al-Salam, who said: “This cannot be realized at present; this is the reality today. In countries within a single region, elections are held, and struggles for power, bribery, and the selling of one’s integrity take place, along with other such matters. If the people of one country cannot appoint a single ruler over themselves except through such fraudulent elections, then what of the Muslims as a whole?! This is impossible.”

If the imam calls him to mobilize, then he must go forth, for Allah Most High says:

“Believers, why, when it is said to you, ‘Go forth in Allah’s cause,’ do you drag your feet? Are you content with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? Yet the enjoyment of this worldly life is but little compared with the Hereafter. If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment and replace you with another people.” [al-Tawbah 9:38–39]

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When you are called upon to mobilize, then go forth.” (1)

These are textual proofs. The rational proof is that, if people were to defy the imam in such a situation, great harm would befall Islam, since the enemy would advance if he found no one to resist and repel him.

The fourth circumstance is when he is needed: then it becomes an individual obligation upon him.

For example, if we have tanks and aircraft that no one but this man knows how to operate, then he must fight, because the people need him. Perhaps we may say that this fourth circumstance is derived from our statement that it is a communal obligation: for if no one undertakes it and this man is needed, then it becomes obligatory