Tafsir

The Wish that the Order for Jihad be Delayed

In the beginning of Islam, Muslims in Makkah were commanded to perform the prayer and pay some charity, so as to comfort the poor among them. They were also commanded to be forgiving and forbearing with the idolators and to observe patience with them at the time. However, they were eager and anticipating the time when they would be allowed to fight, so that they could punish their enemies. The situation at that time did not permit armed conflict for many reasons. For instance, Muslims were few at the time, compared to their numerous enemies. The Muslims' city was a sacred one and the most honored area on the earth, and this is why the command to fight was not revealed in Makkah. Later on when the Muslims controlled a town of their own, Al-Madinah, and had strength, power and support, Jihad was then legislated. Yet, when the command to fight was revealed, just as Muslims wished, some of them became weary and were very fearful of facing the idolators in battle.وَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَا لِمَ كَتَبْتَ عَلَيْنَا الْقِتَالَ لَوْلا أَخَّرْتَنَا إِلَى أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ(They say: "Our Lord!

Why have You ordained for us fighting Would that You had granted us respite for a short period") meaning, we wish that Jihad was delayed until a later time, because it means bloodshed, orphans and widows. In a similar Ayah, Allah said,وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوْلاَ نُزِّلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَإِذَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ مُّحْكَمَةٌ وَذُكِرَ فِيهَا الْقِتَالُ(Those who believe say: "Why is not a Surah sent down (for us) But when a decisive is sent down, and fighting is mentioned). Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf and several of his companions came to the Prophet while in Makkah and said, "O Allah's Prophet! We were mighty when we were pagans, but when we embraced the faith, we became weak." The Prophet said,«إِنِّي أُمِرْتُ بِالْعَفْوِ فَلَا تُقَاتِلُوا الْقَوْم»(I was commanded to pardon the people, so do not fight them.) When Allah transferred the Prophet to Al-Madinah, He commanded him to fight (the idolators), but they (some Muslims) held back.

So, Allah revealed the Ayah;أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ قِيلَ لَهُمْ كُفُّواْ أَيْدِيَكُمْ(Have you not seen those who were told to hold back their hands) This Hadith was collected by An-Nasa'i and Al-Hakim. Allah's statement,قُلْ مَتَـعُ الدُّنْيَا قَلِيلٌ وَالاٌّخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنِ اتَّقَى(Say: "Short is the enjoyment of this world. The Hereafter is (far) better for him who fears Allah,) means, the destination of the one who with Taqwa is better for him than this life.وَلاَ تُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً(and you shall not be dealt with unjustly even equal to the Fatil.) for your good deeds. Rather, you will earn your full rewards for them. This promise directs the focus of believers away from this life and makes them eager for the Hereafter, all the while encouraging them to fight in Jihad.

There is No Escaping Death

Allah said,أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُواْ يُدْرِككُّمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ(Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!) meaning, you shall certainly die and none of you shall ever escape death. Allah said,كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ (Whatsooever is on it (the earth) will perish),كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ(Everyone shall taste death), and,وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ الْخُلْدَ(And We granted not to any human being immortality before you). Therefore, every soul shall taste death and nothing can save any person from it, whether he performed Jihad or not. Everyone has an appointed time, and a limited term of life. In the illness that preceded his death, Khalid bin Al-Walid said, while in his bed, "I participated in so and so number of battles, and every part of my body sustained an injury due to a stab or a shot. Yet here I am, I die in my bed!

Let not the eyes of the cowards ever taste sleep." Allah's statement,وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ(even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!) means, entrenched, fortified, high and towering. No caution or fortification can ever avert death.

The Hypocrites Sense a Bad Omen Because of the Prophet !

Allah said,وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ حَسَنَةٌ(And if some good reaches them) meaning, fertile years and provision of fruits, produce, children, etc., as said by Ibn `Abbas, Abu Al-`Aliyah and As-Suddi.يَقُولُواْ هَـذِهِ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ(they say, "This is from Allah," but if some evil befalls them) drought, famine, shortages of fruits and produce, death that strikes their children or animals, and so forth, as Abu Al-`Aliyah and As-Suddi stated.يَقُولُواْ هَـذِهِ مِنْ عِندِكَ(they say, "This is from you,") meaning, because of you and because we followed you and embraced your religion. Allah said about the people of Fir`awn,فَإِذَا جَآءَتْهُمُ الْحَسَنَةُ قَالُواْ لَنَا هَـذِهِ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَطَّيَّرُواْ بِمُوسَى وَمَن مَّعَهُ(But whenever good came to them, they said: "Ours is this." And if evil afflicted them, they ascribed it to evil omens connected with Musa and those with him.) Allah said,وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ(And among mankind is he who worships Allah as it were upon the edge (i. e. in doubt)).

The same is the statement uttered by the hypocrites, who embraced Islam outwardly, but disliked it inwardly. This is why when a calamity befell them, they attributed it to following the Prophet . Consequently, Allah revealed,قُلْ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِSay: All things are from Allah, Allah's statement that all things are from Him means, everything occurs by the decision and decree of Allah, and His decision shall come to pass for both the righteous and the wicked, the faithful and the disbelievers. Allah then said while addressing His Messenger , but refering to mankind in general,مَّآ أَصَـبَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ(Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allah,) meaning, of Allah's bounty, favor, kindness and mercy.وَمَآ أَصَـبَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ(But whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself.), meaning because of you and due to your actions. Similarly, Allah said,وَمَآ أَصَـبَكُمْ مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُواْ عَن كَثِيرٍ (And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned.

And He pardons much.) As-Suddi, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Ibn Jurayj and Ibn Zayd said that,فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ(from yourself) means, because of your errors. Qatadah said that,فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ(From yourself) means, as punishment for you, O son of Adam, because of your sins. Allah said,وَأَرْسَلْنَـكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولاً(And We have sent you as a Messenger to mankind,) so that you convey to them Allah's commandments, what He likes and is pleased with, and what He dislikes and refuses.وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيداً(and Allah is sufficient as a Witness.) that He has sent you. He is also Witness over you and them, having full knowledge in what you convey to them and the disbelief and rebellion with which they respond to the truth.

There is no escape from death:In أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا يُدْرِ‌ككُّمُ الْمَوْتُ (verse 78) (Wherever you will be death will over-take you), Allah Almighty removes any doubts the deserters from Jihad may entertain. They think that, perhaps by dodging Jihad, they can also dodge death. Therefore, it was said that there will be a day of death, a day when it, must come, no matter where you are; it will come exactly where you are. When this is settled, there is no sense in backing out from Jihad.

Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رح) ، the famous commentator, while discussing this verse, has reported a lesson-filled event on the authority of Mujahid as narrated by Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim ؓ . He recounts the event concerning a woman from an earlier community. Soon after her pregnancy matured, she gave birth to a child and sent her servant out to fetch some fire. As soon as the servant stepped out of the door of the house, he saw a man appear suddenly before him. He asked: 'What baby this woman has given birth to?' The servant told him that it was a baby girl. Thereupon, the man said: You must remember that this girl will sleep with a hundred men and will finally die through a spider.' Hearing this, the servant returned immediate with a knife and slit the abdomen of that girl open. Taking her to be dead, he ran away from the house. But, a little later, the mother of the girl stitched up the skin of the abdomen slit by the servant. Then came the day when this girl grew to be young and beautiful, so beautiful that she was considered to be the jewel of the city.

As for the servant, he escaped overseas where he stayed for a long time and, in the meantime, assembled a fortune for himself. When he planned to get married, he returned to his old city. There he met an old woman. He told her that he was looking for a bride, but that he was eager to marry the most beautiful' woman in town. The old woman told him about a certain girl whose beauty was unmatched in the whole city and insisted that he should marry her. The servant, now a rich man, made efforts and finally got married to that girl. While getting to know each other, the girl asked him as to who he was and where did he live. He told her: 'Actually, I belong to this very city, but I had to run away because I had slit the abdomen of a girl open.' Then he narrated the whole event. Hearing this, she said: 'I am that girl.' She showed him her abdomen. The cut mark was still there. Seeing this, the man said: 'If you are the same woman, I disclose two things about you.

The first one is that you will sleep , with a hundred men.' Thereupon, the woman confessed that she has done that, but she could not remember the number. The man said: 'The number is hundred. And the second one is that you will die through a spider.'The man who was now rich had a grand palace built for her which was absolutely free of any spider webs. On a certain day, while they were resting in their room in the palace, they noticed a spider on the wall. The woman said: 'Is this the spider you scare me of?' The man said: 'Yes.' Thereupon, she sprang up from the bed saying: 'Then, this one I am going to kill right now.' Having said that, she downed the spider on the floor and trampled her dead under her feet.

The spider died all right but the poison from her infected her feet and nails and the message of death became all too clear for her. (Ibn Kathir)Here was a woman living in a palace, new and very clean, but she died through a spider all of a sudden. Compare her case with many others who spent a life-time in fighting battles yet death did not come to them there. Think of Sayyidna Khalid ibn Walid ؓ ، the famous soldier and general of Islam known by his oft-repeated title, Saifullah - the Sword of Allah. He had a burning desire to die as martyr in the way of Allah. So, he kept fighting all his life, engaging in one Jihad after another and longing to become a Shahid. He killed thousands of disbelievers on the battlefields, living dangerously and daringly against many a trial, always praying and pleading that he be saved from the fate of dying in bed like women and praying and pleading that Allah favour him with the death of a fearless soldier in the heat of some Jihad. But, as. decreed by Allah, he finally died nowhere else but on his own bed in the house.

The lesson is that the arrangement of life and death stays in the hands of our creator whose decisions are final. There is nothing we can do about it. It is He who can, if He wills, give us death on a luxury bed at the hands of a spider; or, if He elects to save us, he can keep us alive amid swinging swords or zooming fires.

وقوله : ( أينما تكونوا يدرككم الموت ولو كنتم في بروج مشيدة ) أي : أنتم صائرون إلى الموت لا محالة ، ولا ينجو منه أحد منكم ، كما قال تعالى : ( كل من عليها فان [ ويبقى وجه ربك ذو الجلال والإكرام ] ) [ الرحمن : 26 ، 27 ] وقال تعالى ( كل نفس ذائقة الموت ) [ آل عمران : 185 ] وقال تعالى : ( وما جعلنا لبشر من قبلك الخلد ) [ الأنبياء : 34 ] والمقصود : أن كل أحد صائر إلى الموت لا محالة ، ولا ينجيه من ذلك شيء ، وسواء عليه جاهد أو لم يجاهد ، فإن له أجلا محتوما ، وأمدا مقسوما ، كما قال خالد بن الوليد حين جاءه الموت على فراشه : لقد شهدت كذا وكذا موقفا ، وما من عضو من أعضائي إلا وفيه جرح من طعنة أو رمية ، وها أنا أموت على فراشي ، فلا نامت أعين الجبناء .وقوله : ( ولو كنتم في بروج مشيدة ) أي : حصينة منيعة عالية رفيعة . وقيل : هي بروج في السماء . قاله السدي ، وهو ضعيف . والصحيح : أنها المنيعة .

أي : لا يغني حذر وتحصن من الموت ، كما قال زهير بن أبي سلمى :ومن خاف أسباب المنية يلقها ولو رام أسباب السماء بسلمثم قيل : " المشيدة " هي المشيدة كما قال : ( وقصر مشيد ) [ الحج : 45 ] وقيل : بل بينهما فرق ، وهو أن المشيدة بالتشديد ، هي : المطولة ، وبالتخفيف هي : المزينة بالشيد وهو الجص .وقد ذكر ابن جرير ، وابن أبي حاتم هاهنا حكاية مطولة عن مجاهد : أنه ذكر أن امرأة فيمن كان قبلنا أخذها الطلق ، فأمرت أجيرها أن يأتيها بنار ، فخرج ، فإذا هو برجل واقف على الباب ، فقال : ما ولدت المرأة ؟ فقال : جارية ، فقال : أما إنها ستزني بمائة رجل ، ثم يتزوجها أجيرها ، ويكون موتها بالعنكبوت . قال : فكر راجعا ، فبعج الجارية بسكين في بطنها ، فشقه ، ثم ذهب هاربا ، وظن أنها قد ماتت ، فخاطت أمها بطنها ، فبرئت وشبت وترعرعت ، ونشأت أحسن امرأة ببلدتها فذهب ذاك [ الأجير ] ما ذهب ، ودخل البحور فاقتنى أموالا جزيلة ، ثم رجع إلى بلده وأراد التزويج ، فقال لعجوز : أريد أن أتزوج بأحسن امرأة بهذه البلدة . فقالت له : ليس هنا أحسن من فلانة . فقال : اخطبيها علي . فذهبت إليها فأجابت ، فدخل بها فأعجبته إعجابا شديدا ، فسألته عن أمره ومن أين مقدمه ؟ فأخبرها خبره ، وما كان من أمره في هربه . فقالت : أنا هي .

وأرته مكان السكين ، فتحقق ذلك فقال : لئن كنت إياها فلقد أخبرتني باثنتين لا بد منهما ، إحداهما : أنك قد زنيت بمائة رجل . فقالت : لقد كان شيء من ذلك ، ولكن لا أدري ما عددهم ؟ فقال : هم مائة . والثانية : أنك تموتين بالعنكبوت .

فاتخذ لها قصرا منيعا شاهقا ، ليحرزها من ذلك ، فبينا هم يوما إذا بالعنكبوت في السقف ، فأراها إياها ، فقالت : أهذه التي تحذرها علي ، والله لا يقتلها إلا أنا ، فأنزلوها من السقف فعمدت إليها فوطئتها بإبهام رجلها فقتلتها ، فطار من سمها شيء فوقع بين ظفرها ولحمها ، فاسودت رجلها وكان في ذلك أجلها .ونذكر هاهنا قصة صاحب الحضر ، وهو " الساطرون " لما احتال عليه " سابور " حتى حصره فيه ، وقتل من فيه بعد محاصرة سنتين ، وقالت العرب في ذلك أشعارا منها :وأخو الحضر إذ بناه وإذ دج لة تجبى إليه والخابورشاده مرمرا وجلله كل سا فللطير في ذراه وكورلم تهبه أيدي المنون فباد ال ملك عنه فبابه مهجورولما دخل على عثمان يقول : اللهم اجمع أمة محمد ، ثم تمثل بقول الشاعر :أرى الموت لا يبقي عزيزا ولم يدع لعاد ملاذا في البلاد ومربعايبيت أهل الحصن والحصن مغلق ويأتي الجبال في شماريخها معاوقوله : ( وإن تصبهم حسنة ) أي : خصب ورزق من ثمار وزروع وأولاد ونحو ذلك هذا معنى قول ابن عباس وأبي العالية والسدي ( يقولوا هذه من عند الله وإن تصبهم سيئة ) أي : قحط وجدب ونقص في الثمار والزروع أو موت أولاد أو نتاج أو غير ذلك . كما يقوله أبو العالية والسدي . ( يقولوا هذه من عندك ) أي : من قبلك وبسبب اتباعنا لك واقتدائنا بدينك .

كما قال تعالى عن قوم فرعون : ( فإذا جاءتهم الحسنة قالوا لنا هذه وإن تصبهم سيئة يطيروا بموسى ومن معه ) [ الأعراف : 131 ] وكما قال تعالى : ( ومن الناس من يعبد الله على حرف [ فإن أصابه خير اطمأن به وإن أصابته فتنة انقلب على وجهه خسر الدنيا والآخرة ] ) الآية [ الحج : 11 ] . وهكذا قال هؤلاء المنافقون الذين دخلوا في الإسلام ظاهرا وهم كارهون له في نفس الأمر ; ولهذا إذا أصابهم شر إنما يسندونه إلى اتباعهم للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وقال السدي : ( وإن تصبهم حسنة ) قال : والحسنة الخصب ، تنتج خيولهم وأنعامهم ومواشيهم ، ويحسن وتلد نساؤهم الغلمان قالوا : ( هذه من عند الله وإن تصبهم سيئة ) والسيئة : الجدب والضرر في أموالهم ، تشاءموا بمحمد صلى الله عليه وسلم وقالوا : ( هذه من عندك ) يقولون : بتركنا واتباعنا محمدا أصابنا هذا البلاء ، فأنزل الله عز وجل : ( قل كل من عند الله ) فقوله ( قل كل من عند الله ) أي الجميع بقضاء الله وقدره ، وهو نافذ في البر والفاجر ، والمؤمن والكافر .قال علي بن أبي طلحة ، عن ابن عباس : ( قل كل من عند الله ) أي : الحسنة والسيئة . وكذا قال الحسن البصري .ثم قال تعالى منكرا على هؤلاء القائلين هذه المقالة الصادرة عن شك وريب .

وقلة فهم وعلم ، وكثرة جهل وظلم : ( فمال هؤلاء القوم لا يكادون يفقهون حديثا )ذكر حديث غريب يتعلق بقوله تعالى : ( قل كل من عند الله )قال الحافظ أبو بكر البزار : حدثنا السكن بن سعيد ، حدثنا عمر بن يونس ، حدثنا إسماعيل بن حماد ، عن مقاتل بن حيان ، عن عمرو بن شعيب ، عن أبيه ، عن جده قال : كنا جلوسا عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ; فأقبل أبو بكر وعمر في قبيلتين من الناس ، وقد ارتفعت أصواتهما ، فجلس أبو بكر قريبا من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ; وجلس عمر قريبا من أبي بكر ، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : " لم ارتفعت أصواتكما ؟ " فقال رجل : يا رسول الله ، قال أبو بكر : الحسنات من الله والسيئات من أنفسنا . فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : " فما قلت يا عمر ؟ " قال : قلت : الحسنات والسيئات من الله تعالى . فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : " إن أول من تكلم فيه جبريل وميكائيل ، فقال ميكائيل مقالتك يا أبا بكر ، وقال جبريل مقالتك يا عمر فقال : نختلف فيختلف أهل السماء وإن يختلف أهل السماء يختلف أهل الأرض . فتحاكما إلى إسرافيل ، فقضى بينهم أن الحسنات والسيئات من الله " .

ثم أقبل على أبي بكر وعمر فقال " احفظا قضائي بينكما ، لو أراد الله ألا يعصى لم يخلق إبليس " .قال شيخ الإسلام تقي الدين أبو العباس ابن تيمية : هذا حديث موضوع مختلق باتفاق أهل المعرفة .