The Significance of Jihad
Now
the other side of the coin. Jihad! What is the first stage of Jihad and what is
its final stage? Again, we find
that a
question was put to Prophet Muhammad (SAW), about the supreme
kind of Jihad. What sort of Jihad is most valuable in the sight of Almighty
Allah (SWT)? And the Prophet replied: the supreme kind of Jihad is that you
struggle against your own baser self, your own al-nafs al-ammarah, and make it
obedient to Allah (SWT).
In another hadith, the Allah’s Messenger (SAW) has said that the real mujahid is one who strives against the baser desires of his own self. As you know, in addition to the fitrah or the spiritual soul, we also have an animal being within ourselves. What I mean is that all of us have the lower instincts and carnal desires of our animal self. And these instincts and desires are blind, as they want nothing but their own immediate gratification. It makes absolutely no difference to these urges whether this satisfaction comes from halal or from haram, i.e., from the permissible or from the unlawful. So what are we required to do? We need to control these blind instincts and subjugate them to the commands of Almighty Allah (SWT). And this, in fact, is the first level, the first rung of the ladder of Jihad.
In another hadith, the Allah’s Messenger (SAW) has said that the real mujahid is one who strives against the baser desires of his own self. As you know, in addition to the fitrah or the spiritual soul, we also have an animal being within ourselves. What I mean is that all of us have the lower instincts and carnal desires of our animal self. And these instincts and desires are blind, as they want nothing but their own immediate gratification. It makes absolutely no difference to these urges whether this satisfaction comes from halal or from haram, i.e., from the permissible or from the unlawful. So what are we required to do? We need to control these blind instincts and subjugate them to the commands of Almighty Allah (SWT). And this, in fact, is the first level, the first rung of the ladder of Jihad.
What
about the ultimate and final stage of Jihad? Again, all of us are obliged to
struggle our utmost in establishing the Deen of Allah (SWT). If, during this
struggle, a time comes when all those who are engaged in this endeavor are
required to come out and confront the forces of kufr and shirk, and to fight
and clash with these forces and to risk their lives in doing so, then this will
be the final and ultimate stage of Jihad.
Thus, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is reported to have said that if a Muslim dies and he had neither participated in any war for the cause of Allah (SWT), nor had he a desire to take part in such a war, then he dies in the state of a certain kind of nifaq, i.e., hypocrisy, and not true Iman. If you have genuine faith in Allah (SWT), and you know that it is your inescapable duty to make His Deen supreme and to establish His Sovereignty, then you have to have a burning desire, a strong yearning to be able to participate in the war for the sake of Allah (SWT). It may be that the time for such armed clash doesn’t come in your life. As you know, many of the Companions (RAA) died before the Islamic movement entered the phases of active resistance and armed conflict. They never got the chance to participate in any of the battles. But, of course, the desire and the urge to fight in the way of Allah (SWT) was there in their hearts. If there is no such desire then it means there is no real Iman in the heart.
Thus, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is reported to have said that if a Muslim dies and he had neither participated in any war for the cause of Allah (SWT), nor had he a desire to take part in such a war, then he dies in the state of a certain kind of nifaq, i.e., hypocrisy, and not true Iman. If you have genuine faith in Allah (SWT), and you know that it is your inescapable duty to make His Deen supreme and to establish His Sovereignty, then you have to have a burning desire, a strong yearning to be able to participate in the war for the sake of Allah (SWT). It may be that the time for such armed clash doesn’t come in your life. As you know, many of the Companions (RAA) died before the Islamic movement entered the phases of active resistance and armed conflict. They never got the chance to participate in any of the battles. But, of course, the desire and the urge to fight in the way of Allah (SWT) was there in their hearts. If there is no such desire then it means there is no real Iman in the heart.
To be continued....
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