As Long as Rain Falls from the Sky

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Jihad will always feel sweet and beautiful as long as rain still falls from the sky. Yet there will come upon mankind an era, when at that time, the people who understand the Quran (scholars) from amongst them say, ‘This era is not the time of Jihad.’ Whoever encounters those days, then let him know that those are the best times for Jihad.” The Companions asked: “O Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), will anyone really say that?” He (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) replied: “Yes, he upon whom is the curse of Allah, His Angels, and all of mankind.” [Ibn Asakir transmitted it in “Mashari-ul-Ashwaq” by Ibn Nuhaas, vol. 1, p. 110]

It was astonishing to the Sahabah (radi Allahu anhum) of the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) that a time could actually come when Muslims could question the validity of Jihad. Offensive Jihad is against Kufr, and as long as Kufr remains there is Jihad. Defensive Jihad becomes incumbent if: (1) A single Muslim man, woman or child goes into the captivity of the Kuffar, (2) A single hand-span of Muslim land is taken over by the Kuffar, or (3) The ruler of the Muslims becomes a Murtad (apostate), as signified by his not implementing Shariah as the law of the land.

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) responded that Jihad would be questioned in the precise era when the need for it was greater than ever. When such a time came, there would be nothing better for Muslims to do than Jihad.