Concept of Jehad in Islam

 Jehad is deliberately made abstruse term between two extremes. One school of thought, we find at one extreme is of those who, just to appease their Western masters, wants to prove Jehad an annulled and obsolete act in this age. The men of this school of thought may not be Qadyanis (followers of a falsely claimer of being prophet at the end of 19th century) but theoretically they have accepted his philosophy of abrogation of Jehad in these modern times. Ghulam Ahmed Qadyani did this to win the backing of the British Imperialists in India. This faction believes that Jehad was confined to only the period of early Muslims under the command of Muhammad, be peace and blessings of Allah upon him, when the Quran was being revealed with the enjoinment of this act. They forget what our Holy Prophets, SAW, had said: ‘No migration after conquest (of Makkaha by the Muslims) but Jehad will remain affirmed as usual. And whenever a call is raised for Jehad, you should respond to it.” (Bukhari)

There is another group, braggingly advocates this act and is vehement protagonist of Jehad, wanting to vanquish the enemies within twinkling of an eye. This group wants to challenge the powers against Islam all at once, without any understanding in which conditions and to whom Islam devolves the authority to take the flag of Jehad. Currently, apart from the genuine Jehadi elements in Palestine, Afghanistan and Kashmir, fighting for their freedom with their right conceded by the UNO and international communities, there are dozens of war-monger militant groups with the slogans of Jehad. Even the terrorists, massacring hundreds of innocents and destroying the properties make us believe their sabotaging activities are Jehad.

Nature of Islam

Islam, in spite of having Jehad hallmark of its colossus and as an obligation at the top of its teachings, still cannot be assumed to be the religion of sword. Basically, this is the religion of peace. The word Islam and Salam are from the same root, one meaning submission and yielding (to Allah, the Creator and the Master) and the other means security, safety and peace. Its spread from Arabian Peninsula to North Africa on one side and Far East to South Asia on the other side was due to attraction in its teachings and not because it allowed any attempt to force conversion upon the people. A renowned and very popular Western writer, Karen Armstrong, has discussed the issue in detail in her book “Holy War-The Crusades and their Impact on Today’s World”. She strongly believes that Islam has an enormous convincing power and attraction in its teachings. She admits that without facing any compulsion ‘more and more Arabs did convert to Islam of their own choice.’

Meaning and Significance of Jehad

The Arabic term Jehad is from Jahada, Juhd, which means to strive for, endeavor or exert oneself, to make physical or mental effort for an ideal or a goal. In Islam employing of a believer’s qualities of table talk, oration, writing power, wealth and social influence to convince the people about trueness and veracity of Islam is a major part of Jehad. Qital is its final stage when the believers put their lives at stake for exaltation of Islam and winning the Pleasure of Allah. It has been told a profitable trade with the Lord against Jannah (Paradise):
“Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties (in exchange) for that there shall be Paradise for them. They fight in Cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed…” (At-Taubah: 111)
There are many traditions reckoning the level of Jehad in Islamic system as the most excellent of the Ibadaat.
The Holy Prophet, SAW, is reported to have said: “When a nation (community) gives up Jehad, whole of it is afflicted by the torment of Allah.”(Tabrani)

(i) Abu Hurairah (RA) repoted: Once the Messenger of Allah, be peace and blessings upon him, was asked: “Which deed is the best?”
He replied: “Faith in Allah and His Messenger.”
He was (again) asked: What is next?”
He replied: “Jehad (holy war) in the Cause of Allah.”
Then he was asked: “What is after that?”
He replied: “Hajj Mabrur (which is accepted by Allah).” (Bukhari & Muslim)

(ii) Ibn Masud (RA) has reported: I asked the Messenger, be peace and blessings upon him, which of the acts is dearest to Allah?”
He said: “Performing the prayer at its earliest time.”
I asked: “What is the next (in goodness)?
He said: “Kindness towards the parents.”
I again asked: “What is next?”
He replied: “To participate in Jehad in the Cause of Allah.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

(iii )Tabrani has related a Hadith: “Chief part of this matter is submission to Allah. The one who accepts Islam is given peace and protection. Salat (prayer) is pillar of Islam. And peak of it is Jehad, attains it only the one who is far better among them." (Muslims)

Readiness for Jehad

No matter who said it is true that if you want peace then be ready for war. Actually this saying is fully in accordance with what Quran’s stance in this matter is. Weakness of a country in the comity of the nations is a fault never to be excused. Heavy retribution at the national level is a thing written on the wall for being remiss in the responsibilities of getting prepared for self-defense. The peace in this case is the peace of the wolves. In the snowy season when they find no prey and feel hungry, they come out and keeping eyes on each other, very cautiously sit in a circle. When they see any of them in drowsiness, all at once attack him and tear it out in pieces. The same is the punishment for the countries negligent in defense measures. Existence of the weak is all on how long the powerful give him respite to live.
This fact never remained hidden and Allah makes the believers obligated to the duty of Jehad for defending their Faith, lives, properties and territories. The Messenger, be peace and blessings upon him, was told: “O Prophet, urge the believers to battle…” (Al-Anfal: 65)

No stone is to be left unturned for readiness to courageously and with full preparation, face the enemy at any time and any front.
“And make ready against them (enemies) all you can of power, including steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you may not know but Allah knows. And whatever you spend in the Cause of Allah will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be treated unjustly.” (Al-Anfal: 60)

The Messenger of Allah is reported to have said that the power is in the arrows. In the times we live in the weaponry has become extraordinarily advance and sophisticated. Tanks, helicopters and planes have replaced the steeds of war. Arrows, swords, spears and other weapons of the olden times are outdated now. Heavy cannons, machine guns, rockets, missiles and bombs are used in the wars. A Muslim country has to make available for its defense all the conventional and unconventional weapons that the enemy has. Our Holy Prophet, be peace and blessings upon him, is reported to have once said:
“Fight the pagans with your wealth, with your lives and with your tongues.” (Abu Dawud)

There is a point here. In today’s wars propaganda through the media has a tremendous importance to break the morale of the combating armies and demoralize the confronting nation. Media is the modern ‘weapon of war’ and striving in the Cause of Allah with the tongues means fighting at the media front.

When Jehad becomes Obligatory?

Use of weapon is justified for the Muslims in bringing intrigues of the non-believers against the Muslim state to naught and in defending their Faith. Protecting the fellow Muslims or those who are their allies also proves right. Extinguishing the flames of ‘Fitnah’(disorder and mischief) with force is a thing with no escape from it. Preemptive action to let not succeed the evil designs of the enemy is an essential part of Jehad. Rise of some wicked elements causing a risk for the Muslim society at a larger scale within or around its borders makes it essential for a Muslim state to use power for crushing it. Reaching for the help of the innocent children, women and elderly people besieged in the enemies’ territory and wronged by them is a compulsory thing in the light of the Quran. Jehad is also permissible in case two parties or groups among the believers fall to fighting and one of them outrages against the other. Fighting against the outrageous party becomes necessary to bring peace and reconciliation.

Jehad is against the aggressors until they are defeated. When they bow to their kneels and lay down their arms their killing become inadmissible provided there is no risk from them to evince again any devilment. Allah, SWT, showed His disapproval on freeing the Makkan pagans, caught in the battle of Badr because their running loose was sure and it really proved true to be dangerous. Spiteful and revengeful extermination is not an Islamic act. Those who are not combatants, no matter they are non-believers, do not become subject to the military action. Venture over the Roman Empire in Syria and Persian Empire in Iraq by the Muslims was not a result of any imperialistic plans but because since the birth of the Muslim state in Madinah, they had been either helping the hostile tribes or had directly marched to invade the fragile Muslim state.

Ethics of Jehad

Islam does not allow an uncontrolled and ruthless use of power against the enemy and indiscriminately annihilate them. Da’wa (a call) to Islam is the basic thing. Even till just before the battle field gets heated with fighting this call is must to be raised. If some people in the ranks of the enemy are peace loving they must be guaranteed peace and protection.
“Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed Allah does not like transgression.” (Al-Baqarah: 190)

If the enemy shows any signs of avoiding a practical clash in the battlefield it should be considered and let no chance of peace go out of hand.
“And if they (combatants) incline to peace, then (you, the Muslims also) incline to peace and rely on Allah. Indeed it is He who is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (Al-Anfal: 61)

The Messenger of Allah, be peace and blessings upon him, strictly forbade killing of the women and children in the battlefield. (Bukhari) Slaying the priests, nuns and religious leaders of the enemy and destroying their places of worship are not allowed. Uprooting the fruity trees and ruin of the crops by the Muslim soldiers is prohibited. The Messenger of Allah, be peace and blessings upon him, austerely rejected the killing of a man from the enemy side if he had proclaimed his belief in Islam by uttering Shahdah. He was extremely grieved when he was told that Usamah bin Zayed and in another expedition Khalid bin Walid had done so.

Jehad is a Holy War, neither for bringing the lands in possession nor gaining the wealth. It is not for establishing some one’s supremacy and eminence. In it a believer is more likely to lose more than he acquires. Nothing is dearer than life and a Muslim soldier enters in the arena of the battle to happily sacrifice his life. Courage and steadiness has its value still victory in the battlefield is attributed to Allah and not counted to be a marvel of bravery. While going to the battle or coming back victoriously, boasting is an abominable attitude.
“And do not be like those who came forth from their homes insolently and to be seen by the people and avert the people from the way of Allah. And Allah is encompassing of what they do.” (Al-Anfal: 47)

Discipline in Jehad

(i)Firmness and standing unswerving is the basic quality in the battlefield proving decisive in the result of the war.
“Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in a row as though they are a structure joined firmly.” (As-Saff: 4)

(ii)Unity in the rows and obeying Allah and His Messenger, be peace and blessings upon him, is a prime condition for the believers never to be heedless of. Loss of this quality results in the loss of courage and strength. Eventually it is tantamount to vanquishing the battle. Allah, very clearly warns about it:
“O you who have believed! When you encounter a company (from the enemy forces), stand firm and remember Allah much so that you may be successful.
“And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and (thus) lose courage and (then) your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (Al-Anfal: 45, 46)

(iii)Greed is a moral poison. It spoils nature and causes humiliation at many stages in man’s life. Particularly in the battlefield having a greed for grabbing booty proves disastrous. This is why whenever the Messenger of Allah, be peace and blessings upon him, dispatched any expedition, he sent off the Muslim soldiers with an advice not to take anything stealthily from the bundles of the booty, not to play treachery, not to kill any child, any woman or any old man. (Abu Dawud, Tabrani)

(iv) The Messenger of Allah, be peace and blessings upon him, once said: "Desire not for an open clash with  the enemy, and pray Allah for safety. But if there is a call of situation to fight, then remain firm and steadfast. Be aware, Paradise is under the shadow of the swords." (Bukhari & Muslim)

(v)A Muslim is high by his courage and like a solid rock by his strength in the battlefield, with no sign of tottering and stumbling. Showing one’s back in the battlefield is one of the major sins and with Allah on the Day of Judgment there is a severe punishment for those who turn back. Allah says:
“O you who have believed, when you meet those who disbelieve in a battlefield, never turn your back to them.
“And whoever turns his back on such day, unless it is stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (his own company) he indeed has drawn upon him wrath from Allah. And his abode is Hell and worst indeed is that destination.” (Al-Anfal: 15, 16)

In a Hadith related by Muslim the Messenger of Allah, be peace and blessings upon him, is reported to once have mentioned to them: “ Jehad in the Cause of Allah and Faith in Allah are the best of the deeds.” One of the men there stood and asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Tell me if I am killed in the Cause of Allah, will my sins will be forgiven?” The Messenger, be peace and blessings upon him, repeatedly said: “Yes, if you are killed in the way of Allah and you have shown patience and hoped for good reward, you have advanced and have not retreated turning your back.”

A flat refusal from going to fight the enemy or running back from the battlefield is an improper behavior, highly improbable from a true believer. It were not others but the Children of Israel (Jews) who after getting freedom from the slavery of Firoun, when asked by Mosa (AS) to enter the ‘promised land’, refused to move ahead saying:
“They said, “O Moses, indeed within it is a people of tyrannical strength, and indeed, we will never enter it until they leave it; but if they leave it then we will enter.” (Al-Maidah: 22)
The Bible in Deuteronomy, 26-37, has a bit detailed account of the cowardice of the Jews.

Concluding Words

Jehad is neither a matter of hollow slogans nor of the insane emotionalism. It is one of the most excellent acts of Ibadah. As the pillars, the five time prayers, paying Zakat, and Fasting in the month of Ramadhan and performing Hajj, the acts never to be suspended, support entire structure of Deen, Jehad is its hump, never to be broken. Spirit of Jehad is the life of the Muslims. When this spirit is lost the Ummah becomes lifeless. Jehad is a multi dimensional term. It is not the stick in hand of a blind man. Let it not be a misapprehended matter and not be a toy of some ignorant people. With sufficient religious knowledge gaining modern knowledge, improving the technology, making progress in different fields and being self-sufficient to such an extent that there remains no need to extend a begging hand to the powers who want us bow to them and follow them in the culture.
One very important aspect of Jehad is its fulfillment under a single and strong command. Unity and harmonious atmosphere within the Jehadi camp is a thing always required during the act of Jehad. Different groups, mostly clashing with eachother, having their own leadership, with a different commanders, inspite of their good intention and sincererity with the Cause, is against the teachings of Islam. Such groups are more likely to be trapped into a situation harmful for the sacred mission of Islam.