When is Jihad an Obligation on Everyone

Jihad (fighting in the cause of Allah) becomes Fardh ‘Ain (obligatory on everyone) if people are called to it. It’s mandatory upon them to join, and no one is allowed to remain behind, except those whom Allah has excused. This is because of the saying of Allah the Exalted (meaning of which is): {O you who have believed, what is [the matter] with you that, when you are told to go forth in the cause of Allah, you adhere heavily to the earth? Are you satisfied with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But what is the enjoyment of worldly life compared to the Hereafter except a [very] little. If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment and will replace you with another people, and you will not harm Him at all.} [Al-Tawbah: 38-39] The important thing is that if the Imam (the ruler of the people) has ordered to go forth in the cause of Allah, it’s mandatory upon them to go. And no one is permitted to stay behind except those whom Allah has excused. This is one of the cases where Jihad is Fardh ‘Ain (obligatory on everyone). The second situation is if the enemy besieges his country; then Jihad becomes Fardh ‘Ain. It becomes obligatory upon everyone to fight, including women and the elderly who are able in this case. This is because this fighting is for defense, and there is a difference between fighting to defend and fighting for conquest. So, in this case, it is obligatory upon everyone to go forth to defend their country. The third situation is if the two rows meet each other, one row is of the disbelievers, and the other is of Muslims; Jihad becomes Fardh ‘Ain, and it is not permissible for anyone to flee. As Allah said (meaning of which is): {O you who have believed, when you meet those who disbelieve advancing [in battle], do not turn to them your backs [in flight]. And whoever turns his back to them on such a day, unless swerving [as a strategy] for war or joining [another] company, has certainly returned with anger [upon him] from Allah, and his refuge is Hell - and wretched is the destination.} [Al-Anfal: 15-16] The Prophet ﷺ included fleeing from the battlefield among the seven deadly sins. The fourth situation is when a person is needed to operate a weapon that only he knows how to operate, and people need him to use this new weapon. Then Jihad becomes obligatory on him, even if the Imam (ruler) doesn’t command him, because he is needed. In these four cases, Jihad is Fardh ‘Ain, and other than that, it becomes Fard Kifayah (a communal obligation).