Verses and Hadith on Jihad in English - Importance of Jihad in Islam

Jihad in Islam

 

 Jihad  is an Islamic term referring to a religious duty of Muslims. Jihad - Types of Jihad

 In Arabic, the word jih?d is a noun meaning "struggle" or "resisting". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid, the plural of which is mujahideen. The word jihad appears frequently in the Quran, often in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God (al-jihad fi sabil Allah)".

Verses of Qur'an on Jihad 

The Glorious Qur�an says:

 22:40 Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged - and Allah indeed has power to help them -

61:12 That you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your persons. That is better for you, if you did not know.

29:70 And as for those who strive in Our path-We will surely guide them in Our ways. And verily Allah is with those who do good.

 �Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.� [Al-Qur�an 60:8]

 The words that often cause consternation among those unfamiliar with Islam, are: ��and slay them wherever ye catch them��

��if any one slew a person � unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land � it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.� [Al-Qur�an 5:32]

��take not life, which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom.� [Al-Qur�an 6:151]


 Hadith about the Importance of Jihad 

 It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: One who died but did not fight in the way of Allah nor did he express any desire (or determination) for Jihid died the death of a hypocrite. (Sahih Muslim, 20:4696)

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say:... "By the Being in Whose Hand is my life, I love that I should be killed in the way of Allah; then I should be brought back to life and be killed again in His way." (Sahih Muslim, 20:4631 [see also 20:4626])

Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: If anyone fights in Allah's path as long as the time between two milkings of a she-camel, Paradise will be assured for him. If anyone sincerely asks Allah for being killed and then dies or is killed, there will be a reward of a martyr for him. (Sunan Abu Dawud, 14:2535)

he Prophet Muhammad was heard saying: "The smallest reward for the people of Paradise is an abode where there are 80,000 servants and 72 wives, over which stands a dome decorated with pearls, aquamarine, and ruby, as wide as the distance from Al-Jabiyyah [a Damascus suburb] to Sana'a [Yemen]" (Sunan At-Tirmidhi, 4:21:2687)

It has been narrated on the authority of Masruq Who said: We asked 'Abdullah about the Qur'anic verse: "Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they are alive, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord" (Qur'an 3:169). He said: We asked the meaning of the verse (from the Holy Prophet) who said: The souls of the martyrs live in the bodies of green birds who have their nests in chandeliers hung from the throne of the Almighty. They eat the fruits of Paradise from wherever they like and then nestle in these chandeliers. (Sahih Muslim, 20:4651)

Allah's Apostle said, "Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords." (Sahih Bukhari, 4:52:73 [see also 4:52:210, and Sahih Muslim, 20:4681])

It has been reported on the authority of Jabir that a man said: Messenger of Allah, where shall I be if I am killed? He replied: In Paradise. The man threw away the dates he had in his hand and fought until he was killed (i. e. he did not wait until he could finish the dates). (Sahih Muslim, 20:4678)

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira who said: Allah has undertaken to provide for one who leaves his home (only) to fight for His cause and to affirm the truth of His word; Allah will either admit him to Paradise or will bring him back home from where he had come out, with his reward and booty. (Sahih Muslim, 20:4628)

The Prophet said, "A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah's Cause in the forenoon or in the afternoon is better than the world and whatever is in it." (Sahih Bukhari, 4:52:50 [see also 4:52:51, 4:52:52, and Sahih Muslim, 20:4643])

 A man came to the Prophet and asked, "A man fights for war booty; another fights for fame and a third fights for showing off; which of them fights in Allah's Cause?" The Prophet said, "He who fights that Allah's Word (i.e. Islam) should be superior, fights in Allah's Cause." (Sahih Bukhari, 4:52:65 [see also 9:93:550 and Sahih Muslim, 20:4684, 20:4685, 20:4686, 20:4687])

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: I am commanded to fight with men till they testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and His Apostle, face our qiblah (direction of prayer), eat what we slaughter, and pray like us. When they do that, their life and property are unlawful for us except what is due to them. They will have the same rights as the Muslims have, and have the same responsibilities as the Muslims have. (Sunan Abu Dawud, 14:2635)

Allah's Apostle said: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform a that, then they save their lives an property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah." (Sahih Bukhari, 1:2:24 [see also 4:52:196])

It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: I have been commanded to fight against people, till they testify to the fact that there is no god but Allah, and believe in me (that) I am the messenger (from the Lord) and in all that I have brought. And when they do it, their blood and riches are guaranteed protection on my behalf except where it is justified by law, and their affairs rest with Allah. (Sahih Muslim, 1:31 [see also 1:130, 1:32, 1:33])

Islam and Terrorism - What Quran and Hadith says about Terrorism and Jihad?

Islam is the religion of peace

Islam is in fact a religion that promotes peace and understanding among people of all faiths, and it strongly prohibits all forms of violence and aggression against all people regardless of their faith or race.


What Does Islam Say about Terrorism?

The term "terrorism" does not exist in the Qur'an or the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). If the terms "terrorist or terrorism" are derived from a verb used in the Qur'an, such as 5:33 describing a "Muslim's" terrorist acts, it is in condemnation and prescribes most severe punishment.

Islam is a religion and a way of life that does not separate politics from religion. Islam is a religion of mercy, unity and most importantly peace with one's self and others, to defend not to fight.

Allah said in Holy Quran:

"God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes, that you should show them kindness and deal justly with them. God loves just dealers." [Noble Quran 60:8]

"Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not begin aggression, for God loves not aggressors." [Noble Quran 2:190]

"If they seek peace, then seek you peace and trust in God for He is the Hearer, the Knower." [Noble Quran 8:61]

" and let not the hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is next to piety; and fear Allah, for Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do." [Noble Quran 5:8]

"But (remember that an attempt at) requiting evil may, too, become an evil: hence whoever pardons (his foe) and makes peace, his reward rests with Allah- for, verily He does not love transgressors." [Noble Quran 42:40]

"The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! He between whom and thee there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a bosom friend. [Noble Quran 41:34]

HADTH

These are translations of hadiths (traditions/narrations) of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said to me during Hajjat-al-Wida': Let the people keep quiet and listen. Then he said (addressing the people), �Do not (become infidels) revert to disbelief after me by striking the necks (cutting the throats) of one another (killing each other).�
(Narrated by Jarir, Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 1:122)

While we were with Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who was distributing (i.e. some property), there came Dhu-l-Khuwaisira, a man from the tribe of Bani Tamim and said, �O Allah�s Apostle! Do Justice.� The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, �Woe to you! Who could do justice if I did not? I would be a desperate loser if I did not do justice.� �Umar said, �O Allah�s Apostle! Allow me to chop his head off.� The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, �Leave him, for he has companions who pray and fast in such a way that you will consider your fasting negligible in comparison to theirs. They recite Qur�an but it does not go beyond their throats (i.e. they do not act on it) and they will desert Islam as an arrow goes through a victim�s body, so that the hunter, on looking at the arrow�s blade, would see nothing on it; he would look at its Risaf and see nothing, he would look at its Nadi and see nothing, and he would look at its Qudhadh (1) and see nothing (neither meat nor blood), for the arrow has been too fast even for the blood and excretions to smear. The sign by which they will be recognized is that among them there will be a black man, one of whose arms will resemble a woman�s breast or a lump of meat moving loosely. Those people will appear when there will be differences amongst the people.� I testify that I heard this narration from Allah�s Apostle and I testify that �Ali bin Abi Talib, peace be upon him, fought with such people, and I was in his company. He ordered that the man (described by the Prophet, peace be upon him) should be looked for. The man was brought and I looked at him and noticed that he looked exactly as the Prophet had described him.
(Narrated by Abu Said Al Khudri, Sahih Al-Bukhari 4:807)


The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, �I have been made victorious with As-Saba (i.e. an easterly wind) and the people of �Ad were destroyed by Ad-Dabur (i.e. a westerly wind).� Narrated Abu Said: Ali, peace be upon him, sent a piece of gold to the Prophet, peace be upon him, who distributed it among four persons: Al-Aqra� bin Habis Al-Hanzali from the tribe of Mujashi, �Uyaina bin Badr Al-Fazari, Zaid At-Ta�i who belonged to (the tribe of) Bani Nahban, and �Alqama bin Ulatha Al-�Amir who belonged to (the tribe of) Bani Kilab. So the Quraish and the Ansar became angry and said, �He (i.e. the Prophet, peace be upon him) gives the chief of Najd and does not give us.� The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, �I give (them) so as to attract their hearts (to Islam).� Then a man with sunken eyes, prominent checks, a raised forehead, a thick beard and a shaven head, came (in front of the Prophet ) and said, �Be afraid of Allah, O Muhammad!� The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, �Who would obey Allah if I disobeyed Him? (Is it fair that) Allah has trusted all the people of the earth to me while, you do not trust me?� Somebody who, I think was Khalid bin Al-Walid, requested the Prophet, peace be upon him, to let him chop that man�s head off, but he prevented him. When the man left, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, �Among the off-spring of this man will be some who will recite the Qur�an but the Qur�an will not reach beyond their throats (i.e. they will recite like parrots and will not understand it nor act on it), and they will renegade from the religion as an arrow goes through the game�s body. They will kill the Muslims but will not disturb the idolaters. If I should live up to their time I will kill them as the people of �Ad were killed (i.e. I will kill all of them).�
(Narrated by Ibn Abbas, Sahih Al-Bukhari 4:558)


I relate the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to you for I would rather fall from the sky than attribute something to him falsely. But when I tell you a thing which is between you and me, then no doubt, war is guile. I heard Allah�s Apostle, peace be upon him, saying, �In the last days of this world there will appear some young foolish people who will use (in their claim) the best speech of all people (i.e. the Holy Qur�an) and they will abandon Islam as an arrow going through the game. Their belief will not go beyond their throats (i.e. they will have practically no belief), so wherever you meet them, kill them, for he who kills them shall get a reward on the Day of Resurrection.�
(Narrated by Ali, Sahih Al-Bukhari 4:808)


Ali, son of Abi Talib, sent a piece of gold not yet taken out of its ore, in a tanned leather container to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. The Prophet, peace be upon him, distributed that amongst four persons: �Uyaina bin Badr, Aqra bin Habis, Zaid Al-Khail and the fourth was either Alqama or Amir bin At Tufail. On that, one of his companions said, �We are more deserving of this (gold) than these (persons).� When that news reached the Prophet, peace be upon him, he said, �Don�t you trust me though I am the truthworthy man of the One in the Heavens, and I receive the news of Heaven (i.e. Divine Inspiration) both in the morning and in the evening?� There got up a man with sunken eyes, raised cheek bones, raised forehead, a thick beard, a shaven head and a waist sheet that was tucked up and he said, �O Allah�s Apostle! Be afraid of Allah.� The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, �Woe to you! Am I not of all the people of the earth the most entitled to fear Allah?� Then that man went away. Khalid bin Al-Wahd said, �O Allah�s Apostle! Shall I chop his neck off?� The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, �No, for he may offer prayers.� Khalid said, �Numerous are those who offer prayers and say by their tongues (i.e. mouths) what is not in their hearts.� Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, �I have not been ordered (by Allah) to search the hearts of the people or cut open their bellies.� Then the Prophet, peace be upon him, looked at him (i.e. that man) while the latter was going away and said, �From the offspring of this (man there will come out (people) who will recite the Qur�an continuously and elegantly but it will not exceed their throats. (They will neither understand it nor act upon it). They would go out of the religion (i.e. Islam) as an arrow goes through a game�s body.� I think he also said, �If I should be present at their time I would kill them as the nations of Thamud were killed.�
(Narrated by Abu Said Al Khudri, Sahih Al-Bukhari, 5:638)


The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, �O Allah! Bless our Sham and our Yemen.� People said, �Our Najd as well.� The Prophet, peace be upon him, again said, �O Allah! Bless our Sham and Yemen.� They said again, �Our Najd as well.� On that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, �There will appear earthquakes and afflictions, and from there will come out the side of the head of Satan.�
(Narrated by Ibn Umar, Sahih Al-Bukhari, 2:147)

The True Meaning of "Jihad"

Jihad is usually associated with Islam and Muslims, but in fact, the concept of Jihad is found in all religions including Christianity, Judaism and political/economic ideologies, such as, Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, etc. Islam defines Jihad as striving and struggling for improvement as well as fighting back to defend one's self, honor, assets and homeland. Also, Jihad is interpreted as the struggle against evil, internal or external of a person or a society. Jihad, in Islam, means doing any or all but not limited to the following:

Learn, teach, and practice Islam in all aspects of one's life at all times to reach the highest and best education in order to benefit oneself, family and society.
Be a messenger of Islam everywhere, in every behavior and action.
Fight evil, wrongdoing, and injustice with all one's power by one's hand (action), with one's tongue (speech), or at least with one's heart (prayer).
Respond to the call for Jihad with money, effort, wisdom and life; yet, never fight a Muslim brother, a Muslim country, or a non-Muslim society that respects its treaties and harbors no aggressive designs against Islam or Muslims.
Suicide under any pretext is not condoned as Jihad in Islam.
Converting people to Islam by force or coercion is never Jihad but a crime, punishable by law.
The concept of Muslim men rushing out to kill themselves to get "70 dancing virgins" in Paradise, is really quite silly.
The fact of the matter is, the "companions of Paradise" are mentioned as being pure and so much above anything we might imagine on earth, so as to indicate to us they are perpetually "virgin" and are not "touched" by men or devils.
The words "perpetual virgin" even in English, should give anyone the understanding these are not such as we have known on earth.
There can be no mistaking the meaning in the Arabic language as to the purity and innocence of these companions.

 Jihad is NOT Holy War

Jihad is NOT blowing up one�s self  (Suicide is a sin in Islam)

Hadith  : Shahi Bukhari.
Book 23. Funerals (Al-Janaa'iz).

Volumn 002, Book 023, Hadith Number 445.
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Narated By Thabit bin Ad-Dahhak : The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "Whoever intentionally swears falsely by a religion other than Islam, then he is what he has said, (e.g. if he says, 'If such thing is not true then I am a Jew,' he is really a Jew). And whoever commits suicide with piece of iron will be punished with the same piece of iron in the Hell Fire." Narrated Jundab the Prophet said, "A man was inflicted with wounds and he committed suicide, and so Allah said: My slave has caused death on himself hurriedly, so I forbid Paradise for him."

Jihad is NOT killing innocent people

Jihad is NOT flying a plane into a building packed with civilians

Jihad is NOT fighting out of anger and hatred

Jihad is NOT killing others just because they don�t agree with you

Jihad is NOT killing others just because they are not Muslims

Jihad - Types of Jihad

"Meaning of Jihad"

Jihad is a religious duty of a Muslim. In Arabic, the word Jihad translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad is struggling or striving in the way or sake of  Allah.

 Jihad takes a very important status in the doctrine of Islam.  A person engaged in Jihad is called Mujahid. Jihad appears 41 times in the Qur'an.

"Narrated Anas bin Malik"

The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said:

"A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah's cause  in the forenoon or in the afternoon is better then the world and whatever is in it."

 

"Forms of Jihad"

Jihad has many forms,

"Jihad of the heart/soul (jihad bin nafs)"

"Jihad against Satan (jihad ash_shaitaan)

"Jihad by the tongue (jihad bil lasan)" 

"Jihad by the sword (jihad bis saif)"

 "Jihad by the pen/knowledge (jihad bil qalam)"

 

"JIHAD OF THE HEART/SOUL" 

Jihad bin nafs is the most important and greatest Jihad in Islam.

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) said:

"The best Jihad is for one to perform Jihad against his  own self and against his  desires".

Jihad bin nafs means struggling against your own self and desires  and forcing your self to follow the orders of Allah and stay away from what Allah has ordered us to stay away from.

Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said:

"Jihad against one's own self in the cause of Allah is the  best Jihad"             

"JIHAD AGAINST SATAN"

 Struggling against the Satan means to defend yourself  from his evil whisperings, his doubtful matters  and his temptations. Satan is our big enemy.

Allah says in Qur'an:

"Surely, Shaitan is an enemy to you, So treat his as an enemy." [35:6]

This type of jihad is an obligations for all individual and no one can do it on another one's behalf.  We should understand that Satan's whispering will never go away, and therefor,  we must keep struggling throughout our lives.

Allah says in Qur'an:

"Oh you who believe!  do not follow the steps of shaytan. Whoever follows the footsteps of shaytan. then indeed  he commands Al-fahsha ( indecency etc.) and Al-munkar (evil deeds) . And  had it not been for the grace of Allah and His Mercy upon you, none of you would  be pure from sins. But Allah purifies whom He will, and Allah is Al-Hearer and Al-knower."[ 24:21]

"JIHAD BY THE TONGUE"

Jihad by the tongue is concerned with speaking the truth and spreading the word of Islam with one's tongue.

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) said:

"Strive in Jihad with your hands, your tongues and your wealth". 

"JIHAD BY THE SWORD"

This form of Jihad is referred as "the lesser Jihad". Jihad of the hand includes struggle by the sword (Jihad bis saif), as when one fights the aggressor who attack you in combative war. This Jihad is not to misuse of arms to create violence. There are only two situations where Jihad by the sword is allowed to be undertaken.

1)For self defense.

2)Fighting against evil and unjust.

 Allah says in holy Qur'an:

"And fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly Allah likes not the transgressors". (Surah Al-Baqarah)     

 

"JIHAD BY THE PEN/KNOWLEDGE"

This form of Jihad involves scholarly research of Islam in aiding the spread and defense of Islam. Messenger of Allah once stated that the ink of a scholar is holier than the blood of a martyr and one who who is reading looks handsome in front of Allah.    

 

"WHAT JIHAD IS NOT" 

  -Jihad is not killing innocent people-

-Jihad is not blowing up one's self-

-Jihad is not fighting out of anger and hatred- 

-Jihad is not killing others just because they don't agree with you-

- Jihad is not killing others just because they are not Muslims-

-Jihad is not flying a plane into a building packed with civilians-