Hadith authenticity - lesser jihad to greater jihad

[Abu Dajanaa]

it was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), said to his companions when they returned from a military campaign, “We have come back from the lesser jihaad to the greater jihaad.” They said, “Is there any greater jihaad than jihaad against the kuffaar?” he said, “Yes, jihaad al-nafs (jihaad against the self).”

is this sahih?

[ibn Mikael]

it was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), said to his companions when they returned from a military campaign, “We have come back from the lesser jihaad to the greater jihaad.” They said, “Is there any greater jihaad than jihaad against the kuffaar?” he said, “Yes, jihaad al-nafs (jihaad against the self).”

is this sahih?

I believe it's considered a weak hadith, but that doesn't invalidate it.

[The Fake Shaykh]

yes the hadith has been declared weak and false by others,

in no way can this hadith be used to compare jihad(fighting in the way of allah) and fighting against the nafs, the hadith is often mis-qouted to try to make the real jihad seem not that important,

for arguments sake even if this hadith were true the rasool only said it AFTER RETURNING FROM THE BATTLEFIELD OF BADR he didnt use it to abrogate or invalidate jihad like the way some modernists do!

so with this in mind it appears to be applicable only to those returning from their patrols in afghanistan or iraq or chechnya. (not guys coming back from the khanqa)

This hadeeth also contradicts clear verses of the Qur'an. Allah the Mighty, the Majestic, says, (Translation of the Meaning),

"Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame, etc.), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward; Degrees of (higher) grades from Him, and Forgiveness and Mercy. And Allah is Ever Oft'Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Qur'an (4:95-96)

[Abu Jahid]

it was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), said to his companions when they returned from a military campaign, “We have come back from the lesser jihaad to the greater jihaad.” They said, “Is there any greater jihaad than jihaad against the kuffaar?” he said, “Yes, jihaad al-nafs (jihaad against the self).”

is this sahih?

According to Sheikh Abdullah Azzam (rh) this hadith is fabricated. The greatest Jihad is Jihad bil Saif/ Jihad qitali!

wasalam

[Saad]

Assalam o alaykum,

Mufti Zar Wali Khan also mentioned in his Dora Tafsir that this hadith was made-up by Sufis.

[Colonel_Hardstone]

This Hadeeth was Authenticated by Busharraf in his speech given to justify Pakistan siding with the American led war on Terror.

And then he used it a few more times in his speeches. Thats tells you all about it.

[Abu Jahid]

This Hadeeth was Authenticated by Busharraf in his speech given to justify Pakistan siding with the American led war on Terror.

And then he used it a few more times in his speeches. Thats tells you all about it.

Busharraf....

wasalam

[The Fake Shaykh]

enough said

[Abu-Abdullah]

Brothers!

this hadith..., allthough if it is weak, has been supported by others and the Quran too thus it's meaning [that the greater jihad is the jihad of the nafs] is sound; here is a thorough explanation of it in a sunnipath article:

http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?ID=2605&CATE=1

I think basically what is alluded to in the article is that without jihad of the nafs, one would not be able to fight purely for the sake of ALlah in the batlte field thus the jihad of the nafs [to set his sincerity straight] takes precedence over the fighting jihad in terms of which is more better and important, but that dont mean that the fighting jihad should be abandoned when it is obligatory on one!

[The Fake Shaykh]

although jihad against the nafs is important we have to remember that the hadith clearly says when they were returning from jihad, this advice was given on thier return from jihad not before they went

so this advice in context shall only apply to the people already on the path of allah