daily greetings of Muslims and angels are peace; paradise is the house of peace, the adjective ‘Muslim’ means peaceful. Peace is the nature, the meaning, the emblem and the objective of Islam. Every being is entitled to enjoy the peace of Islam and the kindness of the peaceful Muslims, regardless of religious, geographical or racial considerations, so long as there is no aggression against Islam and the Muslims. If non-Muslims are peaceful with the Muslims or even indifferent to Islam, there can be no ground or justification to declare war on them. There is no such thing as religious war to force Islam on non-Muslims, because if Islam does not emerge from deep convictions, from within, it is not acceptable to God, nor can it help its professor. So, Islam forbids compulsion in Religion.” (Islam in Focus: Pg. 143)

After studying unbiasedly the Islamic concept of Jihaad explained so far, no reasonable man can have any objection against Islamic concept of Jihaad.

Terrorism

Without understanding the right concept of Jihaad, today, many nominal Muslim groups are spreading terrorism in the name of Jihaad targeting innocent civilians. Their intention is not to establish Islam by implementing Ma’roofaat and by eradicating Munkaraat. They just want to rule one more territory according to their own wishes. If they had been interested in establishing Islam, they would have established it first in the territories that they have in their hands, they would have rectified Muslim countries first; they would have established Islam in Muslim countries first. What most of Muslim groups are doing today in the name of Jihaad is not a Jihaad. It is terrorism. Because their intentions are not that what Islam has prescribed for Jihaad, nor they target right one. Thus they are not only disgracing Islam in the sight of those whom they had to invite to Islam, but also creating lots of problems for both Islam and Muslims.

Suicide Attacks

Today, in various parts of the world, suicide attacks are being made in the name of Jihaad targeting civilians who have nothing to do with the politics. This cannot be Jihaad.  Moreover, suicide is unlawful in Islam, and it is a sign of frustration and disappointment from the Mercy of Allah. Allah says:

1)      “Do not kill yourselves. Verily, Allah is Merciful to you.” (4: 29)

2)      “And make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction, but do good. For Allah loves those who do good.” (2: 195)

So suicide attack cannot be justified. It cannot be regarded as Jihaad in any way. Only the war, which is made with the aims and objectives set by Allah and in the way taught and shown by Allah and His Messenger, can be regarded as Jihaad. A fight cannot be called as Jihaad just because Muslims are fighting it. Moreover, Jihaad is made to please Allah. And none can please Allah through unlawful means like suicide.

Today, many nominal Muslim scholars are arousing common and ignorant Muslims on fighting in the name of Jihaad to save their secular states or to establish new secular states. This cannot be Jihaad. So, common Muslims should be careful from them.

If Muslims really want to launch Jihaad, they should launch Jihaad against the Satan first of all because he is the biggest enemy of man. Muslims must abstain from major sins, and must try to obey Allah and His Messenger in all walks of life. If they indulge in sins, and disobey Allah and His Messenger, how can they triumph?

Propagation of Islam with Sword

Many people say, “Islam was spread at the point of sword.”

As far as the propagation of Islam is concerned, Allah says:

1)      “Let there be no compulsion in Religion.” (2: 256)

2)      “Invite (all) to the Way of your Lord with Wisdom and beautiful Preaching, and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious.” (16: 125)

3)      “And you are not one to compel them by force. So admonish with the Quraan such as fear My Warning!” (50: 45)

4)      “If it had been thy Lord’s Will, they would all have believed, - all who are on earth! - Will you compel mankind against their will, to believe! No soul can believe except by the Will of Allah, and He will place abomination on those who do not employ their mind.” (10: 99, 100)

When there are such Commands of Allah regarding the propagation of Islam, how could Muhammed and his companions have propagated Islam at the point of sword? It is not the sword that compelled non-Muslims to embrace Islam. It is the truthfulness and benefits of Islam, which attracted and have been attracting non-Muslims who employ their mind. Let us study briefly the Holy Wars launched by Muhammed and his companions.

After Muhammed was appointed as Allah’s Messenger by Allah, Muhammed began to invite all to the Way of Allah (Islam) in Makkah. Some people embraced Islam. Then, he and his followers were tortured a lot by the polytheists of Makkah. And some Muslims have been killed too, but Muslims did not launch a war against the polytheists: they tolerated everything. After thirteen years, when there lives became impossible in Makkah, they migrated to Madinah leaving their houses and businesses back. As soon as they settled in Madinah, they resumed preaching Islam. But the polytheists of Makkah were jealous of the increasing popularity of Islam. So to efface Islam and Muslims, they launched a war with one thousand fully armed fighters against Muslims. It was the time to defend Islam and Muslim community. So, Muhammed and his followers had to fight, otherwise they would have been effaced. So, with three hundred and thirteen scarcely armed fighters, Muslims fought against the Kaafirs of Makkah at Badr. And by the Grace of Allah, Muslims won the War. This was the first war of Muslims. Thereafter Muhammed lived eight years in which he fought twenty-seven battles and dispatched fifty-five armed contingents under the command of his various companions. Syed Asad Gilani says:

“One thinks about the extent of bloodshed and destruction during those eight years of confrontation. Historians have presented a chart showing loss of human life and injury on the side of the Prophet as well as his adversaries. This chart indicates human loss suffered during eighty-two battles and confrontations.

Muslims        459 killed       127 wounded            11 captured

Opponents    459 killed       not known                 6524 captured

It proves that the total human loss during the amazing Islamic revolution was 918. Spreading the figure over eighty-two battles the average of those killed comes to eleven per battle. One has to concede that comparatively it was the greatest bloodless revolution known to mankind. The Islamic revolution transformed the man, the society and its values, the economy, the politics and the system of government at a meagre cost of nine hundred and eighteen human lives. It exerted a pleasant influence and everlasting impact on human history. It made man understand that he is the supreme creature of the Lord and his responsible viceroy on earth.

During the French Revolution brought about in the name of democracy the death toll was so high that they had to invent Guillotine to chop off dozens of heads at a time. This machine for the service of democracy was installed on important crossings in French cities and towns to offer the present of immeasurable human blood to the goddess of democracy. For that Democratic Revolution which later on proved to be a farce and jugglery of words approximately 6.6 million human beings were guillotined. Every neatly dressed person was put to death.

Similarly, in the Russian Revolution for Communism, which itself claimed to present a solution for the problems of half of mankind, more than 10 million people lost their lives through bloodshed and in icy-cold prisons.

During the First World War (1914-1918) European countries, which were slave traders themselves, fought against Germany to safeguard their national independence. Here is the number of men killed in this war:

Russia            17lacs           Germany        16lacs             France       13.7lacs                 Austria            8lacs               Britain                 7.06lacs           Italy                4.6lacs

Turkey             2.5lacs            Belgium             1.02lacs           Bulgaria         1lac

Romania          1lac                 America             1lac                  Total               73.38lacs

In these figures the warring countries did not include the number of men killed belonging to their colonies which included India.

The Second World War was also fought for the same objective as the first world war of 1914. They were the same parties once again as the issue was not resolved despite a colossal loss of human life.

In this War, apart from the money sunk to the tune of billions of Pounds and Dollars, the human loss was again very heavy and even exceeded the total in the First World War.

Germany        28.5lacs          China              22lacs          Japan             15lacs

Russia            7.5lacs            Britain             5.5lacs         America          3lacs

Italy                3lacs               France              2lacs            Total           106.5lacs

The financial loss of America alone stood at 35 billion dollars, while ten million people were made homeless in the U.S.A. (Encyclopedia vol. 23: page 775,793)

This is a glimpse of political wars. Among the religious wars of the world, …when religious courts were established in Europe, twelve million people of one sect were killed or burnt alive by the other sect. (Apology of Mohammed – John Devonport) out of this, 3.4lacs were killed and burnt alive in Spain alone.” (Methodology of Prophet Muhammed’s Islamic Revolution Pg. 223-225)

When we compare the death toll of the wars fought by Muhammed and his companions, with the death toll of any of the wars of world history, when one studies the aims and objectives of the wars fought by Muhammed and his companions, and the aims and objectives of any of the wars of world history, when one comes to know the benefits and the changes brought by the wars fought by Muhammed and his companions, and the changes brought by any of the wars of world history, one cannot help praising Islam.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © NOORUL HUSSAIN K. 2004