Jihad: Warfare or 'Inner Struggle'?
Is “Jihad Against the Self” the Most Important Form of Jihad?
Whenever it asserted that modern Muslims (like the members of HAMAS ) are engaging in ‘jihad’, there are always voices who claim that those who make such claims totally ‘misunderstand’ what jihad is all all about. We are told, that the word ‘jihad’ simply means to struggle. This is, in fact, true. However, much will depend on what kind of ‘struggle’ is in view here.
Many Muslim apologists promote the idea of “greater” and “lesser” jihads. According to this belief, striving (the Arabic word “jihad” means to strive) against the desires of the self is considered the greater jihad, which makes “Jihad in the Way of Allah” (fighting for Allah) the lesser jihad. The promotion of “inner struggle” as the “real jihad” was even the focus of a very high-profile U.S. media campaign called #myjihad. Over the course of this campaign, people identified personal goals (including losing weight) as the focus of their “personal jihads”. The aim of this rather disingenuous campaign was to convince non-believers that they have nothing to fear from the concept of jihad.
Can this decidedly rose-colored view, in fact, be supported by Islamic tradition? Let’s look at the evidence.
The idea of the “greater jihad” is based upon a story mentioned in a 12th-century book The History of Baghdad, by Yahya ibn al ‘Ala, who said: “We were told by Layth, on the authority of ‘Ata’, on the authority of Abu Rabah, on the authority of Jabir, who said, ‘The Prophet returned from one of his battles, and thereupon told us, “You have arrived with an excellent arrival, you have come from the Lesser Jihad to the Greater Jihad – the striving of a servant (of Allah) against his desires’”.
The first thing to note is that the first time this hadith appears is in the 12th century – a full five centuries after Muhammad died. It is totally absent from the major hadith collections, namely Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Dawud, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah. Many Muslims scholars are, therefore, deeply sceptical with regards to its authenticity.
The notable medieval interpreter of the Qur’an and hadiths Ibn Taymiyya had the following to say about this hadith: “There is a Hadith related by a group of people which states that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said after the battle of Tabuk: ‘We have returned from Jihad Asghar to Jihad Akbar’. This hadith has no source, nobody whomsoever in the field of Islamic Knowledge has narrated it. Jihad against the disbelievers is the most noble of actions, and moreover it is the most important action for the sake of mankind”.
The idea that “inner struggle” is the primary form of jihad also directly contradicts the Qur’an. In Qur’an 4:95-96, it is made clear what the most important form of jihad is: “Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] – other than the disabled – and the mujahideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred the mujahideen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain [behind], by degrees. And to both Allah has promised the best [reward]. But Allah has preferred the mujahideen over those who remain [behind] with a great reward”.
Muslims who assert the primacy of inner struggle over warfare are, therefore, directly contradicting their own sacred text.
The “inner struggle” hadith, with its very weak chain of transmission, is, furthermore, also contradicted by several sahih (sound) hadiths which are far older. Examples could be multiplied, but I will restrict myself to a sampling from the most celebrated and trusted collections (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim and Sunan Ibn Majah):
“Abu Hurayrah narrated: ‘The Prophet was asked: “O Rasoolullah! What deed could be an equivalent to Jihad Fi Sabeelillaah (Fighting in the Cause of Allah)?” He answered: “You do not have the strength to do that deed.” (The narrator said): They repeated the question twice or thrice. Every time he answered: “You do not have the strength to do it.” When the question was asked for the third time, he said: “One who goes out for Jihad is like a person who keeps fasting, stands in prayer (constantly), (obeying) Allah’s (behests contained in) the Aayah (of the Qur’an), and does not exhibit any lassitude in fasting and praying until the Mujaahid returns from Jihad Fi Sabeelillaah (‘Jihad in the Way of Allah’ i.e., fighting)’” (Sahih Muslim Book 20, Hadith 4636).
“Abu Hurayrah narrated: A man came to Allah’s Messenger and said, ‘Guide me to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward).’ He replied, ‘I do not find such a deed.’ Then he added, ‘Can you, while the Mujaahid has gone for Jihad, enter your masjid (mosque) to perform Salaat without ceasing and observe Sawm without breaking it?’ The man said, ‘But who can do that?’” (Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Hadith 44)
“Allah’s Apostle was asked, ‘What is the best deed?’ He replied, ‘To believe in Allah and His Apostle (Muhammad).’ The questioner then asked, ‘What is the next (in goodness)?’ He replied, ‘To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah’s Cause’” (Sahih Bukhari Volume 1 Book 2 Hadith 25).
“It was narrated that Amr bin Abasah said: ‘I came to the Prophet and said: “O Messenger of Allah, which Jihad is best?” He said: “(That of a man) whose blood is shed and his horse is wounded’” (Sunan Ibn Majah Volume 4, Book 24, Hadith 2794).
It should be clear from the above that the idea that inner struggle is the most important form of jihad has no basis whatsoever in orthodox Islamic teaching. The reason why so many of those trying to cover for Islam latch on to a very weak hadith with this message, written half a millennium after the death of Muhammad, has nothing to do with a desire to remain faithful to the clear teaching of Muhammad but it is, rather, a desperate attempt to get away from it.
For much more about the links between Islamic teaching and violence, please see my book ‘Nothing to do with Islam - Investigating the West’s Most Dangerous Blind Spot’.
Kind regards,
Peter
If you received this post via email, please forward it to your friends who might be interested. Otherwise, use the button below to share it on social media.
Please use the button below to subscribe, or to support my work by upgrading to a paid subscription.