Re: The Prophet and “Jihad”
Jihad was a need in those days. It was more like, if you wont kill them, then they will kill you.
It was never about the land or power, it was for Islam. Nowadays, everything is about power and/or piece of land. Having said that, there is no need for Jihad in this day.
There is one dhaif hadith(dhaif not moudhoo)
Jihaad will remain fresh and green as long as raindrops fall from the sky. And there will come upon the people a time when Qur’aan reciters from among them will say: “This is not the time of Jihaad.” So whoever comes to that time, then it is the best time for Jihaad ."They said: “O Messenger of Allaah, would someone really say that?” He said: “Yes, the one whom Allaah has cursed, and the angels and all of mankind.”
The chain of narrators is weak but there are other ahadith supporting the presence of jihad till day of judgement.So scholars normaly quote this hadith in their books.
Some more ahadith pertaining to topic at hand,i-e offensive jihad
Allah’s Apostle said: “**I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle, **and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform a that, then they save their lives an property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah.” (Sahih Bukhari, 1:2:24 [see also 4:52:196])
It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: I have been commanded to fight against people, till they testify to the fact that there is no god but Allah, and believe in me (that) I am the messenger (from the Lord) and in all that I have brought. And when they do it, their blood and riches are guaranteed protection on my behalf except where it is justified by law, and their affairs rest with Allah. (Sahih Muslim, 1:31 [see also 1:130, 1:32, 1:33])
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: I am commanded to fight with men till they testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and His Apostle, face our qiblah (direction of prayer), eat what we slaughter, and pray like us. When they do that, their life and property are unlawful for us except what is due to them. They will have the same rights as the Muslims have, and have the same responsibilities as the Muslims have. (Sunan Abu Dawud, 14:2635)
I agree with most of what muqawee has written in his post except this part
Jihaad doesn’t mean just armed conflict, its your struggle with education, better diplomatic efforts, unity between Muslim Ummah, etc.
it may be true in literal sense, but when ahadith mentions jihad and fazail relatd to jihad, it means armed conflict as per my understanding.
EDIT:
Some older thread on similar topichttp://www.paklinks.com/gs/religion-and-philosophy/635865-requirements-for-fight.html
http://www.paklinks.com/gs/religion-and-philosophy/580344-what-is-your-jihad-2.html#post9200446