Choosing the Easier Alternative: The relevance of Jihad in the Tausug Context

Alhamdulillah. Wassalatu Wassalamu 'ala Rasoolillah.


About the issue of using peaceful means in attaining peace or freedom or whatever goal it is out there, let me share to you a piece of my mind.

It is true that in Islam fighting is not the only means of attaining an objective. While many Muslims might agree with this, some may be reluctant to accept the idea that Islamic objectives can be achieved by ways other than Jihad. This is especially true when people starts to quote to you Quranic Verses, Hadeeth or Stories from the Seerah that specifies the conditions of or the merits of fighting for the sake of Allah. Unfortunately, if one has a contrary opinion, one is seen as having less faith, cowardice or worst - a government spy.

You might recall the hadeeth of Aishah when she narrated that the Prophet of Allah always chooses an easier alternative should there be two choices or ways of doing things confronting him - if both are permissible.

Is Jihad permissible in our times? Is Da'wah permissible in our times? Im asking this question in the context of Tausug scheme of things. The situation in Cotabato and Lanao might be different. Im separating the Tausug because I believe not all Bangsamoro are in the same socio-political condition.

I am yet to find a Muslim who would say Da'wah is NOT permissible. Concerning Jihad, I'm not sure about this as I haven't heard 'mainstream' Ulama condoning nor condemning it in our present context (Its maybe because Im not in contact with them at all). When I say Jihad, I do not mean kidnapping, bombing public places or things that have become associated with terrorism. I categorically condemn these as with those Major Ulama of our time like Bin Baz, al Albani and Ibn Uthaimeen. I mean legitimate fighting in the battlefield between combatants.

In any case the issue of Jihad can only fall into the five main categories of Islamic Jurisprudence. Wajib, Sunnah, Mubah, Makrooh or Haram. I assume that our Ulama's opinions fall into one of these categories.

Relevant Shariah Texts point to the permissibility or even the obligation of Jihad in our area, BUT, let me give a big but here...

Before that, you might already have realized that there are three levels of knowledge.

1. Knowledge of a thing (or a specific and relevant Shariah evidence) including its textual authenticity. Example is the hadeeth where the sacrifice/effort offered related to a particular act is equivalent to its rewards. (Making wudoo' using cold water in a very cold day). Having knowledge of it makes one perform wudoo' to pray Salatul Fajr.

2. Understanding - One must understand the real meaning of the Shariah evidence and its context. Same hadeeth. In winter time, if warm water is available (from heaters for example), it is not from the true understanding of the hadeeth to make wudoo' using a very cold water. The hadeeth only motivates a person to perform wudoo' in a situation where there is no water heater available (like fourteen centuries ago). One brother in his enthusiasm to follow the Sunnah actually collected pebbles and put it in a basket inside his toilet. After defecating, he uses it instead of papers! The Prophet of course used pebbles and water. But the true understanding is to use any suitable material that is easier to find and dispose like paper. (My relatives still use dried banana leaves - they call it Daag).

3. Wisdom - this is the hard part as you already know. Wisdom has been defined as putting things into its proper place (time and context). This includes knowing the evidence, understanding their true and intended meaning and applying or implementing it in the right time and context of the situation. This entails knowledge and understanding of both the Shariah texts and the real time situation. This also includes a good deal of certainty of the result(s) should the text be implemented or not implemented in a given situation.

So now we are faced with many variables here.

1. No doubt about Da'wah and other peaceful means of attaining our goals. (We have to define the goals first though.)

2. As far as the Major Ulama of our time, terrorism is not a legitimate Islamic solution at all.


3. Jihad might be Islamically legitimate but is it the only solution available?

In the third quarter of the last century, Tausugs (and other Bangsamoro) renewed their quest for independence by waging a war with the government. It has been thirty years since, hundreds of thousands died, millions are displaced, countless miseries. What we can surely say is that the Tausug are in no better condition than what they were in thirty years ago. The recent Jihad of Malik is a testimony that such endeavor is not sustainable where bullets run out after a three day skirmish. How can a small group fight an army with a full economy behind them?

What would the Prophet do in such a situation?

Remember when the Prophet and his companions were still in Makkah? Remember what he did in Hudaibiyyah when he opted for a ten year truce of no fighting that resulted in a surge of converts of tribes from all over Arabia that after three years after the truce (after the Quraish violated it) he came back to Makkah with ten thousand warriors?

Remember the hadeeth concerning Prophet Eesa and the Gog and Magog?

Then a people whom God had protected would come to Jesus, son of Mary, and he would wipe their faces and would inform them of their ranks in Paradise and it would be under such conditions that God would reveal to Jesus these words, ‘I have brought forth from amongst My servants such people against whom none would be able to fight; you take these people safely to the Mount of Toor, and then God would send Gog and Magog and they would swarm down from every slope. The first of them would pass the lake of Tiberius and drink out of it. And when the last of them would pass, he would say, ‘There was once water there.’ Jesus and his companions would then be besieged here (at Toor, and they would be so hard pressed) that the head of the ox would be dearer to them than one hundred dinars (old currency.

I still have to find the reference of the hadeeth but the story is quite famous. Imagine one of the greatest Prophet of Allah hiding from his enemies! Yet can one even dare say that he is coward and have no honor?

What I can conclude from this - whatever you call this - is that we as a people do not have the luxury of participating in this endeavor as it has been proven to be less than what we expected it to be, carrying with it more harms than benefits. As far as I can tell, this strategy has failed in the Tausug experience.

Im not saying that we should not defend our selves when evil people comes to our home and kill our family and steal our belongings. What I am saying is that collectively as a people, there must be a better way out there that has been prescribed in the Quran and Sunnah. It might be Islamic to fight. But it is also Islamic not to fight and engage in more sustainable and fruitful endeavors. Especially more so if the goal is the same.

Allahu alam.

Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdik. Wa ash hadu an la ilaha anta wa atubo ilaik.