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Protecting
your country is a form of jihaad
Question:
Your children (figuratively) at the front lines are asking
you, noble Shaykh, whether they will get the reward of those
who fight in the way of Allaah (Subhaanahu
wa Ta'aala). As you know, they are facing an enemy that
has not only consistently broken all treaties, but has also
shown lack of any humanity. They also ask "Defending
one's country, honour or land - are these considered jihaad?"
They further ask you to advise them with anything you may
deem pertinent.
Response:
The Book
and the Sunnah
clearly establish that the one who fights in the front lines
is fighting in the way of Allaah (Subhaanahu
wa Ta'aala), provided that his intention is sincerely
for Allaah (Subhaanahu
wa Ta'aala) alone:
{O
you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy),
and guard (your territory by staioning army units permanently
at the places from where the enemy can attack you), and fear
Allaah, so that you may be successful},
[Soorah
Aal-'Imraan, Aayah
200]
The
Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) said:
((Guarding
the front lines for a day and night in the path of Allaah
is better than fasting and praying (at night) for a month.
If he dies, the deeds that he used to do continue for him,
and He will continue to receive his sustenance, and he will
be safe from the trials (of the grave).)),
[transmitted by Muslim
- No.1913]
He
(sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) also said:
((Guarding
the front lines in the way of Allaah is better than the world
and what is in tit; the area in Paradise equal to a whip that
one of you has is better than the world and what is in it.
An afternoon that a servant spends in the way of Allaah, or
a morning, is better than the world and what is in it)),
[transmitted by al-Bukhaaree
- No.2892, and Muslim
- No.1881]
In
Saheeh
al-Bukhaaree, it is recorded that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) said:
((Whoever's
feet become dust-covered in the path of Allaah, Allaah will
make the Fire (of Hell) forbidden to him)),
[transmitted by al-Bukhaaree
- No.907]
There
is no doubt that protecting one's religion, self, family,
wealth or country - all of these are among the legislated
types of jihaad.
Whoever is killed in such cases, while being a Muslim, he
is included under the description "martyr" due to
the saying of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam):
((Whosoever
dies protecting his religion, he is a martyr; whosoever dies
protecting his wealth, he is a martyr; whosoever dies protecting
his family, he is a martyr; and whosoever dies protecting
his blood (his life), he is a martyr)), [transmitted
by at-Tirmidhee - No.1421, Abu Daawood - No.4772, an-Nasaa.ee
- No.4100 and Ibn Maajah - No.2580]
We advise you, defenders of the front lines, to fear Allaah
(Subhaanahu
wa Ta'aala), to purify your intention for Him in all of
your actions, to pray your five prayers in congregation, to
remember Allaah (Subhaanahu
wa Ta'aala) frequently, to be steadfast in obedience to
Allaah and His Messenger, to strive toward unity, to avoid
disunity, to have patience which will bring tranquility, to
think well of Allaah, and to beware of disobeying Him in any
way.
From
the most comprehensive of Aayaat
concerning what we have mentioned is the saying of Allaah
in Soorah
al-Anfaal:
{O
you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm
stand against them and remember Allaah much (both with tongue
and mind), so that you may be successful. And obey Allaah
and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest
you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient.
Surely, Allaah is with the patient}, [Soorah
al-Anfaal, Aayaat
45-46]
May Allaah correct your steps, make you steadfast in His religion,
aid you and those with the truth, and with you disgrace the
falsehood and its people. Indeed, the affair belongs to him,
and He is All-Capable.
Shaykh
Ibn Baaz
Fataawa Islaamiyyah - Volume 4, Page 259
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