And it is known that the jihaad against the hypocrites is to be carried out with the establishment of proof and the Qur‘aan.

Nasr Ibn Yahyaa said: I heard Muhammad Ibn Yahyaa adh-Dhuhalee (d.258H) – rahimahullaah - saying: I heard Yahyaa Ibn Yahyaa saying: “Defending the Sunnah is more virtuous than jihaad in the Path of Allaah.” Muhammad said: I said to Yahyaa: “A man gives his wealth, burdens himself, and fights, but that is more virtuous than this?” So he said: “Yes, much better!” [2]

Based upon the above narration, Shaykh Aboo Anas Hamad Ibn Ibraaheem al-’Uthmaan said:

‘‘And it is upon this that our imaams proceeded us, so they held that the jihaad against the innovator was the foundation, and that the jihaad against the disbelievers was a branch from that foundation.” [3]

JIHAAD AGAINST ONES OWN SELF:

Imaam Ibnul-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (d.756H) – rahimahullaah – said:

“So jihaad against the external enemies of Allaah is a branch from the jihaad of the servant against his own self in regards to Allaah, as the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “The mujaahid is the one who carries out jihaad against his own soul in obedience to Allaah.  And the muhaajir is the one who leaves off that which Allaah has prohibited.” [4] Jihaad against the self takes precedence over, and is the basis of, jihaad against the outward enemy.  So the one who does not perform jihaad against his own soul firstly, by carrying out that which he was commanded with, and leaving off that which he was prohibited from, and striving hard in that for the Sake of Allaah, it is not possible for him to perform jihaad against the outer enemy.  Since, how can he perform jihaad against his outer enemy, and be just with him, whilst the enemy that is within him has overpowered him and gained mastery over him; yet he does not perform jihaad against this enemy, nor does he struggle against it for the Sake of Allaah!?  Rather, it is not possible for him to go out against his outer enemy, until he has performed jihaad against his own soul.  So the servant is tested by performing jihaad against these two enemies, but amongst them is a third enemy.

It is not possible to perform jihaad against the first two, except by jihaad against this one; it is the one that stands between the two previously mentioned enemies and the servant, preventing him from jihaad against the first two, and it forsakes him, and it keeps him back from jihaad.  He does not cease to make him think that his jihaad against the first two enemies will mean leaving off wealth, pleasures and desires.  So it is not possible for him to perform jihaad against the first two enemies, except by performing jihaad against this one.  So jihaad against this one is the basis of the jihaad against the other two, and it is Shaytaan.  Allaah the Exalted says:

“Verily Shaytaan is to you an avowed enemy, so take him as an avowed enemy.” [Sooratul-A’raaf 7:22]

So the command to take him as an enemy is a warning against having a lack of ability in waging war and performing jihaad against him, as if he is an enemy who never slackens, nor falls short in his war against the servant.” [5]

Imaam Ibnul-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah – rahimahullaah – said:

“So the supporting pillars of the Religion are knowledge (’ilm) and jihaad, and due to this, jihaad is of two types: the jihaad by the hand and the spear, and there is much participation in this.  And secondly, there is the jihaad with the proof and the clarification.  This latter jihaad is specifically the following of the Messengers, and it is the jihaad of the imaams, and it is the most excellent of the two jihaads due to its tremendous benefit and great burden, and numerous enemies.  Allaah the Exalted said in Sooratul-Furqaan, and it is a maalikee soorah:

“And if We wished, We could have sent a warner to every city.  So do not obey the disbelievers and struggle against them with it (the Qur‘aan) a great jihaad.” [Sooratul-Furqaan 25:51-52]

So this jihaad against them with the Qur‘aan is the greater of the two jihaads, and it is additionally a jihaad against the hypocrites.  This is because the hypocrites do not fight the Muslims, rather, they are with them outwardly, but when they fight, they oppose them.  So due to this, Allaah the Exalted said:

“O Prophet!  Perform Jihaad against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh with them.” [Sooratut-Tawbah 9:73]

And it is known that the jihaad against the hypocrites is to be carried out with the establishment of proof and the Qur‘aan.” [6]

Ibn ’Abdul-Barr recited the following poetry:

“And ink that comes from their pens;

Is purer and more virtuous than the blood of the martyrs.

O students of the knowledge of the Prophet Muhammad;

You are not without distinction.” [7]