Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

4Go forth, whether you be lightly or heavily armed,and strive in God’s cause with your wealth andyour lives. This will be best for you if you butknew it. (41)(#ρ߉Îγ≈y_uρ Zω$s)ÏOuρ $]ù$xÅz(#ρãÏΡ$#«!$# È≅‹Î6 y ’Îû öΝä3Å¡àΡr& uρ öΝà6Ï9≡ uθøΒr'Î/∩⊆⊇∪ šχθßϑn=÷ès? óΟçFΖä. βÎ) öΝä3©9 ×ö yz öΝä3Ï9≡ sŒOverviewIt is perhaps most likely that the present passage was revealed after the order wasgiven for general mobilization for the Tabūk Expedition. The Prophet receivedintelligence that the Byzantines were deploying large forces in southern Syria nearthe borders with Arabia. He was also informed that the Byzantine Emperor hadordered that all soldiers taking part should be given their salaries a year in advance.A number of Arab tribes in the area, such as Lukham, Judām, `Amilah and Ghassānhad also joined the Byzantine forces, and advance units had already been deployedin al-Balqā’ in Palestine. Therefore, the Prophet issued an order to prepare for waragainst the Byzantines.It was the Prophet’s standard strategy when he set out of Madinah to confront anenemy that he kept his destination unknown in order to maintain an element ofsurprise. This time, however, he made his objective very clear because of the longtravelling expected and the difficult circumstances. The timing of this expeditioncoincided with the burning heat of summer, when people would seek the shade andbe keen to enjoy the summer fruits. At such a time all physical activity, let alonemilitary confrontation a long way from home, was to be avoided. Hence, thesymptoms we mentioned in the Prologue started to appear among the Muslims. Thehypocrites felt this to be their chance to dissuade the Muslims from joining theProphet. They advised them not to march in the hot summer, and warned themagainst the might of the Byzantines and the long, weakening travel they would haveto endure. Hence some people began to feel uneasy. This passage, then, deals withthis type of reluctance.A Slackening ResolveThe passage begins with a word of reproach and a warning against the reluctanceto join the campaign of jihād, or struggle for God’s cause. The believers are remindedof the help God gave to His Messenger even before any one of them had joined him,and also of His ability to help him to victory without them. In such an eventualitythey would have nothing except their disobedience of God and their failure tosupport His Messenger.128