A Study of Hassan al-Banna's "On Jihad"
Part 6
Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna published his treatise "On Jihad" in the late 1930s. In his book on the group, Brynjar Lia notes that the treatise eventually "became a required part of the Muslim Brothers' curriculum." This translation comes from Wendell's 1977 collection, Five Tracts of Hasan Al-Banna (1906-1949), and is the only one available that has not been sanitized for Western audiences.
If it's possible to "organize" Al-Banna's ahadith into themes, the previous theme could be described as the "benefits of martyrdom." This section of ahadith could be described as "significance of jihad." As he explains it: "Jihad is not against polytheists alone, but against all who do not embrace Islam."
(15) On the authority of 'Abd al-Khayr b. Thabit b. Qays b. Shammas, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, who said: "A woman came to the Apostle of God (May God bless and save him!) named Umm Khallad, wearing a veil, in order to ask him about a son of hers who had been slain in the way of God Almighty. One of his Companions said to her: 'Have you come to ask about your son, wearing a veil?' She said: 'If I have been bereft of my son, I shall not be bereft of my modesty.' The Prophet of God (May God bless and save him!) said to her: 'Your son has the reward of two martyrs.' She said: 'Why?' He said: 'Because he was killed by People of the Book.'" Published by Abu Da'ud.
"I am bereft of my son" = I have lost him and I am afflicted because of him.
In this Tradition, there is a clear indication of the obligation to fight the People of the Book, and of the fact that God doubles the reward of those who fight them. Jihad is not against polytheists alone, but against all who do not embrace Islam.
(16) On the authority of Sahl b. Hunayf (May God be pleased with him!): "The Apostle of God (May God bless and save him!) said: 'He who asks God Almighty for martyrdom with sincerity, will be brought by God to the mansions of the martyrs, though he die in his bed.'" Published in the Five Books, but not by Al-BukharI.
(17) On the authority of Khuraym b. Fatik, who said: "The Apostle of God (May God bless and save him!) said: 'He who expends a sum in the way of God Almighty will have it accredited to his account seven hundredfold.'" Transmitted by Al-Tirmidhi, who designated it acceptable, and also by Al-Nasa'i.
(18) On the authority of Abu Hurayra (May God be pleased with him!), who said: "One of the Companions of the Apostle of God (May God bless and save him!) passed by a ravine in which there was a small fount of fresh water. He was greatly pleased by this, and said to himself: 'What if I were to withdraw from mankind and live in this ravine?' He mentioned this to the Apostle of God (May God bless and save him;), who said: 'Don't do iti When one of you takes his place in God's way, it is more excellent than if he prayed in his house for seventy years. Do you not wish that God forgive you and bring you into Paradise? Campaign in God's way: he who fights in God's way mounted on a camel must necessarily enter Paradise.'" Transmitted by Al-Tirmidhi.
"a small fount" = a small spring with plentiful water.
(19) On the authority of Al-Miqdam b. Ma'dikarib, who said: "The Apostle of God (May God bless and save him!) said: 'The martyr possesses six distinctions with respect to God: he is forgiven, first of all; he is shown his place in Paradise; he is secure from the supreme terror ]of judgment]; the crown of dignity is placed on his head, a single ruby of which is more precious than the entire world and all it contains; he is wedded to seventy-two of the wide-eyed houris; and he may intercede for seventy of his relatives.'" Transmitted by Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja.
(20) On the authority of Abu Hurayra (May God Almighty be pleased with him!), who said: "The Apostle of God (May God bless and save him!) said: 'He who mee'ts God with no trace of jihad on him will meet God with a flaw in him.'" Transmitted by Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja.
(21) On the authority of Anas (May God be pleased with him!), who said: The Apostle of God (May God bless and save him!) said: 'He who seeks martyrdom sincerely will be granted it, though it never touch him.'" Transmitted by Muslim.
(22) On the authority of 'Uthman b. 'Affan (May God be pleased with him!), on the authority of the Prophet (May God bless and save him!), who said: "He who bivouacs for one night in the way of God (Glorious and Almighty is He!) will be credited with a thousand nights of fasting and standing [in prayer]." Transmitted by Ibn Maja.
(23) On the authority of Abu '1-Darda'25 (May God be pleased with him!): "The Apostle of God (May God bless and save him;) said: 'A campaign by sea is the equivalent of ten campaigns by land: he who is tossed about at sea is like one who wallows in his blood in the way of God (Glorious is He!)'" Transmitted by Ibn Maja.
"he is tossed about" = the ship veers and trembles and rocks under him.
In this Tradition, there is an allusion to a sea campaign, and the attention of the umma is drawn to the fact that it must take care to protect its coastline and strengthen its fleet. This applies by analogy to the air as well, and God will redouble many times over the reward of those who campaign by air in His way.
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