Knowledge or Jihad?

[Abuz Zubair]

as-Salaamu 'Alaikum,

I have been intending to write something on the topic of achieving a balance between seeking knowledge and Jihad for quite a while now. And hopefully, you guys will give me ideas and help me prepare.

It seems that there are those who give Jihad the first priority, over everything else, irrespective of what is actually required from them Islamically given the circumstances they are living in. Whilst on the other hand there are those who are either pure academics or completely oblivious to the outside world, and unmindful of the obligation of Jihad.

So what is the balanced approach given our needs whilst living as minorities in the West and our responsibilities to the rest of the Ummah worldwide?

JazaakumAllahu Khairan

Was-salaamu 'alaikum

[Anonymous]

Walaikumsalaam,

I would like to say that Seeking knowledge and Jihad are not mutually exclusive and infact I beleive one leads to the other. In reality, nobody would be motivated to Jihad without the Knowledge of its obligation/recommendation (depending on circumstance) and Virtues. Therefore, some amount of Knowledge is required before Jihad is undertaken.

Secondly, In the position we find ourselves in the West, we find that those who actually have an opportunity to participate in Jihad in the Fiqhi sense of the word are very few and far between, (relatively speaking) and therefore for those who understand the Importance of Jihad but can't or won't do anything to put that into practice should do the next best thing and seek knowledge. The fear is that those who speak of Jihad but can't or won't do it end up just talking to everyone about it , and May Allah reward these people for their Love for Jihad and their good Intention, but what could happen is that by spending all their time talking of it, they neither end up participating in Jihad NOR do they take any great strides in seeking knowledge. So, never mind striking a balance between the two, they end up accomplishing neither of them, and that is a huge danger.

The Muslim is smart and does what he can in the circumstance that he is in according to the needs of the community around him. Around us are 2nd and 3rd Generation Muslims, our cousins,Siblings and friends who are lossing their Islam in this enviroment, DA'wah work to stop this from happening is just one thing that can be done . Assuming that those few motivated enough to think about Jihad are also amongst the few who have managed to retain their Islamic Identity in the West, then don't we need these people to help those jaahil Muslim here in the UK aswell?!


Allah has talked about this balance in Qur'aan :

"

It is not right for the Believers that all of them should go off to battle. Rather from every troop of them some of them should remain in order that they should attain knowledge in the Religon."

Just my thoughts. Allah Knows Best

[Unspecified]

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullaah,

Good points masha'Allaah.

Just want to add...

There is a certain level of knowledge that everyone should acquire. It is not encumbent to become scholars, although it is a very very blessed path to pursue, rather, it is encumbent upon us all to reach this basic level at least, and still continue on the path of knowledge...

So I think when you weigh seeking knowledge vs Jihad, you need to look at this too. As reaching a certain level may be fard upon an individual, and going beyond that a communal obligation...

There are many seeking knowledge, but really not that many on Jihad. And as that is the case, then there is an imbalance which needs to be rectified. Shouldnt this affect the priorities of the two?

I can imagine a seeker of knowledge leaving his seeking of knowledge to strive in Jihad, but I cannot imagine that someone would give up the Jihad for seeking knowledge...

But then again, it is not quantity but quality that is important, and lets say by default those with more knowledge would be better fighters, then it is important to make sure that ones seeking of knowledge continues on the battlefield....

Anyway, just wanted to air my views...

Please correct me if I am in any way incorrect.

And Allaah knows best.

[Abuz Zubair]

JazaakumAllahu Khairan for excellent replies...

I am looking at this problem from a wider picture, that basically there are those who are considered to be 'jihadis', and it is very common to find many of the following objectionable traits among them:

1) Jihad is the best deed at all times, places and circumstances for everyone, hence, that's the only thing occupying their mind day and night.
2) They have restricted their scholars to only those who have been, or are imprisoned, or those who are known to be controversial figures, irrespective of them possessing the real scholarship, or their contribution to Islamic sciences.
3) They tend to support and justify any and every act of violence, perpetrated by 'Mujahidin', and whoever disagrees with them is branded a sell out.
4) They consider Jihad to be the only viable solution for all the problems of the Ummah, and this is why they hardly engage in other activities for social change, such as building educational institutes, community work, political work, etc. No wonder many of their scholars are imprisoned around the world, and the only ones to protest on their behalf are Kuffar from the civil liberty and human rights groups.
5) It goes without saying that most of such 'jihadis' are ignorant of much of the Shari'ah, which is one of the reasons their jihad is based more on zeal than Shara'i insight. True, amongst them are knowledgeable people, but the vast majority of these people are not so.
6) Many of them, due to lack of knowledge or misconceptions, think that it is permissible to cheat or to steal from the Kuffar, or to cause damage to life and property, while they do not realise the grave sin of breaking one's covenant with Kuffar.
7) Many of them have this idea that to say 'Thank you' to a Kafir, or to praise a Kafir for a good quality is against al-Wala wal-Bara.

On the other hand, we generally find the 'seekers of knowledge' with the following blameworthy traits:

1) Seeking knowledge for some have become a source of self-gratification only, so their knowledge is of no benefit to them in practical life, nor is it of benefit to the community around them. This makes them pure academics who would spend weeks and months studying various scientific issues that have no or very little practical benefit in real life.
2) You also find amongst them, for a reason I cannot understand, that in spite of knowing the rewards of Jihad and the high status of the Mujahidin, they are the furthest of people from Jihad. It doesn't cross their minds for a fraction of a second to perform Jihad once in their lives, for one hour, even as an act of Nafl. This is in spite of harsh warnings from Allah and His Messenger SAW to those who abandon Jihad.
3) They, as a reaction to the 'jihadis' think that the survival of the Ummah lies only in education.
4) They also think that a person can complete his Tarbiyah and Iman without making Jihad a part of it.
5) Many of these people are oblivious to the pleas of Muslims outside of their countries of residence, and even when some news reaches them, they show signs of discontent for a while, and then get on with their usual academia. Unlike Ibn Taymiyah, who took part in all forms of Jihad, from its linguistic meaning to its legal meaning, from encouraging the rulers to resist the Tatar onslaught on the Muslim world, writing letters Christian rulers to set Muslim prisoners free, to actually fighting on the battlefield with the sword.

There are many other traits to be mentioned, but I just can't think of them now, but I think the problem with both of these groups is going into extremes and lack of a balanced approached.

While I am not claiming to be balanced in my own approach, surely, balanced is something sought by a Muslim in all walks of life.

And Allahu knows best.

[Anonymous]

salams

I think it is a very important and relevent topic brother Abu Zubair has brought up and I have also thought about this a lot and would like to make the following points.

There is definetly some degree of over zelousness amongst some brothers who can be called jihadis.

they can be put in the folowing two groups.


1. They are sincere and truly love the mujahideen and act of jihaad and can not concentrate on anything else. In their eyes nothing is more rewarding then jihad, it is the best deed, it is the quickest route to our aim and destination ie jannah. It is the main thing that will change our situation today in the dunyah. It is not that they think little of other aspects of the deen its just that he love of jihaad overwhelms their thoughts and energies so much this they dont concentrate on them as much. The thought of the ummah sufering and being humiliated around the world truobles them so much hat they will not have peace of mind until they struggle and secrifice with their lives and wealth to the best of their abilities to to stop the oppression of the ummah and remove the feeling of uselessness, hypocricy, humiliation, cowardliness etc. from their hearts. But these people do not argue and depate a lot and critise other eforts they do what they have to do and respect their brothers who have chosen to become ulamh or are doign charity work etc. They have love for the and dont concider them below them and are always wiling to give them a helping hand and speak good of them. With this group of peopl i dont think we should have any ground for complaints rather we should love them make duaa for them and assist them.

2. They are those who suffer from the same illness which all the other youth seem to suffer from nowadays and that is "hizbiyah" (groupism). They have attached themselves to this super group who are better the all the other group and on the true path and all the other groups are not the real thing (this is in their eyes). This attitude leeds them to belittle other groups and the indvidual within them. And the other groups are just like them so they retaliate and you have a explosive situation. The main causes of these kind of people is that they do not follow the advise of their scholars and elders or their elders or scholars are not true and not sincere or misguided hence they misguide others. Also people are not broadminded and fantasize a world and an entire ummah who will think and act like them.

The soloution

We need to realise that islam is a compelete way of life and we need to compelete muslims. On the other hand we cant do everything, we will have to concentrare out certain things at certain times depending on our motivations and abilities and personal qualities. To make islam rise we need to practice and call towards the whole deen not just a part of it, other wise islam will not rise as a whole only the part you call towards will rise.

A crucial point we must all remember and i hope all of the people who read this act upon it is that if we decide to concentrate and dedicate our efforts towards one part of the deen that does not mean we neglect the other parts and it most definetly does not mean we find faults and critise those who have chosen to concentrate on another part.

As always we must search the book of Allah and the ahadith of the prophet saw for answers and consoult the righteous ulamah. And we must invest time and efforts to do this if this mean we have to travel far and spend money to meat the ulamah then we should do it. if this means we have to stay up late to search the books of dean then we must secrafice our sleep.

if i have said anything wrong them i ask allah to forgive me, and would welcome brother who can correct me.

wasalams

[Umm]

Assalaamu Alaikum,
Very interesting and much needed discussion Masha'Allah.

I agree that there is much inbalance when it comes to each side. However, to be honest, I feel that the pre-occupation with studying fiqh issues that are not fard 'ain to the expense of feeling this is a greater jihaad than the physical one, is far more blameworthy that the over-zealous jihaadi. But of course, the balance has to be sought.

I have heard this story of some SP shaikh who said that the physical jihaad cannot be compared to the student of knowledge. Why? Becasue a Mujaahid perhaps spends a short time of his life in the Jihaad and might get killed, but the student might sit in study circles in the masaajid for 20 years. When I heard this, I wondered how far astray such individuals have gone, in claiming that sitting with a sheikh and struggling to get into the front-row is far more exerting than one engaged in the physical jihaad.

Someone once said that you can tell the sincerity of a group when they are willing to take their own people to account. It is very true that you get both sides justifying every action of dhulm with "Well, you don't know, maybe Mujaahid X or Shaykh Y has a reason for why he did what he did"

Of course it is wrong to feel that if someone is not a mujaahid, then whatever other contribution they are making by way of education, building masaajid etc is insignificant. However, it does make one wonder why it is that hundreds of thousands of pounds can be collected for yet another poncily adorned masjid, but the widows and orphans of the shuhadaa' are left in need.

I guess part of the problem is that the muhaahideen who are students of knowledge/shayookh are not mentioned much, so there is the misconception that it is an either/or thing.

wa-salaam,
Umm.

[Unspecified]

Well, the solution to all of these problems is in exactly the same place as is the solution to all the ummahs problems - to achieve the correct balance, we need to go back to the Qur'an and the Sunnah and the way of the Salaf! That alone is the remedy!

Those considered as 'Jihadis', well, they need knowledge. And those considered 'Scholars' need Jihad!

The scholars may think that what theyre doing is important (as it is) but may feel that knowledge is their niche, and so they feel that the greatest benefit for the people lies in their teaching them - why they ignore Jihad completely... love of life, and dislike of fighting? Loving a secure life over one on the front line? Thinking that others more suitable should take the responsibility? It is indeed confusing, as they are scholars, and should know better than others!

With respect to those 'Jihadis' - they need to seek knowledge. They need to restrain their emotions. They need to understand that sometimes it takes time for victory to come, and wisdom should be utilised in all affairs of the Muslim, including responding to the enemy.

May Allaah help us all stay on the middle path.

[Abuz Zubair]

as-Salaamu 'Alaikum,

alHamdulillah, although I am happy to see that most of the comments are fair and seem to show a balanced approach to the errors of the 'jihad freaks' and the 'knowledge freaks', I still sense that our comments are still somewhat biased towards the 'jihadis' against the 'tullab al-ilm'. This is because, even though we criticise both of these groups, our criticism, however, of the 'jihadis' is far more compassionate than that of the 'tullab al-ilm'.

True, Jihad is the most beloved deed to Allah in general. However, certain deeds might become more beloved to Allah in certain instances. For example, in a time where you have no shortage in Mujahidin, while the scholars are few, it becomes more important, and more rewarding for people to seek knowledge to fulfil an obligation, than to perform Jihad.

Most 'Jihadis' will reply to this saying: 'Well Jihad today is Fard 'Ain and it takes precedence over all other obligations'. Well, true that Jihad is Fard 'Ain until every single Muslims land is freed, but what aspect of this Jihad is Fard 'Ain? Is it the aspect of going physically to fight Fard 'Ain? Or other aspects of it, like media, politics etc?

For example, during the first Afghan Jihad, it was pretty clear that the Afghans were in need of men more than money, and hence came the Fatwa of Sh Abdullah 'Azzam that Jihad is Fard 'Ain on every able male, and perhaps the same in Bosnia. However, in Chechnya the situation was quite different. In fact, the Chechens didn't want many foreigners coming in, and they explicitly stated that they are not in need of men. So is Jihad still Fard 'Ain on us in person? If not then what other aspects of Jihad are we obliged to do? Shouldn't we be trying to engage in other fields of Jihad which the Muslims are lacking in, such as media, politics etc? Shouldn't we be looking to co-operate with those amongst the kuffar who sympathise with us, the leftists and other civil liberty groups, to secure the release of our brothers from Guantanamo Bay and Belmarsh? Or should we simply dream on and wait for some sophisticated Mujahidin unit to launch a secret operation behind enemy lines to free the brothers?

These are just some of the issues I have with the mainstream 'jihadis', as it seems most of them are completely lost in their fantasy world of watching videos after videos and wasting time, and not doing anything positive or productive to benefit the Muslims locally or globally. As if the only positive contribution they can think of is the physical Jihad, and if they do not find a way to go, they simply resort to these Jihad videos and dream on, as if they are in a blind romance with Jihad that they are able to see nothing but Jihad.

Allahu Alam

[AHMED S]

as-Salaamu 'Alaikum,





These are just some of the issues I have with the mainstream 'jihadis', as it seems most of them are completely lost in their fantasy world of watching videos after videos and wasting time, and not doing anything positive or productive to benefit the Muslims locally or globally.

As if the only positive contribution they can think of is the physical Jihad, and if they do not find a way to go, they simply resort to these Jihad videos and dream on, as if they are in a blind romance with Jihad that they are able to see nothing but Jihad.

Allahu Alam

alhamdulillah..and if you talk of anything .BUT jihaad..you either

love the kuffaar
are a coward
have denied quran and hadith
and do not care for youre fellow muslims

IRONICALLY..the people who say they would die for muslims are also the first who want to judge and defame and behead fellow muslims albeit on the net