Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | THE EARTH’S SUFFOCATING EXPANSEjihād, seeking flimsy excuses of ‘developing’ or ‘renewing’ the study of Islamic Fiqh.It is far better to acknowledge our weakness and lack of effort, seeking God’sforgiveness, than to resort to such evasiveness.Uncompromising FightWe then have a verse outlining the plan and extent of jihād, which wasimplemented by the Prophet Muĥammad (peace be upon him) and his successorsgenerally. The only exceptions were limited cases dictated by special circumstances:“Believers, fight those of the unbelievers who are near you, and let them find you tough; andknow that God is with those who are God-fearing.” (Verse 123)The jihād movement marched on, confronting those who were near to the land ofIslam, one stage after another. When practically the whole of Arabia had adoptedIslam, after Makkah itself fell to Islam, leaving only scattered individuals and groupswho did not form any threat to the land of Islam, the Tabūk Expedition took place,threatening the outer areas of the Byzantine Empire which were closest to theMuslim state. This was followed by open warfare, with the Muslim armies movingfar into the lands of both the Byzantine and Persian Empires, leaving no pocketsbehind them. The areas that were now under Islam were united, having continuousborders. It was a vast land area with solid loyalty to one authority.Weakness only crept in after its division into different units, with artificial bordersto allow the governments of certain ruling families or certain races and nationalities.This was the outcome of plans that the enemies of Islam tried hard to bring tofruition, as they still do today. The different ethnic communities which Islam unitedin a single nation or community in the land of Islam, superseding the divisions ofrace, language and colour, will continue to suffer from inherent weaknesses untilthey return to their faith. Only when they once again follow the guidance of God’sMessenger, the Prophet Muĥammad (peace be upon him), and allow only a singlebanner to unite them shall they recognize the implications of divine leadership whichwill once again bring them power and victory. When that happens, it will ensure thatthey are held in awe by other nations and powers.Let us now reflect on this verse: “Believers, fight those of the unbelievers who are nearyou, and let them find you tough; and know that God is with those who are God-fearing.”(Verse 123) What we find here is an order to fight those unbelievers who are near tothe Muslim state, without specifying whether these have launched any aggression onthe Muslims or their land. We understand that this is the final situation which makesthe need to carry Islam forward the basis of the principle of jihād. This will ensurethat Islam is available to mankind. It does not have a defensive outlook, as was thecase with the provisional orders in the early days after the establishment of the242