Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | THE EARTH’S SUFFOCATING EXPANSEThe deal fills us with awe. Yet those who are claiming to be Muslims everywhere,from the far east to the far west are sitting idle, unwilling to strive hard in order toestablish the fundamental truth of God’s Lordship on earth, or to remove the tyrannywhich usurps the qualities of Lordship over human life on earth. They are unwillingto fight, kill and be killed for God’s cause, and unwilling to undertake a struggle thatdoes not involve fighting and sacrificing one’s life.These words touched the hearts of the early Muslims at the time of the Prophetand were transformed into a reality that they would experience in life. They were notmere words carrying certain abstract meanings for contemplation and reflection.They were meant for immediate implementation. This is how `Abdullāh ibnRawāĥah felt at the time of the second pledge given by the Anşār to the Prophet at`Aqabah as reported by Muĥammad ibn Ka`b al-Qurażī and others: “ `Abdullāh ibnRawāĥah asked God’s Messenger to specify God’s conditions and his ownconditions. The Prophet said: `As for God, the condition is that you worship Himalone, associating no partners with Him. And as for myself, the condition is that youprotect me like you protect yourselves and your property.’ He said: ‘What do we getin return if we fulfil these terms?’ The Prophet said: ‘Paradise.’ They all said: ‘This isa profitable deal. We accept no going back and we will not go back on it ourselves.’”That is how they felt about the whole contract: it was a profitable deal that allowsno going back by either party. They treated it as a final deal concluded and sealed,with no opting out clause. The price, which is paradise, is paid, not deferred. Is it nota promise made by God Himself? Is He not the purchaser? Is He not the One whohas made an old promise specifying the price in all His revelations: “This is a truepromise which He has made binding on Himself in the Torah, the Gospel and the Qur’ān.”(Verse 111)“Who is more true to his promise than God?” (Verse 111) Indeed a promise by God iscertain to be honoured. No one fulfils his promises like He does.Jihād, or striving for God’s cause, is a deal made by every believer, ever since thefirst Messenger was sent to mankind with a religion setting out the principles offaith. It is a course of action that is necessary to put life on a proper footing. Withoutit human life will not follow its right course. It is as God says in the Qur’ān: “Had itnot been for the fact that God repels one group of people by another, the earth would have beenutterly corrupted.” (2: 251) And He also says: “Had it not been for the fact that God repelsone group of people by another, monasteries, temples, houses of worship and mosques,wherein God’s name is often praised, would have been pulled down.” (22: 40)A True Promise and a Profitable DealThe truth must certainly move along its well-known way, and it is inevitable that213