The Madinan Period, Part 3: The Covenant, the Qiblah, and the Meaning of Jihad
Section 20 of 26 · The Life of the Prophet Muhammad: The Madinan Period
The First Objective: The Promotion of Islam
So what are its objectives? Why was the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fighting? Some āyāt in the Qurʾān tell us the objectives of fighting fī sabīlillāh. The first is the promotion of Islam. That is the first objective, the promotion of Islam. Allah (swt) says:
وَقَـٰتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ ٱلدِّينُ كُلُّهُۥ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنِ ٱنتَهَوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
“And fight them until there is no Fitnah (mischief), and total obedience becomes for Allah. So, if they desist, then, Allah is indeed watchful over what they do.” (8:39)
So until all the religion is for Allah (swt).