The War Department is in charge of all the affairs connected to the armed forces of the Army and police, and the treaties, tasks, military equipment and similar. They are also responsible for the military colleges, expeditions and everything that is necessary from the Islamic culture and the general culture necessary for the Army, as well as everything connected to war and its preparation, and the head of this department is called the Amir of Jihad

The war department is one of the State’s institutions, and its head is called the Amir of Jihad, rather than the manager of Jihad. This is because the Messenger (pbuh) used to call the leaders of the Army Umara’. Ibn Sa’d narrated that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said

 أَمِيرُ النَّاسِ زَيْدُ بن حَارِثَةَ، فَإِنْ قُتِلَ فَجَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، فَإِنْ قُتِلَ فَ عَبْدُ « » اللَّهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ، فَإِنْ قُتِلَ فَ لْيَ رْتَضِ المُسْلِمُونَ بَ يْ نَ هُمْ رَجُلاً فَ يَجْعَلُوهُ عَلَيْهِمْ

“The leader (Amir) of the people is Zayd Ibn Haritha; if killed, then the Amir is Ja’far Ibn Abi Talib; and killed, the Amir is ’Abdullah Ibn Ruwahah; and if he was killed, let Muslims choose one man from among them and make him their Amir”. Al-Bukhari narrated that ’Abdullah Ibn Umar (ra) said:

 »... فِي غَزْوَةِ مُؤْتَةَ زَيْدَ بْنَ حَارِثَة  أَمَّرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ «

“The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) appointed Zayd Ibn Haritha as Amir in the expedition of Mu’ta…” and Al-Bukhari narrated from Salamah b. Al-Akwa’:

» وَغَزَوْتُ مَعَ زَيْدٍ، وَكَانَ ي ؤَُمِّ رُهُ عَلَيْ نَا «

 “I went on an expedition with Zayd; he was appointed Amir over us”. Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated that ’Abdullah Ibn Umar (ra) said:

 بَ عْثًا وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمْ أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ، فَطَعَنَ بَ عْضُ النَّاسِ فِي  بَ عَثَ النَّبِيُّ « أَنْ تَطْعُنُوا فِي إِمَارَتِهِ فَ قَدْ كُنْتُمْ تَطْعُنُونَ فِي إِمَارَةِ أَبِيهِ مِنْ : إِمَارَتِهِ، فَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ »... قَ بْلُ، وَايْمُ اللَّهِ إِنْ كَانَ لَخَلِيقًا لِلإِمَارَة

“The Prophet (phuh) sent an army detachment and made Usama bin Zaid its commander. Some people criticized (spoke badly of) Usama's leadership. So Allah's Prophet (phuh) got up and said, "If you people are criticizing Usama's leadership, you have already criticized the leadership of his father before. But Waaimullah (i.e., By Allah), he (i.e. Zaid) deserved leadership” The companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to call the Army of Mu’tah the Army of Umara’. Muslim narrated from Buraydah who said:

»... إِذَا أَمَّرَ أَمِيرًا عَلَى جَيْشٍ أَوْ سَرِيَّةٍ أَوْصَاه  كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ «

“Whenever the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) appointed anyone as a leader of an army or detachement, he would especially exhort him”.

The war department takes charge of all the issues connected to the armed force as mentioned in the article. The task of sending spies against the belligerent disbelievers is also the role of the war department and a special section is created for this purpose. The evidences for this are well known from the life of the Messenger (pbuh) :

The evidences for preparation being the words of Allah (swt)

“And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allah knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.” (TMQ 8:60).

And what was reported by Ibn Sa’d in Al-Tabaqat from Makhul

 نَصَبَ المِنْجَنِيقَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الطَّائِفِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَ وْم اً"  أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ «

“The Prophet (phuh) set up the ballista against the fortifications of Ta’if for forty days”. And Ibn Hisham mentioned in his Sirah

» أَوَّلُ مَنْ رَمَى فِي الإِسْلاَمِ بِالمِ نْجَنِيقِ  حَدَّثَنِي مَنْ أَثِقُ بِهِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ «

“Someone I trust narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was the first to use ballista in Islam”

The evidences for training: Muslim reported from ’Uqbah Bin Amir who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) say while on the pulpit

“And prepare against them whatever you are able of power” – Beware, strength consists in (reside or lie) archery, strength consists in iarchery, strength consists in archery”. Al- Bukhari reported from Salama Bin Al-Akwa’ who said ارْمُوا :

 عَلَى ن فََرٍ مِنْ أَسْلَمَ يَ نْتَضِلُونَ، فَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ  مَرَّ النَّبِيُّ « بَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلَ فَإِنَّ أَبَاكُمْ كَانَ رَامِيًا، ارْمُوا وَأَنَا مَعَ بَنِي فُلاَنٍ، قَالَ: فَأَمْسَكَ أَحَدُ مَا لَكُمْ لاَ تَ رْمُونَ ؟ فَ قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، : الْفَرِيقَيْنِ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ، فَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ » نَ رْمِي وَأَنْتَ مَعَهُمْ ؟ قَالَ: ارْمُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُمْ كُلِّكُمْ

“Bani Isma`il ! Practice archery as your father Isma`il was a great archer. Keep on throwing arrows and I am with Bani so-and-so." So one of the parties ceased throwing. Allah's Prophet (phuh) said, "Why do you not throw?" They replied, "How should we throw while you are with them (i.e. on their side)?" On that the Prophet (phuh) said , "Throw, and I am with all of you” And Muslim reported that:

 أَنَّ فُ قَيْمًا اللَّخْمِيَّ قَالَ لِعُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ: تَخْتَل فُ بَ يْنَ هَذَيْنِ الْغَرَضَيْنِ وَأَنْتَ « لَمْ أُعَانِيهِ، قَالَ  كَبِيرٌ يَشُقُّ عَلَيْكَ، قَالَ عُقْبَةُ: لَوْلاَ كَلاَمٌ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ الْحَارِثُ: فَ قُلْتُ لاِبْنِ شَمَاسَةَ: وَمَا ذَاكَ ؟ قَالَ: إِنَّهُ قَالَ: مَنْ عَلِمَ الرَّمْيَ ثُمَّ تَ رَكَهُ فَ لَيْسَ » مِنَّا، أَوْ قَدْ عَصَى

“Fuqaim Al- Lakhmi said to Uqba b. Amir: You frequent between these two targets and you are an old man, so you will be finding it very hard. 'Uqba said: But for a thing I heard from the Holy Prophet (phuh) (may peace be upon him), I would not strain myself. Harith (one of the narrators in the chain of transmitters) said: I asked Ibn Shamasa: What was that? He said that he (the Holy Prophet (phuh)) said: Who learnt archery and then gave it up is not from us. or he has been guilty of disobedience (to Allah's Prophet (phuh) )”

And Abu Dawud reported a narration that Al-Hakim authenticated and Al-Dhahabi confirmed – with the wording from Abu Dawud – from Khalid b. Zayd who said: I used to shoot against ’Uqbah b. ’Amir, and so he passed by me that day and said: O Khalid, come out with us to shoot, and so I delayed. He said: O Khalid, come, I will tell you something that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) told me, and I will say it as the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

 إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُدْخِلُ بِالسَّهْمِ الْوَاحِدِ ثَلاَثَةَ نَ فَرٍ الْجَنَّةَ: صَانِعَهُ يَحْتَسِبُ « فِي صَنْ عَتِهِ الْخَيْ رَ، وَالرَّامِيَ بِهِ، وَمُنْبِلَهُ، وَارْمُوا وَارْكَبُوا، وَأَنْ تَ رْمُوا أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ تَ رْكَبُوا، لَيْسَ مِنْ اللَّهْوِ إِلاَّ ثَلاَثٌ : تَأْدِيبُ الرَّجُلِ فَ رَسَهُ، وَمُلاعَبَتُهُ أَهْلَهُ، وَرَمْيُهُ بِقَوْسِهِ » وَنَ بْلِهِ، وَمَنْ تَ رَكَ الرَّمْيَ ب عَْدَ مَا عَلِمَهُ رَغْبَةً عَنْهُ فَإِن هََّا نِعْمَةٌ تَ رَكَهَا أَوْ قَالَ كَفَرَهَا

“Allah, Most High, will cause three persons to enter Paradise for one arrow: the maker when he has a good motive in making it, the one who shoots it, and the one who hands it; so shoot and ride, but your shooting is dearer to me than your riding. Everything with which a man amuses himself is vain except three (things): a man's training of his horse, his playing with his wife, and his shooting with his bow and arrow. If anyone abandons archery after becoming an adept through distaste for it, it is a blessing he has abandoned; or he said: for which he has been ungrateful”.

The evidence regarding the necessary culturing of the Army: Allah (swt) said in the chapter of Al-Tawba:

 “Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment; [Such believers are] the repentant, the worshippers, the praisers [of Allah], the travelers [for His cause], those who bow and prostrate [in prayer], those who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and those who observe the limits [set by] Allah. And give good tidings to the believers.” (TMQ 111-112). Allah (swt) did not make it sufficient to give one’s life and money to be from those who are given glad tidings, but rather added that they are repenters, worshippers, fasting, praying, enjoining the good and forbidding the evil and observing the limits set by Allah (swt), upright upon them and not transgressing them, rather there is a safe distance to kept away from them. Allah (swt) said

“O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.” (TMQ 3:200).

Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported from Sahl Bin Sa’d Al- Sa’idi that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said

"رِبَاطُ ي وَْمٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ خَيْ رٌ مِنْ الدُّنْ يَا وَمَا عَلَيْ هَا، وَمَوْضِ عُ سَ وْطِ أَحَدِكُمْ مِنْ الْجَ نَّةِ خَيْ رٌ مِنْ الدُّنْ يَا وَمَا عَلَيْ هَا، وَالرَّوْحَةُ يَ رُوحُهَا الْعَبْدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ، أَوْ الْغَدْوَةُ، خَيْ رٌ مِنْ الدُّنْ يَا وَمَا عَلَيْ هَا"

 “Observing Ribat (e.g., guarding the Islamic frontier for the sake of Allah) for a single day is far better than the world and all that it contains. A place in Jannah as small as the whip of your horse is far better than the world and all that it contains. An endeavour (fighting) in the Cause of Allah in the evening or in the morning is far better than the world and all that it contains."

And Al-Bukhari reported from ’Abd Allah b. Abi ’Awfa that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said

 "وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ تَحْتَ ظِلالِ السُّ يُوفِ "

“Know that paradise lies under the shades of swords”.

Al-Bukhari reported from ’Abd Al-Rahman b. Jabir that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said

 "مَا اغْبَ رَّتْ قَدَمَا عَبْدٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَ تَمَسَّ هُ النَّارُ "

“(never happen) that the feet soiled with dust while (doing Jihad) in the way of Allah will be touched by the fire”

Al-Hakim reported a narration which he authenticated, and Al-Dhahabi confirmed his authentication, from ’Imran b. Husayn that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said

"مَقَامُ الرَّجُلِ فِي الصَّفِّ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ أَفْضَلُ عِنْدَ اللهِ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ الرَّجُلِ سِتِّينَ سَنَة "

The place of a man in the lines (fighting) in the Cause of Allah is better to Allah than sixty years of a his worship”.

Al-Bukhari reported from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (phuh) said

"إِنَّ فِي الْجَ نَّةِ مِائَةَ دَرَجَ ةٍ أَعَ دَّهَ ا اللَّهُ لِلْمُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، مَا بَ يْنَ الدَّرَجَتَ يْنِ كَمَا بَ يْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ "

“In Jannah there are a hundred grades which Allah has prepared for those who fight in His Cause; and the distance between any two of those grades is like the distance between the heaven and the earth”.

Muslim reported from Anas who said:

 قُومُوا إِلَى جَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَوَاتُ : "فَدَنَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ، فَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَالأَرْضُ، قَالَ: يَ قُولُ عُمَيْ رُ بْنُ الْحُمَامِ الأَنْصَارِيُّ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، جَنَّةٌ عَرْضُهَا مَا يَحْمِلُكَ عَلَى : السَّمَوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ ؟ قَالَ: نَ عَمْ، قَالَ: بَخٍ بَخٍ، فَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ قَ وْلِكَ بَخٍ بَخٍ ؟ قَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ رَجَاءَةَ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا، قَالَ: فَإِنَّكَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا، فَأَخْرَجَ تَمَرَاتٍ مِنْ قَ رَنِهِ فَجَعَلَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ هُنَّ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: لَئِنْ أَنَا حَيِيتُ حَ تَّى آكُلَ تَمَرَاتِي هَذِهِ إِن هََّا لَحَيَاةٌ طَوِيلَةٌ، قَالَ: فَ رَمَى بِمَا كَانَ مَعَهُ مِنْ التَّمْرِ ثُمَّ قَاتَ لَهُمْ حَ تَّى قُتِلَ "

“When the polytheists came near, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) (PBUH) said, "Now stand up and proceed towards Jannah which is as wide as are the heavens and the earth." 'Umair bin Al-Humam (May Allah be pleased with him) asked: "Is Jannah as wide as are the heaven and the earth?" The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) replied in the affirmative. 'Umair remarked: "Great!" The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) asked him what had urged him to say so. He replied: "Nothing, O Messenger of Allah! But hope that I might become one of the inhabitants of Jannah." The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "You will definitely be among them." 'Umair then took some dates out of his quiver and began to eat them, but after a short time he said: "If I survive till I eat my dates, it will mean a long life." So he threw away the dates which he had with him and then fought with the enemy till he was killed.”

The evidence of encouragement to fight: Allah (swt) said

“So fight, [O Muhammad], in the cause of Allah; you are not held responsible except for yourself. And encourage the believers [to join you] that perhaps Allah will restrain the [military] might of those who disbelieve. And Allah is greater in might and stronger in [exemplary] punishment.” (TMQ 4:84). And He (swt) said

“O Prophet (phuh), urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.” (TMQ 8:65).

Ibn Ishaq reported saying:

 إِلَى النَّاسِ فَحَرَّضَهُمْ وَقَالَ: وَالَّذِي نَ فْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ  "ثُمَّ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ بِيَدِهِ، لاَ ي قَُاتِلُهُمُ اليَ وْمَ رَجُلٌ فَ يُ قْتَلُ صَابِراً مُحْتَسِباً مُقْبِلاً غَيْ رَ مُدْبِرٍ إِلاَّ أَدْخَلَهُ الل هُ الْجَ نَّةَ ... "

“Then the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) went out to the people and incited (encouraged) them by saying: By the One who the soul of Muhammad is in His Hand, he who fights today and is killed (martyred) maintaining patience, expecting reward from Allah, and attacking and not retreating, then Allah will cause him to enter Paradise”.

Ahmad reported with an authentic chain from Abu Hurayrah who said:

 "... فَ نَظَرَ فَ رَآنِي فَ قَالَ: يَا أَبَا هُرَيْ رَةَ، فَ قُلْتُ: لَبَّ يْكَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، قَالَ فَ قَالَ: اهْتِفْ لِي بِالأَنْصَارِ وَلاَ يَأْتِينِي إِلاَّ أَنْصَارِ ي، فَ هَتَ فْتُ بِهِمْ فَجَاءُوا، فَأَطَافُوا بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَ قَالَ: تَ رَوْنَ إِلَى أَوْ بَاشِ قُ رَيْشٍ وَأَتْ بَاعِهِمْ ؟ ثُمَّ قَ الَ بِيَدَيْهِ إِحْ دَاهُ مَ ا عَلَى الأُخْرَى:  حَصْدًا حَتَّى تُ وَافُونِي بِالصَّفَا ... "

“...so he looked and saw me, and said: O Abu Hurayrah. I said: I am present, I am present Messenger of Allah, and so he said: Call the Ansar (supporters) to me, and no one other than them should come to me. So I called them, and they came; then they came around the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) who said: Do you see the rabble of Quraysh and their followers?: kill them until you meet me at Safa (and he was) tying his hands together.”

Muslim reported from ’Abbas b. ’Abd Al-Muttalib who said,

 أَيْ : يَ وْمَ حُنَ يْنٍ ... فَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ  "شَهِدْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ عَبَّاسُ، نَادِ أَصْحَابَ السَّمُرَةِ، فَ قَالَ عَبَّاسٌ - وَكَانَ رَجُلاً صَيِّتاً - فَ قُلْتُ بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِي: أَيْنَ أَصْحَابُ السَّمُرَةِ، قَالَ: فَ وَاللَّهِ لَكَأَنَّ عَطْفَتَ هُمْ حِينَ سَمِعُوا صَوْتِي عَطْفَةُ الْبَ قَرِ عَلَى أَوْلاَدِهَا، فَ قَالُوا: يَا لَ بَّ يْكَ يَا لَ بَّ يْكَ ... "

“I witnessed the day of Hunayn with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) …The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said O ’Abbas, call out to the people of Samura (the tree under which the companions gave the Prophet (phuh) the Bay’a of Ridwan before the treaty of Al- Hudaybiyah). ’Abbas (who was a man with a loud voice) called out at the top of his voice: Where are the people of Samura? And by Allah, when they heard my voice, they came back (to us) as cows come back to their calves, and said: We are present, we are present”.

The evidences to have patience and more endurance than the enemy at the battlefield: Allah (swt) said,

“O you who have believed, when you encounter a company [from the enemy forces], stand firm and remember Allah much that you may be successful.” (TMQ 8:45). And He (swt) said,

“O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.” (TMQ 3:200). And He (swt) said,

“Then, indeed your Lord, to those who emigrated after they had been compelled [to renounce their religion] and thereafter fought [for the cause of Allah] and were patient - indeed, your Lord, after that, is Forgiving and Merciful”. (TMQ 16:110).

Muslim reported from Jabir who said

 » عَلَى الْمَوْتِ، إِنَّمَا بَايَ عْنَاهُ عَلَى أَنْ لا نَفِرَّ  لَمْ ن بَُايِعْ رَسُولَ اللهِ «

“We did not give plege to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) upon death, we rather pledged not to flee (from battle)”.

Al-Bukhari reported from ’Abdullah Bin Abi Awfa that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said

 "إِذَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ فَاصْبِرُوا"

“When you meet them (on the battlefield), have patience”. The proof for preparing the Army such that they are not taken by surprise: Al-Bukhari reported from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (phuh) said

 "... طُوبَى لِعَبْدٍ آخِذٍ بِعِنَانِ فَ رَسِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ، أَشْعَثَ رَأْسُهُ، مُغْبَ رَّةٍ قَدَمَاهُ، إِنْ كَانَ فِي الْحِرَاسَةِ كَانَ فِي الْحِ رَاسَ ةِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي السَّاقَ ةِ كَانَ فِي السَّاقَ ةِ، إِنِ اسْ تَأْذَنَ لَمْ ي ؤُْذَنْ لَهُ، وَإِنْ شَفَعَ لَمْ يُشَفَّعْ "

“Paradise (Tuba is a tree in Paradise) is for one who holds the reins to strive in the cause of Allah, with his hair unkempt and his feet covered with dust. If he is appointed in the vanguard, he is perfectly satisfied with his post of guarding, and if he is appointed in the rearward, he accepts his post with satisfaction; (he is so simple and unambiguous that) that if he asks for permission, he is not permitted, and if he intercedes, his intercession is not accepted”.

Al-Tirmidhi reported a narration that he considered Hasan from Ibn ’Abbas who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) say

 "عَ يْ نَانِ لا تَمَسُّهُمَا النَّارُ: عَيْنٌ بَكَتْ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ، وَعَيْنٌ بَاتَتْ تَحْرُسُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ "

“Two eyes will not be touched by the hellfire: an eye that weeps out of the fear of Allah, and an eye that spends the night on guard in the cause of Allah”.

Al-Hakim reported a narration he authenticated, and which Al-Dhahabi confirmed, from Ibn Umar that the Prophet (phuh) said

"أَلاَ أُنْبِئُكُمْ بِلَيْ لَةٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ لَيْ لَةِ القَدْرِ، حَارِسٌ حَرَسَ فِي أَرْضِ خَوْفٍ لَعَلَّهُ أَنْ لا يَ رْجِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ "

“Should I not tell you about a night better than the night of Qadar? (It is one during which ..) A guard (in Jihad) guarding in a land of war (fear)and not sure wheather he will be back to his family.”