We have all heard this one! Interesting what a brother shared on my Facebook regarding the authenticity of this narration.
(FABRICATED HADITH GREATER JIHAD)
There is a saying, “We have returned from the lesser Jihad (battle) to the greater Jihad”, which the people quote on the basis that it is a hadeeth, which is infact false, fabricated hadith which has no basis. According to this belief, striving against desires of the self is considered the Greater Jihad, which makes the Jihad of the battlefield the Lesser Jihad. However, this so-called hadith is only a saying of Ibrahim bin Abi Ablah one of the Successors, and it contradicts textual evidences and reality.
Ibn Taiymiyyah said in Al-Furqan PP. 44-45: “This hadith has no sources and nobody whomsoever in the field of Islamic knowledge has narrated it. Jihad against the disbelivers is the most noble of actions and moreover it is the most important action for the mankind.”
Al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi reports it is daeef (weak) due to the narrator Khalaf bin Muhammad bin Ismail Al-Khiyam. Al-Haakim says, “His hadeeths are unreliable”. Abu Ya’la Al-Khalili says, “He often adulterates, is very weak and narrates unknown hadith.” (Mashari-ul-Ashwaq, Ibn Nuhas 1/31).
There is also the narrator Yahya bin Al-Ula who is a known liar and forgerer of hadith (Ahmad). Amru bin Ali, An-Nasai and Ad-Daraqutni state, “His hadith are renounced.” Ibn Adi states, “His hadith are false.” (Tahzeeb-ut-Tahzeeb 11/261-262)
Ibn Hajar said, “He was accused of forging hadith.” (At-Taghrib). Adh-dhahabi said, “Abu Hatim said that he is not a strong narrator, Ibn Ma’een classified him as weak and Ad-Daraqutni said that he is to be neglected.”
This hadeeth also contradicts clear verses of the Qur’an. Allah the Mighty, the Majestic, says, (Translation of the Meaning),
“Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame, etc.), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward; Degrees of (higher) grades from Him, and Forgiveness and Mercy. And Allah is Ever Oft*Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Qur’an [4:95-96]
Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned that the hadeeth saying:
“We have come back from the minor jihad to the major one” someone asked: “What is the major Jihad O Messenger of Allah?” he replied: “Jihad of the nafs,”
It is a fabrication. (This report, collected by Bayhaqi is fabricated as mentioned in Mannaar as-Subl of Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah).
The reason behind the fabrication (of this hadeeth) is to belittle the value of fighting by the sword so as to divert the Muslims from fighting the disbelievers and hypocrites. (The Absent Obligation - Muhammad Abdus Salam Faraj, PP 59 - 60 with slight modifications)