Written by: Saad Mahmood
Edited by: Muhammed Tahmid Ahmed
Reminder
Seeking knowledge holds a high status in Islam. The Prophet ﷺ stated the following regarding it:
“مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَطْلُبُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَلَكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا مِنْ طُرُقِ الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ لَتَضَعُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا رِضًا لِطَالِبِ الْعِلْمِ وَإِنَّ الْعَالِمَ لَيَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَمَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ وَالْحِيتَانُ فِي جَوْفِ الْمَاءِ وَإِنَّ فَضْلَ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ كَفَضْلِ الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكَوَاكِبِ وَإِنَّ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَرَثَةُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَإِنَّ الأَنْبِيَاءَ لَمْ يُوَرِّثُوا دِينَارًا وَلاَ دِرْهَمًا وَرَّثُوا الْعِلْمَ فَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ أَخَذَ بِحَظٍّ وَافِرٍ”.
If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man. The superiority of the learned man over the devout is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes an abundant portion
This is because learning includes understanding the rights and responsibilities towards all of creation. Notably, in the Qur’an, there is no supplication requesting an increase in anything except for knowledge:
وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًۭا
And say, “My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.”
(Surah Taha, Verse 114)
Hadith 8 — Understanding Jihad
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم قال: “أمرت أن أقاتل الناس حتى يشهدوا أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله، ويقيموا الصلاة، ويؤتوا الزكاة؛ فإذا فعلوا ذلك عصموا مني دماءهم وأموالهم إلا بحق الإسلام، وحسابهم على الله تعالى” . [رواه البخاري]، [ومسلم]
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and until they establish the salah and pay the zakat. And if they do that, then they will have gained protection from me for their lives and property, unless [they commit acts that are punishable] in Islam, and their reckoning will be with Allah.” [Bukhari & Muslim]
Jihad must be understood beyond the mindset shaped by modernity and politics. The prevailing notion of power based on material gain, land expansion, and dominance is not how Islam defines what is best for the ummah. When Allah ﷻ appoints a khalifa on earth, it is to ensure that divine law is upheld.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “I have been ordered to fight…” However, the first condition for jihad is that it must be conducted by a legitimate state. There are additional conditions, including the acceptance of contracts and treaties with foreign nations. Thus, living in a non-Muslim land excludes the possibility of initiating jihad. Any state-led military engagement must be sanctioned by an amir (leader) and carried out under strict guidelines.
Theoretically, there are two primary options presented when engaging with other nations: the payment of jizya, which is only applicable to mature and free individuals, or the establishment of a peace treaty. If jizya is accepted, no harm is inflicted upon the people. In cases where jizya is refused, either peace negotiations occur, or military action may be considered.
One of the fundamental reasons for jihad is repelling aggression. Another reason is to establish Islam as the supreme way of life. However, contemporary scholars assert that due to modern international treaties, individuals or groups cannot unilaterally declare jihad. The purpose is not to subjugate others to personal desires but rather to ensure justice and stability.
Furthermore, if the fiqh of jihad is misunderstood, it can lead to extremism. No true scholar of Islam endorses such a deviation.
Additionally, within an Islamic state, refusal to pay zakat or rejection of salah can, under specific conditions, warrant state-led military action, as was seen in the Ridda Wars after the passing of the Prophet ﷺ. There is a distinction between individuals refusing to pay zakat while still believing in it and those who outright deny its obligation. In the latter case, such individuals would be considered outside the fold of Islam. The phrase “unless [they commit acts that are punishable] in Islam” refers to the rulings of Shari’ah, including hadd punishments and other legal obligations.
And Allah ﷻ knows best.