RNA – Ayatollah Abbas Ka’bi explained that in Islamic jurisprudence, jihad is considered a fundamental issue. He added that if the verses and narrations about jihad and jihad culture were heeded, we could better tailor the issues of jurisprudence regarding jihad to the present-day situation.
His Eminence noted that the doctrine of jihad in Islam is based on five elements: the truth of Islam, the necessity of invitation to Islam, the necessity of Islamic government, the obligation of power in Islam and the necessity of moving toward the realization of justice.
Emphasizing that Islamic law requires the establishment of a state based on Islamic jurisprudence, Ayatollah Ka’bi said: “We cannot establish and protect an Islamic government without the power to exercise our authority and spread the truth of Islam.”
Power and authority are necessary to defend the Islamic government, just as the Prophet Muhammad (S) implemented in his fight against the pagan Arabs of Makkah who were vehement enemies of Islam. For this reason, the Prophet (S) applied all his energy and resources to deal with their threats. The victory of Islam against these enemies shows the triumph of the rule of Islam against all of its enemies.
Ayatollah Ka’bi stated that in his book “Tahrir al-Wasilah” [Exegesis of the Means of Salvation], in the section about defence, the late Imam Khomeini (RA) spoke about ten issues dealing with the defence of Islamic honour which must be dealt by the Islamic government.
His Eminence emphasized that jihad should not be separated from imamate (leadership) and wilayah (guardianship) and emphasized that jihad is so important that is a duty upon all Muslims and that in the absence of Imam al-Mahdi (AJ), jihad must not abandoned but also stated that jihad is not possible without a leader – the wali al-faqih (guardian-jurist) and emphasized jihad is only legitimate when it is declared by the wali al-faqih.
Regarding the meaning of jihad, Ayatollah Ka’bi stated that during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (S), jihad was in the context of inviting the non-Muslim pagan Arabs toward the religion of truth and if they persisted in fighting against Islam, then jihad should be declared against them.
Imam Khomeini (RA) explained that the United States and international Zionism are the main enemies of Islam in the current era. The late Imam (RA) explained that Palestine and the holy city of Jerusalem are part of the “abode of Islam” and that defending these lands is considered an obligatory religious duty in the edicts of most Shi’ah sources of emulation.
Regarding the creation of sedition against the rule of Islam, Ayatollah Ka’bi said: “The jihad which the Takfiris, such as DAESH (ISIL), believe in is based upon the principles of the Umayyad dynasty and it is a religious duty to fight against them.”
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