FatwaFederal TerritoriesQuran & Hadith
Irsyad al-Hadith Siri ke-20 : Hadis Jihad Lawan Hawa Nafsu?
Is the hadith about returning from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad, meaning struggle against one's desires, authentically attributed to the Prophet?
Short answer
The hadith is reported with a similar meaning by al-Baihaqi, but scholars graded it as weak, highly irregular (gharib), or without basis.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hadith
- Topic
- Quran & Hadith
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The hadith is reported with a similar meaning by al-Baihaqi, but scholars graded it as weak, highly irregular (gharib), or without basis. The view put forward in this article is that it is not a saying of the Prophet, citing Ibn Hajar's opinion that it is a statement of Ibrahim bin Abi 'Ublah, a tabi'i. Even so, struggling against and controlling one's desires remains a weighty matter requiring great effort, achieved through continual good deeds and a stronger relationship with Allah.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Setelah kami meniliti pendapat para ulama' terhadap hadis ini, maka kami berpendapat bahawa ia bukanlah hadis berdasar pendapat Ibnu Hajar.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “Irsyad al-Hadith Siri ke-20 : Hadis Jihad Lawan Hawa Nafsu?”, 14 March 2016. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-al-hadith/1505-irsyad-al-hadith-siri-ke-19-hadis-jihad-lawan-hawa-nafsu. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/jihad-against-desires-hadith-status/