Is Jihad an Obligation Only on the Government?
The Prophet (PBUH) stated that a believer cannot exist without even a small amount of the feeling of Jihad. This raises the question: If it is solely the government’s responsibility to engage in warfare, how can an individual cultivate this feeling?
Point by: S.M. Shafi, Nagore
In Islam, every act of worship becomes obligatory only when its conditions are fulfilled. For example, Zakat and Hajj are obligatory only when specific criteria are met. One cannot impose Hajj as a mandatory act on someone struggling for daily sustenance. Similarly, Jihad is an obligation only when the necessary conditions arise.
There is no place in Islam for someone who takes up a stick in the name of Jihad and acts like a hooligan.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَهْمٍ الأَنْطَاكِىُّ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ وُهَيْبٍ الْمَكِّىِّ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ عَنْ سُمَىٍّ عَنْ أَبِى صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « مَنْ مَاتَ وَلَمْ يَغْزُ وَلَمْ يُحَدِّثْ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ مَاتَ عَلَى شُعْبَةٍ مِنْ نِفَاقٍ ». قَالَ ابْنُ سَهْمٍ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ فَنُرَى أَنَّ ذَلِكَ كَانَ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم
Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: He who dies without having gone or thought of going out for Jihad in the Cause of Allah, will die while being guilty of having one of the qualities of hypocrisy. (Sahih Muslim 5040)
In this Hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) states that whoever dies without even thinking about engaging in Jihad dies with a trait of hypocrisy.
In this Hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) states that whoever dies without even thinking about engaging in Jihad dies with a trait of hypocrisy:
The Hadith does not imply that only participating in Jihad develops the mindset for it. If that were the case, the Prophet (PBUH) would have merely stated that one who dies without performing Jihad is a hypocrite. Instead, the Prophet (PBUH) explicitly added the condition of not even intending or thinking about it. This highlights that a scenario can arise where an individual is unable to participate in Jihad, but their intention and readiness must always exist.
The Hadith conveys that while Jihad may not currently be an obligation for Muslims, this situation is not permanent. If circumstances change, such as coming under an Islamic government where Jihad becomes a requirement, Muslims must not reject it. This readiness is the essence of the Hadith.
The distinction between someone unable to perform Hajj due to lack of means and someone who refuses to perform it even when capable must be understood. Similarly, while one may not engage in Jihad due to external circumstances, rejecting it altogether indicates a flawed understanding of faith.
Every Muslim must maintain a sense of Jihad in their heart. Unlike other acts of worship, such as prayer or fasting, which are easier for individuals to undertake, Jihad requires a greater level of mental and emotional preparedness. This is why the Prophet (PBUH) emphasized the importance of cultivating and maintaining this mindset.