Towards Understanding the Qur'an. Sayyid Abul A'la Mawdudi
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wrath is against him and He has cast His curse upon him, and has prepared for him a great chastisement.
(94) Believers! When you go forth in the Way of Allah, ascertain and distinguish (between friend and foe), and do not say to him who offers you the greeting of peace: “You are not a believer.” If you seek the good of this worldly life, there lies with Allah abundant gain. After all, you too were such before, but then Allah was gracious to you. Discern, then,69 for Allah is well aware of what you do.
69 In the early days of Islam the greeting of al-salam [alaykum (“peace be on you”) was a distinguishing symbol of the Muslims. When a Muslim greeted another Muslim with this expression it signified that he was a member of the same community, that he was a friend and well-wisher, one who wished peace and security, from whom one need entertain no fear of hostility and towards whom, in return, one should not behave with hostility. This was particularly important in those days because there were no distinctions in dress, language and so on by which the Muslims could be conclusively marked off from others.
The Muslims also encountered a strange problem on the battlefield. Whenever a Muslim was in danger of being harmed inadvertently by other Muslims during fighting, he resorted to either the Islamic greeting (al-salam [alaykum) or to pronouncing the Islamic creed. “There is no god save Allah” (la ilaha illa Allah) in order to indicate that he was their brother-in-faith. The Muslims, however, often suspected this to be merely a ruse of the enemy and therefore, sometimes, disregarded the utterance of the Islamic greeting or of the Islamic creed, and
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Al-Nisa’ 4: 95–7
(95) Those believers who sit at home, unless they do so out of a disabling injury, are not the equals of those who strive in the Way of Allah with their possessions and their lives. Allah has exalted in rank those who strive with their possessions and their lives over those who sit at home; this even though to each Allah has promised some good reward, He has preferred for a mighty reward those who strive (in the Way of Allah) over those who sit at home. (96) For them are ranks, forgiveness, and favours from Him. Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate.
(97) While taking the souls of those who were engaged in wronging themselves,70 the angels asked: ▶
killed such people. The purport of the verse is that no one has the right to summarily judge those who profess to be Muslims, and to assume them to be lying for fear of their lives. At least two possibilities exist: the claim may either be true or it may be false. The truth can only be ascertained by proper investigation. While it is impossible to investigate a person’s case properly during fighting, and this might enable him to save his life by lying, it is equally possible that an innocent, true believer might be put to death by mistake.
70 The reference here is to those who, instead of going to the battlefield, stayed behind along with the unbelievers, despite no genuine disability. They were satisfied with a life made up of a blend of Islamic and un-Islamic elements, even though they had the chance to emigrate to Dar al-Islam and thus enjoy a full Islamic life and had also been invited by Dar al-Islam to emigrate, thereby ensuring the safety of their faith.
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Al-Nisa’ 4: 98–100
“In what circumstances were you?” They replied: “We were too weak and helpless in the land.” The angels said: “Was not the earth of Allah wide enough for you to emigrate in it?” For such persons their refuge is Hell – an evil desti- nation indeed; (98) except the men, women, and children who were indeed too feeble to be able to seek the means of escape and did not know where to go – (99) maybe Allah shall pardon these, for Allah is All-Pardoning, Most Forgiving. (100) He who emigrates in the Way of Allah will find in the earth enough room for refuge and plentiful resources. And he who goes forth from his house as a migrant in the way of Allah and His Messenger, and whom death overtakes, his reward becomes incumbent on Allah. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate.71
71 It should be understood clearly that it is only permissible for a person who believes in the True Faith enjoined by God to live under the dominance of an un- Islamic system on one of the following conditions. First, that the believer strives to put an end to the hegemony of the un-Islamic system and to have it replaced by the Islamic system of life, as the Prophets and their early followers did. Second, that he stays in a land where an un-Islamic system prevails because of his inability to depart from that land, but he is utterly unhappy at living under such a system.
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Al-Nisa’ 4: 101–2
(101) When you go forth journeying in the land, there is no blame on you if you shorten the Prayer,72 (especially) if you fear that the unbelievers might cause you harm. Surely the unbelievers are your open enemies.
(102) (O Messenger), if you are among the believers and rise (in the state of war) to lead the Prayer for them, let a party of them stand with you to worship, keeping their arms. When they have performed their prostration, let them go behind you, and let another party who have not prayed, pray with you, remaining on guard and keeping their arms,73 for the unbelievers love to see you heedless of your arms and your baggage so that they might swoop upon you in a surprise attack. ▶
72 Shortening the Prayer (qasr) while travelling in peace-time consists of praying two rak[at at those appointed times when one is normally required to pray four rak[at. The form of qasr during the state of war has not been specified. Prayers should, therefore, be performed as circumstances permit.
73 This injunction regarding Prayer in the state of either fear or insecurity (khawf) refers to the condition when an enemy attack is anticipated, but the fighting has not yet begun.
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Al-Nisa’ 4: 103–6
But there shall be no blame upon you if you were to lay aside your arms if you are either troubled by rain or are sick; but remain on guard. Surely Allah has prepared a humiliating chastisement for the unbelievers. (103) When you have finished the Prayer, remember Allah – standing, and sitting, and reclining. And when you become secure, perform the regular Prayer. Prayer is enjoined upon the believers at stated times.
(104) Do not be faint of heart in pursuing these people: if you happen to suffer harm they too are suffering just as you are, while you may hope from Allah what they cannot hope for. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
(105) (O Messenger), We have revealed to you this Book with the Truth so that you may judge between people in accordance with what Allah has shown you. So do not dispute on behalf of the dishonest, (106) and seek forgiveness from Allah. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, All- Compassionate. ▶
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Al-Nisa’ 4: 107–12
(107) Do not plead for those who are dishonest to them- selves; 74 Allah does not love him who betrays trust and persists in sin. (108) They can hide (their deeds) from humans, but they cannot hide (them) from Allah for He is with them even when they hold nightly counsels that are unpleasing to Allah. Allah encompasses all their doings. (109) You pleaded on their behalf in this