Jihad not a pillar
Jihad – a Pillar of Islam?
Q. Did not the Messenger of Allah (saw) said ” Jihad is the pillar of Islam and its topmost part”
It is not permissible to say “The Messenger of Allah said” in relation to a weak narration, and the above narration is weak. The Prophet — Allah bless and greet him — said: “Islam is built on five things.” He did not say six. The Companions were more knowledgeable of the Religion than us, and `Abd Allah ibn `Umar said: “The pillars (arkan) of Islam are five, and jihad is a good deed.” I.e. it is not one of the pillars, much less the one and only pillar. The Prophet — Allah bless and greet him — said that the one pillar (`amud) of Islam is salat. Not jihad. When the Muslims go back to salat, then Allah — if He likes — will give them back jihad. First things first. The Prophet said — Allah bless and greet him: “The foundation (asl) of this matter [Religion] is Islam. Its pillar (`amud) is prayer (salat). And its absolute culmination (dharwatu sinamih) is jihad.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, al-Nasa’i, Ahmad and others from Mu`adh ibn Jabal. GF Haddad[email protected]
