Bismillah.
Assalamu alaykum.
It's really late here, so please bear with me while I try to form a coherent reply to this which will incorporate all that I mean to.
There are two sides to this issue as I see it sister Mirajmom. It's not just a burning passion which can arouse in one to learn of all matters of the Deen and suddenly highlight upon a topic and be able to comprehende all that it entails in a moment. Islaam, is so much more and we know it. It encompasses so many details and things that even if one were to spend a lifetime they wouldn't know everything there was or even half!
What I feel is that many Muslims nowadays jump to topics which they do not have enough, well knowledge for one persay, nor ability to discuss. It becomes talk which has no value as it is not funded on clear knowledge of Qur'aan and Sunnah from scholars, but rather opinions. And certain matters of deen have opinions which are/can be dangerous and must be warned against.
I feel perhaps I'm going about this the wrong way? What I'm trying to get across is simply that this site really is not the place for such discussions on Jihaad. It's not a light topic, it's not something which should slide off the tongue at every moment as if we were scholars upon its ruling and conditions as assurdly i acknowledge we are not. And as I myself am among those who are ignorant on this matter, I feel that to encourage large masses of people of various levels of understanding and knowledge, a leeway for expressing any opinions they believe in, is assuredly not correct!
I know that there are some who have maybe knowledge about Jihaad and that of course is good, as was said from people of the past, "Aquire knowledge for you never know when it may come to use" (general) ... and it is an inherent part of our history and deen today and forever will be! Yet, I think more people on this site should be educated on Islaam, and its foundations and its cores and its base, of Tawheed and Aqeedah, of the Qur'aan and its meaning and understanding of it, of learning arabic, of spreading the Sunnah and acting upon it and other things, after which maybe the knowledge of Jihaad from a correct source and scholar should be attempted.
Some youth sis, are inbalanced today. I do not cover all, wallahi (and i dont use this much
) I dont and am not. I'm not generalizing nor judging all. But there are some whom you may come across, very open and blatant about Jihaad, and calling to it, and hoisting up its flag of Obligation (in regards to fighting the kuffar in battle etc) and spreading those countless curses and things against them, and yet... you ask them about Islaam and Eeman, and who Allah is, and His Names and Attributes, and they fail to answer???
There are levels to understanding the position of Jihaad, surely this can be seen! The Sahabah were instructed in the belief in Allah and oneness of Him, for years and years, before they were told of Halaal and Haraam. Before the call for jihaad went up, the Muslims got stronger, in numbers, in knowledge, in belief. THis is the only way that Jihaad is for the sake of Allah isnt it? If you dont know something how can you love it? How can you sacrafice all you have for it? .... In regards to us, in this time I mean. I think we have so much to learn and Jihaad is one of them yes, but we have to be careful when doing it so we dont fall in with wrongs.
Thus, here and now... I see that in this topic there is no point in discussion. We dont know enough... most of us anyways, and if there is a difference in opinion of that, I keep that with you. I feel it is my duty to prevent any possible mis-interpretations, ignorance, wrong things... by shutting down this thread.
I'm sorry if it causes offence. Below are some Quotes from Imam Malik (rh), from a translation of Kitab al-Jami'
Malik said, "All that has corrupted people is finding interpretations for that which they do not know."
Malik used to disapprove of haste in giving fatwas and he would often hesitate over cases. He would often say, "I do not know." He said, "The shield of the man of knowledge is, 'I do not know.' When he forgets it, his vulnerable parts are hit."
Malik said, "One of the things which conquers a man of knowledge is when he answers everyone who questions him." Ibn 'Abbas said, "Whoever answers people on everything about which they ask is mad." Malik was asked about something and he said, "I don't like to reply to something like this. 'Umar ibn al-Khattab was tested with things like these and he left them and would not give an answer about them."
so we have to be very careful of what we say, how we say it, and if we are answering questions which we are not clearly knowledgable about.
May Allah forgive me for any mistakes I have commited within this post and otherwise, and I ask forgiveness from you all as well, the hour is not one that is agreeable with mental processes.
p.s. !! I did not mean Jihaad should not be learned of. I strongly believe it SHOULD, just not that it should be DISCUSSED on TTI as a separate topic of mere discussion... Allahu 'Alem
I hope you all understand my meaning, and do not take offence.
Barakallahu feekum.
wasalam