The Salat (prayers) and Sawm (fasting) and all other acts of...

The Salat (prayers) and Sawm (fasting) and all other acts of worship make up the first form of responsibility; and things such as Jihad (the sacred defense of Muslims and the Muslim territory) form the second type of responsibility. In relation to Jihad, the Muslims have an obligation to defend the nucleus of Islam and to protect the freedom of the Muslims – however through what means? Do they defend the cause with a sword, gun or something else?

These things have not been specified and in principle, these sorts of things are not able to be specified and generalized!

In each and every age, the Muslims are obligated to choose the best ways and methods to carry out this task (of defence): ) وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَّا اسْتَطَعْـتُمْ مِّنْ قُوَّةٍ وَ مِنْ رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللٌّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَآخَرِينَ مِنْ دُونِهِمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ اللٌّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللٌّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَ أَنْـتُمْ لاَ تُظْلَمُونَ ( “Make ready your strength against them to the utmost of your power including steeds of war to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies of Allah and your enemies and others besides whom you may not know but whom Allah does know.

Whatever you shall spend in the cause of Allah will be repaid back to you and you shall not be treated unjustly” [^2] 9 Thus we must see – what is the best form or method of guidance in each and every time and era? The issue of guidance and leadership is related to the second form of responsibility mentioned. The Muslims are responsible for the guidance of one another.

Each generation is responsible for the guidance of the next generation - especially those people who are officially recognized as the leaders of the society – they have a much greater duty. In any case, this outcome – meaning that of finding the mode and way of guidance – must be realized. However as for the ways and methods which should be used to reach to this goal, these have not been specified or earmarked for specific times and or for eternity.

The noble verse of the Qurʾan states: ) يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَاراً وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَ الْحِجَارَةُ ( “O’ you who possess true faith! Save yourselves and your families from the fire of hell whose fuel is that of mankind and stones!” [^3] This verse means that we must protect ourselves and our families from the fire of hell whose fuel is men and stones.

✦ ✦ ✦