دفاعی حکمتِ عملی

Sahl bin Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "One day's ribat (guarding the frontiers) in the way of Allah — that is, the work of guarding the Islamic borders — is better than the whole world and all that is in it." (Bukhari and Muslim)

For an Islamic army to remain fully armed and stationed at places of danger and on the frontiers, where there is a possibility that the enemy may enter or attack the settlements of the Muslims, is called ribat. Like jihad, it too is a communal obligation (fard kifayah) — that is, when some people are performing this duty it is lifted from the rest. Allah has commanded regarding confronting the enemies:

"O believers! Be patient, and urge one another to patience, and stand firm (against the enemy), and fear Allah, that you may be successful." (Aal-e-Imran 200)

Standing firm before the enemy is the hardest form of patience; it is a task of great resolve and courage and a very great means of attaining nearness to Allah, as is also known from this saying of the Seal of the Prophets ﷺ: "The deed of every dying person comes to an end, except the one who keeps guard (over the enemy in war) — his deed will keep increasing until the Day of Resurrection, and he will be safe from the trial of Munkar and Nakir in the grave." (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)

Everyone is fully aware of the dangers and circumstances the Muslim world faces today. The enemies of Islam, fully equipped with material resources, modern weapons of war and modern technology, are bent on wiping the Muslim world off the face of the earth, while the Muslims are still asleep. For survival they are facing tyranny on not one but many fronts; the lack of modern means and instruments has become our greatest weakness; flight from knowledge and wisdom has become a danger to our survival; our society is no longer an Islamic society.

Today the inner strength of the Muslims, in terms of morals and character, has broken. We must confess that we have become treacherous; breaking of pledges has become our nature; our decisions have become captive to personal and factional interests; we have been divided into Arab and non-Arab; we have become ignorant of the importance and reality of justice and fairness; we no longer distinguish between friend and foe; when Muslims are massacred we free ourselves of it by calling it the internal matter of another country; we ally with the disbelievers and, at their signals, shed the unlawful blood of our own Muslim brothers; and these unjust decisions have entangled us in mutual bloodshed and taken everything from us. What is left with us now that we should fight our enemies on the battlefield with valour? Yes — just consider: the war of defence and survival is not fought by army and nation alone; rather it is fought by the strength of character. Our character consists of faith and righteous deeds. If this is true — and there is no reason for it to be false — then this too is true:

"If he is a believer, the soldier fights even without a sword."

In the defensive strategy which Islam has taught us, the real importance lies in our faith and righteous deeds. That is why Allah says: "You alone shall have the upper hand, if you are believers." (Aal-e-Imran 139)

But along with this, to provide the means, instruments and all kinds of weapons of war is also, like jihad, an obligation, because without them jihad cannot be waged. Allah says: "And prepare against them whatever force you can, and horses tethered, by which you may strike terror into the enemy of Allah and your enemy." (al-Anfal 60)

Therefore, in keeping with today's conditions, the preparation of missiles, tanks, submarines, bombs and warfare aircraft is highly necessary. It is obligatory upon all Muslims — whether those who have established a single state or those living as separate states — to keep weapons ready, provide war material, and give the capable members of society training in combat and war, so that they may not only repel the enemy's attack but also, for the glory of Allah's religion and for justice, good, and peace and security on the earth, be able to advance and attack in the path of Allah when it becomes necessary.

It is also obligatory upon the Muslims to make compulsory arrangements for military training: young men who reach the age of eighteen should be called for compulsory military training, taught the arts of war and combat, and then registered in the Muslim army, so that whenever the need arises they will be ready for jihad. If his intention is sound, then by virtue of this registration alone he is in the rank of "murabatah fi sabilillah" (guarding in the way of Allah). It is also obligatory upon the Muslims to set up factories for producing war material and to themselves produce whatever kind of weaponry is being produced, or can be produced, in the world, even if for this they must give up unnecessary expenses on food, clothing, transport and housing. This is a responsibility through which the obligation of jihad can be fulfilled completely and in the best manner; otherwise they will be sinners and will face the punishment of Allah in this world and the Hereafter.