One really famous hadith that is actually fake (Lesser vs. Greater Jihaad)

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Among the erroneous notions aimed at stifling the spirit of Jihad in this Ummah is the idea of 'greater' and 'lesser' Jihads. According to this belief, striving against desires of the self is considered the Greater Jihad, which makes the Jihad of the battlefield the Lesser Jihad. This idea is based upon a story mentioned in a 12th Century book, "The History of Baghdad", by way of 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 (salallaahu 'alayhee wa sallam) 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.''"
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This concept, despite the fact that it is based on a 12th Century hadeeth, can be refuted from several aspects, of which we shall mention the following. This hadith does not appear in any of the famous hadith books (Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Dawud, Tirmidhi)

Firstly (scholars)

Dr. Abudllah Yusuf Azzam says about the hadith:
"is in fact a false, fabricated hadith which has no basis. It is only a saying of Ibrahim Ibn Abi `Abalah, one of the Successors, and it contradicts textual evidence and reality....The word "jihad", when mentioned on its own, only means combat with weapons, as was
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"Ibn Taymiyyah said :
This hadith has no sources and nobody whomsoever in the field of Islamic knowledge has narrated it. Jihad against the disbelivers is the most noble of actions and moreover it is the most important action for the sake of mankind." Al-Furqan PP. 44-45
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Al Bayhaqi has said regarding it, that
"Its chain of narration is weak. (Da'eef)"
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Al Suyuti also pronounced a verdict of weakness on it in his book, "Al Jam'i al Saghir".

Ibn Hajar al 'Asqalani said about Yahyah bin Alulah (creator of the hadith)
"he was accused of forging Ahadeeth."
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Al Dhahabi said in "Al-Mizan",
"Abu Hatim said that he is not a strong narrator, Ibn Mu'in classified him as weak, al Daraqutni said that he is to be neglected, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal said that he is a liar and a forger of Ahadeeth."
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The Egyptian, Dr. Muhammad Amin says about those who beleive this hadith:
“Such people find contentment and comfort in this way, while in reality they only deceive their weak souls, for the true values of the deeds are entirely the opposite.” [Path of Islamic Propagation]
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Secondly (Quran)

This hadeeth explicitly contradicts clear verses of the Qur'an. Allah the Mighty, the Majestic, says, (Translation of the Meaning),


"Those believers who sit back are not equal to those who fight in the Path of Allah with their wealth and their selves. Allah has favored those who perform Jihad with their wealth and their selves by degrees over those who sit back. To both (groups) has Allah promised good, but Allah has favored the mujahideen with a great reward, by ranks from Him, and with Forgiveness, over those who sit back. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful." Qur'an [4:95-96]
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http://tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=4&tid=12033

Thirdly (hadith)

This hadeeth contradicts mutawatir (mass-narrated) Ahadeeth which have been reported from the Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhee wa sallam), and which make plain the excellence of Jihad. We will mention a few of these.


"A morning or an evening spent in the Path of Allah is better than the world and all it contains."
[Bukhari and Muslim]
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"Standing for an hour in the ranks of battle in the Path of Allah is better than standing for sixty years (in prayer)."
[Sahih al- Jami']
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(Reported by Ibn Adee and Ibn Asakir from Abu Hurayrah 4/6165. Classified SAHEEH. Saheeh Al-Jaami’ As Sagheer No. 435)

Abu Hurayrah (radiallaahu 'anhu) said,

"Is any of you able to stand in prayer without stopping, and to fast continuously for as long as he lives?" The people said, "Oh Abu Hurayrah! Who could endure that?" He said,


"By Allah! A day of a mujaahid in the Path of Allah is better than that."
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He (the Messenger of Allah) did that and said: There is another act which elevates the position of a man in Paradise to a grade one hundred (higher), and the elevation between one grade and the other is equal to the height of the heaven from the earth. He (Abu Sa'id) said: What is that act? He replied: Jihad in the way of Allah! Jihad in the way of Allah! [Sahih Muslim 20:4645]
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The claim of those who say that the 'struggle against the self' is the Greater Jihad because the individual is put to test by day and by night, may be refuted by the following hadeeth: On the authority of Rashid, on the authority of Sa'd (radiallaahu 'anhu), on the authority of one of the Companions, that a man said, "Oh Messenger of Allah! Why is it that the believers are all put to trial in their graves, except for the martyrs?" He (salallaahu 'alayhee wa sallam) said,


"The clashing of swords above his head was sufficient trial for him."
[Sahih al-Jam'i]
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I'm no ulama but arent intentions more important than actions? Somebody goes to jihad for Allah's sake and martyrdom vs. some who goes to jihad for glory and renown.
Salam
 
salaam

Is this true??? Has the person who has started this thread has only 2 posts?

I need someone to clarfify this if it is actually true?

peace
 
Lisa0 said:
I'm no ulama but arent intentions more important than actions? Somebody goes to jihad for Allah's sake and martyrdom vs. some who goes to jihad for glory and renown.
Salam
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You dont go to Jihaad for glory and to show off

It is reported in the Two Sahihs that Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said: "The Prophet was asked, `O Allah's Messenger! A man fights out of bravery, and another fights to show off, which of them fights in the cause of Allah' The Prophet said:

(He who fights so that Allah's Word is superior, then he fights in Allah's cause.) In addition, it is reported in the Two Sahihs.....
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http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid= 2&tid= 5035
 
Of course Jihad against the kufaar is the Greater Jihad. Its the Sufiana view that Jihad against one's self is the Greater Jihad.
 
Islam recommends jihad against Nafs (one's self) and jihad aginst kuffar who agress muslims. But why should we make one greater than the other that's what I can't understand. They both are fardh and should be done if their conditions are fulfilled (conditions for jihad especially). And we have to not forget that jihad al nafs is necessary in order to perform war jihad (we should fight our weakness and our fears before beginning the real jihad). But is that hadeeth weak or false (there is a difference) because his meaning is acceptable for me, could some one clarify the final conclusion (false or just weak hadeeth).
 
Salaam

ah but there are other hadiths which talk about Other Jihads too.

Allah Most High said:

{Have you seen the one who chooses for his god his own lust?} (25:43). {He followed his own lust. Therefore his likeness is as the likeness of a dog; if you attack him he pants with his tongue out and if you leave him he pants with his tongue out} (7:176). These are both also Meccan Suras.

About the person who controlled the passion of his ego Allah says: {But as for him who feared to stand before his Lord and restrained his soul from lust, Lo! The garden will be his home} (79:40-41). This is also a Meccan Sura.

The above are among the many Meccan verses and Suras enjoining jihad al-nafs. One that denies that there was/is such a Divine command commits kufr. Such a command cannot mean military jihad, as there was no permission - much less an order - for such a jihad until the Madinan period.

Further, the Prophet said, upon him peace:

1. << The mujahid is he who makes jihad against his nafs (ego) for the sake of obeying Allah. >>

- Ibn Hibban (#1624, 2519): Authentic;

- Shu`ayb al-Arna'ut (Commentary on Ibn Hibban): authentic;

- al-Hakim: sahih;

- `Iraqi confirms him;

- it is also in Tirmidhi, Ahmad, and Tabarani;

- Albani included it in the "Sahiha".

2. "`A'isha, Allah be well-pleased with her, asked:

'Messenger of Allah, we see jihad as the best of deeds, so shouldn't we join it?' He replied, 'But the best jihad is a perfect Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah).'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari #2784)

3. On another occasion, a man asked: "Should I join the jihad?" The Prophet asked, upon him peace, "Do you have parents?" The man said yes. The Prophet said: "Then do jihad by serving them!" (Sahih Al-Bukhari #5972)

4. Another man asked: "What kind of jihad is better?" The Prophet replied, upon him peace: "A word of truth spoken in front of an oppressive ruler." (Sunan Al-Nasa'i #4209)

5. The Prophet also said, upon him peace: << The strong one is not the one who overcomes people, the strong one is he who overcomes his nafs ego]. >>

Al-Haythami declared it authentic in Majma` al-Zawa'id.

6. The Prophet, upon him peace, said to Abu Sa`id al-Khudri:

"Even if one strikes unbelievers and idolaters with his sword until it breaks, and he is *completely* dyed with their blood, the Rememberers of Allah are above him one degree."

The above authentic hadiths provide additional explicit evidence - especially 1 and 5 - refuting the lie that "all the evidence for jihad al-nafs is fabricated or weak."

Further:

Allah Most High is Tayyibun and accepts only the Tayyib. He declares in the Qur'an that He accepts acts of worship only if they are based on:

- purification of the self (qad aflaha man zakkaha)

- soundness of the heart (illa man ata Allaha bi-qalbin salim)

- an humble spirit (wa-innaha lakabiratun illa `alal khashi`in)

Purification of the Intention is the general heading for these. That is why the Imams (e.g. Bukhari, Shafi`i, Nawawi) always began their books of fiqh with the hadith of intention: "Actions count only according to intention."

An act outwardly considered worship but performed without pure intention is not considered worship, even fighting and dying in defense of Muslims. The Prophet, upon him peace, explicitly said of one such fighter that he was bound for the fire.

In fact, purification of intention is needed for all five pillars of Islam. Such purification is a fard `ayn and is required of all.

Thus those that claim there is no jihad al-nafs in Islam have imperiled their Islam and might make their shahada, salat, zakat, sawm, hajj, AND jihad worthless. Allah is our refuge from this.

Hajj Gibril

source

http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=7&ID=1752&CATE=17
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It requires courage to get on the battlefield and to prepare for martyrdom. As far as I know, jihad against one's soul does not require much bravery. its more about being self-critical and following Allah's commands.
 
mad_scientist said:
It requires courage to get on the battlefield and to prepare for martyrdom. As far as I know, jihad against one's soul does not require much bravery. its more about being self-critical and following Allah's commands.
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I don't know, but I think if you can't beat your Nafs, then probably you won't be able to beat others. Courage is needed in the battlefield, but to have courage you must fight your Nafs. Wallahu Aalam :/
 
:sl:

I always felt like Jihad on the battlefield is easier in terms of courage? You have the rough and tough feel of courage to go out and fight/die for Allah and His Deen which is beautiful. Like you have this huge rush and passion to go out and fight for the sake of Allah, so you lack fear. It's either you die in His cause or come back alive whereas when it's your nafs you're facing you face it everyday of your life, trying to obey Allah and as we know we tend to fall short a lot. So again everyday of your life you are struggling and struggling and inshaAllah you may be successful. No matter how good you are there will always be something you fall short in...so by that personally I always felt Jihad of your nafs was tougher...wallahu alam this is just my thought, no opinion nor passing off as fact inshaAllah.

If anyone can clarify to me it would be appreciated. JazakAllah khayr :D

:w:
 
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^^ I dont think going out to the battlefield to die in the way of Allah is that easy. If it was that easy, I doubt Allah would highlight the rewards of martyrdom ... ".... nay they are alive but you perceive not."
 
That's not what I'm asking lol. Wrong use of the term easier in there, sorry, but yea that's not what I'm asking. I'm aware of the rewards of Jihad but just as there are for those who fight their desires for Allahs sake. So again my question :D

Does anyone understand what I'm saying >.> Maybe I'm unclear.
Would they both not be great? I just want to understand properly how Jihad is greater thats all :D
 
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That 'hadith' is popular in tasawuf. But according to Salafi Ulama, that 'hadith' is fake hadith.
 
:sl:

This is what I found on Islamqa, and Allaah (swt) knows best:

​
Q. Which is the greater jihad, jihad with one's nafs or jihad in the battlefield ?


A. Praise be to Allaah.
​
It was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), said to his companions when they returned from a military campaign, “We have come back from the lesser jihaad to the greater jihaad.” They said, “Is there any greater jihaad than jihaad against the kuffaar?” he said, “Yes, jihaad al-nafs (jihaad against the self).”

This hadeeth is not saheeh.

Undoubtedly jihaad against the self comes before jihaad against the kuffaar, because one cannot strive against the kuffaar until after one has striven against one’s own self, because fighting is something which the self dislikes. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Jihaad (holy fighting in Allaah’s Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allaah knows but you do not know”[al-Baqarah 2:216]

The point is that jihaad against the enemy cannot take place until one strives and forces oneself to do it, until one’s self submits and accepts that.

Fataawa Manaar al-Islam by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him), 2/421

Ibn al-Qayyim said: “Jihaad is of four stages: jihaad al-nafs (striving against the self), jihaad al-shayaateen (striving against the shayaateen or devils), jihaad al-kuffaar (striving against the disbelievers) and jihaad al-munaafiqeen (striving against the hypocrites).

Jihaad al-nafs means striving to make oneself learn true guidance, and to follow it after coming to know it, calling others to it, and bearing with patience the difficulties of calling others to Allaah. Jihaad al-Shaytaan means striving against him and warding off the doubts and desires that he throws at a person, and the doubts that undermine faith, and striving against the corrupt desires that he tries to inspire in a person. Jihaad against the kuffaar and munaafiqeen is done in the heart and on the tongue, with one’s wealth and oneself. Jihaad against the kuffaar mostly takes the form of physical action, and jihaad against the munaafiqeen mostly takes the form of words… The most perfect of people are those who have completed all the stages of jihaad. People vary in their status before Allaah according to their status in jihaad.”(Zaad al-Ma’aad 3/9-12)

And Allaah knows best.


Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid​
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I will close this thread to prevent people speaking without knowledge on the issue.

Thread closed.
​
 
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