Surah 8,
Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War) Verses 41-75 & Surah 9, At-Tawba (The
Repentance), Verses 1-92
Continuing on with the second
half of Surah Al-Anfaal and the remaining 5 sections.
Surah 8, Al-Anfaal (The Spoils
Of War)
Sections 6 & 7:
Steadfastness and unity enjoined & Enemy weakened by God, verses 45-58
"And when Satan made their deeds
seem fair to them and said: No-one of mankind can conquer you this day, for I
am your protector. But when the armies came in sight of one another, he took
flight, saying: Lo! I am guiltless of you. Lo! I see that which ye see not. Lo!
I fear Allah. And Allah is severe in punishment." (Verse 48)
"If thou couldst see how the
angels receive those who disbelieve, smiting faces and their backs and
(saying): Taste the punishment of burning!
(Their way is) as the way of Pharaoh's folk and those before them; they
disbelieved the revelations of Allah, and Allah took them in their sins. Lo!
Allah is Strong, severe in punishment." (Verses 50 & 52)
"That is because Allah never
changeth the grace He hath bestowed on any people until they first change that
which is in their hearts, and (that is) because Allah is Hearer, Knower." (Verse 53)
"Lo! the worst of beasts in
Allah's sight are the ungrateful who will not believe. Those of them with whom
thou madest a treaty, and then at every opportunity they break their treaty,
and they keep not duty (to Allah)." (Verses 55-56)
"And if thou fearest treachery
from any folk, then throw back to them (their treaty) fairly. Lo! Allah loveth
not the treacherous." (Verse 58)
The Shaitan's work is to tempt
and encourage people to the wrong path without any actual force. At the end, he
will wash his hands of his followers and leave them to face Allah. In-fact in verse 48 he even admits his fear of Allah and
his punishment.
There is a terrible punishment, after death, for those who have rejected the
true faith and have corrupted the people with their infidelity and evil deeds.
They will be punished on account of their own evil deeds because they
themselves chose to be wicked and unjust, otherwise Allah is never unjust to
His creatures.
In verse 52 the disbelievers of Mecca have been
compared to the people of the Pharaoh to indicate the likeness of the Holy
Prophet to Musa, and the destruction of the infidels in the same manner as the
Pharaoh and his hosts were wiped out.
Section 8: Muslims should be
prepared to meet the enemy in any number, verses 59-64
"And if they incline to peace,
incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Lo! He, even He, is the Hearer,
the Knower. And if they would deceive thee, then lo! Allah is Sufficient for
thee. He it is Who supporteth thee with His help and with the believers." (Verses 61-62)
If the enemy offers peace, rely on Allah and accept it. In case of deception on
their part have faith in Allah. He will help and protect you. It is said that verse 64 refers to Imam Ali (as) as
the epitome of those who followed the Holy Prophet.
Sections 9 & 10: Muslims
should be prepared for all eventualities & Prisoners of war, verses 65-75
"O Prophet! Exhort the believers
to fight. If there be of you twenty steadfast they shall overcome two hundred,
and if there be of you a hundred (steadfast) they shall overcome a thousand of
those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are a folk without
intelligence." (Verse
65)
"It is not for any prophet to
have captives until he hath made slaughter in the land. Ye desire the lure of
this world and Allah desireth (for you) the Hereafter, and Allah is Mighty,
Wise." (Verse 67)
"O Prophet! Say unto those
captives who are in your hands: If Allah knoweth any good in your hearts He
will give you better than that which hath been taken from you, and will forgive
you. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (Verse 70)
"Those who believed and left
their homes and strove for the cause of Allah, and those who took them in and
helped them - these are the believers in truth. For them is pardon, and bountiful
provision." (Verse 74)
With the help of Allah, the
Muslim army will be able to overcome the disbelievers even when they outnumber
them by ten to one. However, a jihad is
fought under strict conditions. It is under a righteous leader purely for
Allah. Any other motive is forbidden, it is not to gain territory or for ransom
from the captives or for killing for the sake of it. This is confirmed in verse 70, any captives
are to be granted lenience and tolerance in the hope that they will turn
towards Allah.
Verse 74 refers to the Muslims who migrated
with the Holy Prophet from Mecca (muhajirs) to Madina and were helped
and taken in by the Muslims of Madina (ansars). These believers will be
amply rewarded by Allah due to the hardships they were forced to take on in the
migration.
Surah 8 finished and we move on
to Surah 9, At-Tawba (The Repentance). Revealed at Madina, it contains 129
verses in 16 sections. Chapter 10 has 13 sections. Surah At-Tawba is the only
Surah of the Holy Quran not to start with Bismillah as
it contains curses against infidelity.
Surah 9, At-Tawba (The
Repentance)
Section 1: Immunity declared,
verses 1-6
"And
a proclamation from Allah and His messenger to all men on the day of the
Greater Pilgrimage that Allah is free from obligation to the idolaters, and (so
is) His messenger. So, if ye repent, it will be better for you; but if ye are
averse, then know that ye cannot escape Allah. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a
painful doom to those who disbelieve, Excepting those of the idolaters with
whom ye (Muslims) have a treaty, and who have since abated nothing of your
right nor have supported anyone against you. (As for these), fulfil their
treaty to them till their term. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty
(unto Him).
Then, when the sacred months have
passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and
besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush.(Verse
5) But if they
repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free.
Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy
protection (O Muhammad), then protect him so that he may hear the Word of
Allah, and afterward convey him to his place of safety. That is because they
are a folk who know not." (Verses
3-6)
The main verse of discussion in
this first section is verse 5. It has
been notoriously taken of context by the critics of Islam as an open
call to war and destruction towards any non-Muslims. However, taken in its
proper context it applies to the non-believers who persistently violated
treaties and tried to destroy peace and security at the time of the Holy
Prophet. If any sought forgiveness or protections then the Holy Prophet is
commanded to look after them. Violence is always a last resort.
Section 2: The immunity - its
reason explained, verses 7-16
"How (can there be any treaty for
the others) when, if they have the upper hand of you, they regard not pact nor
honour in respect of you? They satisfy you with their mouths the while their
hearts refuse. And most of them are wrongdoers." (Verse
8)
"But if they repent and establish
worship and pay the poor-due, then are they your brethren in religion. We
detail Our revelations for a people who have knowledge." (Verse 11)
"And if they break their pledges
after their treaty (hath been made with you) and assail your religion, then
fight the heads of disbelief - Lo! they have no binding oaths - in order that
they may desist." (Verse 12)
"Fight them! Allah will chastise
them at your hands, and He will lay them low and give you victory over them,
and He will heal the breasts of folk who are believers." (Verse 14)
The idolaters and polytheists
regularly violated the treaties made with the Holy Prophet. Once more in these
verses, Allah commands the believers to fight against those who oppress them
and there was no better personification of these commands than Imam Ali (as),
who fought in the way of Allah throughout the early history of Islam.
Section 3: Service of the
sacred mosque and the idolaters, verses 17-24
"It is not for the idolaters to
tend Allah's sanctuaries, bearing witness against themselves of disbelief. As
for such, their works are vain and in the Fire they will abide." (Verse 17)
"Count ye the slaking of a
pilgrim's thirst and tendance of the Inviolable Place of Worship as (equal to
the worth of) him who believeth in Allah and the Last Day, and striveth in the
way of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah. Allah guideth not
wrongdoing folk." (Verse 19)
"Say: If your fathers, and your
sons, and your brethren, and your wives, and your tribe, and the wealth ye have
acquired, and merchandise for which ye fear that there will no sale, and
dwellings ye desire are dearer to you than Allah and His messenger and striving
in His way: then wait till Allah bringeth His command to pass. Allah guideth
not wrongdoing folk." (Verse 24)
Verses 17 & 19 clearly highlight the low regard Allah
holds for polytheists and idol-worshippers. Even those who looked after the
Holy Kaaba would not be rewarded because of their personal practices and
beliefs.
In verse 24 Islam does not preach asceticism. Man
is allowed to involve himself in his earthly ties and comforts, profits and
gains, so far as his involvement does not hinder him from walking on the right
path of Allah, but when the call of duty to the Lord of the worlds is made he
must sacrifice all his worldly possessions, children and interests in the
service of Allah and His cause, which alone earns for him the blissful spiritual
life of the hereafter, not the material gains he has obtained in this world.
Section 4: God's help at
Hunayn, verses 25-29
"Allah hath given you victory on
many fields and on the day of Huneyn, when ye exulted in your multitude but it
availed you naught, and the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for you; then
ye turned back in flight; Then Allah sent His peace of reassurance down upon
His messenger and upon the believers, and sent down hosts ye could not see, and
punished those who disbelieved. Such is the reward of disbelievers." (Verses 25-26)
The Battle of Hunayn is
only the second battle to be named in the Holy Quran. In this battle the
Muslims greatly outnumbered the enemy Meccan army. However, they were trapped
in a hilly gorges by the enemy and many of the camp retreated in fear including
the likes of Umar ibn Khattab. Imam Ali (as) launched a counter-attack with the
remaining believers and managed to kill the general of the enemy army - from
then victory was assured.
Section 5: The polytheism of
the Jews and the Christians, verses 30-37
"And the Jews say: Ezra is the
son of Allah, and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. That is
their saying with their mouths. They imitate the saying of those who
disbelieved of old. Allah (Himself) fighteth against them. How perverse are
they!" (Verse 30)
"Fain would they put out the
light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah disdaineth (aught) save that He
shall perfect His light, however much the disbelievers are averse. He it is Who
hath sent His messenger with the guidance and the Religion of Truth, that He
may cause it to prevail over all religion, however much the idolaters may be
averse." (Verses 32-33)
"Postponement (of a sacred month)
is only an excess of disbelief whereby those who disbelieve are misled; they
allow it one year and forbid it (another) year, that they may make up the
number of the months which Allah hath hallowed, so that they allow that which
Allah hath forbidden. The evil of their deeds is made fairseeming unto them.
Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk." (Verse 37)
The Jews and Christian have
been compared to idolaters in the Holy Quran because of their belief in
Prophets as the sons of God. Theses priests and rabbis try to distort the
message of Allah by false words in an attempt to put out Allah's "light." Through
His Holy Prophet and Ahlul-Bayt, Allah perfected His religion of Islam and its
light cannot be extinguished.
Verse 37 refers to the pagans who tried to
alter the Islamic calendar and follow 13 months in order to combine the lunar
and sonar calendar. There are four sacred months in the Islamic calendar,
Zilkad, Zilhajj, Muharram and Rajab.
Section 6: The Tabuk
expedition, verses 38-42
"O ye who believe! What aileth
you that when it is said unto you: Go forth in the way of Allah, ye are bowed
down to the ground with heaviness. Take ye pleasure in the life of the world
rather than in the Hereafter? The comfort of the life of the world is but
little in the Hereafter. If ye go not forth He will afflict you with a painful
doom, and will choose instead of you a folk other than you. Ye cannot harm Him
at all. Allah is Able to do all things." (Verses 38-39)
"If ye help him not, still Allah
helped him when those who disbelieve drove him forth, the second of two; when
they two were in the cave, when he said unto his comrade: Fear not. Lo! Allah
is with us. Then Allah caused His peace of reassurance to descend upon him and
supported him with hosts ye cannot see, and made the word of those who
disbelieved the nethermost, while Allah's Word it was that became the
uppermost. Allah is Mighty, Wise." (Verse 40)
The expedition to Tabuk was
a defensive mission carried out by the Holy Prophet to try to counter the
aggression by the Byzantine Empire. Those who resisted the call did so due to
fear of the enemy, facing a long journey in the heat and missing the
opportunity to reap the harvest. These followers have been reminded that the
comforts of this life are little compared to the hereafter (see also verse 42)
Verse 40 refers to when the Holy Prophet was hiding
in a cave with Abu Bakr as the infidels attempted to take his life. Abu Bakr
was frightened and the Holy Prophet reassured him by reminding him that "Allah is with us." Compare
this to the bravery of Imam Ali (as) to readily lie in the Holy Prophets bed as
a diversion for the infidels.
Sections 7 & 8: The
Hypocrites, verses 43-66
"Those who believe in Allah and
the Last Day ask no leave of thee lest they should strive with their wealth and
their lives. Allah is Aware of those who keep their duty (unto Him). They alone
ask leave of thee who believe not in Allah and the Last Day, and whose hearts
feel doubt, so in their doubt they waver." (Verses 44-45)
"Had they gone forth among you
they had added to you naught save trouble and had hurried to and fro among you,
seeking to cause sedition among you; and among you there are some who would
have listened to them. Allah is Aware of evil-doers." (Verse 47)
"If good befalleth thee (O
Muhammad) it afflicteth them, and if calamity befalleth thee, they say: We took
precaution, and they turn away well pleased. Say: Naught befalleth us save that
which Allah hath decreed for us. He is our Protecting Friend. In Allah let
believers put their trust!" (Verse 50-51)
"Say: Pay (your contribution),
willingly or unwillingly, it will not be accepted from you. Lo! ye were ever
froward folk. And naught preventeth that their contributions should be accepted
from them save that they have disbelieved in Allah and in His messenger, and
they come not to worship save as idlers, and pay not (their contribution) save
reluctantly." (Verses 53-54)
"(How much more seemly) had they
been content with that which Allah and His messenger had given them and had
said: Allah sufficeth us. Allah will give us of His bounty, and (also) His
messenger. Unto Allah we are suppliants." (Verse 59)
In verses 44-45, the sure
faith of the true believers has been compared with the doubt of the
disbelievers. Doubt takes away all stability of character and conduct. Faith
makes a man firm in action, and cool and collected in mind.
In the expedition to Tabuk, a
large number of the Holy Prophet's party were hypocrites and were actively
plotting to undermine the mission of the Holy Prophet. They would relay the
activities of the Holy Prophet back to those who had remained behind in Madina.
The hypocrites, who used to plot secretly against the Holy Prophet and his
mission, sometimes made a show of spending in the cause of Allah, but their
reluctant spending was not accepted because they did not believe and their
prayers were not earnest-nothing is acceptable to Allah which does not proceed
from a pure, believing and sincere heart.
"And of them are those who vex
the Prophet and say: He is only a hearer. Say: A hearer of good for you, who
believeth in Allah and is true to the believers, and a mercy for such of you as
believe. Those who vex the messenger of Allah, for them there is a painful
doom." (Verse 61)
"Know they not that whoso
opposeth Allah and His messenger, his verily is fire of hell, to abide therein?
That is the extreme abasement." (Verse 63)
"The hypocrites fear lest a surah
should be revealed concerning them, proclaiming what is in their hearts. Say:
Scoff (your fill)! Lo! Allah is disclosing what ye fear. And if thou ask them
(O Muhammad) they will say: We did but talk and jest. Say: Was it at Allah and
His revelations and His messenger that ye did scoff?" (Verses 64-65)
Verse 63 refers to those who defied the Holy
Prophet in his lifetime and after his departure from this world - opposed his
instructions at Ghadir Khum and even refused to give him a pen and paper on his
deathbed.
Section 9: God's curse for the
hypocrites, verses 67-72
"The hypocrites, both men and
women, proceed one from another. They enjoin the wrong, and they forbid the
right, and they withhold their hands (from spending for the cause of Allah).
They forget Allah, so He hath forgotten them. Lo! the hypocrites, they are the
transgressors." (Verse 67)
"Hath not the fame of those
before them reached them - the folk of Noah, A'ad, Thamud, the folk of Abraham,
the dwellers of Midian and the disasters (which befell them)? Their messengers
(from Allah) came unto them with proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty). So Allah
surely wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves." (Verse 70)
"And the believers, men and
women, are protecting friends one of another; they enjoin the right and forbid
the wrong, and they establish worship and they pay the poor-due, and they obey
Allah and His messenger. As for these, Allah will have mercy on them. Lo! Allah
is Mighty, Wise." (Verse 71)
These verses and this section
clearly explain and differentiate between the hypocrites and the believers and
what lies in store for both in the hereafter.
Section 10: The hypocrites
shall not attain their object, verses 73-80
"O Prophet! Strive against the
disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is
hell, a hapless journey's end." (Verse 73)
"And of them is he who made a
covenant with Allah (saying): If He give us of His bounty we will give alms and
become of the righteous. Yet when He gave them of His bounty, they hoarded it
and turned away, averse; So He hath made the consequence (to be) hypocrisy in
their hearts until the day when they shall meet Him, because they broke their
word to Allah that they promised Him, and because they lied." (Verses 75-77)
"Ask forgiveness for them (O
Muhammad), or ask not forgiveness for them; though thou ask forgiveness for
them seventy times Allah will not forgive them. That is because they
disbelieved in Allah and His messenger, and Allah guideth not wrongdoing
folk." (Verse 80)
Verses 75-77 were revealed to narrate the incident
when a poor man, Thalaba bin Hatib invoked the Holy Prophet to pray to God to
grant him great wealth. The Holy Prophet told him that the little he had for
which he could give thanks to Allah was better than that abundance which would
make him forgetful of his duties to Allah, and it was better to follow the
messenger of Allah and lead a simple life. But he insisted and promised that he
would observe all the commands of Allah if he became rich. After a few days a
very rich cousin of his died and he inherited all his wealth. Then he began to
enjoy the new-found wealth and stopped visiting the mosque, and when he was
asked to pay zakat, he
replied that to collect zakat from the Muslims is like charging jizya to the non-Muslims.
The Holy Prophet did not ask
for forgiveness for the hypocrites and the disbelievers, but to emphasise the
point, even if he asked seventy times, they would not be forgiven.
Section 11: Connection severed
with the hypocrites, verses 81-89
"Those who were left behind
rejoiced at sitting still behind the messenger of Allah, and were averse to
striving with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way. And they said: Go
not forth in the heat! Say: The fire of hell is more intense of heat, if they
but understood." (Verse 81)
"If Allah bring thee back (from
the campaign) unto a party of them and they ask of thee leave to go out (to
fight), then say unto them: Ye shall never more go out with me nor fight with
me against a foe. Ye were content with sitting still the first time. So sit
still, with the useless." (Verse 83)
"But the messenger and those who
believe with him strive with their wealth and their lives. Such are they for
whom are the good things. Such are they who are the successful. Allah hath made
ready for them Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide.
That is the supreme triumph." (Verses 88-89)
So far in the 10 chapters I've
covered, the discussion about the hypocrites have been oft-repeated by Allah.
It is obviously something to be extremely vary of and to protect ourselves
against. Once again, the hypocrites at the time of the Tabuk expedition are
mentioned and how they were reluctant to travel with the Holy
Prophet.
Section 12: The deserters,
verses 90-99
"Not unto the weak nor unto the
sick nor unto those who can find naught to spend is any fault (to be imputed
though they stay at home) if they are true to Allah and His messenger. Not unto
the good is there any road (of blame). Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (Verse 91)
"The road (of blame) is only
against those who ask for leave of thee (to stay at home) when they are rich.
They are content to be with the useless. Allah hath sealed their hearts so that
they know not. They will make excuse to you (Muslims) when ye return unto them.
Say: Make no excuse, for we shall not believe you. Allah hath told us tidings
of you. Allah and His messenger will see your conduct, and then ye will be
brought back unto Him Who knoweth the Invisible as well as the Visible, and He
will tell you what ye used to do." (Verses 93-94)
"And of the wandering Arabs there
is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day, and taketh that which he
expendeth and also the prayers of the messenger as acceptable offerings in the
sight of Allah. Lo! verily it is an acceptable offering for them. Allah will
bring them into His mercy. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (Verse 99)
People who had reasonable
reasons for not being able to travel with the Holy Prophet on his expedition
were excused. Those who came and gave false excuses have been described as "useless." As
with all the previous sections when discussing the hypocrites, for the
believers and those who strive in the way of Allah, there will be great reward.
Chapter 10 finished with that
and tomorrow we conclude Surah 9 and move on to Surah 10 & 11 inshallah.
Thanks for reading.
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