that they believed in Allah, the All-Mighty, the Praiseworthy” (Al-Buruj 85:8).

This makes manifest the wisdom of jihad, the immense benefit it brings, and its rank among the necessities of the religion. Its purpose is to establish Allah’s religion, to summon people to the worship for which He created and obligated them, to repel anyone who opposes this vital matter(1), and to confront the tyrants who transgress against Allah’s religion and the believers among His servants—as He, Exalted is He, says: “Fight them until there is no more persecution and all religion is for Allah alone” (Al-Anfal 8:39).

Accordingly, He also said: “Were it not that Allah checks people by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which Allah’s name is mentioned much would have been demolished” (Al-Hajj 22:40). Had Allah not checked people through one another by numerous causes and varied, both creational and legal—foremost, noblest, and purest among them striving in His path—oppressive unbelievers would have dominated, erased the religions of the messengers, slain those who believed in them, and destroyed their places of worship. Yet Allah’s gracious subtleties are immense and His favors profound.

From this and similar texts the religious wisdom of jihad becomes evident and its status as a necessity is confirmed. It is not like the warfare of tyrants, which is built on enmity, greed, injustice, and the enslavement of people. Rather, the sole end and aim of Islamic jihad is to establish justice, bring about mercy, devote creation to their Creator, fulfill every right, aid the oppressed, restrain the oppressors, and spread comprehensive goodness and reform in every possible way. It is among the greatest beauties of the religion of Islam.