Jihād Fī Sabīlillāh — With a Righteous or Sinful Ruler
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
The obligation of Jihād is firmly established through numerous commands in the Qur’ān and Sunnah, and no condition has been stipulated that Jihād should only be undertaken under a righteous ruler.
However, one absolute condition does remain: Jihād must be solely for the cause of raising the Word of Allāh (I‘lā Kalimatillāh).
It was narrated from Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه that people asked the Prophet ﷺ about a man who fights out of bravery, another out of tribal zeal, and another for showing off.
They asked: Which of them is fighting in the way of Allāh?
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
من قاتل لتكون كلمة الله هي العليا فهو في سبيل الله
"Whoever fights so that the Word of Allāh is supreme, then he is fighting in the cause of Allāh."
[Bukhārī: 123, 2810, 3126; Muslim: 1904; Aḥmad: 4/392; Abū Dāwūd: 2517; Tirmidhī: 1646; Nasā’ī: 6/23; Ibn Mājah: 2783; Ibn Ḥibbān: 4636; Bayhaqī: 9/167; Ṭayālisī: 487]
This clear and authentic hadith establishes that the intention behind Jihād is what determines its legitimacy — not the righteousness of the leader.
Though some narrations supporting this matter are weak, they still reflect the scholarly understanding that Jihād remains valid under both just and unjust rulers, as long as the objective remains I‘lā Kalimatillāh.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
الجهاد واجب عليكم مع كل أمير برا كان أو فاجرا وإن هو عمل الكبائر
"Jihād is obligatory upon you with every leader — whether righteous or sinful — even if he commits major sins."
[Weak: Irwā’ al-Ghalīl: 52; Ḍaʿīf al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr: 2673; Mishkāt: 1125; Abū Dāwūd: 2533; Dārquṭnī: 2/56; Bayhaqī: 8/185; Ibn al-Jawzī in al-ʿIlal al-Mutanāhiyah: 1/422]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
ثلاث من أصل الإيمان …. والجهاد ماض منذ بعثني الله إلى أن يقاتل آخر أمتي الدجال لا يبطله جور جائر ولا عدل عادل …
"Three things are from the core of faith… and Jihād will continue from the time Allāh sent me until the last group of my Ummah fights the Dajjāl. Neither the oppression of a tyrant nor the justice of a just person can nullify it."
[Weak: Ḍaʿīf al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr: 2532; Mishkāt: 59]
Imām Aḥmad رحمه الله stated:
"If a ruler is known for drinking alcohol or committing treachery, Jihād is still to be conducted with him, because these sins relate to his personal accountability."
He cited the hadith:
إن اللـه ليـؤيـد هـذا الدين بالرجل الفاجر
"Indeed, Allāh supports this religion even through a sinful man."
[Bukhārī: 3062, Kitāb al-Jihād; al-Mughnī: 13/14]
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori❖ Jihād is Obligatory with Every Ruler — Righteous or Sinful
The obligation of Jihād is firmly established through numerous commands in the Qur’ān and Sunnah, and no condition has been stipulated that Jihād should only be undertaken under a righteous ruler.
However, one absolute condition does remain: Jihād must be solely for the cause of raising the Word of Allāh (I‘lā Kalimatillāh).
✦ Criterion for True Jihād — Hadith of Abū Mūsā رضي الله عنه
It was narrated from Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه that people asked the Prophet ﷺ about a man who fights out of bravery, another out of tribal zeal, and another for showing off.
They asked: Which of them is fighting in the way of Allāh?
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
من قاتل لتكون كلمة الله هي العليا فهو في سبيل الله
"Whoever fights so that the Word of Allāh is supreme, then he is fighting in the cause of Allāh."
[Bukhārī: 123, 2810, 3126; Muslim: 1904; Aḥmad: 4/392; Abū Dāwūd: 2517; Tirmidhī: 1646; Nasā’ī: 6/23; Ibn Mājah: 2783; Ibn Ḥibbān: 4636; Bayhaqī: 9/167; Ṭayālisī: 487]
This clear and authentic hadith establishes that the intention behind Jihād is what determines its legitimacy — not the righteousness of the leader.
❖ Other Supporting (Though Weak) Narrations
Though some narrations supporting this matter are weak, they still reflect the scholarly understanding that Jihād remains valid under both just and unjust rulers, as long as the objective remains I‘lā Kalimatillāh.
➊ Hadith of Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه
The Prophet ﷺ said:
الجهاد واجب عليكم مع كل أمير برا كان أو فاجرا وإن هو عمل الكبائر
"Jihād is obligatory upon you with every leader — whether righteous or sinful — even if he commits major sins."
[Weak: Irwā’ al-Ghalīl: 52; Ḍaʿīf al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr: 2673; Mishkāt: 1125; Abū Dāwūd: 2533; Dārquṭnī: 2/56; Bayhaqī: 8/185; Ibn al-Jawzī in al-ʿIlal al-Mutanāhiyah: 1/422]
➋ Hadith of Anas رضي الله عنه
The Prophet ﷺ said:
ثلاث من أصل الإيمان …. والجهاد ماض منذ بعثني الله إلى أن يقاتل آخر أمتي الدجال لا يبطله جور جائر ولا عدل عادل …
"Three things are from the core of faith… and Jihād will continue from the time Allāh sent me until the last group of my Ummah fights the Dajjāl. Neither the oppression of a tyrant nor the justice of a just person can nullify it."
[Weak: Ḍaʿīf al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr: 2532; Mishkāt: 59]
❖ View of Imām Aḥmad رحمه الله
Imām Aḥmad رحمه الله stated:
"If a ruler is known for drinking alcohol or committing treachery, Jihād is still to be conducted with him, because these sins relate to his personal accountability."
He cited the hadith:
إن اللـه ليـؤيـد هـذا الدين بالرجل الفاجر
"Indeed, Allāh supports this religion even through a sinful man."
[Bukhārī: 3062, Kitāb al-Jihād; al-Mughnī: 13/14]
❖ Conclusion:
- Jihād is not conditional upon the piety of the ruler, as long as the objective is noble: raising the Word of Allāh.
- Obedience to the Muslim leader in Jihād remains valid, even if he is sinful, as long as he does not command disobedience to Allāh.
- This view is supported by authentic and weak narrations, along with the understanding of great scholars like Imām Aḥmad رحمه الله.
