A Salafi asked me, why do you oppose and condemn Jihad?

Answer

Ask the Salafi to provide our fatwa which he alleges is in condemnation or against Jihad. When it is our belief that it is kufr to refute Jihad, how could we have issued such a baatil fatwa. Have they read our publication, Al-Haq? Salafis are bigoted and cherish a hatred for all non-Salafis, hence they read our articles with preconceived notions. What we have said and say is that without Islaah of the Nafs – without Tarbiyat – there will not be victory in the Jihad. That is exactly what is happening to all Jihad activity conducted by Salafis. In all the decades of their Jihad, they have not managed to conquer and hold a single territory to establish a headquarters for Islam. When we say that there is no victory without Islaah (moral reformation) of the Nafs, it does not mean that Jihad is not permissible. It is the same as we are telling Muslims that the way they perform Salaat is absolutely putrid, and they are therefore deprived of the benefits of the Salaat they are performing. It will be wrong and slanderous now to say that we are claiming that performing Salaat is not permissible.