2. [al-Baqara, Medina 87 ]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَلَمْ
تَرَ إِلَى
الَّذِينَ
خَرَجُواْ مِن
دِيَارِهِمْ
وَهُمْ أُلُوفٌ
حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ...
2: 243. Didst thou not turn thy vision to those who abandoned their homes, though they were thousands (in number), for fear of death?
... فَقَالَ لَهُمُ اللّهُ مُوتُواْ ثُمَّ أَحْيَاهُمْ...
Allah said to them: "Die." Then He restored them to life.
C274. We now return to the subject of Jihad, which we left at n. 214-216.
We are to be under no illusion about it. If we are not prepared to fight for our faith, with our lives and all our resources, both our lives and our resources will be wiped out by our enemies.
As to life, Allah gave it, and a coward is not likely to save it. It has happened again and again in history that men who tamely submitted to be driven from their homes although they were more numerous than their enemies had the sentence of death pronounced on them for their cowardice, and they deserved it. But Allah gives further and further chances in His mercy. This is a lesson to every generation.
The Commentators differ as to the exact episode referred to, but the wording is perfectly general, and so is the lesson to be learnt from it.
... إِنَّ اللّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٢٤٣﴾
For Allah is full of bounty to mankind, but most of them are ungrateful.
وَقَاتِلُواْ
فِي سَبِيلِ
اللّهِ وَاعْلَمُواْ
أَنَّ اللّهَ
سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
﴿٢٤٤﴾
2: 244. Then fight in the Cause of Allah, and know that Allah heareth and knoweth all things.
C275. For Allah's cause we must fight, but never to satisfy our own selfish passions or greed, for the warning is repeated:
"God heareth and knoweth all things" all deeds, words and motives are perfectly open before Him, however we might conceal them from men or even from ourselves.
مَّن
ذَا الَّذِي
يُقْرِضُ اللّهَ
قَرْضًا حَسَنًا
...
2: 245. Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan,
C276. Spending in the cause of Allah is called metaphorically "a beautiful loan".
It is excellent in many ways:
- it shows a beautiful spirit of self-denial;
- in other loans there may be a doubt as to the safety of your capital or any return thereon; here you give in the Lord of All, in Whose hands are the keys of want or plenty;
giving you may have manifold blessings, and withholding you may even lose what you have.
If we remember that our goal is Allah, can we turn away from His cause?
... فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً ...
which Allah will double unto his credit and multiply many times?
... وَاللّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْسُطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٢٤٥﴾
It is Allah that giveth (you) want or plenty, and to Him shall be your return.
2: 243
Asad Art thou not aware of those who forsook their homelands in their thousands for fear of death – whereupon God said unto them, “Die,” and later brought them back to life? [note 232] Behold , God is indeed limitless in His bounty unto man – but most people are ungrageful.
Pickthall Bethink thee (O Muhammad) of those of old, who went forth from their habitations in their thousands, fearing death, and Allah said unto them: Die, and then He brought them back to life. Lo! Allah is a Lord of Kindness to mankind, but most of mankind give not thanks.
Transliteration Alam tara ilal lazina kharaju_ min diya_rihim wa hum ulu_fun hazaral ma_t(i), fa qa_la lahumulla_hu mu_tu_, summa ahya_kum innalla_ha lazu_ fadlin 'alan na_si wa la_kinna aksaran na_si la_ yasykuru_n(a).
[ Asad’s note 232 - …………….Now, neither the Quran not any authentic Tradition offers any indication as to who the people referred to in this verse may have been. ………….We must, therefore, assume (as Muhammad Abduh does in Manar II, 455 ff.) that the above allusion is parabolically connected with the subsequent call to the faithful to be ready to lay down their lives in God’s cause: an illustration of the fact that fear of physical death leads to the moral death of nations and communities, just as their regeneration (or “coming back to life”) depends on their regaining their moral status through overcoming the fear of death. This is undoubtedly the purport of the elliptical story of Samuel, Saul and David told in verses 246 – 251.]
[ Ali’s note - 274 We now return to the subject of Jihad, which we left at n. 214-216. We are to be under no illusion about it. If we are not prepared to fight for our faith, with our lives and all our resources, both our lives and our resources will be wiped out by our enemies. As to life, God gave it, and a coward is not likely to save it. It has happened again and again in history that men who tamely submitted to be driven from their homes although they were more numerous than their enemies had the sentence of death pronounced on them for their cowardice, and they deserved it. But God gives further and further chances in His mercy. This is a lesson to every generation. The Commentators differ as to the exact episode referred to, but the wording is perfectly general, and so is the lesson to be learnt from it. (2.243) ]
2: 244
Asad Fight, then, in God’s cause [note 233], and know that God is all-hearing, all-knowing.
Pickthall Fight in the way of Allah, and know that Allah is Hearer, Knower.
Transliteration Wa qa_tilu_ fi sabililla_hi wa'lamu_ annalla_ha sami'un'alim(un).
[Asad’s note 233 – I.e., in a just war in self-defense against oppression or unprovoked aggression (cf. 2:190-194).
[ Ali’s note - 275 For God's cause we must fight, but never to satisfy our own selfish passions or greed, for the warning is repeated: "God heareth and knoweth all things" all deeds, words and motives are perfectly open before Him, however we might conceal them from men or even from ourselves. See ii. 216, n. 236. (2.244) ]
Man zallazi yuqridulla_ha qardan hasanan fa yuda_'ifahu_ lahu_ ad'a_fan kasirah(tan), walla_hu yaqbidu wa yabsut(u), wa ilaihi turja'u_n(a).
2: 245
Asad Who is it that will offer up unto God a goodly loan [note 234], which He will amply reply, with manifold increase? For, God takes away, and He gives abundantly; and it is unto Him that you shall be brought back .
Pickthall Who is it that will lend unto Allah a goodly loan, so that He may give it increase manifold? Allah straiteneth and enlargeth. Unto Him ye will return.
Transliteration Man zallazi yuqridulla_ha qardan hasanan fa yuda_'ifahu_ lahu_ ad'a_fan kasirah(tan), walla_hu yaqbidu wa yabsut(u), wa ilaihi turja'u_n(a).
[ Asad’s note 234 – I.e., by sacrificing one’s life in, or devoting it to, His cause.]
[ Ali’s note - 276 Spending in the cause of God is called metaphorically "a beautiful loan". It is excellent in many ways: (1) it shows a beautiful spirit of self-denial; (2) in other loans there may be a doubt as to the safety of your capital or any return thereon; here you give in the Lord of All, in Whose hands are the keys of want or plenty; giving you may have manifold blessings, and withholding you may even lose what you have. If we remember that our goal is God, can we turn away from His cause? (2.245) ]