Who Should Be Consulted Regarding Jihad?

Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah said: والواجب أن يعتبر في أمور الجهاد برأي أهل الدين الصحيح الذين لهم خبرة بما عليه أهل الدنيا، دون أهل الدنيا الذين يغلب عليهم النظر في ظاهر الدين فلا يؤخذ برأيهم، ولا برأي أهل الدين الذين لا خبرة لهم في الدنيا. "The obligation is that matters concerning jihad should be decided according to the opinion of people of sound religion who have experience and knowledge of worldly affairs. The opinions of worldly people, who tend to look only at the outward aspects of religion, should not be relied upon. Likewise, the opinions of religious people who have no knowledge or experience of worldly affairs should not be relied upon." [Ikhtiyaraat of Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah, p. 311]