Core Duties Over Optional Jihad

📖Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 16
Tawus reported: A man said to Abdullah ibn Umar, “Why do you not join the military campaigns?” Ibn Umar said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: Verily, Islam is built upon five: to testify there is no God but Allah, to establish prayer, to give charity, to fast the month of Ramadan, and to perform pilgrimage to the House.

Explanation:
This hadith teaches that the foundation of Islam rests on the five pillars. Notice that the Prophet ﷺ did not order Ibn Umar to join the campaigns. Participating in military campaigns is not obligatory for everyone; it is required only when a legitimate authority commands it for defense or to support the oppressed. Fulfilling the five pillars is sufficient to establish someone as a practicing Muslim. Doing good deeds does not justify committing evil; it forms the basis of faith and obedience to Allah.

Quranic Support for the Five Pillars:

1. Testify there is no God but Allah – Quran 3:18
2. Establish prayer – Quran 2:43
3. Give charity (Zakah) – Quran 2:110
4. Fast the month of Ramadan – Quran 2:183
5. Perform pilgrimage (Hajj) – Quran 3:97

Quranic Context on Fighting:

📖Quran 2:190
Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors.
(This shows that fighting is allowed only in self-defense, not for personal desire or aggression.)

📖Quran 4:75
And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, “Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper”?
(This highlights fighting only in defense of the oppressed.)

📖Quran 8:61
And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.
(Fighting is not mandatory if peace is possible.)

📖Quran 4:77 (on those who avoid fighting without valid excuse)
Have you not seen those who were told, “Restrain your hands [from fighting] and establish prayer and give zakah”? But when fighting was ordained for them, a group of them feared people as they should fear Allah or even more. They said, “Our Lord, why have You decreed upon us fighting?” Say, “The enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah. And you will not be wronged a single thread.

Lessons Today:

• The five pillars are the foundation of Islam.
• Military participation is conditional and not obligatory unless asked by a legitimate authority.
• The Prophet ﷺ did not require every Muslim to join war; faith is first established through the pillars.
• Doing good deeds strengthens faith and moral character.
• Avoiding evil while fulfilling the pillars is the path to Allah’s guidance.