['Aalim Network QR] Jihad

[Ummulbanin <workshop@popmail.dircon.co.uk>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Assalamu 'alaykum

The following question was answered by Mulla Asgher.

Salaams & Duas
Ummulbanin Merali - Moderator - 'Aalim Network
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QUESTION:

Would you kindly advise me if Jihad is prohibited on women in the light of
Quran ? and if so please quote the Quranic reference.

ANSWER:

Jihad has many forms and meanings.  Basically, it means struggle -but it is
applied to Jihad of Nafs, Jihad in the way of Allah and so on.

We are discussing Jihad which, in ordinary terms, is known as the
holy war.  It is a struggle, in the way of Allah, to defend His Religion,
Islam.  This is obligatory upon men of able bodies and sane minds.  Women
are exempted, and so are the old and the disabled, because in the process of
war, they are the ones who are to be defended and protected.  Besides, women
have to look after the house, tend the children, while men are out to fight.
If this distribution of work is disturbed, the whole social and family set
up would be ruined.

Now, let us turn to the Holy Quran:

In Surah al-Nisa (No. 4), verse 75, Allah says:
"And why should you not fight in the cause of Allah, for the sake of
helpless men and women and children who pray: Our Sustainer! deliver us from
this town  whose inhabitants are oppressors and make for us a  protector
from you, and a helper".

This Ayah clearly implies that women are to be defended by men, and they are
not supposed to fight.

 In Surah 60, al-MUMTAHANAH, verse 12 describes the special allegiance which
was sworn by the Muslim women, at the hand of the Prophet, peace be upon him
and his progeny.  When they asked : O Prophet, our menfold have sworn their
loyalty to you on ISLAM and JIHAD, what are the terms of loyalty for us, women!

The Ayah says:

"O Prophet, when believing women (i.e. Muslims) come to you, taking oaths of
allegiance to you, that they will not associate anything with Allah, and
they will not steal, nor commit adultery, and will not kill their children,
nor utter slanders, nor ascribe their children to other than their fathers,
nor disobey you in what is good, accept their allegiance and ask Allah to
forgive them.  Allah indeed is All Forgiving, Most Merciful."

In these terms, JIHAD was excluded, and therefore, it is known as
BAY'ATUNNISA - the allegiance of women.

With Salaams,

Asgharali M.M. Jaffer