Jihad: A Defensive Doctrine in the Light of Seerat-un-Nabi ﷺ

سیرت النبی ﷺ کی روشنی میں جہاد: ایک دفاعی نظریہ

Abstract

Jihad as exemplified by the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is primarily a defensive doctrine aimed at combating oppression and protecting the oppressed rather than a tool for coercive conversion or the imposition of political power. During his time Jihad was not about spreading Islam by force but was instead a means to restore peace and justice especially in situations of severe oppression. The Qur’anic teachings emphasize that war is permissible only in cases where there is an unavoidable need to defend against aggression not as an aggressive measure. This distinction highlights that Jihad is fundamentally about supporting the wronged and protecting those who have been persecuted rather than forcing religious beliefs upon others. Prophet Muhammadﷺ's teachings further clarify that war should be conducted with clear moral limits non-combatants, women, children and religious sites must be protected and prisoners of war should be treated with dignity and when possible set free after the conflict ends. Unfortunately in contemporary times, the concept of Jihad has been severely misunderstood and misused by extremists and terrorist groups to justify violent actions. This misrepresentation has distorted the true message of Jihad and has negatively influenced the national defense policies of Muslim states which may inadvertently adopt aggressive or unjust approaches in the name of Jihad. However the example of Prophet Muhammadﷺshows that Jihad should only be a defensive response to injustice focusing on restoring peace and securing justice rather than pursuing political or personal interests.