Sunday, 1 May 2016

Refraining from fighting

Lesson # 1018 from Noble Quran

Refraining from fighting

Surah ‘ANFAAL (SPOILS OF WAR) – Chapter – 8)
Stage – 2, Verse – 61 of 75, Section – 8 of 10 (Part - 10)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim
In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

61.  And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Lo! He, even He, is the Hearer, the Knower.            
61.  Wa  ‘in-  janahuu  lis-salmi  fajnah-  lahaa  wa  ta-wakkal  ‘alAllaah.  ‘Inna-Huu  Huwas-Samii-‘ul-‘Aliim.        

Lesson

Janahuu – {(if they) incline)}, this word has been derived from janhun, which means “to incline, to turn, to lean, to bow”. From the same origin, ‘ijnah is a word of command, which has been used next to it in the same verse (fajnah) i.e. you should incline.

Salmi – (the peace), from this origin; many other words have come out as “Muslim, Islam, Salaamat, Salaam, Tasliim” etc. All these kinds of words are used for “peace, truce, union, safety, obedience and abide by the law”. Here it aims “peace, and refraining from fighting”.

It was commanded in the previous verse that you should keep yourselves busy with preparation for fighting, because the people are zealous for opposing you and the reason of their enmity is their selfishness only, due to which; all mischief people have been committing in the world.  

Until the people do not accept this fact that every individual is independent about his fundamental article of religion, on the condition; that the faith is not the foundation of disturbance, persecution and mischief, by then, freedom lovers should keep themselves ready for fighting.

This indicates that aim of war in Islam is neither blood-shed and nor conquest, but to seize the enemies of peace and safety, so that safety and peace is established in the world, and every individual may be busy in search of the Right independently, and after finding the Truth, nothing may prevent him from choosing it. Therefore, it was found necessary that peace-lovers must be ready completely with war equipment, so that the mischievous people are kept under control.

It is the reason that God Almighty commands in this verse: If the mischievous people declare their thought of peace and incline to it that they will not prevent anyone with force from adopting the Just, and will not spread strife and contention, then you should incline also to peace, because when your goal can be achieved without bloodshed, then there is no need of bloodshed unnecessarily by you and nor God Almighty enjoined to do so.

For understanding the reality of Islamic Jihad, its purposes and strategic situation, one should focus on these verses. It seems clear that if the people incline to abide by the principles of living together, and no one tries to fill own thoughts in others with force, but is ready to help the seeker of the Truth in every matter, then there is no need of any war or quarrel.

There was at the lowest bloodshed in those battles; which were fought in the beginning of Islam, contrary to all other worldly wars. It is against the teachings of Islam to compel anyone that if he will not accept Islam, will be killed. However, the mischievous and those people, who were opponents of the freedom of humankind; were overpowered strongly and severely, and when they were seized, then they were ignored.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Pak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)


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