Some Essential Issues Related to Jihad
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❀ Just as with every action, sincerity of intention (ikhlāṣ) is essential in jihad; otherwise even the first to enter Hellfire may be one who fought as a mujahid.
[Muslim: 1905, Kitāb al-Imārah: Bāb Man Qātala lil-Riyā’, Aḥmad: 321/2, Nisā’ī: 23/6]
❀ The one who provides financial support to a mujahid is also a participant in jihad.
[Bukhārī: 2843, Kitāb al-Jihād wa al-Siyar: Bāb Faḍl man Jahhaza Ghāzīan; Muslim: 1895; Abū Dāwūd: 2509; Tirmidhī: 1638; Nisā’ī: 46/6; Ibn Ḥibbān: 4631; Ṭayālisī: 946; Bayhaqī: 28/9; Ibn al-Jārūd: 1047]
❀ Betrayal and treachery against Muslims are forbidden.
[Aḥmad: 231/1; Ḥākim: 15/1; Abū Ya‘lā: 2494; ʿAbd bin Ḥumayd: 697]
❀ It is permissible to bring women on an expedition for the purpose of caring for the sick or wounded.
[Bukhārī: 2882, 2883, Kitāb al-Jihād wa al-Siyar: Bāb Mudāwā al-Nisā’ al-Jurāḥā fī al-Ghazw; Aḥmad: 358/6; Nisā’ī fī al-Sunan al-Kubrā: 278/5]
❀ Women’s participation in jihad is likened to Hajj.
[Bukhārī: 2875, Kitāb al-Jihād wa al-Siyar: Bāb Jihād al-Nisā’]
❀ When the Prophet ﷺ could not march at the start of the day for battle, he would wait for the sun to decline and for winds to arise, then after the prayer he would depart for jihad.
[Bukhārī: 3160, Kitāb al-Jizyah: Bāb al-Jizyah wa al-Muwāḍa‘ah ma‘a Ahl al-Ḥarb; Abū Dāwūd: 2655; Tirmidhī: 1612]
❀ During combat, adopting a manner of arrogance (khaylā’) toward the enemy is permissible.
[Hasan: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2316, Kitāb al-Jihād: Bāb fī al-Khīlā’ fī al-Ḥarb; Abū Dāwūd: 2659; Nisā’ī: 78/5; Aḥmad: 445/5; Ḥākim: 418/1; Dalā’il al-Nubuwwah li-l-Bayhaqī: 234/3]
❀ Where the signs of Islam (e.g., the adhān) become apparent, the Messenger ﷺ did not attack there; otherwise he would have attacked.
[Bukhārī: 610, Kitāb al-Adhān: Bāb Mā Yuḥqin bi’l-Adhān min al-Dimā’ ; Aḥmad: 159/3]
❀ One should not wish for combat with the enemy, but if battle occurs one must not retreat.
[Bukhārī: 3025, Kitāb al-Jihād wa al-Siyar: Bāb Lā Tamannā Liqā’ al-‘Aduw]
❀ It is permissible to desire martyrdom (shahādah).
[Bukhārī: 2797, Kitāb al-Jihād wa al-Siyar: Bāb Tamanā al-Shahādah]
❀ Angels cast their wings over a martyr.
[Bukhārī: 2816, Kitāb al-Jihād wa al-Siyar: Bāb Man Talaba al-Walad lil-Jihād]
❀ It is correct to ask Allah for offspring who will participate in jihad.
[Bukhārī: 2819, Kitāb al-Jihād wa al-Siyar: Bāb Man Talaba al-Walad lil-Jihād]
❀ It is lawful to send invitational letters (da‘watī) to disbelievers before fighting.
[Bukhārī: 2938, Kitāb al-Jihād wa al-Siyar: Bāb Da‘wat al-Yahūd wa al-Nasārā wa ‘alā mā Yuqātilūn ‘alayh]
