O You Who Believe

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"O you who have believed, fight those adjacent to you of the disbelievers and let them find in you harshness. And know that Allah is with the righteous."

[At-Taubah 9:123]

This verse explains the order for Jihad against the disbelievers in the closest, then the farthest areas.

Allah commands the believers to fight the disbelievers, the closest in area to the Islamic state, then the farthest. This is why the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) started fighting the idolators in the Arabian Peninsula. When he finished with them and Allah gave him control over Makkah, Al-Madinah, At-Ta'if, Yemen, Yamamah, Hajr, Khaybar, Hadramawt and other Arab provinces, and the various Arab tribes entered Islam in large crowds, he then started fighting the People of the Scriptures.

He began preparations to fight the Romans who were the closest in area to the Arabian Peninsula, and as such, had the most right to be called to Islam, especially since they were from the People of the Scriptures.

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) marched until he reached Tabuk and went back because of the extreme hardship, little rain and little supplies. This battle occurred on the ninth year after his Hijrah. In the tenth year, the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) was busy with the Farewell Hajj.

Eighty-one days after he returned from that Hajj, Allah chose him for what He had prepared for him in Paradise.

After his death, his executor, friend, and Khalifah, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (R.A) became the leader. At that time, the religion came under attack and would have been defeated, if it had not been for the fact that Allah gave the religion firmness through Abu Bakr, who established its basis and made its foundations firm. He brought those who strayed from the religion back to it, and made those who reverted from Islam return. He took the Zakah from the evil people who did not want to pay it, and explained the truth to those who were unaware of it. On behalf of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasallam), Abu Bakr delivered what he was entrusted with. Then, he started preparing the Islamic armies to fight the Roman cross worshippers, and the Persian fire worshippers. By the blessing of his mission, Allah opened the lands for him and brought down Caesar and Kisra and those who obeyed them among the servants. Abu Bakr spent their treasures in the cause of Allah, just as the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) had foretold would happen. This mission continued after Abu Bakr at the hands of he whom Abu Bakr chose to be his successor, Al-Faruq, the Martyr of the Mihrab, Abu Hafs, Umar bin Al-Khattab (R.A).

With Umar, Allah humiliated the disbelievers, suppressed the tyrants and hypocrites, and opened the eastern and western parts of the world. The treasures of various countries were brought to Umar from near and far provinces, and he divided them according to the legitimate and accepted method. Umar then died as a martyr after he lived a praise worthy life.

Then, the Companions among the Muhajirin and Ansar agreed to chose after Umar, Uthman bin Affan, Leader of the faithful and Martyr of the House, may Allah be pleased with him. During Uthman's reign, Islam wore its widest garment and Allah's unequivocal proof was established in various parts of the world over the necks of the servants. Islam appeared in the eastern and western parts of the world and Allah's Word was elevated and His religion apparent. The pure religion reached its deepest aims against Allah's enemies, and whenever Muslims overcame an Ummah, they moved to the next one, and then the next one, crushing the tyranical evil doers.

They performed all the Jihad in reverence to these words of Allah.

Th verse literally means let the disbelievers find harshness in you against them in battle. The complete believer is he who is kind to his believing brother, and harsh with his disbelieving enemy. 

In another verse, Allah says,

"Allah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers..."

[Qur'an 5:54]

Similarly,

"Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. And those who are with him are severe against the disbelievers, and merciful among themselves."

[Qur'an 48:29]

The last part of the verse indicates that if you have Taqwa, then there is no need for you to worry as Allah is with those who are righteous and have Taqwa.

Allah, here, uses the words 'And know that', which means Allah assures those who are righteous that thwy can trust Allah and they should know that the believers have Allah on their side even if the whole world is against them.

It also relates to the upper part of the verse i.e fight the disbelievers and trust in Allah knowing that Allah is with you if you fear and obey Him.

This was the case in the first three blessed generations of Islam, the best members of this Ummah. Since they were firm on the religion and reached an unsurpassed level of obedience to Allah, they consistently prevailed over their enemies. During that era, victories were abundant, and enemies were ever more in a state of utter loss and degradation.

However, after the turmoil began, desires and divisions became prevalent between various Muslim kings, the enemies were eager to attack the outposts of Islam and marched into its territory without much opposition. Then, the Muslim kings were too busy with their enmity for each other.

The disbelievers then marched to the capital cities of the Islamic states, after gaining control over many of its areas, in addition to entire Islamic lands. Verily, ownership of all affairs is with Allah in the beginning and in the end. Whenever a just Muslim king stood up and obeyed Allah's orders, all the while trusting in Allah, Allah helped him regain control over some Muslim lands and took back from the enemy what was compatible to his obedience and support to Allah.

We ask Allah to help the Muslims gain control over the forelocks of His disbeliever enemies and to raise high the word of Muslims over all lands. Verily, Allah is Most Generous, Most Giving.

Things we learnt:

> The rules for Islamic Jihad by Allah are to first fight the disbelievers in the adjacent i.e neighbouring areas and then proceed to those afar to spread the name of Allah. This, however, doesn't mean that Islam in earlier times was forced on people through swords. Jihad is the last step when the hearts of disbelievers become too hard  and locked that they don't hear even if the verses of Qur'an are read infront of them and they don't see the light of Allah that is infront of them. In this way, their hearts become blind and even though they are shown the light, they turn to the darkness. For such people, Jihad is the last option. Islam was not spread by swords, but by the best practical example, that is, the Prophet of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasallam).

> Allah next commands for the believers to show harshness to the disbelievers because they are the enemies of Islam and Allah.

> Allah assures the believers that He is with those who are righteous.

May Allah guide us to the right path.
Ameen.
Wama alayna illal balaghul mubeen.