at the very dawn of his prophethood: he was commanded only to recite to himself and was not yet ordered to convey the message to others.

Then the revelation came: “O you who are wrapped up! Arise and warn” (Al-Muddaththir 74:1–2). By the words “Recite” he was granted prophethood, and by the words “O you who are wrapped up” he was commissioned. He was next instructed to warn his nearest relatives, then his own tribe, then those Arabs living in the surrounding regions, then all the Arabs, and finally all humankind. For about thirteen years after receiving prophethood he called people to the faith without resorting to fighting, being commanded instead to refrain, to be patient, and to pardon.

He was later permitted to emigrate, and with that permission came leave to fight those who fought him while sparing those who kept their distance and did not attack him. After that he was commanded to fight the polytheists until “religion belongs wholly to Allah.” ⦗end of Ibn al-Qayyim’s words⦘

I say: From this final stage we learn that fighting the unbelievers, attacking them after inviting them and making the case against them, is obligatory until the word of Allah reigns supreme. Fighting the unbelievers in Islam is therefore not merely defensive; it is an active jihad so that religion may belong entirely to Allah. We ask Allah to support His religion and raise His word high—surely He is Strong, Almighty.

The scholars explain that jihad applies to striving against one’s own self, against Satan, and against the openly sinful.

1. Striving against the self means: learning the matters of the religion, acting upon them, and then teaching them to others.
2. Striving against Satan means: repelling the doubts he casts and the desires he decorates.
3. Striving against the openly sinful is carried out with the hand, then the tongue, and finally the heart.

As for the virtue of jihad, it is enough that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called it the peak of the religion’s summit, and the peak of the summit is the most noble and elevated point of whatever is described.

Whoever reflects upon the Qur’anic verses concerning jihad will recognize its rank, its excellence, and its lofty station among the acts of worship. The noble Prophetic Sunnah overflows with the same message. The Muslims have suffered the humiliation, weakness, and domination of their enemies only because they abandoned jihad and clung to comfort and ease—and Allah alone is the One whose help is sought.