"I Have Been Ordered to Fight"- Hadith

Hadith- Second YearPresented to Dr. Gharib Khalil

By: Maha Youssuf

Misconception over ‘Fighting the Disbelievers’; Explained in light of

the Noble Hadith

Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said;

"I have been ordered to fight against people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah and until they perform the prayers and pay the zakat, and if they do so they will have gained protection from me for their lives and property, unless [they do acts that are punishable] in accordance with Islam, and their reckoning will be with Allah the Almighty."

-- [Related by Imams Bukhari and Muslim- may Allah be pleased with them]

Introduction

The use of the verb “fight” here refers to the notion of struggle, and fighting the ideology of disbelief. And fight as a verb means moving against the tide; that is the prevailing disbelief at the time of the commencement of the Prophet’s mission.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had to fight disbelief out of people’s minds and hearts, yet not through the use of force, which was used only to ward off offence and injustice launched and practiced against Muslims back then.

Compulsion ??!!

The Hadith doesn't’t and shouldn't’t in any way be perceived as contradicting Allah’s outright statement in the Quran that there is no compulsion in religion, i.e. nobody is to be forced to embrace the religion of Islam and adopt the Islamic faith.

“There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the

wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.”– {Quran

2:256”}

Compulsion ??!!

Similarly those who are forced to “verbally” abandon their religion are not considered to have actually left Islam, given the fact that they were forced to utter what’s against their true belief.

“Whoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief... except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allah , and for them is a great punishment;”–- {Quran 16:106}

Compulsion ??!!

So Islam doesn't’t condone the use of force to force people into or

out of one faith or another. Embracing or abandoning faiths should be done voluntarily and

out of deep and genuine conviction.

The Concept of Jihad

Idiomatically, Jihad, an Arabic word derived form the root "Jahad", means to "struggle" and struggle takes various forms and is driven by a variety of motivations: either spiritual, physical, or mental- group or individual struggle.

The Notion of Struggle

Contrary to widespread misconception about the idea of armed struggle and forcing people into Islam, Islam doesn't call for armed struggle except to defer attack by enemies, and not to initiate wars and risk the lives of the innocent.

The faulty affiliation between Jihad and armed struggle and “terrorism” is politically motivated, and used as a means to intervene with nations’ domestic and foreign policies.

A Few Insights

A deep look into the teachings of Islam would render a totally different understanding of this noble doctrine than what's sometimes said about it being an ideology that's dangerous and prejudiced against other faiths. Islam, as the word means in Arabic, is one derivation of the root Salam, or peace. And indeed it promotes peaceful-coexistence and warding off whatever that may inflict harm on human beings.

A Few Insights

Allah says in the Qur'an:

"On account of [his deed], We decreed to the Children of Israel that if anyone kills a person– unless in retribution for murder or spreading corruption in the land– it is as if he kills all mankind, while if any saves a life it is as if he saves the lives of all mankind. Our messengers came to them with clear signs, but many of them continued to commit excesses in the land." --  {Qur'an 5:32}

Misconception

Apart from the widespread misconception about Islam being spread by the power of sword, Islam's truthful message lays strict emphasis on the sanctity of human lives, whether Muslims or followers of other faiths. Its teachings safeguard people's rights and safety and has set sever punishments for acts of sin that violate the sanctity of human lives and their well- being.

It's an ideology that fights terror not promotes it.

Reflections

Islam prescribed fighting only its enemies, which doesn't’t generally encompass those who do not believe in Islam.

The enemies of Islam, as explained in many instances throughout the Quran and Sunnah, are not merely the disbelievers, but particularly those of them who fight the Muslims and Islam as an ideology seeking to annihilate it.

The enemies of Islam used to persecute the prophets (including Prophet Muhammad) and the believers In the throughout the course of life of Prophet Muhammad and earlier prophets, and they will continue to exist till the end of time.