My dear brother, why do you deny Jihad in the path of Allah and criticize those who perform it, when Allah ordered Jihad and commanded us in more than one verse to fight the disbelievers? Why do you deny this!?
My dear brother, I do not deny Jihad. I deny aggression against peaceful people under the pretext of Jihad. Allah forbade aggression. The concept of Jihad in the Quran is the striving of the soul (Self-struggle). As for what you mean, Allah called it "Qital" (Fighting). Fighting is intended for aggressors and to repel injustice, not to attack a safe and secure country, kill its people, enslave its women, and steal its wealth, then call it Jihad!!! This is not Jihad; it is aggression, and Islam forbids aggression.
But there are many undeniable verses that command us to perform Jihad and fight!!
Mention these verses to me!!
Fine. Allah says: (Fight the polytheists altogether) [9:36].
This verse you mentioned is one that every extremist uses as evidence, but he interprets it according to his whims or the whims of his Sheikhs. This verse has been taken out of context. If you brought the full verse, you would understand its intent: (Fight the polytheists altogether 👈just as they fight you altogether👉). This means the polytheists were the ones who started the fighting; therefore, fighting them became necessary for self-defense.
Fine. And Allah's saying: (Fight them; Allah will punish them by your hands) [9:14].
This verse is from Surah At-Tawbah. Surah At-Tawbah has a specific nature compared to other chapters because it is a declaration of disassociation from Allah and His Messenger to the polytheists. If you brought the verse that precedes it, you would understand the meaning. Allah says: (Would you not fight a people who 👈violated their oaths👉 and intended to expel the Messenger, 👈and they began [the attack] against you the first time👉? Do you fear them? But Allah has more right that you should fear Him, if you are [true] believers. Fight them; Allah will punish them by your hands and will disgrace them and give you victory over them and satisfy the breasts of a believing people) [9:13-14].
The verse is clear, but you took a snippet. It speaks about polytheists who fought the Messenger, opposed him, harmed him, expelled him from his land, and even broke their oaths and covenants with him. They were the ones who started the fight.
Fine. And Allah's saying: (And kill them wherever you find them) [9:5].
This verse is just like the previous one. I will mention the full context. Allah says: (What is [the matter] with you [that you are] two groups concerning the hypocrites, while Allah has made them fall back [into error and disbelief] for what they earned? Do you wish to guide those whom Allah has sent astray?... They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper) [4:88-89]. From the context, it is clear that Allah is speaking about hypocrites and disbelievers who harbor evil intentions against Muslims.
And Allah's saying: (And kill them wherever you overtake them) [2:191].
If you completed the verse, you would read: (And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from 👈wherever they have expelled you👉, and Fitnah is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al-Haram until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them). Meaning, fight them as they fight you, and expel them as they expelled you. This means the disbelievers started fighting the Muslims, and the Muslims' fight was for self-defense. This is also strengthened by the preceding verse: (Fight in the way of Allah 👈those who fight you👉 but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors) [2:190]. In this verse, we learn that Allah commands us to fight those who attack and fight us, and forbids us from aggression against anyone.
Good. What about: (So strike [them] upon the necks) [8:12] and (So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks) [47:4]?
The first speaks about fighting the polytheists who fought the Messenger and harmed him; the following verse clarifies this: (That is because they 👈opposed Allah and His Messenger👉. And whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger - indeed, Allah is severe in penalty). As for the second, it is clear: "When you meet," not "when you fight." Meeting occurs on the battlefield where preparations are ready. If you have prepared to meet the disbelievers who came to kill you, and the battle has begun, then you must fight them to defend yourselves, your land, and your religion. You must also know that "striking the necks" (Darb al-Riqab) does not mean literal decapitation.
How so!! What does it mean then if not cutting off the head?
All verses where the word "Riqab" is mentioned do not mean literal necks. The word "Riqab" is the plural of "Raqabah," and the root is "R-Q-B," which signifies what is firmly established to carry something else. As in "Al-Mu'jam al-Waseet" and other dictionaries, striking the necks (Darb al-Riqab) means "firm binding" or "restraint," not the anatomical neck connecting the head to the body. That anatomical part is called "Unuq" (Plural: A'naaq) in the Quran, not Raqabah. As in the verse: (Indeed, We have put on their 👈necks👉 (A'naaq) shackles reaching to the chins, so they are with heads [forced] up) [36:8]. The context of "striking" relates to war and battle, not normal life. This means striking the power centers of the army—its machinery, equipment, or leaders—and paralyzing their movement and effectiveness. The requirement is not to take their lives as a religious goal; its occurrence in battle is accidental and circumstantial.
Wait a moment, please.
Yes.
You said that "Riqab" does not mean the neck that connects the head to the body, and that the Quranic name for that part is "Unuq."
Yes, that is correct.
Fine. Then what do you say about: (So strike 👈above the necks👉 (A'naaq)) [8:12]? This verse speaks about cutting off the head!
The meaning remains consistent. The word "A'naaq" is the plural of "Unuq." Ibn Faris mentioned in his dictionary "Maqayis al-Lughah" that the root signifies extension in something, either in height or sprawl. The first meaning is the neck, the connection between the head and body. It also signifies the center of connection and gathering of a ruling group. As for "striking above the necks," it means forcefully stopping the communication centers and gathering points of the enemy's forces. It does not strictly require the loss of life, because striking (Darb) does not inherently mean killing, just as "Qatl" (Killing/Fighting) in certain Quranic contexts does not always mean taking a life. Killing people is not a religious demand; the demand is to stop their aggression. The concepts of striking necks or above necks are not about decapitation. These commands are discourses related to an ongoing war and active combat, not a call to initiate war. It is known that fighting was legislated in the Quran circumstantially and for emergencies, not as a general rule, to repel aggression or remove injustice: (So whoever has assaulted you, then assault him in the same way that he has assaulted you) [2:194]. After that, return to the origin: leaving people free in their disbelief or belief according to the axis of peaceful coexistence, cooperation, and mutual acquaintance: (O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted) [49:13].
These verses have become clear to me. However, there remains one verse that contains no exceptions and directly commands us to fight.
What is this verse?
Allah says: (Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled) [9:29]. In this verse, Allah shows us that Jizyah is obligatory, and that we must fight in the way of Allah and force the disbelievers to pay it!!!