JIHÂD - جهاد ‎

 

The word jihâd stems from the Arabic root of the word  جَهْدJahd, which means striving, effort, endevour and labour.

Literally: Doing one's best. Striving to the utmost. One's best endeavour.

In fiqh: Fighting to protect or advance the religion of Islam. Holy warfare against the enemies of Islam. Striving on the way of Allah through words and actions, ‘ilm and îmân. Endevouring and striving to reinforce îmân and protect the pillars and fundamentals of îmân and religion. The endeavour of protecting the laws of the Illustrious Sharî’ah, upholding the Word of Allah, repelling kufr al-mutlaq and the fitnah of kâfirs and ensuring the dominance of haqq.

The lesser jihâd: Warfare with material weapons against the enemies of Islam.

The greater jihâd (Jihâd al-akbar): Striving to repel the inclinations of nafs and not to follow its desires, resisting against shaytans among man and jinn.

 

 

Our salvation from the vile tyranny of the nafs al-ammarah is by relying on Islam and holding that strong rope1 fast. Truly benefiting from the rightful freedom can be achieved by seeking help from îmân because the one who truly is an ‘abd and servant of As-Sâni’ of ‘âlam should not debase himself by being an ‘abd to His creatures. Since everyone is a commander in his own world, he is responsible for the greater jihâd in his small âlam and is assigned to gain the morals of Ahmad (asm) and revive the Sunnah of the Prophet.

The Damascus Sermon-85

 

“For these abilities and potentialities to develop, action is required, a transaction is necessary. The action of the mechanism of progress in such a transaction is brought about through jihâd. And jihâd occurs through the existence of shaytans and harmful things. Otherwise, man's station would have been constant like that of the malâikah.” The Flashes ( 104 )

 

“In the same way, through jihâd against the nafs and shaytan, the benefit, honour and value which is given to mankind due to the ten perfect men like stars who enlightened and honoured the human species, indeed make unnoticeable and reduce to nothing the harm which is given to mankind through the people of dhalâlah embracing kufr who are base as to be thought of as vermin. Since this is so, Ilahî rahmah, hikmah and justice have permitted the existence of shaytan and allowed him to pester men.

O people of îmân! Your armour against these awesome enemies is the taqwâ made on the workbench of the Qur'an. And your shield is the Sunnah as-Saniyyah of Ar-Rasûl Al-Akram ‘Alayhissalâtu Wassalâm. And your weapon is isti’âdha and istighfâr and taking refuge in Ilahî protection.” The Thirteenth Flash-2nd Indication

 

“For the malâikah, there is no endeavour2 and progress; they all have their fixed station and determined rank, and receive a particular pleasure from the work itself and a faydh from their ‘ibâdah.” The Words ( 362 )

 

“Question: Why is it that the people of hidâyah, who are Hizb Allah3, are so often defeated by the people of dhalâlah, who are Hizb ash-shaytan4, despite Fakhr al-‘Âlam5 ‘Alayhissalâtu Wassalâm being at their head and their receiving so much Ilahî ‘inâyah and rahmah and assistance of Subhân? What was the reason for the munâfiqs of Medina insisting on dhalâlah and their not embracing hidâyah, despite being close to the brilliant sun-like nubuwwah and messengerhood of the Khatam al-Anbiya6, effective ma’nawî guidance by the mean of the miraculousness of Qur’an like a great elixir and with the contiguity of the Qur'anic haqiqahs, which are more captivating than the universal laws of attraction?

The Answer: It is necessary to explain a profound principle in order to solve the two parts of this awesome question. It is like this:

Al-Khâliq Zuljalâl of the universe has two sorts of Names, those pertaining to His Jalâl and those pertaining to His Jamâl. Since these Names require to demonstrate their decrees through different manifestations, Al-Khâliq Zuljalâl blended together opposites in the universe. Bringing them face to face, he gave them aggressive and defensive positions, in the form of a sort of beneficial contest with hikmah. Through making the opposites transgress one another's bound, He brought conflict and change into being, and made the universe subject to the law of change and transformation and the principles of progress and advancement. In humankind, the comprehensive fruit of the tree of creation, he made that law of contest in even stranger form, and opening the door to jihâd, which would be the means of all human progress, He gave Hizb ash-shaytan certain faculties with which to be able to challenge Hizb Allah.

It is because of this subtle mystery that the prophets were often defeated before the people of dhalâlah. And the people of dhalâlah, who are extremely weak and impotent, temporarily triumph over the people of haqq, who are extremely strong in a ma’nawî manner, and struggle against them.”  The 13th Flash-9th Indication

 

We have been members of the Muhammadan Union since Qalû Balâ7

What unites us is Tawhîd. Our oath and pledge are îmân. Since we declare Tawhîd, we are united. Each mu’min is charged with I’lâ Kalimatullah8, for which in this age, its most important means is dependant upon material progress. For the Foreigners are crushing us with their ma’nawî tyranny through the weapons of science and industry. So with the weapons of sciences and industry, we will wage jihâd against ignorance, poverty and conflict, which are the most fearsome enemies of I’lâ Kalimatullah. As for external jihâd, we will leave that to the diamond swords of the decisive proofs of the illustrious Sharî’ah. Because victory over the civilised is achieved through the persuasion. It is not by force, like savages who do not use their reason. We are devotees of love. We do not have time for animosity.

As for constitutionalism, it consists of justice, mutual consultation (mashwarah) and restricting power to rest with the law. Since the illustrious Sharî’ah was founded thirteen centuries ago, to beg before Europe in regard to legal judgements but a great crime against the religion of Islam. And it is like directing yourself towards the North when performing the salâh.

Power should reside in the law. Otherwise, despotism will spread. It is اِنَّ اللّهَ هُوَ الْقَوِىُّ الْمَتِينُ   that should govern and direct the conscience.

And that should occur through complete ma’rifat and widespread civilisation, or in the name of the religion of Islam. Otherwise, despotism will always prevail. To achieve unity is through hidâyah, not through fancy and desire. People have become free, yet they are still the ‘abds of Allah. Everything has become unrestricted. The mistake of others, cannot justify a person's own mistakes. Despair is the obstacle of all perfection. It is the souvenir of despotism to say "What is it to me, let someone else think about it". Biography-64