|
The
obligation of Jihaad
Question:
Is jihaad
in this time a collective or an individual obligation? What
is the difference between the two and what are the conditions
for them both?
Response:
Jihaad,
primarily, is a collective obligation and, as such, if it
is undertaken by sufficient enough people it is no longer
obligatory upon the rest. For this reason the Prophet, (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) would fight jihaad
himself and send out detachments and raiding parties while
the rest of the Muslims would remain behind to take care of
other affairs and needs. However, jihaad
could become an individual obligation if the Imaam calls upon
whoever is fit and suitable for it.
The
Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) said: ((If you are called to go to
fight, then answer the call.)) It also becomes an individual
obligation if an enemy attacks any of the Muslim lands. It
becomes an individual obligation on the Muslims to repel the
enemy and save the country from them, as happened in Afghanistan.
The third situation where it becomes an individual obligation
is when a man is either amongst the ranks of the Muslims fighting
the enemy or when the Muslims are lining up in preparation
to fight the enemy. At this time he must not desert them or
flee but rather, he must fight with his brothers and be steadfast.
Other than in these situations, jihaad
is Sunnah
and is one of the most virtuous of deeds. Indeed it is the
best action that man can undertake because its virtue, over
and above other deeds, has been mentioned in texts.
Shaykh
Ibn Baaz
al-Aqalliyaat al-Muslimah - Page 24, Fatwa No.1
|
