Question:
Did not the Messenger of Allah (s) say: ” Jihad is the pillar of Islam and its topmost part”?
Answer:
It is not permissible to say “The Messenger of Allah said” in relation to a weak narration, and the above narration is weak.
The Prophet (s) said:
بني الإسلام على خمس: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله ، وأن محمدا رسول الله ، وإقام الصلاة ، وإيتاء الزكاة، وصوم رمضان ،وحج البيت لمن استطاع إليه سبيلا
“Islam is built on five things: testifying that there is no diety except Allah and that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah, and establishing the prayer, giving the poor-due, the fast of Ramadan and pilgrimage to the House (of Allah) to whoever is able to find a way.” He did not say six.
The Companions were more knowledgeable of the Religion than us, and `Abd Allah ibn `Umar said: “The pillars (arkan) of Islam are five, and jihad is a good deed.” I.e. it is not one of the pillars, much less the one and only pillar.
The Prophet — Allah bless and greet him — said that the one pillar (`amud) of Islam is salat. Not jihad.
When the Muslims go back to salat, then Allah — if He likes — will give them back jihad. First things first. The Prophet said — Allah bless and greet him:
“The foundation (asl) of this matter [Religion] is Islam. Its pillar (`amud) is prayer (salat). And its absolute culmination (dharwatu sinamih) is jihad.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, al-Nasa’i, Ahmad and others from Mu`adh ibn Jabal.
