Friday, October 26, 2012

Surah Al Anfal , 8 : Prologue....






Al-Anfal [ The Spoils of War ]

THE MUSLIMS" DEFEAT at the battle of Uhud in 625 AC, like their victory a year earlier at Badr in 624 AC, was not expected. Nevertheless, unexpected events are often the best means to test the caliber and tenacity of people. This surah was revealed in the wake of the Muslims triumph at Badr to explain and identify the influence of God and the role of people in the victory achieved in that battle. It makes clear that the victory awarded to the Muslims in that occasion was God-sent, in return for their steadfastness and perseverance all through the previous years. It further affirms that those valiant  men who fought so hard were an intrument of God in fulfillment of the Qur'anic prophecy: " Allah hath decreed: Lo! I verily shall conquer, I and My messengers. Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty. "( al- Mujadilah: 21) . The surah confirms that in this battle God sought, "...should cause the Truth to triumph by His words, and cut the root of the disbelievers," (7) 

The surah therefore opens with a statement affirming that the spoils of war are not the property of individual fighters, and that their distribution is up to God and His messenger. This immediately overrules the need dispute or disagreement over how they are to used or distributed. The battle's foremost objective was to establish that there were brave and selfless men among the Muslims willing to stand up for the truth.

They only are the (true) believers whose hearts feel fear when Allah is mentioned, and when revelations of Allah are recited unto them they increase their faith, and who trust in their Lord; (2) Who establish worship and spend of that We have bestowed on them. (3) Those are they who are in truth believers. For them are grades (of honour) with their Lord, and pardon, and a bountiful provision. (4)

These, then, are some of the features of true faith: remembering God, fearing Him, reciting His words, trusting Him, giving of one's wealth. But, towards the end of the surah, we are informed of yet more of the features. The faithful are also:

Those who believed and left their homes [ emigtated from Makkah to Madinah ] and strove for the cause of Allah, and those who took them in [ shelterd ] and helped them - these are the believers in truth. For them is pardon, and bountiful provision. (74)

True faith, therefore, also entails protecting one's religion by escaping to safety if and when necessary, fighting for the cause of God, and giving shelter and support to fellow believers. Elsewhere in the Qur'an, God says:

The (true) believers are those only who believe in Allah and His messenger and afterward doubt not, but strive with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah. Such are the sincere. ( al-Hujaraat: 15)

It is deep-seated sincerity, firm unshakable trust, and boundless generosity and sacrifice, giving up the dearest things any person can possess and cherish: wealth and life. In yet another surah, God says:

They only are the true believers who believe in Allah and His messenger and, when they are with him on some common errand, go not away until they have asked leave of him. Lo! those who ask leave of thee, those are they who believe in Allah and His messenger. So, if they ask thy leave for some affair of theirs, give leave to whom thou wilt of them, and ask for them forgiveness of Allah. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. ( al-Noor: 62)

These verses indicate collectively clearly that true faith has many manifestations. It has no rigid fixed definition, but is displayed in various actions and traits that are determined or dictated by circumstances. To prove their true faith, believers are accordingly required to rise to each occasion as it occur. Thus, when the Muslims were told to leave aside the spoils they gained in the battle and awaits God's decision, they accepted and obeyed. They knew for certain that whatever God was to decide would be in their interest.

When the Muslim expedition arrived in Badr, the Prophet issued his orders to Mislims to prepare for battle against the unbelievers. The original purpose of the expedition was to intercept the Arab trade caravan, but mow they found themselves preparing for a confrontation that was not of their own making. The reaction he received was mixed. Some thought that armed conflict would not be advisable since the Muslims had not been adequately prepared for it. They recommended waiting until other Muslims in Madinah had been mobilized and were able to join them at Badr, several kilometres south of Madinah. But the Prophet's opinion was that to decline the challenge of the Makkan Arabs at that particular moment would undermine the Muslim standing and demoralize their young community. He felt that God would not him down at such a critical moment in the history of Islam, and so he consulted his Companions and his final decision was to go ahead and fight. We read in the surah:

Even as thy Lord caused thee (Muhammad) to go forth from thy home with the Truth, and lo! a party of the believers were averse (to it). (5) Disputing with thee of the Truth after it had been made manifest, as if they were being driven to death visible. (6)

The Prophet's hope for victory was justified by the words:
And when Allah promised you one of the two bands (of the enemy) that it should be yours,[ the Makkan trade caravan or the armed non-Muslims fighters ] and ye longed that other than the armed one might be yours. And Allah willed that He should cause the Truth to triumph by His words, and cut the root of the disbelievers; "(7)

The Muslims obviously wished for the easy prey, the soft target. But God had other plans for them, which became clear only after the battle was over and victory was secured. God's aim was to "..cause the Truth to triumph and bring vanity to naught, however much the guilty might oppose," (8) . The normal human reaction of believers in such critical circumstances would be to resort to calling on God for help and support. As the Muslim came to realize the strength and superiority of their enemy they turned to God: "When ye sought help of your Lord and He answered you (saying): I will help you with a thousand of the angels, rank on rank." (9). Although one angel would have been enough to rout the unbelievers, God wanted to reassure the Muslims by mentioning the number: "Allah appointed it only as good tidings, and that your hearts thereby might be at rest. Victory cometh only by the help of Allah. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise." (10)


Just before the fighting commenced, The Prophet is reported to have prayed long and hard, entreating God to grant him and the Muslims the victory he had been promised. He is said to have gone as far as saying: " If this group of Muslims are defeated You shall never be worshiped again on this earth". With arms stretched high in the air and eyes fixed at the infinite skies, the Prophet was engrossed on earnest prayer. He saw Badr as a decisive battle, a last chance for Islam to triumph and spread. Abu Bakr, Muhammad's close confidant and a senior Companion, was standing behind him, allaying his fears and assuring him of God's certain victory. However the Prophet persisted with his pleadings until God words were revealed informing him of the outcome of the battle before it had even begun. In passing one may note that scholars have been intrigued by the contrast in Abu Bakr's  confident attitude at Badr, reassuring the prophet and calming him, and his  anxiety when they were together inside a cave just outside Makkah, being pursued by Arabs who were trying to prevent them from escaping to Madinah. The explanation lies in the fact that the Prohet's love of and devotion to God are supremely profound and deep- more than anyone else's. During the escape to Madinah, the Prophet was totally helpless and could . therefore, rely solely on God's aid and protection. But at Badr, he was in charge of an army possessing worldly means of material force. The Prophet's feeling was that despite the men and the force he had under his command, he was still in need of divine aid and support. No matter how strong or well equipped a fighting force may be, victory would only come by the will of God.

And so it was. Divine intervention was evident. The rain fell to keep the ground firm under the Muslim fighters' feet. The Muslims were at one point overcome by sleep, as a token of God's protection, and all their apprehension had evaporated. They experienced total inner peace and an overwhelming power to fight and fight well., while the enemyls camp fell into disarray., sustaining a most devastating defeat. " That is because they opposed Allah and His messenger. Whoso opposeth Allah and His messenger, (for him) lo! Allah is severe in punishment." (13). Even so, God's aid can only come to those fighters who have already made all possible preparations and taken all necessary measures to ensure victory. The first of these were the brave fighters themselves who were ready to give up their lives for the cause of God and the magnificent rewards in the hereafter.

Human nature tend to favor life over death, and prefer the safety of comfort to hardship and deprivation. Nevertheless, the surah urges the believers by saying: "O ye who believe! When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them," (15). The fear within must be defeated first, and the value of one's life should be placed in a proper perspective. At Badr, a handful of brave and dedicated Muslims were able to demonstrate that numbers and size are not the most decisive factor when it comes to war between infidels and true believers in God. God explains how this is possible:

Ye (Muslims) slew them not, but Allah slew them. And thou (Muhammad) threwest not when thou didst throw, but Allah threw, that He might test the believers by a fair test from Him. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower. (17]

Excerpt from " A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "
Muhammad al_Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]



'Running' reflection and commentary by Mufti Menk of Zimbabawe

               [ surah al-anfal and al-Taubah ]




 Reflection and commentary by Prof Quraish Shihab [ Malay/Indonesian ]
ayat 1 - ayat 8 : 

 Part 1 :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93rNpFO6Cvw

Part 2 :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmx_9yqKoTk

Part 3 :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4e9BiyIsLs

Part 4 :   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBB9L-AW9Ho

Part 5  :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey0SSJuHR54

Part 6  :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgvo_Q35eqQ

Part 8  :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqx1Oz-yikI


 ayat 9 - ayat 18 :










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