Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | THE BASIS OF INTER-COMMUNAL RELATIONSAn Order to FightThe feelings of those early Muslims were heightened when they were reminded ofthose events: how the idolaters plotted to assassinate the Prophet, and how theyrepeatedly violated their agreements with the Muslims and launched a treacherousattack against them, taking them by surprise whenever a chance presented itself.They also remembered how the idolaters, in their despotic insolence, were the first toattack them. With their feelings so heightened, they are encouraged to fight theidolaters and are promised victory over them: “Fight them: God will punish them atyour hands, and will bring disgrace upon them; and will grant you victory over them and willgrant heart felt satisfaction to those who are believers, removing all angry feelings from theirhearts.” (Verses 14-15)When you fight them, God will make you the means of the execution of His will,and He will bring about their punishment by your hands, causing them to bedefeated and humiliated after they have arrogantly been demonstrating their power.With the victory He will grant you, God will make the believers who had been at thereceiving end of the idolaters’ repression and persecution happy. This happiness willcome about as a result of the complete victory of the truth and the defeat of falsehoodand its advocates.But this is not all. There is more good news and more reward for certain people:“God will turn in His mercy to whom He wills.” (Verse 15) When the Muslims achievevictory some of the idolaters may open their hearts to the truth. They may be able torecognize that this victory was achieved with the help of a power that is totallysuperior to all that human beings can muster. They may appreciate the effects faithbrings about in the outlook and behaviour of the believers and feel that faith makesits followers better people. All this takes place in reality. Hence the believers receivethe reward for their jihād and struggle against disbelief, and they are rewarded forenabling unbelievers to see the truth of faith. Islam will gain in strength as a result ofthose who join its ranks after the victory of the believers: “God is All-knowing andWise.” (Verse 15) He knows the outcome of events before they even take place, and inHis wisdom, He is aware of the results and effects of forthcoming actions and moves.The emergence of the power of Islam and its establishment as a force to bereckoned with will inevitably attract the hearts and minds of people who may preferto turn away from Islam when it is weak or when its power and influence are notclearly demonstrated. The advocates of Islam will have a much easier task in tryingto make the truth of Islam clear to people when they have the sort of power whichcauses their community to be held in awe by others. It must be remembered,however, that when God educated the small, persecuted Muslim community inMakkah, implanting the Qur’ānic principles in their hearts, He promised them onlyone thing, which was heaven, and He made only one requirement of them, which69