Defensive jihad
Encyclopedia
There are two types of armed religious warfare in Islam, namely the defensive jihad and the offensive jihad
. This article discusses defensive jihad as a concept in Islamic law. (For discussion of aspects of jihad not related to warfare, see the main article, jihad
.)
Islamic tradition holds that when Muslims are attacked, then it becomes obligatory for all Muslims of that land to defend against the attack; to participate in jihad but if the conditions of "Offensive Jihad" are fulfilled.
Muslims consider armed struggle against foreign occupation to be worthy of defensive jihad. Indeed, the Qur'an
requires military defense of the besieged Islamic community.
which relates to Defensive Jihad. The Qur'an states:
This opinion of Dr. Azzam is not necessarily agreed upon by the Scholars of Islam. Many Scholars have given the proof that even Defensive Jihad has conditions based on verses of Qur'an to not throw oneself into destruction and based on the hadeeth of Jesus when he will return but take shelter in the mountains when the Gog and Magog will attack the Muslims.
Despite such contemporary edicts, in practical reality it is impossible to gain anything resembling global unanimity on questions of relating to defensive jihad (though some militant Islamist groups
would suggest otherwise). The question of whether, when, and how to implement a military defense of a Muslim community under foreign invasion or oppression remains an emotional and divisive one among Muslims.
, and Chechnya
, and the Algerian War of Independence
against France
).
, issued a fatwa
, Defense of the Muslim Lands, the First Obligation after Faith http://www.religioscope.com/info/doc/jihad/azzam_defence_1_table.htm, declaring that both the Afghan and Palestinian struggles were jihads in which military action against kuffar (unbelievers) was fard ayn (a personal obligation) for all Muslims.
.
. Indeed, fundamentalist Muslims believe that the absence of a Caliph
is grave violation of Islamic law and that the fall of the Caliphate
(brought to an end on March 3, 1924, by Kemal Atatürk) is an indication that Muslim lands and Islam are under attack by non-Muslims and in need of defensive jihad.
Offensive jihad
Offensive Jihad is armed Jihad meant to expand the realm of Islam at the expense of the House of War . Although these world divisions was derived by jurists, they are not mentioned in the Qur'an and hadith....
. This article discusses defensive jihad as a concept in Islamic law. (For discussion of aspects of jihad not related to warfare, see the main article, jihad
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
.)
Islamic tradition holds that when Muslims are attacked, then it becomes obligatory for all Muslims of that land to defend against the attack; to participate in jihad but if the conditions of "Offensive Jihad" are fulfilled.
Muslims consider armed struggle against foreign occupation to be worthy of defensive jihad. Indeed, the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
requires military defense of the besieged Islamic community.
Defensive Jihad in Qur'an
There are some Ayats in Qur'anQur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
which relates to Defensive Jihad. The Qur'an states:
"Fight in the cause of Allah those against those who fight you, but do not transgress, for Allah loves not the transgressor. Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors. And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers. But if they desist, then lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrongdoers." (Al-Baqarah 190-193)
Defensive Jihad in Sharia
In his fatwa, Dr. Azzam explained:- ... the Ulama [pious scholars] of the four Mathhabs (Maliki, Hanafi, Shaffie and Hanbali), the Muhadditheen, and the Tafseer commentators [classical Muslim commentators of the Qur'an], are agreed that in all Islamic ages, Jihad under this condition becomes Fard Ayn [personal religious obligation] upon the Muslims of the land which the Kuffar [infidels] have attacked and upon the Muslims close by, where the children will march forth without the permission of the parents, the wife without the permission of her husband and the debtor without the permission of the creditor. And, if the Muslims of this land cannot expel the Kuffar because of lack of forces, because they slacken, are indolent or simply do not act, then the Fard Ayn obligation spreads in the shape of a circle from the nearest to the next nearest. If they too slacken or there is again a shortage of manpower, then it is upon the people behind them, and on the people behind them, to march forward. This process continues until it becomes Fard Ayn [a personal religious obligation] upon the whole world. http://www.religioscope.com/info/doc/jihad/azzam_defence_3_chap1.htm
This opinion of Dr. Azzam is not necessarily agreed upon by the Scholars of Islam. Many Scholars have given the proof that even Defensive Jihad has conditions based on verses of Qur'an to not throw oneself into destruction and based on the hadeeth of Jesus when he will return but take shelter in the mountains when the Gog and Magog will attack the Muslims.
Despite such contemporary edicts, in practical reality it is impossible to gain anything resembling global unanimity on questions of relating to defensive jihad (though some militant Islamist groups
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
would suggest otherwise). The question of whether, when, and how to implement a military defense of a Muslim community under foreign invasion or oppression remains an emotional and divisive one among Muslims.
Colonial Times
In the colonial period, Muslim populations often rose up against the colonial authorities under the banner of jihad (examples include DagestanDagestan
The Republic of Dagestan is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and the largest city is Makhachkala, located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea...
, and Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
, and the Algerian War of Independence
Algerian War of Independence
The Algerian War was a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria's gaining its independence from France...
against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
).
Contemporary Defensive Jihad against non-Muslim countries
When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, the prominent militant Islamist, Dr. Abdullah Yusuf AzzamAbdullah Yusuf Azzam
Abdullah Yusuf Azzam was a highly influential Palestinian Sunni Islamic scholar and theologian, who preached in favor of defensive jihad by Muslims to help the Afghan mujahideen against the Soviet invaders...
, issued a fatwa
Fatwa
A fatwā in the Islamic faith is a juristic ruling concerning Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar. In Sunni Islam any fatwā is non-binding, whereas in Shia Islam it could be considered by an individual as binding, depending on his or her relation to the scholar. The person who issues a fatwā...
, Defense of the Muslim Lands, the First Obligation after Faith http://www.religioscope.com/info/doc/jihad/azzam_defence_1_table.htm, declaring that both the Afghan and Palestinian struggles were jihads in which military action against kuffar (unbelievers) was fard ayn (a personal obligation) for all Muslims.
Contemporary Defensive Jihad in Muslim countries
In certain Muslim countries, secular governments oppose or ban Islam as a political movement, and militant Muslims often see it as their duty to oppose these governments. Though such anti-statist activity may be considered as acts of aggression, it is considered in the ideology of jihad to be a defensive act since it is warfare in a Muslim land. This a phenomenon that occurred after the independence of a large number of Muslim countries during the 20th century, and is discussed in more detail in the article on IslamismIslamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
.
Who can authorize defensive jihad?
Jihad can sustain the breakdown of leadership. If a group of Muslims come under attack by non-Muslims, then no formal declaration of war is required and the Muslims are to defend themselves against such attack. Thus defensive jihad can occur in the absence of a CaliphCaliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
. Indeed, fundamentalist Muslims believe that the absence of a Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
is grave violation of Islamic law and that the fall of the Caliphate
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
(brought to an end on March 3, 1924, by Kemal Atatürk) is an indication that Muslim lands and Islam are under attack by non-Muslims and in need of defensive jihad.
External links
- Jihad, The Holy War of Islam and Its Legitimacy in the Quran(Shi'a viewpoint); Ayatullah Morteza Mutahhari
- Does the Quran Really Sanction Violence Against 'Unbelievers'? by Shaikh Kabir HelminskiKabir HelminskiKabir Helminski is the Co-Director of the Threshold Society , a non-profit educational foundation that has developed programs that provide a structure for practice and study within Sufism and spiritual psychology...
, The Huffington PostThe Huffington PostThe Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...