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Home , Conquest of Mecca, Day of Resurrection, Emir, Hadith, Ibn Abbas, Jihad

The Doctrine of in the Islamic Emir F. Caner and Ergun M. Caner

Emir Fethi Caner is Associate Pro- Introduction obliged to discuss current events, and we should all agree on how to fessor of History and Anabaptist On 23 February 1998, five Islamic cali- settle the matter. Studies at Southeastern Baptist Theo- phates signed a document of a declaration No one argues today about three logical Seminary in Wake Forest, North of war against the United States of America facts that are known to everyone; we will list them, in order to remind Carolina. He previously served as a (fatwa). Representing five radical factions, everyone: church planter in the Czech Republic. these men united in calling the Muslim First, for over seven years the Dr. Caner has also served as a pastor world to task against the perceived enemy United States has been occupying the lands of in the holiest of places, and speaks regularly on church . The full text reads as follows: the , plundering and Islam around the world. Ergun its riches, dictating to its rulers, hu- Mehmet Caner is Professor of The- Statement signed by miliating its people, terrorizing its Usamah Bin- Bin-Ladin; neighbors, and turning its bases in ology and Church History at Liberty Ayman al-Zawahiri, leader of the the Peninsula into a spearhead University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He has Jihad Group in ; Abu-Yasir through which to fight the neighbor- ing Muslim peoples. served as a pastor and has lectured on Rifa’i Taha, a leader of the Islamic Group; Sheikh Hamzah, If some people have formerly apologetics, world , and theol- secretary of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e- debated the fact of the occupation, all ogy in eleven countries. Raised as Sunni ; and Fazlul Rahman, leader the people of the Peninsula have now acknowledged it. , the Caner brothers have of the Jihad Movement in Bangla- desh. The best proof of this is the Ameri- co-authored several books, including Praise be to , who revealed cans’ continuing aggression against Unveiling Islam: An Insider’s Look at the Book, controls the clouds, defeats the Iraqi people using the Peninsula as a staging post, even though all its Muslim Life and Beliefs (Kregel, 2002), factionalism, and says in His Book, “But when the forbidden months are rulers are against their territories More than a : An Insider’s past, then fight and slay the pagans being used to that end, still they are Response to Muslim Beliefs about wherever you find them, seize them, helpless. Second, despite the great beleaguer them, and lie in wait for devastation inflicted on the Iraqi and Christianity (Kregel, 2003), andOut them in every stratagem (of war)”; people by the crusader-Zionist alli- of the Crescent Shadows: Leading and peace be upon our Prophet, ance, and despite the huge number of those killed, in excess of one mil- Muslim Women into the Light of Christ Muhammad Bin-’Abdallah, who said, “I have been sent with the lion... despite all this, the Americans (New Hope, 2003). sword between my hands to ensure are once against trying to repeat the that no one but Allah is worshipped, horrific massacres, as though they Allah who put my livelihood under are not content with the protracted the shadow of my spear and who blockade imposed after the ferocious inflicts humiliation and scorn on war or the fragmentation and devas- those who disobey my orders.” The tation. Arabian Peninsula has never—since So now they come to annihilate Allah made it flat, created its desert, what is left of this people and to and encircled it with seas—been humiliate their Muslim neighbors. stormed by any forces like the cru- Third, if the Americans’ aims sader armies now spreading in it like behind these wars are religious and locusts, consuming its riches and economic, the aim is also to serve the destroying its plantations. All this is ’ petty state and divert attention happening at a time when nations from its occupation of and are attacking Muslims like people murder of Muslims there. fighting over a plate of food. In the The best proof of this is their light of the grave situation and the eagerness to destroy , the stron- lack of support, we and you are gest neighboring Arab state, and 32 their endeavor to fragment all the Americans and plunder their money states of the region such as Iraq, wherever and whenever they find it. , Egypt, and into We also call on Muslim ulema, lead- paper statelets and through their dis- ers, youths, and soldiers to launch union and weakness to guarantee the on ’s U.S. troops and ’s survival and the continuation the ’s supporters allying with of the brutal crusade occupation of them, and to displace those who are the Peninsula. behind them so that they may learn All these crimes and sins commit- a lesson. ted by the Americans are a clear Almighty Allah said “O you who on Allah, his mes- believe, give your response to Allah senger, and Muslims. And ulema and His , when He calls you have throughout Islamic history to that which will give you life. And unanimously agreed that the jihad is know that Allah comes between a an individual duty if the enemy man and his heart, and that it is He destroys the Muslim countries. This to whom you shall all be gathered.” was revealed by Bin-Qadamah Almighty Allah also says “O you in “Al-Mughni,” Imam al-Kisa’i in who believe, what is the matter with “Al-Bada’i,” al-Qurtubi in his inter- you, that when you are asked to go pretation, and the shaykh of al-Islam forth in the cause of Allah, you cling in his books, where he said “As for so heavily to the earth! Do you pre- the militant struggle, it is aimed at fer the life of this world to the here- defending sanctity and , and after? But little is the comfort of this it is a duty as agreed. Nothing is life, as compared with the hereafter. more sacred than belief except Unless you go forth, He will punish repulsing an enemy who is attacking you with a grievous penalty, and put religion and life.” others in your place; but Him you On that basis, and in compliance would not harm in the least. For with Allah’s order, we issue the fol- Allah hath power over all things.” lowing fatwa to all Muslims: Almighty Allah also says “So lose The ruling to kill the Americans and no heart, nor fall into despair. For their allies—civilians and military—is you must gain mastery if you are true an individual duty for every Muslim in .”1 who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa and the holy On September 11, the United States of mosque from their grip, and in order America saw the first manifestation of this for their armies to move out of all the declared fatwa, as almost five thousand lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim. This is in Americans lost their lives when the World accordance with the words of Trade Center towers were reduced to a Almighty Allah, “and fight the horrific pile of rubble, fire, and girder. The pagans all together as they fight you all together,” and “fight them until seminal question which has now seared there is no more tumult or oppres- into the collective conscience of the nation sion, and there prevail justice and is clear: Were these men acting upon the faith in Allah.” This is in addition to the words of wild rantings of a cultic leader who has Almighty Allah, “And why should bastardized the peaceful religion of Islam, you not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are or are they in fact acting upon orthodox ill-treated and oppressed—women Islamic doctrine? and children, whose cry is—‘Allah It is the purpose of this paper to present rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for the central thesis that Islam does in fact us from thee one who will help!’” have an essential and indispensable tenet We—with Allah’s help—call on of militaristic conquest at its heart. In both every Muslim who believes in Allah and wishes to be rewarded to com- the teachings of the Qur’an and the ply with Allah’s order to kill the Hadith, the () must either be con- 33 verted or conquered, and the Muslim who dies In M. M. Azami’s Studies in Hadith Meth- in such a struggle (Jihad) is promised immedi- odology and Literature, the following defi- ate into the highest level of Para- nition of a hadith is given, dise. While the core of the work will exam- ine Hadithic admonitions and injunctions, According to Muhaddithiin [schol- ars of hadith] it stands for ‘what was we shall also offer Quranic foundations to transmitted on the authority of the the midrashic nature of the Hadith. Prophet, his deeds, sayings, tacit approval, or description of his sifaat (features) meaning his physical The Hadith as Islamic Midrash appearance. However, physical The Qur’an is the highest authority in appearance of the Prophet is not Islam, having been transmitted to Muham- included in the definition used by the jurists.’2 med from Allah through the . Secondary to the Qur’an, the and The expansion of Islam in the century the Hadith serve as instruction to the Mus- following Muhammed’s death confronted lim much in the way Midrash is to the Islamic scholars with a daunting task: to Hebrew. The Sunnah is the source of preserve the of the teachings Islamic jurisprudence and legal code. It is of the Prophet. Hence the science of hadith considered invaluable and authoritative in evaluation was born. There are four the rulings among Islamic states. The versions of the Hadith, all of which have Sunnah depicts the events of the life of achieved popularity. Muhammed, and offers examples for eth- The collection of Sahih Bukhari is rec- ics and living. ognized by the overwhelming majority of ahadith The Hadith (pl. ) is very similar the to be one of the most to the Sunnah, but not identical. A hadith authentic collections of the words of is a narration from the life of the prophet Muhammed. According to Islamic schol- and what he said, as opposed to a bio- ars, each report in his collection was graphical sketch. Therefore, as the Sunnah checked for compatibility with the Qur’an, gives the significant story of Muhammed, and the veracity of the chain of reporters the Hadith expounds the crucial, ever- had to be painstakingly established. lasting commandments of their founder. Bukhari (full name Abu Abdullah According to the South African Council of Muhammad bin Ismail bin Ibrahim bin Muslim Theologians, the Hadith/Sunnah al-Mughira al-Ja’fai) was born in A.D. 816 is the sensible explanation of an otherwise and died in A.D. 878. He spent sixteen years sporadically ambiguous Qur’an. They compiling it, and ended up with 2,602 explain, hadith (9,082 with repetition). His criteria for acceptance into the collection were The Holy Qur’an without the Hadith or Sunnah of the Prophet amongst the most stringent of all the schol- (s.a.w.s.) remains unintelligible in ars of ahadith, categorizing each memory certain instances and in view of that, and oration as follows: sound (sahih), good the Holy Qur’an has, in several verses, ordered Muslims to follow (hasan), weak (da’if), fabricated (maudu’), the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) in all his deeds and forged. Therefore, it is the best for use and sayings. Therefore, if one in this article. believes in the Holy Qur’an, there is no other alternative but to uphold The translation of is a the Hadith of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.). much larger collection. Muslim (full 34 name Abul Husain Muslim bin al-Hajjaj in the Hadith. In the end, he was the per- al-Nisapuri) was born in A.D. 824 and died sonification of a militaristic theologian, in A.D. 883. Out of 300,000 ahadith he evalu- which the Hadith then accurately illus- ated, only 4,000 approximately were used trates. In 2:190, Allah says, “Fight in his collection based on a less stringent (Jihad) in the cause of Allah those who acceptance criteria. Muslim was a student fight (ajihad) you.” The definition of this of Bukhari. struggle follows to include the possibility Two partial collections have a smaller of death (“slay”): “And slay them wher- following in Islamic academia. The partial ever you catch them, and turn them out collections of Sunan Abu-Dawud and from where they have turned you out, for ’s Muwatta are both about half the tumult and oppression are worse than size of the aforementioned two collections, slaughter” (2:191). but carry weight in smaller Islamic sects The apparent contradiction of conquer- such as the .3 ing the oppressors so that all have faith in The simple outline of this exercise shall Allah can be understood with a proper be an exposition of Hadithic teachings interpretation of Jihad. Physical warfare is concerning Jihad, in light of Quranic an absolute necessity so that Allah is hon- admonitions. The first section illustrates ored and worshiped. Therefore, the the teaching that while Jihad can be trans- oppression exterminated does not carry a lated “personal struggle,” it is explicitly modern designation of religious liberty; “holy fighting” in combat that may result rather, it is a herald to have all worship in death with the infidel. The second sec- Allah, beginning and not ending with the tion shall examine the proposition that the Arabian Peninsula. non-believer (kafir) cannot be tolerated, This warfare is viewed within the con- and must either be converted or, if that is text of victory by the Muslim against the not possible, conquered. Finally, we shall turmoil caused by the very presence of the explore the doctrine of martyrdom and the infidel: “And fight them on until there is effect of death on the Muslim in Jihad. no more tumult or oppression, and let there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but High Jihad Is Warfare if they cease, let there be no hostility except The Qur’an, supposedly from the very to those who practice oppression” (2:193). mouth of Allah, takes a dim view of non- The current Muslim apologists who believers, and a strict view of Jihad as a redact the terminology to indicate “fight- warfare against them. The teachings indi- ing” as perhaps an intellectual debate or cate not a “struggle of personal piety,” but forum must hasten to 2:216: “Fighting is rather a combat that involves all venues of prescribed for you, and you dislike it. But politics, warfare, and culture. Muhammed it is possible that you dislike a thing which himself was the best example of this prin- is good for you, and that you love a thing ciple, commanding the slaughter of thou- which is bad for you. But Allah knows, and sands of men in order to conquer the you know not.” It is impossible to eisegete Arabian Peninsula in the name of Allah. If the text in such a way to indicate anything Jihad were only a struggle of personal but fighting in the traditional sense of piety, then the Prophet misled the people combat. through his actions and words as recorded The Hadith also indicates that Jihad is 35 a “fight,” “struggle,” or “battle.” Bukhari’s The Kafir Cannot Be Tolerated very first volume notes, “Allah’s Apostle Certainly the Qur’an is married to the was asked, ‘What is the best deed?’ He expulsion or destruction of the infidel replied, ‘To believe in Allah and His (kafir). Even a cursory reading of the Apostle (Muhammad).’ The questioner Qur’an or the Hadith evidences a mis- then asked, ‘What is the next (in good- siological endeavor which calls for the ness)?’ He replied, ‘To participate in Jihad complete eradication of the non-believer: (religious fighting) in Allah’s cause’ (2:25).” In volume 3, Book 46, Number 724, which If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted is narrated by Abu Huraira, Muhammed of him (Surah 3:85). said, “A pious slave gets a double reward.” Seize them and slay them wherever Abu Huraira added, “By Him in Whose you find them: and in any case take no friends or helpers from their Hands my is but for Jihad (i.e. holy ranks (4:89). battles), , and my duty to serve my …for the Unbelievers are open mother, I would have loved to die as a enemies to you (4:101). For the Unbelievers, Allah has pre- slave.” Thus, death is seemingly a possible pared a humiliating punishment end of such Jihad. (4:102). I will instill terror into the hearts of Of special interest to the student of the the unbelievers, smite ye above their Hadith is the of Book 52 of Bukhari’s necks and smite all their fingertips Hadith: Fighting for the Cause of Allah of them. It is not you who slew them; it was Allah (8:13-17). (Jihaad). The volume presents with explicit Fight those who believe not in Allah clarity some of the mandates for the Mus- nor the last day (9:29). lim in combat. In the volume, Ibn ‘Abbas narrates, “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘There is no Of special interest to the hypothetical Hijra (i.e. migration) (from to Muslim who converts to or Chris- ) after the Conquest (of Mecca), but tianity is Hadith 9:57: “Mohammed said: Jihad and good intention remain; and if ‘Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill you are called (by the Muslim ruler) for him.’” fighting, go forth immediately.’” In com- Christianity is a specific enemy of Islam plete agreement with Ibn ‘Abbas, Sahl bin and, thus, held out for specific scorn in Sad As-’idi continues in verse eighty- the Qur’an. Our belief in a Triune , five: “I saw Marwan bin Al-Hakam sitting with Christ as the begotten Son of God in in the Mosque. So I came forward and sat , caused Muhammed to by his side. He told us that Zaid bin Thabit record a scathing critique of the core doc- had told him that Allah’s Apostle had dic- trines of orthodox Christianity: tated to him the Divine Verse: ‘Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and O ! Commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of those who strive hard and fight in the Allah anything but the . Christ Cause of Allah with their wealth and lives’ Jesus the son of Mary was no more (4.95).” In so doing, he cites the Qur’an to than a Messenger of Allah…Do not say “Trinity”: desist: it will be better substantiate the teaching of holy fighting for you: for Allah is One God: as combat. be to Him: far exalted is He above having a son (Surah 4:171). From those too, who call themselves , We did take a covenant, 36 but they forgot a good part of the pagans out of the Arabian Peninsula” Message that was sent to them: so We estranged them, with enmity (Hadith 5:716). and hatred between one and the Central to Islamic doctrine is also the other, to the Day of Judgment. And socio-political empahsis on the land. Ibn soon will Allah show them what they have done (5:14). ‘Abbas continues his narration of Muham- In indeed are those that med’s words in 4.52.79: “On the day of the say that God is Christ the son of Conquest (of Mecca) the Prophet said, Mary (5:17). They do blaspheme who say: “God ‘There is no emigration after the Conquest is Christ the son of Mary.” They do but Jihad and intentions. When you are blaspheme who say: God is one of called (by the Muslim ruler) for fighting, three in a trinity: for there is no God except one God Allah. If they do not go forth immediately.’ Thus, the conquest desist from their word of blasphemy, of the land (herein specifically Mecca) is verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them. seen as the victorious fulfillment of their Christ the son of Mary was no more cause, though Jihad continues. than a Messenger; many were the The promise of their “” is seen Messengers that passed away before him (5:72-73, 75). in Mecca as the “sanctuary” given by Allah, as the proper fulfillment of their The Jews as well are held in contempt faith system. Allah’s Apostle also said, on as corrupters of the truth of Allah: “O you the day of the , “Allah who believe! Take not the Jews and the has made this town a sanctuary since the Christians for your friends and protectors: day He created the and the Earth. they are but friends and protectors to each So, it is a sanctuary by Allah’s Decree till other. And he among you that turns to the Day of ” (4.53.412). them for friendship is of them” (5:51). Also, As Volume Four continues in Bukhari’s Allah notes, Hadith collection, the reader is confronted with Allah’s clear intention to expel the It is He Who got out the Unbeliev- . When the Prophet returned (from 4 ers among the People of the Book Jihad), he would say (“Allah is from their homes at the first gather- ing of the forces. Little did you think great”) thrice and add, “We are returning, that they would get out: and they if Allah wishes, with repentance and wor- thought that their fortresses would shipping and praising (our Lord) and pros- defend them from Allah! But the wrath of Allah came to them from trating ourselves before our Lord. Allah quarters from which they had little fulfilled His Promise and helped His Slave, expected it, and cast terror into their hearts, so that they destroyed their and He Alone defeated the (infidel) clans” own dwellings by their own hands (4.52.317, emphasis added). The alliance of and the hands of the Believers (59:2). Muhammed, Allah, war, and victory eter- nally intermingles the thought of struggle The Hadith Continues the with the shedding of blood. The parallel Kafiric Expulsion between military victory and of Continuing from the Qur’an, the Allah is key in understanding that Islam Hadith extrapolates upon the necessity for at its core desires both physical and meta- the expulsion of the akafir from the land of physical victory, and the use of force is not the Muslim. As a matter of fact, the Hadith only acceptable, but it is commendable. records Muhammed’s final earthly words: The final promise of the expulsion and “Mohammed’s last words were: Turn the 37 destruction of the infidel is seen in the final said, ‘No, by Allah, we took part in Jihad after Allah’s Apostle, prayed triumphant song in Volume 5, Book 58, and did plenty of good deeds, and Number 240, which is narrated by ‘Ata bin many people have embraced Islam Abi Rabah: “‘Ubaid bin ‘Umar Al-Laithi at our hands, and no doubt, we expect rewards from Allah for these and I visited and asked her about good deeds.’ On that my father (i.e. the Hijra (i.e. migration), and she said, ‘Umar) said, ‘As for myself, By Him ‘Today there is no (Hijrah) emigration. A in Whose Hand ‘Umar’s soul is, I wish that the deeds done by us at believer used to run away with his religion the time of the Prophet remain to Allah and His Apostle lest he should rewardable while whatsoever we did after the death of the Prophet be be put to trial because of his religion. Today enough to save us from Punishment Allah has made Islam triumphant, and in that the good deeds compensate today a believer can worship his Lord for the bad ones.’” 5 2. Jihad requires a pledge of life (Vol- wherever he likes.’” ume 5, Book 59, Number 599: Nar- rated by Mujashi bin Masud): “I took The Muslim is Promised Abu Mabad to the Prophet in order that he might give him the pledge and Power in Jihad of allegiance for migration. The The reward for the jihadic endeavor has Prophet said, ‘Migration has gone to been a topic of great debate in the present its people, but I take the pledge from him (i.e. Abu Mabad) for Islam and day. Were the pilots and hijackers Jihad.’” indeed expecting the forgiveness of their 3. Jihad is required for all those within the fatwa (Volume 4, Book 52, Num- sin and the promise of a certain degree of ber 311: Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas): honor in for their horrific deeds? “The Prophet said, on the day of the Both the Qur’an and the Hadith illustrate Conquest of Mecca, ‘There is no migration (after the Conquest), but exacting and precise protocols that were Jihad and good intentions, and both clearly enunciated by Sheikh Usamah when you are called for Jihad, you Bin-Muhammad Bin-Ladin and explicitly should immediately respond to the call.’” followed by the terrorists. The Qur’an is 4. Jihad is combative fighting to the clear in the policy of atoning martyrdom: death (Volume 6, Book 60, Number “Let those fight in the cause of Allah who 40: Narrated by Nafi’): “During the affliction of Ibn Az-Zubair, two men sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. came to Ibn ‘Umar and said, ‘The To him who fights in the cause of Allah— people are lost, and you are the son of ‘Umar, and the companion of the whether he is slain or gets victory—soon Prophet, so what forbids you from shall We give him a reward of great value” coming out?’ He said, ‘What forbids (4:74). me is that Allah has prohibited the shedding of my brother’s blood.’ The Hadith more explicitly expands on They both said, ‘Didn’t Allah say, both the protocols followed and the prom- “And fight then until there is no ises made to the one who dies in Jihad. The more affliction?” He said ‘We fought until there was no more affliction standards by which Muhammed mea- and the worship is for Allah while sured Jihad eerily resonate in our collec- you want to fight until there is tive ears in light of the recent events. affliction and until the worship become for other than Allah.’” 5. Jihad is one of the highest calls of life 1. The scales are balanced (Volume 5, (Volume 8, Book 73, Number 1: Nar- Book 58, Number 254: Narrated by rated by Al-Walid bin ‘Aizar): “I Abu Burda Bin Abi Musa Al- heard Abi Amr ‘Ash-Shaibani say- Ashari): “Your father (i.e. Abu Musa) ing, ‘The owner of this house,’ he 38 pointed to ‘Abdullah’s house, ‘said, elderly parents. Women are not permitted “I asked the Prophet ‘Which deed is loved most by Allah?’” He replied, in Islam to participate in fighting in Jihad. “To offer at their early (very For them, interestingly, the pilgrimage of first) stated times.” ‘Abdullah asked, Hajj (the fifth pillar of Islam) is considered “What is the next (in goodness)?” The Prophet said, “To be good and their Jihad and, thus, seen as a holy dutiful to one’s parents.” ‘Abdullah struggle as well. Volume 4, Book 52, Num- asked, “What is the next (in good- ber 127, which is narrated by ‘Aisha, says, ness)?” The Prophet said, “To par- ticipate in Jihad for Allah’s Cause.” “The mother of the faithful believers, I ‘Abdullah added, “The Prophet nar- requested the Prophet permit me to par- rated to me these three things, and ticipate in Jihad, but he said, ‘Your Jihad is if I had asked more, he would have told me more.”’” the performance of Hajj.’” Also, the disabled are not called by Also seen in contradiction to the Mus- Allah to fight in holy war, though their lim who engages in Jihad is the slothful desire to do so is seen as blessed in the Muslim who does not endeavor in the Hadith. Zaid said, “Ibn-Maktum came to “holy cause.” Those that choose not to the Prophet while he was dictating to me fight in holy battle are seen as less pious that very Verse. On that Ibn Um Maktum and will lack reward. Volume 4, Book 52, said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! If I had power, I Number 85, which is narrated by Sahl bin would surely take part in Jihad.’ He was a Sad As-Sa’idi, says, “I saw Marwan bin blind man. So Allah sent down Al-Hakam sitting in the Mosque. So I came to His Apostle while his thigh was on mine forward and sat by his side. He told us that and it became so heavy for me that I feared Zaid bin Thabit had told him that Allah’s that my thigh would be broken. Then that Apostle had dictated to him the Divine state of the Prophet was over after Allah Verse: ‘Not equal are those believers who revealed, ‘...except those who are disabled sit (at home) and those who strive hard (by injury or are blind or lame etc.).’”6 and fight in the Cause of Allah with their Therefore, the fact that the physically dis- wealth and lives’ (Surah 4:95).” abled cannot involve themselves in holy Of special interest is the admonition war further demonstrates the definition of by Muhammed that any person enlisted Jihad as a physical struggle and not an in Holy War cannot be found guilty of internal, spiritual one. Muhammed found murder: “Muhammed said: No Muslim spiritual victory in physical success and so should be killed for killing a Kafir (infi- too are modern Muslims commanded to del)” (Hadith 9:50). Therefore, the impli- do so whenever called. cations of the band being actually Finally, the last group permitted exemp- submitted to the world’s authority—to be tion from Jihad in any structure includes indicted on a capital offense—are beyond those caring for parents. In Volume 4, Book reason for the Muslim . 52, Number 248, narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr, Muhammed says, “A man came to The Three Prohibitions of Jihad the Prophet asking his permission to take According to the Hadith, there are three part in Jihad. The Prophet asked him, ‘Are classes of people who should not be your parents alive?’ He replied in the involved in a Holy Jihad once declared: affirmative. The Prophet said to him, ‘Then women, the disabled, and men caring for exert yourself in their service.’” 39 The Promised Victory of Jihad assumes that they have no hope, death in in the Hadith Jihad is not only a viable option, it may be In conclusion, the Hadith is explicit in the only option. Twice is the point made its proposition that the Muslim is prom- that Allah guarantees entrance into Para- ised eternal victory in the act of holy war. dise for the Muslim who dies in Jihad: This includes both the success of battle and the promise of eternal forgiveness and Volume 9, Book 93, Number 549, narrated by Abu Huraira: Allah’s translation to the highest level of Paradise. Apostle said, “Allah guarantees to It is at this juncture that the authors note the person who carries out Jihad for the starkest conflict with our culture and His Cause and nothing compelled him to go out but the Jihad in His life. The terrorists who died in the bomb- Cause, and belief in His Words, that ing sincerely believed that they would be He will either admit him into Para- forgiven of all sin by Allah. They followed dise or return him with his reward or the booty he has earned to his resi- a route completely antithetical to the Chris- dence from where he went out.” tian mind since their beliefs are antipa- Volume 9, Book 93, Number 555, narrated by Abu Huraira: Allah’s thetic to the Christian faith. Since Allah is Apostle said, “Allah guarantees (the completely removed from his people and person who carries out Jihad in His is in no way incarnational or personal, the Cause and nothing compelled him to go out but Jihad in His Cause and terrorists followed the dastardly route the belief in His Word) that He will imposed upon them by the only sources either admit him into Paradise (Mar- they could trust and that guaranteed them tyrdom) or return him with reward or booty he has earned to his resi- paradise: the literal rendering of the dence from where he went out.” Hadith and Qur’an. In the first encouragement to the Mus- The nature of the heavenly abode is lim, Allah promises victory in land con- detailed explicitly in Book Ninety-Three. quest. In reference to the capture of Mecca, A literal exposition demonstrates that it is recorded: “‘Ubaid bin ‘Umar Al-Laithi militaristic Jihad gives the greatest of and I visited Aisha and asked her about rewards to the Muslim striving to serve the Hijra (i.e. migration), and she said, Allah with all his heart. Therefore, the ‘Today there is no (Hijrah) emigration. A devout Muslim is compelled into milita- believer used to run away with his religion ristic service. The term, then, of “Muslim to Allah and His Apostle lest he should be fundamentalist” is correct in so far as it put to trial because of his religion. Today renders someone who desires to follow Allah has made Islam triumphant, and Allah wholeheartedly and with an honest, today a believer can worship his Lord simple devotion to the Islamic scriptures. wherever he likes.’”7 In Volume 9, Book 93, Number 519, nar- Secondly, and most important to the rated by Abu Huraira, Muhammed is Muslim, is the promise of eternal forgive- cited as saying, ness and blessing in Paradise. For the Muslim who fears the scales which may There are one-hundred degrees in measure his eternal damnation if weighted Paradise which Allah has prepared for those who carry on Jihad in His heavier for evil than good, this is the only Cause. The distance between every true eternal security they have. Therefore, two degrees is like the distance between the sky and the Earth, so if for the Muslim who fears the scales and you ask Allah for anything, ask Him 40 for the Firdaus, for it is the last part of Paradise and the highest part of Paradise, and at its top there is the Throne of Beneficent, and from it gush forth the rivers of Paradise.

It is, therefore, clear to even the most casual reader that Jihad is more than just an intellectual exercise of struggle, but rather an engagement in battle and struggle and warfare, with death as a con- clusion and (for the Muslim) blessing. Muhammed echoed this conclusion in Hadith 4:73: “Mohammed said: Know that paradise is under the shades of the sword.”

ENDNOTES 1Published in on February 23, 1998, in Al-Quds al-’Arabi. Translation and italics by the authors. 2M. M. Azami, Studies in Hadith Method- ology and Literature (New York: Ameri- can Trust, 1978) 3. 3Malik was a law professor and founder of a judicial school of thought, reputed to have had over one thousand students. During Malik’s lifetime, he steadily revised his Muwatta. 4The “People of the Book” is the Islamic term for the Jews, especially current in Shi’itic circles and ulema (scholars). 5Also repeated in 5.59.602 6Volume 4, Book 52, Number 85. Interest- ingly, Muhammed blessed his desire to fight, even though he was excluded from the necessity to fight. 7See Hadith Number 42, Volume 4. This verse is also repeated in 5.59.602

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