Hadith 8 — Fighting for Truth: Islam's Balance of Mercy and Justice

[Arabic,إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ، نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَسَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. ]

Indeed, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our wrong actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide; whomsoever He leaves astray, none can guide. I bear witness there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah alone without partner, and Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.

Part One: Understanding Islam's Approach to Peace and Justice

Brothers,

Today we study the eighth hadith from Imam Nawawi's collection of forty hadith. This is a statement that has been greatly misunderstood, both by those who hate Islam and by those who are ignorant of Islam's deeper wisdom. So let us read it carefully and reflect on its meaning with clarity and honesty.

[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"On the authority of Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and until they establish the prayer and pay the zakah. If they do that, then they will have gained protection from me for their lives and property—unless they commit acts punishable in Islam—and their reckoning will be with Allah.'"]

This hadith may appear harsh or even militant at first glance, but when we place it in its proper context and understand the full teachings of Islam, we see something profound: Islam is neither mindlessly aggressive nor helplessly passive. It is a religion of balance, of justice, of boundaries set by the Creator Himself.

Let us be clear about something: Islam does not command Muslims to attack people just because they are non-Muslim. Islam does not promote violence for the sake of violence. Rather, Islam came to establish justice, to protect the weak, to defend truth, and to invite all people to the worship of the One True God.

But Islam also does not tell us to sit back silently while oppression continues. It does not teach us to be doormats for tyrants or cowards in the face of evil. Islam teaches us to be just, to be firm, and to be merciful all at once.

The Context of the Hadith

This hadith was revealed in a specific context. The Prophet ﷺ was addressing the idolaters of Arabia who had persecuted Muslims for years, who had tortured them, murdered them, and driven them from their homes. He was not speaking about peaceful neighbors or about those who live alongside Muslims in peace. He was speaking about those who actively fought against Islam and sought to extinguish it.

Allah says in the Quran:

[Quran,2:190,"Fight in the cause of Allah ˹only˺ against those who wage war against you, but do not exceed the limits. Allah does not like transgressors."]

Notice the conditions: fight only against those who fight you, and do not transgress. Islam sets clear boundaries even in warfare. This is not a blank check for violence. This is a command for defensive justice.

And Allah says:

[Quran,8:61,"If they incline towards peace, make peace with them. And put your trust in Allah. Indeed, He ˹alone˺ is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing."]

So Islam always prefers peace when it is possible. But if an enemy insists on war and oppression, then Islam permits Muslims to defend themselves and to fight for justice.

Misconceptions About Jihad

The word jihad has been grossly misunderstood. In the media, in the mouths of extremists, and even among some Muslims who do not understand their own religion, jihad has been reduced to terrorism or blind violence. But this is a lie.

Jihad means to struggle, to strive, to exert effort in the cause of Allah. The greatest jihad, as the Prophet ﷺ taught us, is the struggle against your own nafs, your own desires and ego. The lesser jihad is physical fighting when it is necessary and legislated.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Bayhaqi,"The mujahid is the one who struggles against his own soul in obedience to Allah."]

So before we ever think about external enemies, Islam commands us to fight the enemy within: laziness, pride, greed, lust, anger, and disobedience.

But when physical jihad is required, it has strict rules. The Prophet ﷺ laid down clear guidelines that have no parallel in any other military tradition in history.

The Rules of Warfare in Islam

Islam forbids the following in war:

Killing women, children, and the elderly
Destroying crops, trees, or livestock
Harming monks and priests in their places of worship
Mutilating the dead
Using treachery or betrayal
Forcing people to convert to Islam

Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, gave these instructions to his armies:

[Quote,Abu Bakr al-Siddiq,Instructions to the Muslim Army,"Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child, do not kill a woman, do not kill an elderly person, do not burn palm trees, do not cut down fruit trees, do not slaughter a sheep or cow or camel except for food. You will pass by people who have devoted themselves to worship in monasteries—leave them alone."]

Show me another military tradition in human history that gave such comprehensive moral guidelines in the year 632 CE. There is none.

Islam Spreads by Invitation First

Islam spreads first through invitation, through dawah, through good character and mercy. The Prophet ﷺ endured thirteen years of persecution in Makkah. He and his companions were tortured, boycotted, and some were even killed. Yet they did not fight back. They bore it all with patience.

Only after the Hijrah to Madinah, and only after the establishment of an Islamic state, did Allah permit them to defend themselves. And even then, every battle fought by the Prophet ﷺ was defensive or to remove oppression.

Allah says:

[Quran,22:39-40,"Permission ˹to fight back˺ is ˹hereby˺ granted to those being fought, for they have been wronged. And Allah is truly Most Capable of helping them ˹prevail˺. They are those who have been expelled from their homes for no reason other than proclaiming: 'Our Lord is Allah.' Had Allah not repelled ˹the aggression of˺ some people by means of others, destruction would have surely claimed monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which Allah's Name is often mentioned. Allah will certainly help those who stand up for Him. Allah is truly All-Powerful, Almighty."]

Look at this verse carefully: Allah says that if Muslims did not defend themselves and fight against oppressors, then even the places of worship of Jews and Christians would be destroyed. So Islamic jihad is not just for Muslims—it is for the protection of religious freedom for all people.

Mercy in Victory: The Conquest of Makkah

When the Prophet ﷺ conquered Makkah, he entered with 10,000 men. The city that had tortured him, expelled him, and tried to kill him multiple times was now at his mercy. What did he do?

He forgave them. He granted general amnesty. He said:

[Hadith,Ibn Hisham,"Go, for you are free."]

He did not take revenge. He did not enslave their women or loot their wealth. He showed mercy. This is the character of the Prophet ﷺ, and this is the true jihad of Islam: justice without cruelty, strength without arrogance, victory without oppression.

Allah says:

[Quran,5:8,"O believers! Stand firm for Allah and bear true testimony. Do not let the hatred of a people lead you to injustice. Be just! That is closer to righteousness. And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what you do."]

Even your enemy deserves justice. Even in war, you must not transgress. This is Islam.

Part Two: The Greater Jihad and Practical Application

Brothers,

Now that we understand the rules and wisdom of jihad, let us turn inward. Because the reality is, most of us will never fight in a physical battlefield. But all of us are fighting a spiritual battle every single day.

The Prophet ﷺ returned from a military expedition and said:

[Hadith,Bayhaqi,"We have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad—the jihad against the self."]

This is where the real struggle lies. Not on some distant battlefield, but in your own heart, in your daily choices, in your obedience to Allah when no one is watching.

Prison Context: Inner Jihad Against the Nafs

Brothers, especially those of us here in this prison environment, we face a unique jihad. We cannot always control our surroundings. We cannot always choose who we are around or what happens to us. But we can always control ourselves.

The jihad of the prisoner is the jihad of patience, of discipline, of holding onto Islam when everything around you tries to pull you away from it.

It is the jihad of waking up for Fajr when your cellmate is still sleeping.

It is the jihad of lowering your gaze when temptation is everywhere.

It is the jihad of controlling your anger when someone disrespects you.

It is the jihad of speaking the truth when lying would make your life easier.

It is the jihad of forgiving when you have the right to be angry.

It is the jihad of staying away from haram when everyone else is doing it.

Allah says:

[Quran,29:69,"As for those who struggle in Our cause, We will surely guide them along Our Way. And Allah is certainly with the doers of good."]

The word used here is jahadu—those who struggle, those who strive. Allah promises to guide those who make effort. You do not need to be perfect. You just need to keep trying.

Justice Without Transgression

Islam teaches us to stand up for what is right, but never to transgress. Even when you are wronged, you must respond with justice, not with revenge.

Allah says:

[Quran,42:40-43,"The reward of an evil deed is its equivalent. But whoever forgives and seeks reconciliation, then their reward is with Allah. He certainly does not like the wrongdoers. There is no blame on those who enforce justice after being wronged. The blame is only on those who wrong people and transgress in the land unjustly. It is they who will suffer a painful punishment. And whoever endures patiently and forgives—surely this is a resolve to aspire to."]

You have the right to justice. But you also have the opportunity for something higher: forgiveness. And when you forgive, Allah rewards you with something better.

Peaceful Coexistence Principles

Islam does not command us to be enemies with all non-Muslims. In fact, Allah makes a clear distinction:

[Quran,60:8-9,"Allah does not forbid you from dealing kindly and fairly with those who have neither fought nor driven you out of your homes. Surely Allah loves those who are fair. Allah only forbids you from befriending those who have fought you for ˹your˺ faith, driven you out of your homes, or supported ˹others˺ in doing so. And whoever takes them as friends, then it is they who are the ˹true˺ wrongdoers."]

So we are commanded to be kind and just to those who live with us in peace. We are only forbidden from allying with those who actively fight against Islam or oppress Muslims.

This means:

Be a good neighbor
Be honest in your dealings
Be kind to those who are kind to you
Do not compromise your Islam, but do not be unnecessarily hostile

The Prophet ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!" It was said, "Who, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "The one whose neighbor is not safe from his harm."]

If your neighbor cannot feel safe from you, your Islam is deficient. This applies whether your neighbor is Muslim or non-Muslim.

Living Islam with Balance

So what does all of this mean for us practically?

Understand that Islam is not a religion of blind violence or mindless pacifism. It is a religion of justice, of balance, of wisdom.
The greatest jihad you will ever fight is against your own nafs. Wake up for Fajr. Lower your gaze. Control your tongue. Be patient when wronged. This is your battlefield.
Do not distort Islam to make it seem soft and apologetic, and do not make it seem harsh and merciless. Islam is exactly what Allah revealed and what the Prophet ﷺ practiced: mercy to the merciful, justice to the oppressor, firmness in truth, and kindness to all.
Be a walking dawah. The best way to spread Islam is through your character, your honesty, your discipline, and your mercy. People will see Islam through you before they hear it from you.
Do not ally yourself with systems or ideologies that contradict Islam. Whether that is nationalism, tribalism, or any system that puts something above the commands of Allah, stay away from it.
Seek knowledge. The more you understand Islam, the less you will be swayed by the distortions of others.

Allah says:

[Quran,16:125,"Invite ˹all˺ to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and kind advice, and only debate with them in the best manner. Surely your Lord ˹alone˺ knows best who has strayed from His Way and who is ˹rightly˺ guided."]

This is our methodology: wisdom, kindness, and the best manner. Not aggression, not arrogance, not cowardice.

Conclusion: Walk the Path of the Prophet

Brothers, the path of the Prophet ﷺ is clear. It is a path of submission to Allah, of mercy to creation, of firmness in truth, and of patience in hardship.

The hadith we studied today tells us that Islam is worth defending, that truth is worth fighting for, and that justice is a divine command. But it also tells us that the goal is not violence—the goal is the establishment of tawheed, of justice, of peace under the rule of Allah.

Whether you are behind these walls or outside them, whether you are in America or in any other land, your responsibility is the same: live like a Muslim, die like a Muslim, and never apologize for your deen.

[Quote,Umar ibn al-Khattab,"We were the most humiliated people on Earth, and Allah gave us honor through Islam. If we seek honor through anything else, Allah will humiliate us."]

So hold firmly to Islam. Study it. Practice it. Defend it with your character, your discipline, and your devotion.

And when you face injustice, respond with patience and wisdom. When you are in a position of strength, respond with mercy and justice. And when you are tempted to sin, remember that the real jihad is right there in that moment: will you obey Allah or will you obey your nafs?

May Allah make us among those who struggle in His cause, who are patient in hardship, and who are merciful in victory.

[Dua,اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ وَالشَّاكِرِينَ,Allahumma aj'alna mina as-sabirina wa ash-shakirin,O Allah, make us among those who are patient and grateful.]

[Dua,اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنَّا عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ,Allahumma a'inna 'ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni 'ibadatik,O Allah, help us to remember You, to be grateful to You, and to worship You in the best manner.]

[Dua,اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنَا وَسَدِّدْنَا,Allahumma ihdina wa saddidna,O Allah, guide us and make us steadfast.]

[Dua,اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا,Allahumma inna na'udhu bika min shururi anfusina,O Allah, we seek refuge in You from the evil of our own souls.]

[Dua,اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لَنَا دِينَنَا الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِنَا,Allahumma aslih lana dinana alladhi huwa 'ismatu amrina,O Allah, rectify for us our religion which is the safeguard of our affairs.]

[Dua,اللَّهُمَّ انْصُرِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِي كُلِّ مَكَانٍ,Allahumma unsur al-muslimin al-mustad'afin fi kulli makan,O Allah, grant victory to the oppressed Muslims in every place.]

[Dua,اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنَا حُسْنَ الْخَاتِمَةِ,Allahumma urzuqna husn al-khatimah,O Allah, grant us a good ending.]

Wa ākhiru da'wānā an al-hamdu lillāhi rabbi'l-'ālamīn

We ask Allah to make us firm upon His straight path, to guide us and not let us go astray, to have mercy on us and forgive us.

Whatever good was said in this khutbah is from Allah alone, and whatever mistakes or errors are from myself and from Shaytan. I ask Allah to forgive me and you for any shortcomings.

I say these words of mine, and I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and you all. Seek His forgiveness—indeed, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

[Arabic,أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ. ]

Wa sallallāhu 'alā nabiyyinā Muhammadin wa 'alā ālihī wa sahbihī ajma'īn