Jihad Akbar

Taqwa or obedience to Allah Ta’ala has two aspects. One that concerns executing the commandments and the second that concerns refraining from prohibited things.

Of these two aspects, the second aspect, that is, abstaining from prohibited things is the most essential and the most important because this is the most difficult. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) qualified the abstention from prohibited things as the greatest Ibaadah. It is through this quality that a person becomes the greatest Aabid (someone who does a lot of Ibaadat).

In another Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) qualified someone who fights his nafs (desire) by remaining in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala as a true Mujahid (fighter).

In the light of this Hadith, the true Jihad that a true Mujahid does is to struggle against his nafs in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala. So, this shows that the greatest Jihad (Jihad Akbar) that a person can do, is to fight against his own desires and his unjustified pleasures. This is an idea that has always been approved by all the 'Ulama of all eras. It is an idea that is backed by the support of Ijma. However, the fact that the struggle of the nafs is the Jihad Akbar, this must not decrease the importance and the need to do Jihad on the frontiers. Everyone must assume his responsibility according to his ability in the way that is required when the necessity arises and where it arises.

[English version of "Jihaad akbar" – Al Jamiat – Vol.3 No.7]