The Impact of the Psychological States of Muslim Combatants on the Jurisprudential Ruling Regarding Fleeing from Jihad

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Additional Department of Jurisprudence of Bagheral Uloom University, peace be upon him, Qom

2 Associate professor,Islamic science and culture Academy

3 The director of the additional jurisprudence department of Bagheral Uloom University

10.22081/jf.2025.69922.2844

Abstract

The permissibility of Muslim combatants abandoning the battlefield has long been debated, and the jurists of the Imamiyya school do not hold a unified opinion. According to the prevailing view among jurists, fleeing from battle is prohibited when the enemy force is less than twice the size of the Muslim army, but it becomes permissible if the enemy force exceeds this ratio. However, the universality of this ruling has been criticized by some scholars. This study addresses the question: Under what circumstances is fleeing from the battlefield permissible or impermissible? Using a descriptive-analytical approach, the findings indicate that opposing views to the mainstream opinion are often rooted in specific psychological conditions of the combatants—such as having confidence or suspicion regarding victory or defeat. For example, Allama Hilli, based on the verse of tahlukah (self-destruction) and the principle of hardship (‘usr wa ḥaraj), considers fleeing permissible when Muslim soldiers suspect they will be defeated—even if the enemy is only twice as large. Conversely, jurists like Muḥaqqiq Khoei consider fleeing prohibited if there is certainty of victory, even if the enemy force greatly outnumbers the Muslims.

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Main Subjects

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 05 October 2024
  • Revise Date: 27 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 30 June 2025

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