Bismihi Ta`ala
*JAMAAT IS FISABILILLAH.*
Going in the path of Allah with the intention to establish deen in oneself and the ummah is Fisabilillah. In fact, the true Fisabilillah is striving to promote the Kalimah of Allah. Before any fighting, it is wajib to do da`wa to the opponent so that they may accept Islam. If they accept, there is no fight. The work of jamaat is to establish Da`wa around the globe. I wish to highlight a few proofs to establish that going in jamaat is striving in Fisabillah: First, Allah Ta`ala attached the qualification of Fisabillilah with hijrah:
وَمَنْ يُهَاجِرْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يَجِدْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُرَاغَمًا كَثِيرًا وَسَعَةً وَمَنْ يَخْرُجْ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ يُدْرِكْهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمً
Whoever migrates in the way of Allah shall find on earth many a place to settle…Whoever leaves his home migrating for the sake of Allah and His prophet, and death overtakes him…’’(4:100)
Emigration is Fisabillilah according to Qur-aan.
The concept of hijrah or emigration can be permanent as Muhajireen from Makkah or be on call of tashkeels:
حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بن أَبِي عَمْرٍو السَّيْبَانِيُّ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بن عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ، عَنْ وَاثِلَةَ بن الأَسْقَعِ، قَالَ: خَرَجْتُ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَلَمَّا أَقْبَلَ النَّاسُ مِنْ بَيْنِ خَارِجٍ، وَقَائِمٍ، فَجَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لا يَرَى جَالِسًا إِلا دَنَا إِلَيْهِ فَسَأَلَهُ هَلْ لَكَ مِنْ حَاجَةٍ؟ وَبَدَأَ بِالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ الثَّانِي، ثُمَّ الثَّالِثَ حَتَّى دَنَا إِلَيَّ، فَقَالَ:هَلْ لَكَ مِنْ حَاجَةٍ؟فَقُلْتُ: نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، قَالَ:وَمَا حَاجَتُكَ؟قُلْتُ: الإِسْلامُ، فَقَالَ:هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ، قَالَ:وتُهَاجِرُ، قُلْتُ: نَعَمْ، قَالَ:هِجْرَةَ الْبَادِيَةِ أَوْ هِجْرَةَ الْبَاتَّةِ؟، قُلْتُ: أَيُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ:الْهِجْرَةُ الْبَاتَّةُ أَنْ تَثْبُتَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهِجْرَةُ الْبَادِيَةِ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَى بَادِيَتِكَ وَعَلَيْكَ السَّمْعَ وَالطَّاعَةَ فِي عُسْرِكَ وَيُسْرِكَ وَمَكْرَهِكَ وَمَنْشَطِكَ وَأَثَرَةٍ عَلَيْكَ، قَالَ: فَبَسَطْتُ يَدِي إِلَيْهِ فَبَايَعْتُهُ، قَالَ: وَاسْتَثْنَى لِي حِينَ لَمْ أَسْتَثْنِ لِنَفْسِي:فِيمَا اسْتَطَعْتَ، قَالَ: وَنَادَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةَ تَبُوكَ فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِيالطبراني
In this hadith Rasouloullah SAW proposed Hazrat Wasilah r.a. either to stay at home and come to Madinah when called or stay in Madinah permanently. Two types of hijrahs. So going out for a few days in jamaat is also hijrah. Furthermore, a hadith of Bukhari support the fact that when someone leaves his home to go for Jum`ah salaah on foot, then he is in Fisabilillah. Then whatever dust will get his feet, Allah Ta`ala will make the fire of jahannum haraam over him:
حدثنا يزيد بن أبي مريم الأنصاري قال حدثنا عباية بن رفاعة قال أدركني أبو عبس وأنا أذهب إلى الجمعة فقالسمعت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول من اغبرت قدماه في سبيل الله حرمه الله على الناربخاري
Reported in Baihaqi and Ibn Abi Shaibah that Hazrat Abu Bakr r.a. walked with the army leaving Madinah and said that these few steps walking with them is counted as fisabilillah:
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي بُكَيْرٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ ، عَنْ أَبِي الْفَيْضِ ، قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ جَابِرٍ الرُّعَيْنِيَّ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ شَيَّعَ جَيْشًا فَمَشَى مَعَهُمْ ، فَقَالَ : الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ اغْبَرَّتْ أَقْدَامُنَا فِي سَبِيلِهِ ، قَالَ : فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ : إنَّمَا شَيَّعْنَاهُمْ ، فَقَالَ : إنَّمَا جَهَّزْنَاهُمْ وَشَيَّعْنَاهُمْ وَدَعَوْنَا لَهُمْ.
– حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُيَيْنَةَ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، عَنْ إسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي خَالِدٍ ، عَنْ قَيْسٍ ، أَوْ غَيْرِهِ يَحْسَبُ الشَّكُّ مِنْهُ ، قَالَ : بَعَثَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ جَيْشًا إلَى الشَّامِ فَخَرَجَ يُشَيِّعُهُمْ عَلَى رِجْلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا : يَا خَلِيفَةَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ، لَوْ رَكِبَتْ ، قَالَ : إني أَحْتَسِبُ خُطَايَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ ابن ابي شيبة
As such fibilillah is largely extended meaning and not reserved for fighting only. No doubt that fighting in the path of Allah when required is fisabilillah. Hence jamaat take the concept of fisabillillah. In fact, Rasouloullah SAW pointed out that Jihaad should be carried out with wealth, with hands and with tongue.’’(Abu Dawood/Nassai) Hence Tabligh Jamaat is Jihaad billisaan/ Jihaad with the tongue.
( سنن النسائي ) أخبرنا هارون بن عبد الله ومحمد بن إسمعيل بن إبراهيم قالا حدثنا يزيد قال أنبأنا حماد بن سلمة عن حميد عن أنس عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال جاهدوا المشركين بأموالكم وأيديكم وألسنتكم . Allamah Kasaani r.a. write in his famous book Badai` iroussanai` that Shariah`s definition of jihad encompasses multi meaning including fighting, spending money for this sake and also using one`s tongue to uplift the kalimah of Allah.
وَفِي عُرْفِ الشَّرْعِ يُسْتَعْمَلُ فِي بَذْلِ الْوُسْعِ وَالطَّاقَةِ بِالْقِتَالِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ – عَزَّ وَجَلَّ – بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْمَالِ وَاللِّسَانِ ، أَوْ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَبدائع Hazrat Ali r.a. said that the first level is jihad with hands, then jihad with tongue and then lowest is jihad with hearts.(Ibn Abi Shaibah)
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ ، عَنْ أَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ، قَالَ : إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا تُغْلَبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْجِهَادِ الْجِهَادُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ ، ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ ، ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ بِقُلُوبِكُمْ ، فَأَيُّ قَلْبٍ لَمْ يَعْرِفَ الْمَعْرُوفَ وَلاَ يُنْكِرُ الْمُنْكَرَ نُكِّسَ فَجُعِلَ أَعْلاَهُ أَسْفَلَهُ.ابن ابي شيبة Now, sometimes the jihad with tongue may be the hardest form of jihad which will be then more rewardable:
( سنن ابن ماجة )حدثنا راشد بن سعيد الرملي حدثنا الوليد بن مسلم حدثنا حماد بن سلمة عن أبي غالب عن أبي أمامة قال عرض لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم رجل عند الجمرة الأولى فقال يا رسول الله أي الجهاد أفضل فسكت عنه فلما رأى الجمرة الثانية سأله فسكت عنه فلما رمى جمرة العقبة وضع رجله في الغرز ليركب قال أين السائل قال أنا يا رسول الله قال كلمة حق عند ذي سلطان جائر .
During his farewell Hajj, at a few months from his demise, someone asked him:’’What is the best jihad?’’ He answered: ‘Words of frank truth in front of a tyrant king.’(Abu Dawood/Ibn Majah) So there are times that the jihad of the tongue excels over jihad of hands. Note that Islam went through a phase when it was an order in Makkah to keep hands away from retaliation. At that time only jihad with tongue and heart was practiced. There is no doubt that jihad with hands is required in this world of ours but there is no negation that Tabligh jamaat is not jihad. In fact it is one of the best form of jihad during our era where muslims are suppressed like in Makkah. Allamah Kaasani pointed out that Fisabilillah comprises all good actions done in obedience of Allah and all ways of goodness.
{ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ } عِبَارَةً عَنْ جَمِيعِ الْقُرَبِ فَيَدْخُلُ فِيهِ كُلُّ مَنْ سَعَى فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَسَبِيلِ الْخَيْرَاتِ
In fact there are many ahadiths where jihad is used for passive good actions:
قال سمعت أبا العباس الشاعر وكان لا يتهم في حديثه قال سمعت عبد الله بن عمرو رضي الله عنهما يقولجاء رجل إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فاستأذنه في الجهاد فقال أحي والداك قال نعم قال ففيهما فجاهد
بخاري
Rasouloullah SAW refused acceptance for jihad of a young sahabah and told him to do jihad doing khidmat of his parents(Bukhari) Rasouloullah SAW told hazrat Aisha r.a. that there is a jihad for women whereby there is no fighting: Hajj and Umrah(Ibn Majah):
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ بِنْتِ طَلْحَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ جِهَادٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ جِهَادٌ لَا قِتَالَ فِيهِ الْحَجُّ وَالْعُمْرَةُ In a riwayah of Baihaqi, Rasouloullah SAW stated that Fi sabilillah is not limited only to fighting and give one`s life. But rather it encompasses many efforts of deen including working to support one`s family and parents.
أبو عبد الله الحافظ وأبو بكر احمد بن الحسن قالا ثنا أبو العباس محمد بن يعقوب ثنا السرى بن يحيى ثنا احمد بن عبد الله ثنا رياح بن عمرو ثنا ايوب عن محمد بن سيرين عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه قال بينما نحن جلوس مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذ طلع عليها شاب من الثنية فلما رأيناه بابصارنا قلنا لو أن هذا الشاب جعل شبابه ونشاطه وقوته في سبيل الله قال فسمع مقالتنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال وما سبيل الله الا من قتل ؟ من سعى على والديه ففى سبيل الله ومن سعى على عياله ففى سبيل الله ومن سعى على نفسه ليعفها ففى سبيل الله ومن سعى على التكاثر فهو في سبيل الشيطانالبيهقي
Mentioned in Mirqaat that all the good ways to please Allah are fisabilillah. Learning deen, performing salaah with jamaat, visiting the sick, attending a janazah and such actions:
والمعنى صارتا ذاتي غبار في سبيل الله هو في الحقيقة كل سبيل يطلب فيه رضاه فيتناول سبيل طلب العلم وحضور صلاة جماعة وعيادة مريض وشهود جنازة ونحوهامرقاة
That is why we found ulamas like Mowlana Yousuf Binnory r.a. said 3 times in his bayaan that Jamaat is considered Jihaad fi sabillillah. And Mowlana Yusuf is no ordinary person. Once someone doubted M Yusuf binnory about the issue of fighting in Kashmir is Jihaad or not. He saw Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam in his dream and he asked Him about the issue. Rasouloullah SAW answered him: ‘’What doubt you are still having when my grandson Yusuf has given that fatwa that it is jihaad?’’ M Yusuf was a sayyid. So what doubt are we still having that jamaat is rewarded as Jihaad fi sabilillah when the grandson of Rasouloullah SAW said it so? Mufti Mahmood Gangohi r.a. said in his Fatawa Mahmoodiyah that going in jamaat is Fisabilillah. Mufti Kifayatullah r.a. also support the view that jamaat is fi sabilillah. He wrote in his fatawa that one salaah during jamaat fi sabilallah is multiplied by 490 million times. In fact, he supported tabligh from inception till his death. He defended this work with his pen and presence in Nizamuddeen. He held the patronage of this work such that he indicated after the death of M Ilyas r.a. will be his son M Yusouf r.a. And Mufti Radha ul Haq of Darul uloom Zakarya also pointed out in Fatawa Zakarya that going in jamaat is fisabillah. Fatawa haqqaniyah also support the view that Jamaat is to promote high the kalimah of Allah Ta`ala during our era. Khair, let me end on this. M Ilyas r.a. used to say that Ulamas said that one salaah in the path of Allah excel to 490 million. But I say that it is even more. Because Allah Ta`ala says nothing equals the one who invite towards Allah Ta`ala and do good actions:
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِمَّنْ دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
‘Who can be better in words than the one who invite towards Allah and acts righteously and say that we are simply ‘muslims’(41:33)
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