Strive Hard in God’s cause with the Prophet.
9. [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H after Tabuk]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ وَهَاجَرُواْ
وَجَاهَدُواْ
فِي سَبِيلِ
اللّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ
وَأَنفُسِهِمْ
أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً
عِندَ اللّهِ...
9: 20. Those who believe, and suffer exile and strive with might and main, in Allah's cause, with their goods and their persons, have the highest rank in the sight of Allah:
C1270. Here is it good description of Jihad. It may require fighting in Allah's cause, its a form of self-sacrifice. But its essence consists in;
- a true and sincere Faith, which so fixes its gaze on Allah, that all selfish or worldly motives seem paltry and fade away, and
- an earnest and ceaseless activity, involving the sacrifice (if need be) of life, person, or property, in the service of Allah.
Mere brutal fighting is opposed to the whole spirit of Jihad, while the sincere scholar's pen or preacher's voice or wealthy man's contributions may be the most valuable forms of Jihad.
...وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ ﴿٢٠﴾
They are the people who will achieve (salvation).
وَإِذَآ أُنزِلَتْ
سُورَةٌ أَنْ
آمِنُواْ بِاللّهِ
وَجَاهِدُواْ
مَعَ رَسُولِهِ...
9: 86. When a Surah comes down, enjoining them to believe in Allah and to strive and fight along with his Messenger,
...اسْتَأْذَنَكَ أُوْلُواْ الطَّوْلِ مِنْهُمْ وَقَالُواْ ذَرْنَا نَكُن مَّعَ الْقَاعِدِينَ ﴿٨٦﴾
those with wealth and influence among them ask thee for exemption, and say:
"Leave us (behind): we would be with those who sit (at home)."
رَضُواْ
بِأَن يَكُونُواْ
مَعَ الْخَوَالِفِ...
9: 87. They prefer to be with (the women), who remain behind (at home):
C1339. Khawalif, plural of Khalifah, those (feminine) who remain behind at home when the men go to war: women. There is a stinging taunt in this, a suggestion that such men were cowards, preferring to remain behind like women when stiff work was to be done by men in defending their homes.
They were not only cowards, but fools: as they did not understand their own best interests. If the enemy got the better of their brethren, they would themselves be crushed.
"Their hearts are sealed": the habits of cowardice and hypocrisy which they have adopted have become their second nature.
...وَطُبِعَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لاَ يَفْقَهُونَ ﴿٨٧﴾
their hearts are sealed and so they understand not.
لَـكِنِ الرَّسُولُ
وَالَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ مَعَهُ
جَاهَدُواْ
بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ
وَأَنفُسِهِمْ...
9: 88. But the Messenger, and those who believe with him, strive and fight with their wealth and their persons:
...وَأُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمُ الْخَيْرَاتُ ...
for them are (all) good things:
C1340. "Good things," and "prosperity," are to be understood both in the physical and in the highest spiritual sense as the next verse makes clear.
... وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾
and it is they who will prosper.
أَعَدَّ اللّهُ
لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ
تَجْرِي مِن
تَحْتِهَا
الأَنْهَارُ
خَالِدِينَ
فِيهَا...
9: 89. Allah hath prepared for them gardens under which rivers flow,
to dwell therein:
...ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿٨٩﴾
that is the supreme felicity.
C1341. In this verse there is a reminiscence, but not an exact repetition, of verse 72 above. This balances the parallel repetition or reminiscence in verse 85 above. See n. 1338.
The symmetry of the argument is thus completed, as regards the Hypocrites of Madinah before we pass on to consider the case of the Hypocrites among the desert Bedouins in section 12.
9: 20
Asad Those who believe, and who have forsaken the domain of evil [note 30] and have striven hard in God’s cause with their possessions and their lives have the highest rank in the sight of God; and it is they, they who shall triumph [in the end]!
Pickthall Those who believe, and have left their homes and striven with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way are of much greater worth in Allah's sight. These are they who are triumphant.
Transliteration Allazina a_manu_ wa ha_jaru_ wa ja_hadu_ fi sabililla_hi bi amwa_lihim wa anfusihim, a'zamu darajatan 'indalla_h(i), wa ula_'ika humul fa_'izu_n(a).
[[ Asad’s note 30 – See surah 2, note 203, and surah 4, note 124]
[[ Ali’s notes: -
1270 Here is a good description of Jihad. It may require fighting in Allah's cause, its a form of self-sacrifice. But its essence consists in (1) a true and sincere Faith, which so fixes its gaze on Allah, that all selfish or worldly motives seem paltry and fade away, and (2) an earnest and ceaseless activity, involving the sacrifice (if need be) of life, person, or property, in the service of Allah. Mere brutal fighting is opposed to the whole spirit of Jihad, while the sincere scholar's pen or preacher's voice or wealthy man's contributions may be the most valuable forms of Jihad. (9.20)]]
Asad’s Version:
9: 86 [They are indeed denying it:] for, when they were called upon through revelation, “Believe in God, and strive hard [in His cause] together with His Apostle,” such of them as were well able asked you for exemption, saying, “Allow us to stay behind with those who remain at home!”
9: 87 They were well-pleased to remain with those who were left behind – wherefor their hearts have been sealed, so that they cannot grasp the truth.
9: 88 The Apostle, however, and all who share his faith strive hard [in God’s cause] with their possessions and their lives: and it is they whom the most excellent things await, and it is they, they who shall attain to a happy sate!
9: 89 God has readied for them gardens through which running waters flow, therein to abide: and this is the triumph supreme!
Pickthall’s Version:
9: 88
Pickthall But the messenger and those who believe with him strive with their wealth and their lives. Such are they for whom are the good things. Such are they who are the successful.
Transliteration La_kinir rasu_lu wallazina a_manu_ ma'ahu_ ja_hadu_ bi amwa_lihim wa anfusihim, wa ula_'ika lahumul khaira_t(u), wa ula_'ika humul muflihu_n(a).
[[ Ali’s notes: 1339 Khawalif, plural of khalifa, those (feminine) who remain behind at home when the men go to war: women. There is a stinging taunt in this, a suggestion that such men were cowards, preferring to remain behind like women when stiff work was to be done by men in defending their homes. They were not only cowards, but fools: as they did not understand their own best interests. If the enemy got the better of their brethren, they would themselves be crushed. "Their hearts are sealed": the habits of cowardice and hypocrisy which they have adopted have become their second nature. (9.87)
1340 "Good things," and "prosperity," are to be understood both in the physical and in the highest spiritual sense as the next verse makes clear. (9.88)
1341 In this verse there is a reminiscence, but not an exact repetition, of verse 72 above. This balances the parallel repetition or reminiscence in verse 85 above. See n. 1338. The symmetry of the argument is thus completed, as regards the Hypocrites of Madinah before we pass on to consider the case of the Hypocrites among the desert Bedouins in section 12. (9.89) ]]
9: 89
Pickthall Allah hath made ready for them Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide. That is the supreme triumph.
Transliteration A'addalla_hu lahum janna_tin tajri min tahtihal anha_ru kha_lidina fiha_, za_likal fauzul 'azim(u).