All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon His Servant, Messenger, and chosen one amongst His creatures our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and upon his Companions and those who adopt his way and follow his guidance till the Day of Judgment! I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to help us realize AlHaqq (the Truth). He is AllPowerful.
Many contemporary writers cherish confused views concerning Jihad (fighting/striving in the Cause of Allah) and many of them handle this matter without having knowledge, thinking that Jihad is prescribed only for defending Islam and Muslims and not for invading hostile countries and calling them to accept Islam; if they accept, it is good; otherwise, they should fight them till the Word and Religion of Allah become superior. As this is the case with some people who went on writing many letters and books to this effect, I decided to dedicate this lecture on this subject under the title 'Jihad is not only for Defense'. I would like to say that Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), Who is the One Who grants success and guides to the right path and all praise is due to Him, sent messengers and divine books to guide both of mankind and Jinn (creatures created from fire) and to bring them out of darkness to light, out of His Bounty and Kindness. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) has created creatures to know and worship Him Alone and obey Him. However, knowing their status and that their minds could not independently know the details of
`Ibadah (worship) in the way that pleases Him (Glorified and Exalted be He) and could not independently know the fair rulings which they should follow or the characteristics and morals they should have, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) sent messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning to direct the people who are Mukallafs (persons meeting the conditions to be held legally accountable for their actions) to Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah/ monotheism) and sincere `Ibadah, clarify the deeds and morals that pleases Him (Glorified be He), warn them against those that displease Him, and draw for them the plans and systems that they should take as guide. He (Glorified be He) sent down books to clarify this, for He Alone is A l lKnowing the affairs of His Servants and what befits them and brings them happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. He Alone knows their present, past, and future affairs. Therefore, He (Glorified be He) sent down messengers and divine Books to guide people to the means of salvation and way to happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. He sent down the divine Books to point out this significant matter. In the Ever Glorious Qur'an, He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
Allâh is the Walî (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light. But as for those who disbelieve, their Auliyâ' (supporters and helpers) are Tâghût [false deities and false leaders], they bring them out from light into darkness.
O you who believe! Remember Allâh with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and ' Asr prayers].
He it is Who sends Salât (His blessings) on you, and His angels too (ask Allâh to bless and forgive you), that He may bring you out from darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of Belief and Islâmic Monotheism). And He is Ever Most Merciful to the believers.
Their greeting on the Day they shall meet Him will be "Salâm Peace (i.e. the angels will say to them: Salâmun 'Alaikum)!" And He has prepared for them a generous reward (i.e. Paradise).
And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).
Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice. And We brought forth iron wherein is mighty power (in matters of war), as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allâh may test who it is that will help Him (His religion) and His Messengers in the unseen. Verily, Allâh is AllStrong, AllMighty.
He (Glorified and Exalted be He) indicates that it is He Who brings people out of darkness to the light by sending messengers and Books. He points out that His messengers were sent with proofs and the balance that people may maintain their affairs in justice. The Scripture here means the Divine Books, which are the Words of Allah, the Most Truthful, and whose words can be truer than those of Allâh? (Of course, none). The Balance here, which means justice, refers to the straight legislations and fair rulings which contain the means of attaining happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.
For this end, Allah (Exalted be He) sent down messengers and Divine Books, the greatest of which is the EverGlorious Qur'an, and before which He sent down Tawrah (Torah) and Injil (Gospel) beside other books which He sent down to His Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them) and which included legislations and rulings guiding to goodness and warning against evil. In the past, Allah (Exalted be He) sent for each group of people a messenger from among themselves to direct them to goodness, order them to worship Allah Alone and warn them against Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). Allah, the A l lKnowing, the AllWise and Merciful (Glorified and Exalted be He) set legislations for them. Every messenger Allah sent to an Ummah (nation based on one creed) preached Tawhid which is the essence of the call of all messengers. He orders them to love Allah and worship Him Alone sincerely. Allah set for each