Jihad: Part 1

This is the first of a series of posts on the subject of Jihad. The series will investigate Jihad with reference to the Qur’an, Hadith, Tafsir & Sharia.

Questions to be answered include:

• What is Jihad?
  • Is it physical or spiritual?
  • Does it involve killing and being killed?
  • Is it obligatory or optional?
• When is it performed?

Unless otherwise noted, Qur’an quotes in this series are from the Noble Qur’an, translated by Hilali & Khan. At the time of this writing, the King Fahd Qur’an Complex is not displaying the English translation.  Since Yet Another Qur’an Browser does not include the commentary, you will need a hard copy or this pdf version to verify citations to the translator’s foot notes.

Unless otherwise noted, Hadith quotes in this series are from the Compendium of Islamic Texts at USC. Unless otherwise noted, Sharia references are to The Reliance of the Traveller, a large, unformatted text file. You can search it with the Windows Search function (Ctrl F).

Unless otherwise noted, Tafsir quotes in this series are from Ibn Kathir’s Tafsir. Readers wishing to search the Tafsir by topic, verse fragments or ayat number are directed to Qtafsir.com, which has a functional search engine.

Unless otherwise noted, all emphasis has been added for clarity.

Most Qur’an translations do not use the word ‘Jihad”. Hilali & Khan include it parenthetically.

2:216. Jihâd (holy fighting in Allâh’s Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allâh knows but you do not know.

Compare some other translations of that ayeh.

Pickthall	Warfare is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you; but it may happen that ye hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that ye love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knoweth, ye know not.
Yusuf Ali	Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But God knoweth, and ye know not.
Hilali-Khan	Jihad (holy fighting in Allah’s Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.
Shakir	Fighting is enjoined on you, and it is an object of dislike to you; and it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you, and Allah knows, while you do not know.
Sher Ali	Fighting is ordained for you, though it is repugnant to you; but it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you like a thing while it is bad for you. ALLAH knows and you know not.
Khalifa	Fighting may be imposed on you, even though you dislike it. But you may dislike something which is good for you, and you may like something which is bad for you. GOD knows while you do not know.
Arberry	Prescribed for you is fighting, though it be hateful to you. Yet it may happen that you will hate a thing which is better for you; and it may happen that you will love a thing which is worse for you; God knows, and you know not.
Palmer	Prescribed for you is fighting, but it is hateful to you. Yet peradventure that ye hate a thing while it is good for you, and peradventure that ye love a thing while it is bad for you; God knows, and ye,- ye do not know!
Rodwell	War is prescribed to you: but from this ye are averse. Yet haply ye are averse from a thing, though it be good for you, and haply ye love a thing though it be bad for you: And God knoweth; but ye, ye know not.
Sale	War is injoined you [against the infidels]; but this is hateful unto you: Yet perchance ye hate a thing which is better for you, and perchance ye love a thing which is worse for you: But God knoweth and ye know not.

Four words are used for the subject:

• warfare: 1
• war:  2
• fighting:  6
• Jihad: 1

That terminology suggests that Jihad is physical and violent.

Four words are used for the verb.

• ordained 3
• prescribed 3
• injoined 1
• enjoined 1

There can be no doubt that Jihad is mandatory, imposed upon Muslims against their will. Turn to Ibn Kathir for confirmation.

In this Ayah, Allah made it obligatory for the Muslims to fight in Jihad against the evil of the enemy who transgress against Islam. Az-Zuhri said, “Jihad is required from every person, whether he actually joins the fighting or remains behind. Whoever remains behind is required to give support, if support is warranted; to provide aid, if aid is needed; and to march forth, if he is commanded to do so.

Allah’s statement:  (…though you dislike it) means, `Fighting is difficult and heavy on your hearts.’ Indeed, fighting is as the Ayah describes it, as it includes being killed, wounded, striving against the enemies and enduring the hardship of travel. Allah then said:(. ..and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you) meaning, fighting is followed by victory, dominance over the enemy, taking over their lands, money and offspring. Allah continues:

(…and that you like a thing which is bad for you.)

This Ayah is general in meaning. Hence, one might covet something, yet in reality it is not good or beneficial for him, such as refraining from joining the Jihad, for it might lead to the enemy taking over the land and the government. Then, Allah said:

(Allah knows, but you do not know.) meaning, He has better knowledge than you of how things will turn out to be in the end, and of what benefits you in this earthly life and the Hereafter. Hence, obey Him and adhere to His commands, so that you may acquire the true guidance. Jihad is made Obligatory

1. Fighting is obligatory, not optional, Allah ordained it.
2. Jihad is required from every person,
   1. to march forth
   2. to aid
   3. to support
3. Fighting is difficult and an emotional burden; includes:
   1. being killed
   2. wounded
   3. striving against the enemy
   4. hardship of travel.
4. Fighting is good for you; has benefits:
   1. followed by victory
   2. dominance over the enemy
   3. taking his:
      1. lands
      2. money
      3. wives & children.
5. Refraining from fighting has negative consequences:
   1. dispossession
   2. dominance by the enemy

WikiIslam tells us that Surah Al-Baqarah was #87 in sequence of revelation. Perhaps it has been abrogated by a later Surah. Al-Anfal was #88 and Al-Taubah was #113, we’ll consult them in the next installment to see whether 2:216 has been abrogated or confirmed.