Question:
Salaams Hazrat
Can you provide the correct understanding of this narration?
The Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Whoever dies without having gone out
for jihaad or having thought of doing so, dies on a branch of hypocrisy.
(Saheeh Muslim, 3533).
I don’t intend to do ever go to some of these Middle Eastern countries to engage in combat. Does that make me a hypocrite or what?
Jazak’Allah.
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The Hadith in reference,
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
One who died but did not fight in the way of Allah nor did he express any desire (or determination) for Jihad died the death of a hypocrite. ‘Abdullah b. Mubarak said: We think the hadith pertained to the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).( Sahih Muslim 1910)
It is understood from the Hadith that defending Islam and striving for its upliftment is compulsory on every Muslim. There are many ways this can be achieved, and every Muslim should call towards Islam with Hikmah and reflecting of the beautiful Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
The combat currently in the middle east, according to our Ulamaa, doesn’t fulfil the specifications of a Shari’ Jihaad and rather has been condemned. However one should feel the worry and concern for those affected ask Allah to alleviate their difficulties.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Arshad Ali
Darul Iftaa, Jaamia Madinatul Uloom (Trinidad)