Branch 26: Jihad

77 branches of faith (02.10.10)Imam Al-Bayhaqi
Branch 26: Jihad


- Habib Ahmad Masyhur bin Taha Al-Haddad (RahmatuLlahi 'alayh) said that the highest amal ma'ruf is jihad. The process of jihad is calling people to Deen.
Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam was reported as saying: "Allah Who is Blessed and Exalted, has prescribed benevolence (ihsan) towards everything {and has ordained that everything be done in a good way}; so, when you must kill a living being, do it in the best of manner and, when you slaughter an animal, you should {use the best method and} sharpen your knife so as to cause the animal as little pain as possible." (Narrated by Shaddad bin Aus. Muslim)

- In the battle of Badar, the angels fought alongside the Muslim army. Sayidina Jibra'eel alayhi salam was present at that time as well. He is the amanatul 'wahy (the one who's entrusted with revealation) and he is so strong that in the time of Prophet Lut Alayhi Sallam, he just used one wing and turn the whole community upside down. It is also reported that wind that echoes from his shout can destroy a whole population, However, during the Battle of Badar, he was taught in detail on how to destroy the enemy (as revealed in the verse below:)
إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلآئِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُواْ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ الرَّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُواْ فَوْقَ الأَعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُواْ مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ
8:12 (Asad) Lo! Thy Sustainer inspired the angels [to convey this His message to the believers]: "I am with you !" [And He commanded the angels:] "And, give firmness unto those who have attained to faith [with these words from Me]: `I shall cast terror into the hearts of those who are bent on denying the truth; strike, then, their necks, [O believers,] and strike off every one of their finger-tips!" The angels were thought on where exactly to strike.

- The lesson we can learn from this is; we should have excellence in everything we do and ihsan even in jihad. Jihad does not mean indiscriminate killing.

- Bukhari relates on the authority of Ibnu Abi Aufa RadhiyaAllahu 'anhu that the Prophet Sallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam said 'Do not look forward to meeting the enemy, and ask God for wellbeing. When you meet them, however, be steadfast, and know that the Garden is under the shade of swords.'
- From Sahih Al-Bukhari (4:52;2661), Narrated Salim Abu An-Nadr: (the freed slave of 'Umar bin 'Ubaidullah) I was Umar's clerk. Once Abdullah bin Abi Aufa wrote a letter to 'Umar when he proceeded to Al-Haruriya. I read in it that Allah's Apostle in one of his military expeditions against the enemy, waited till the sun declined and then he got up amongst the people saying, "O people! Do not wish to meet the enemy, and ask Allah for safety, but when you face the enemy, be patient, and remember that Paradise is under the shades of swords." Then he said, "O Allah, the Revealer of the Holy Book, and the Mover of the clouds and the Defeater of the clans, defeat them, and grant us victory over them."

Ibnu Abi Aufa RadhiyaAllahu 'anh came back from Persia and went to meet Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam. He reported that they had rejected his call and Rasool sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam replied "La Tamanna" which means do not anticipate, (look forward, hope, wish) and expect to meet the enemy. Hassan Al-Basri (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) said " it meant do not go out and fight the enemy.
- We should always think that if we die tonight, are we prepared to meet our Lord?
- We should have ihsan even in killing-the most unnatural thing for a human being, is to kill another human.
- Almost every battle that Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam fought was after fajar (battle of Khandaq was after Dhohr) ~ jihad should has the right timing. In the night of Badar, Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam didn't even sleep . Allah send down sakeena (rain): Mika'eel.
- 'and ask Allah for 'afiya'. Not ask for victory when meeting the enemy. If you die, you will be ask on what state you die but if you meet them, know that jannah lies under the sword.
-Allahuma munzilal al_kitaab wa mujriya al-sahab wahaazimal al_ahzaab: when Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam asked for rain, cloud runs to bring him rain.

Habib Ahmad (Rahmatullahu 'alayh) said that we should have aspiration to spread Islam in the land but we should not aspire to meet the enemy.

- “Whoever asks Allah sincerely for martyrdom [Allahumma inni as'aluk ash-shahadah], Allah will cause him to reach the status of the martyrs even if he dies in his bed.” ['Sahih al-Bukhari'; # 1909]‘ [Muslim, 55:13]

- When people are fighting because of pride, nationalism, progress, arabism, national pride, it is not jihad especially if they fight with their own people.
What meant by jihad is fighting the nafs, fighting against the lower desire. If your nafs is Amaratu bi su', you always have to fight it.
“A Mujahid (who is engaged in Jihad) is one who struggles with his own self in submission to the will of Allah.
"The Messenger Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam said (during his farewell Hajj): "Should I inform you of who the Mu'min (true believer) is? It is he who people are secure from him with regards to their wealth and their own selves. The (true) Muslim is he who people are safe from (being harmed by) his tongue and hand. The (true) Mujahid is he who performs Jihad an-Nafs in the obedience of Allah. And the (true) Muhajir (the migrant in the Cause of Allah) is he who abandons error and sin" [Ahmed, al-Haakim and at-Tabaraani]

According to Al-Qurtubi, the right of jihad is to be excellent. We have to excel in everything: driving, wearing clothes etc. And fight yourself to be obedient to Allah, and push your desire and fight against the shaitan by pushing away their whispering and the kuffar in his disbelieve. Don't be scared of what they will say to you. Be firm in your deen and be careful on how you deal with Allah in the state of goodness and poverty. wa rabitu, ribat ie to be a full time service of jihad. (Murabitun is a group of people at the edge of muslim world ready to do jihad).
1030. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Shall I not tell you something by which Allah erases the sins and elevates ranks (in Jannah)?'' The Companions said; "Certainly, O Messenger of Allah.'' He (PBUH) said, "Performing the Wudu' thoroughly in spite of difficult circumstances, walking with more paces to the mosque, and waiting for the next As-Salat (the prayer) after observing Salat; and that is Ar-Ribat, and that is Ar-Ribat.'' [Muslim].

We should observe ihsan even during slaughtering of animals- this include taking the animal away from its family (herd), give water to the animal and should not show ( expose) the knife if the animal is looking.

Relationship between individuals and the state: the booty will be divided into 5. Four for those who went to battle and one for the state.