Jihad in theQur'aan and Sunnah 

By SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN MUHAMMAD BIN HUMAID 

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Publisher's Note
After the testimony of Oneness of Allaah swt and the Messengership of Muhammad , with firm
belief and True Faith, one has to perform the acts of worship as ordained by Islaam. Among the
obligatory acts of worship are offering the Salat (prayers), observing theSaum (fasts), paying the
Zakat and performing the Hajj (pilgrimage to Makka). Besides these acts of worship, a Muslim is
directed to abstain from evil deeds and to perform good deeds, so that he may achieve success in the
Hereafter, as well as, in the life of this world.
But, as regards the reward and blessing, there is one deed which is very great in comparison to all the
acts of worship and all the good deeds-and that is Jihad !
Jihad is regarded as the best thing, one can offer voluntarily. It is superior to non-obligatory prayers,
fasting, Zakat, Umra and Hajj as mentioned in the Qur'aan and the Ahadith of the Prophet . The
benefits of Jihad are of great extent and large in scope, while its effects are far-reaching and
wide-spreading as regards Islaam and the Muslims. For an individualMuslim, Jihad includes all acts of
worship and all aspects of belief- thus bringing him greatest reward and vast blessings; and for the
Muslim nation, Jihad provides all kinds of successes in respect of prosperity and dignity, victory and
glory-thus bringing magnificence and splendour.
In this article, Sheikh 'Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Humaid, ex-Chief Justice of Saudi Arabia, has
presented Jihad in the light of Qur'aan and Sunna. Never before such an article was seen, describing
Jihad in its true colours-so heart evoking and encouraging! MayAllaah bless him with all His
Blessings for all times.
Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, the translator of the Noble Qur'aan and the Sahih Al-Bukhari, has
translated this article from Arabic to the English language with all its fervor and feelings. May Allaah
reward him with best of His Rewards.
We are publishing this article and recommend everyMuslim not only to read it himself but to offer
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every other Muslim brother within his read.
May Allaah shower His Blessings on everyone of us- Ameen !
Abdul Malik Mujahid
General Manager
JIHAD IN THE QUR'AAN AND SUNNAH
Praise be to Allaah swt Who has ordained Al-Jihad (the holy fighting in Allaah's Cause):
1. With the heart (intentions or feelings),
2. With the hand (weapons, etc.),
3. With the tongue (speeches, etc., in the Cause of Allaah)
Allaah has rewarded the one who performs it with lofty dwellings in the Gardens (of Paradise).
I testify that there is none who has the right to be worshipped but Allaah (swt) Alone and He has no
partners (with Him). I (also) testify that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger, the one sent
by Allaah Law as a mercy for the 'Alameen (mankind and jinns); the one commanded by Allaah (swt)
to fight against Al-Mushrikun[l] (and all those who ascribe partners with Allaah). He fought for
Allaah's Cause with all his power and ability-may Allaah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, upon his
followers and upon his companions who believed in him, and honoured him, helped him and followed
the light (the Qur'aan) and his .As-Sunna (the legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.)
which was revealed to him...those who emigrated and fought in the Cause of Allaah with their wealth
and their lives, they were the supreme conquerors and the masters.
[1l Al-Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah and in His
Messenger Muhammad
4 It is well known how the Messenger was fighting against Al-Mushrikun (and all those who
ascribe partners with Allaah (swt) since Allaah, the Most Respectful, the All-Majestic sent him and
honoured him with the Messengership till Allaah caused him to die and selected for him what was
with Him (Paradise and all that is good).
The Prophet used to visit the people in their gatherings during season days (Hajj and Umra) and
other days (too). He used to go to their market places, recite the Qur'aan, invite them to Allaah, the
Most Respectful, the All-Majestic. He used to say, "Who will give me a safe shelter, and who will
support me till I convey the Message of my Lord (Allaah) then he will have Paradise." But he would
not find anyone to support him or to give him a safe shelter.
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He (Prophet Muhammad ) carried on his mission of inviting people to Allaah Ta'ala- (Islaamic
Religion) and persisted in (this) invitation for 13 years inspite of the harm and injuries (which he
suffered), and he used to forgive the ignorant... in order thatAllaah's Proof be established against
them (disbelievers) and that His Promise be fulfilled to them (disbelievers) which He assured them
with His Statement:
And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning) (V. 17:15).
The people continued in their transgression, they did not take guidance from the manifest proof. The
Quraish (people) oppressed and harmed all those who followed him (Muhammad ] from his tribe,
put them to trials and afflictions in order to keep them away from their religion (Islaam), even to the
extent that they exiled them from their homeland, some of them fled to Ethiopia, some went to
Al-Madina (Al-Munawwara) and some remained patient ( at Makka ) in spite of the harm they
received; by being imprisoned, made to suffer from hunger and thirst and by being beaten (in a
horrible manner)... so much so that some of them were not able to sit straight from the severity (of the
injuries) of the beatings.
They used to tie a rope around the neck ofBilal (mayAllaah be pleased with him) and give the end of
that rope in the hands of boys to play and drag him through the pathways ofMakka .... And as to
what Yasir's family suffered from the torrnent was beyond what a normal human being can endure.
The Quraish (people) harmedAllaah's Messenger (Muhammad ) (too), they besieged him in
AshShi'b, once 'Uqbah bin Abi Mu'ait tried to strangle him and he kept on squeezing the Prophet's
clothes round his neck till the eyes of the Prophet bulged out, and Abu-Bakr rushed at 'Uqbah and
released the Prophet from him and said, "Would you kill a man because he says: My Lord is
Allaah Ta'ala?"
Abu Jahl also tried to kill the Messenger while the latter was in prostration praying in the
Al-Masjid-al-Haram, he carried a huge stone to throw it on the Prophet's head. But when he (Abu
Jahl) tried to throw it he turned on his heels full of fear and fright saying:"I am being prevented (going
near) from Muhammad by a huge stallion camel intending to swallow me."
And when Allaah, The Most Exalted, wanted to reveal His religion (Islaam) and to fulfill His Promise
and to make victorious His Prophet Allaah, the Most High ordered him to emigrate to Al-Madina.
So he stayed there and Allaah supported him with His Victory and with His slaves, the faithful
believers-the Islaamic army unit composed of different sorts of people (black, white, and red). They
strove hard for him with all their efforts, and preferred his love to the love of (their) fathers, offspring
and wives.
Muhammad, upon him be peace, was closer to them (believers) than their own selves. The (pagan)
Arabs and Jews had formed a united front against them (Muhammad and his followers) and had
put up all their efforts of enmity, standing and fighting against them... and (in fact) they shouted
against them from every corner. Then, at that time Allaah permitted them (Muhammad and his
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followers) the (Jihad) fighting but He did not make it obligatory. He said:
Permission to fight is given to those (i.e. believers against disbelievers) who are fighting them (and)
because they (believers) have been wronged, and surely Allaah is Able to give them (believers) victory.
Those who have been expelled from their homes unjustly only because they said:"Our Lord is Allaah."
(V.22:39,40).
The above Verses clearly state that He (Allaah) is Able to give victory to His worshippers (the
believers) without fighting, but Allaah wants from His worshippers obedience with all their efforts.
As in His Statement:
So when you meet (in fight... Jihad in Allaah's Cause) those who disbelieve smite at their necks till
when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as
captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom) or ransom
(according to whatbenefits Islaam), until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by
Allaah to continue in carrying out Jihad againstthe disbelievers till they embrace Islaam (i.e. are saved
from the punishment in the Hellfire) orat leastcome under your protection] but if it had beenAllaah's
Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight) in orderto
test you, some with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allaah, He will never let their
deeds be lost.
He will guide them and set right their state.
And admit them to Paradise which He has made known to them (i.e. they will know their places in
Paradise more than they used to know their houses in this world). (V.47:4, 5,6).
Then after that He made (Jihad) "fighting" obligatory against all those who fight you (Muslims); not
against those who didn't fight you. So Allaah ordered:
And fight in the way of Allaah those who fight you... (V.2:I9O).