In this twelfth installment of exploring Jihad in Fiqh, we return to Reliance of the Traveller.
al-Misri, d. 1367, shafi’i. Umdat al Salik (Reliance of the Traveler), 09.1.
Jihad is a communal obligation. When enough people perform it to successfully accomplish it, it is no longer obligatory upon others […] If none of those concerned perform jihad, and it does not happen at all, then everyone who is aware that it is obligatory is guilty of sin, if there was a possibility of having performed it. In the time of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) jihad was a communal obligation after his emigration (hijra) to Medina. As for subsequent times, there are two possible states in respect to non-Muslims.
The first is when they [i.e. Muslims] are in their own countries, in which case jihad is a communal obligation, and this is what our author is speaking of when he says, ”Jihad is a communal obligation,” meaning upon the Muslims each year. The second state is when non-Muslims invade a Muslim country or near to one, in which case jihad is personally obligatory upon the inhabitants of that country, who must repel the non-Muslims with whatever can. |
Jihad is a communal obligation,” meaning upon the Muslims each year.
In this quote, we learn that the communal obligation to perform Jihad is annual. Jihad is not an anachronism which can be ignored, it must be performed every year until the entire world is conquered.
If none of those concerned perform jihad, and it does not happen at all, then everyone who is aware that it is obligatory is guilty of sin, if there was a possibility of having performed it.
You should understand that Jihad is mandatory, and that neglecting it is sinful.
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