Respected Sheikh Zubair Ali Zai,
السلام و علیکم و رحمۃ اللہ وبرکاتہAlhamdulillah, your journal "Al-Hadith" is progressing excellently in the field of research and critique. May Allah grant you further success. Ameen. The purpose of writing this letter is to inquire about the referencing of a famous prophetic Hadith frequently mentioned by the leaders of various Jihadi organizations:
الجهاد ماضٍ إلى يوم القيامة
Please kindly provide the response in "Al-Hadith" itself.
والسلام
Ukasha Khan
Kashmiri Bazaar, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
(1426 AH/03/23 corresponding to 05/04/30)
The Response (by Sheikh Zubair Ali Zai):
A narration is transmitted from Yazid bin Abi Nushbah from Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه. In this narration, it is stated that:↰ This narration is weak in terms of its chain of transmission. Its narrator, Yazid bin Abi Nushbah, is unknown. [Taqrib al-Tahdhib: 7785, Al-Kashif by Al-Dhahabi: 6475].❀ The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:"Jihad will continue since Allah sent me as a prophet until the last member of my Ummah fights the Dajjal. It will not be abolished by the oppression of a tyrant nor the justice of a just ruler."
[Sunan Abi Dawood: 2532, Sunan Sa'id bin Mansur: 2367]
However, it is established from other evidences that Jihad will continue until the Day of Judgment.
✿ Allah Almighty has commanded:
كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَكُمْ
"Fighting is prescribed for you, though you dislike it."
[2-Al-Baqara: 216]
❀ The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:"Goodness is tied to the forelocks of horses until the Day of Judgment, with reward and spoils."
[Sahih Bukhari: Book of Jihad and Military Expeditions, Chapter: Jihad is ongoing with the righteous and the wicked, Hadith 2852; Sahih Muslim: 99/73 Darussalam: 4849]
❀ Salamah bin Nufayl al-Kindi رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:"A group from my Ummah will continue to fight for the truth until the Hour is established."
[Sunan an-Nasa'i 6/214, 215 Hadith 3591, and its chain is authentic / 'Umdat al-Masaa'i fi Tahqeeq Sunan an-Nasa'i vol. 2 p. 359 manuscript by the author]
❀ The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:"This religion will remain established, with a group of Muslims fighting for it until the Hour is established."
[Sahih Muslim: 1922 Darussalam: 4953 from Jabir bin Samurah رضي الله عنه]
These authentic Hadiths establish that Jihad will continue until the Day of Judgment.
◈ Ibn Hammam (Hanafi, died 761 AH) writes:"
◈ The renowned and esteemed Tabi'i, Imam Mak'hul al-Shami رحمه الله (died 113 AH) states:There is no doubt that there is consensus among the Ummah that Jihad will continue until the Day of Judgment and it has not been abrogated. Therefore, it cannot be imagined that it would be abrogated after the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم."
[Fath al-Qadeer vol. 5 p. 190 Kitab al-Siyar]
"In Paradise, there are one hundred levels, the distance between each level is like the distance between the heavens and the earth. Allah has prepared them for those who perform Jihad in His cause."
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 5/304 Hadith 19353, and its chain is authentic]
This excellent statement is supported by a Hadith of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم in Sahih Bukhari. [Bukhari: 2790]
Summary of the Research: Jihad will continue against the disbelievers and innovators until the Day of Judgment.
Types of Jihad
1. Jihad with the Tongue2. Jihad with the Pen
3. Jihad with Wealth❀ The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:"Strive against the polytheists with your hands and your tongues."
[Al-Mukhtara by Al-Diya' al-Maqdisi vol. 5 p. 36 Hadith 642, and the wording is his; Sunan Abi Dawood: 2504]
4. Jihad with the Self (Jihad al-Nafs)✿ Allah Almighty says:"Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah, then do not follow up what they have spent with reminders of it or injury, will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve."
[2-Al-Baqara: 262]
It has two types:
First: Reforming oneself and making it obedient to the Quran and Sunnah.
Second: Fighting in the cause of Allah.❀ The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:"The Mujahid is the one who strives against himself."
[Al-Tirmidhi: 1621, and he said: "Hadith Hasan Sahih," and its chain is Hasan and authenticated by Ibn Hibban / Mawarid: 1624 and Al-Hakim on the conditions of Muslim 2/79 and Al-Dhahabi agreed with him]
There are numerous evidences for this, some of which have already been mentioned. If it meets Islamic conditions, this is the most superior Jihad.
❀ The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was asked:"Which Jihad is the best?" He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "The one who fights the polytheists with his wealth and his self." He was asked: "Which martyr is the best?" He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "The one whose blood is shed and his horse is wounded."
[Sunan Abi Dawood: 1449, and its chain is Hasan]
It is to be noted that terrorism and killing innocent people have no connection with Jihad.
◈ Imam Abu Hatim al-Razi and Imam Abu Zur'ah al-Razi رحمهما الله said:
◈ Dr. Abdullah bin Ahmed al-Qadiri wrote a two-volume book titled "Al-Jihad fi Sabeel Allah, Haqiqatuh wa Ghayatuh" consisting of more than eleven hundred pages. In this book, Abdullah bin Ahmed mentions the types of Jihad:"In every time and place, we adhere to the obligation of Jihad and Hajj with the Muslim ruler... From the time Allah sent His Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم as a Prophet and Messenger, Jihad with the Muslim rulers has been ongoing. Nothing will invalidate it (meaning Jihad will always continue)."
[Asl al-Sunnah wa I'tiqad al-Din: 19, 23, Al-Hadith Hazro: 2 p. 43] and also see: [Al-Hadith: 3 p. 26]
Spiritual Jihad:
- Jihad al-Nafs (Jihad against one's self)
- Jihad against the Shaytan (Satan)
- Jihad against division and disunity
- Jihad against imitation (Taqleed)
- Jihad against family customs
- Preparation of the Mujahideen
- Jihad with one's self and wealth
- Establishing Jihad factories
[vol. 1 p. 273]
◈ Imam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله states:"The one who refutes the people of innovation is a Mujahid."
[Naqd al-Mantiq p. 12 and Majmoo' al-Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah 4/13]
Building schools and mosques, inviting people to the Quran and Hadith according to the understanding of the Salaf as-Salih, delivering speeches and debates, and writing books, all constitute Jihad.❀ The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was asked:"Which Jihad is the best?" He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "A word of justice in front of a tyrannical ruler."
[Musnad Ahmad 5/256 Hadith 22561, and its chain is Hasan for its own sake, and Ibn Majah: 4012]
Finally, read these two Hadiths:
❀ It is narrated from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:"The example of a Mujahid in the path of Allah, and Allah knows who strives in His path, is like that of a fasting person who prays continuously."
[Sahih Bukhari: 2787]
❀ It is narrated from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:"Whoever disobeys the ruler and separates from the community, then dies, dies a death of Jahiliyyah. And whoever fights under a blind banner, getting angry for the sake of tribe and fights for the sake of tribe, then he is not from my Ummah..."
[Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Imarah, Chapter: The Obligation of Adhering to the Muslim Community When Fitan Appear 54/848 Darussalam: 4788]
وما علينا إلا البلاغ
(5 Rabi' al-Thani 1426 AH)