Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | THE BASIS OF INTER-COMMUNAL RELATIONSwas perseverance. When they demonstrated their perseverance and sought the prizeof admittance into heaven and nothing else, God granted them victory andencouraged them to achieve it so that it would soothe their hearts and bring them fullsatisfaction. In such circumstances, victory is not granted to the Muslim communityas individuals or as a community; it is granted to God’s message. The Muslims areonly the means for the execution of His will.It was also necessary that the Muslims should launch their struggle against all theidolaters as one camp, and that all treaties with all the idolaters should be terminatedat the same time, and that the Muslims would form a solid, united camp against allidolaters. Thus, those who had harboured different intentions and sought excuses ofbusiness, blood relations or other interests to justify their continued dealings with theidolaters should make their true position clear, free of all ambiguity. All such excuseshad to be tested so that those who make of them a means to maintain close relationswith the idolaters, in preference to their association with God, His Messenger and thebelievers should be known. If such excuses could be made in the past when relationsbetween different camps had not crystallized, there was no room for any ambiguitynow: “Do you think that you will be left alone, unless God takes cognizance of those of youwho strive hard for His cause and establish close association with none other than God, HisMessenger and the believers? God is well aware of what you do.” (Verse 16)As happens in all communities, there was a group among the Muslims that wasskilled in manoeuvres, climbing over fences and making plausible excuses. Makinguse of the fluid situation when relations between the different camps had notcrystallized, such people continued to make contacts with the enemy behind thebacks of the Muslim community, seeking to serve only their own interests. Now thatthe situation was finally outlined, with each camp making its standpoint very clear,all such loopholes and back doors were finally and firmly closed.It is certainly in the interest of the Muslim community and the interest of theIslamic faith to make the situation clear and to lay all intentions bare, so that thosewho strive hard for no reason other than earning God’s pleasure are distinguished bytheir sincerity. Similarly those who have different intentions, and those who try tocircumvent Islamic rules in order to pursue their own interests with the unbelieversare also known.God has known such people all the time. Nothing is added to God’s knowledge asa result of any event or action. “God is well aware of what you do.” (Verse 16) He,however, holds people to account only for what appears of their reality through theirown actions. It is His method to test people so that their true feelings and what theyharbour in their innermost hearts are made to appear. The best way to do this is totest them with hardship.70