O You Who Believe

44)

" O you who have believed, when you meet those who disbelieve advancing [for battle], do not turn to them your backs [in flight]."

[Al-Anfal 8:15]

After surah Al-Maidah which is the 5th surah of the Qur'an, the next time Allah communicates directly with the believers to command, prohibit or advise is in surah Al-Anfal which is the 8th surah of the Holy Qur'an.

This command of Allah is beautiful, honourable, reassuring and  strengthening.

Surah Al-Anfal rounds around events of ghazwa-e-badar. This was the first battle Muslims had with the non-believers and it was a miraculous battle between 1000 non-believers and 313 believers. Allah bestowed the believers with a glorious victory.

Initially, the less numbered Muslims started doubting Allah when the command of a battle was given. They got afraid because they were weaponless and the enemy outnumbered them. They were on the verge of forgetting that they had the One in whose Hands is the entire universe. Some of them thought to back away and leave. This is why this verse was revealed.

Allah warned them against fleeing from the battlefield. It means when you get near the enemy and march towards them, do not run away from battle and leave your fellow Muslims behind.

The next verse states two situations in which backing away (temporarily) is allowed.

"And whoever turns his back to them on such a day – unless it be a stratagem of war or to retreat to a troop (of his own) – he indeed has drawn upon himself the wrath from Allah and his abode is Hell and worst indeed is that destination."

[Al-Anfal 8:16]

The Ayah says, whoever flees from the enemy by way of planning to pretend that he is afraid of the enemy, so that they follow him and he takes the chance and returns to kill the enemy, then there is no sin on him. This is the explanation of Sa'id bin Jubayr and As-Suddi. Ad-Dahhak also commented, "Whoever went ahead of his fellow Muslims to investigate the strength of the enemy and make use of him.

Or he leaves from here to another troop of Muslims to assist them or be assisted by them. So that is allowed for him, or even during the battle if he flees from his brigade to the commander. Or going to the grand Imam, would also fall under this permission."

Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA) said about Abu 'Ubayd when he was fighting on the bridge in the land of the Persians, because of the many Zoroastrian soldiers, "If he retreated to me then I would be as a troop for him."

This is how it was reported by Muhammad bin Sirin from 'Umar. In the report of Abu 'Uthman An-Nahdi from 'Umar, he said: When Abu 'Ubayd was fighting, 'Umar said, "O people! We are your troop." Mujahid said that 'Umar said, "We are the troop of every Muslim." Abdul-Malik bin 'Umayr reported from 'Umar, "O people! Don't be confused over this Ayah, it was only about the day of Badr, and we are a troop for every Muslim."

Ad-Dahhak commented that Allah's statement:

(or to retreat to a troop), refers to "Those who retreat to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his Companions (when the Messenger ﷺ was alive), and those who retreat in the present time to his commander or companions." However, if one flees for any other reason than those mentioned here, then it is prohibited and considered a major sin. Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"Shun the seven great destructive sins."

The people inquired, "O Allah's Messenger! What are they?" He said:

"(They are) Joining others in worship with Allah, magic taking life which Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islamic law), consuming Riba, consuming an orphan's wealth, fleeing the battlefield at the time of fighting, and false accusation to chaste women, who never even think of anything touching chastity and are good believers."

This is why Allah has said here that the one who flees from the battlefield, he returned with the worst destination, and dwelling place on the Day of Return because the fire is his abode. Allah Himself describes the Hellfire as the worst destination.

Things we learnt:

> During a battlefield, it is not permissible for a believer to turn his back on the disbelievers and run away for his life.

> The two conditions in which backing away is allowed are; to use wisdom to trap the enemy or to join another troop and exert greater force on the enemy. In either case, retreating from the battlefield is not allowed. This means a believer should remain strong and persevere till the end because Allah is with him. If the battle ends his life then it is a part of our belief that a martyr is eternally alive and is ranked among the highest and even before his blood lands on the ground, Allah forgives all his sins. And in some cases like in Imam Hussein's (RA) case, after he had been martyred, before his sweat had dried, he had met with the Prophet of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasallam). This is the beautiful rank of a martyr in Islam. And what could be a better deed than presenting one's life, which is given by Allah to Allah in the name of Allah? May Allah make us among those who fight for Allah till the end.

> Lastly, the punishment of the person who flees from the battlefield without any intention of coming back. Hellfire is his abode because he has returned with Allah's wrath. And Hellfire is the worst abode.

May Allah protect us from the fire and forgive us.
Ameen.
Wama alayna illal balaghul mubeen.