Author: Arooj Fatima
Claim:
“Jihad al-Nafs (struggle against the self) is the Greater Jihad; therefore, we don’t need to fight
injustice, oppression, or external enemies. Reforming the self is enough.”
Premise:
- Islam prioritizes inner purification over external struggle.
- The Prophet (pbuh) called Jihad al-Nafs the “Greater Jihad.”
- External Jihad causes bloodshed, while internal Jihad leads to peace.
- Since modern society values peace, internal Jihad aligns better with Islam’s true spirit.
Logical Weakness:
1. False Premise (Fabricated Hadith)
The hadith “We have returned from the lesser Jihad to the greater Jihad — the Jihad
against the self” is not authentic.
→ Classified as fabricated (mawḍū‘) by scholars such as Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalānī,
Al-‘Iraqi, and Al-Bayhaqi.
→ Therefore, the entire claim rests on a false textual base.
2. False Dichotomy
Islam does not separate inner and outer Jihad.
- Internal struggle purifies the motive.
- External struggle establishes justice.
→ Neglecting one destroys the other.
(e.g., A pure heart that accepts injustice is not truly pure.)
3. Logical Reductionism
Reduces Islam to a personal moral code, ignoring its societal mission. The Qur’an repeatedly ties faith to action in the world:
“Fight them until there is no oppression and religion belongs to Allah.” Quran (8:39)
→ The claim ignores this collective duty and collapses religion into self-help.
Quranic Stance:
The Qur’an clearly commands both:
- Inner (moral/spiritual) jihad — against sin, ego, and temptation, and
- Outer jihad — to protect truth, justice, and defend the oppressed.
a) Jihad al-Nafs (Inner Struggle)
The Qur’an commands believers to struggle against desires, disobedience, and hypocrisy:
“And those who strive (jāhadū) for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways.” (Surah Al-‘Ankabut 29:69)
This verse covers all forms of striving, including internal purification. Also:
“As for those who fear standing before their Lord and restrain themselves from desires, the Paradise will be [their] abode.” (Surah An-Nazi‘at 79:40-41)
These verses form the foundation of Jihad al-Nafs — self-control, sincerity, and resisting the
lower self.
b) Jihad against Injustice (External Struggle)
But the Qur’an equally commands physical and social jihad against oppression and
aggression:
“Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed,
Allah does not like transgressors.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:190)
“And what is [the matter] with you that you do not fight 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…’” (Surah An-Nisa 4:75)
Evidence from Scholars
1. Ibn al-Qayyim (Zaad al-Ma‘ād, 3/9-11)
Ibn al-Qayyim writes:
“Jihād is of four kinds:
(1) Jihād against the nafs,
(2) jihād against Shayṭān,
(3) jihād against the kuffār,
(4) and jihād against the hypocrites.
He then expands what each type consist of and never classified jihad against the nafs as greater than jihad against oppression.
Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Bāz (Fatāwā 7/334-335)
“The primary form of jihād is with one’s self … but going out oneself to fight in jihād is the highest form.”
Inference: He distinguishes between inner and outer jihad yet explicitly calls physical defense “the highest form.”
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn (Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ 8/10-12)
“Jihad becomes fard ʿayn when the enemy attacks a Muslim land, or when the ruler mobilizes the people…”
Inference: When oppression or invasion occurs, every able Muslim is personally obligated
to act—refuting passivity.
Hadith on the importance of Jihad
The prophet (pbuh) said:
“Whoever dies without having fought (in Jihad), nor having ever intended (in his
heart) to fight, dies upon a branch of hypocrisy.” Sahih Muslim, Hadith no. 1910
Context & Meaning:
- The Prophet (pbuh) isn’t commanding everyone to fight at all times.
- He’s teaching that sincere willingness to defend justice and truth is a sign of genuine
faith. - A believer should at least intend to participate if the time or need arises.
- Hypocrisy (nifaq) here refers to the moral contradiction of claiming faith but feeling no
concern for the defense of truth or the Ummah.
Conclusion
The claim that “only Jihad al-Nafs matters” collapses under scrutiny. It relies on a fabricated narration, creates a false divide between the inner and outer duties of Islam, and reduces a civilisation-building faith to private self-help. The Qur’an, the Sunnah, the practice of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, and the consensus of scholars all affirm that inner purification and outward struggle are inseparable. One purifies intention; the other upholds justice.
A believer is not morally complete if he perfects his soul while tolerating oppression, nor is he spiritually sound if he fights injustice with a corrupted heart. Islam demands both.
True jihad is the harmony of the two: a heart that surrenders to Allah, and a life that rises for the oppressed.