Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | THE EARTH’S SUFFOCATING EXPANSEI have heard this verse recited and have read it myself countless times over a longperiod starting from when I first memorized the Qur’ān and later when I used torecite and study it over a period of more than a quarter of a century. But when Ibegan to reflect on it in order to write about it in this commentary, I began tounderstand it in a way that did not occur to me previously.It is an inspiring verse, revealing the nature of the relationship between thebelievers and God, and the nature of the deal they make with God when they adoptIslam and which remains in force throughout their lives. Whoever makes this dealand remains true to it is the one who may truly be described as a believer reflectingthe nature of faith. Otherwise his claim to be a believer remains short of proof.The nature of this deal, or this contract of sale, as God graciously describes it, isthat He has taken for Himself the souls and property of the believers, leaving themnothing of all that. They do not retain any part of that which they would feel too dearto sacrifice for His cause. They no longer have any choice whether to spend it infurthering His cause or not. It is indeed a deal that has been concluded and sealed.The buyer may do what He likes, as He pleases, with what He has bought. The sellerhas no option other than to fulfil the terms of the deal. He cannot argue or make anychoices. He can only do what the deal specifies. The price given for this purchase isparadise, and the way to be followed by the sellers is that of jihād, fighting andsacrificing their lives, and the end result is either victory or martyrdom.“God has bought of the believers their lives and their property, promising them heaven inreturn: they fight for the cause of God, kill and be killed.” (Verse 111) Whoever is party tothis deal, signing the contract, paying the price agreed is a true believer. It is with thebelievers that God has made this deal of purchase. He has bestowed His grace onthem by specifying a price. He is, after all, the One who gives life and property to allHis creation, and He has also given human beings the ability to make a choice. Hethen bestowed further grace on human beings by making them able to makecontracts, even with God Himself, and holding them to their contracts. He makes thehonouring of their contract an evidence of their humanity, while going back on it isevidence of sinking back to the level of animals, and the worst of animals: “Indeed, theworst of all creatures in God’s sight are the ones who have denied the truth, and therefore willnot believe; those with whom you have concluded a treaty, and then they break their treaty atevery occasion, entertaining no sense of fearing God.” (8: 55-56) He has also made thehonouring or violation of such deals the criterion of reckoning and reward.It is indeed an awesome deal, but it remains binding on every believer who is ableto honour its terms. He is not to be exempt from it unless he goes back on his faith.Hence the sense of dread that I feel now as I am writing these words. “God has boughtof the believers their lives and their property, promising them heaven in return: they fight forthe cause of God, kill and be killed.” (Verse 111) My Lord, we certainly need Your help.212