Tawba 13-16

Tawba 13-16

13- WOULD YOU NOT FIGHT PEOPLE WHO RENEGED ON THEIR OATHS, AND INTENDED TO TURN THE MESSENGER OUT, AND THEY WERE FIRST TO ATTACK YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE, DO YOU FEAR THEM?  ALLAH IS MORE WORTHY OF BEING FEARED IF YOU ARE BELIEVERS.

14- FIGHT THEM AND ALLAH WILL PUNISH THEM THROUGH YOUR HANDS, HUMILIATE THEM, GIVE YOU VICTORY OVER THEM AND RELIEVE THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE.

15- AND MAKES THE ANGER IN THEIR HEARTS GO, AND ALLAH PARDONS WHOM HE WILLS, AND ALLAH IS ALL KNOWING AND MOST WISE.

16- OR DID YOU THINK THAT YOU WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT ALLAH KNOWING THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH AND DID NOT TAKE OTHER THAN ALLAH, HIS MESSENGER AND HIS COMPANIONS FOR CLOSE COMPANIONS AND ALLIES, FOR ALLAH KNOWS WELL ALL YOU DO.

Allah the Highest is reminding His messenger prayer and peace upon him about the animosity the Idolaters have with Allah the Highest, His messenger, prayer and peace upon him, and the Muslims.  Allah the Highest is also reminding the Muslims that the Idolaters started the animosity and hatred with the Muslims.  They tortured the Muslims, killed some, persecuted them and attempted to kill Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him.  Allah the Highest said: “AS THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE PLOTTED AGAINST YOU, TO IMPRISON YOU, KILL YOU OR TURN YOU OUT, THEY ARE PLOTTING, HOWEVER ALLAH IS THE BEST PLANNER”.  (S:8 A:30)

And the Muslims had to leave their homes and property to save their lives and run away with their faith.  Allah the Highest said: “THEY TURN THE MESSENGER AS WELL AS YOU OUT FOR BELIEVING IN ALLAH YOUR LORD”.  (S:60 A:1)

Allah the Highest is telling the Muslims, that they are but one of the means, in His hands, to punish those he wishes to punish.  If the Muslims are pious, Allah the Highest uses them to punish the disbelievers and humiliate them.  This relieves the anger of those who suffered persecution by the disbelievers.

The believers should never forget Allah the Highest, who is on their side, then they should not fear any enemy, for Allah the Highest said: “DO NOT FEAR THEM, BUT FEAR ME”.  (S:2 A:150 & S:5 A:3)

Allah the Highest states that He pardons those who repent, and the repentance of the disbelievers is to believe, this is how they give up disbelief.  

The confrontation with the disbelievers is a test and a trial for the Muslims, and a test of the strength of their faith.  One might ask, why would Allah the Highest want to test our faith while he knows what is in our hearts?

1. Testing people shows the true believers from those of weaker faith, and from the hypocrites.  Allah the Highest said: “ALLAH WOULD NOT HAVE LEFT THE BELIEVERS AS THEY WERE WITHOUT DISTINGUISHING THE EVIL FROM THE GOOD, AND ALLAH WOULD NOT HAVE LET YOU KNOW WHAT IS HIDDEN”.  (S:3 A:179)
2. The response of the people to being tested will be evidence, for them or against them on the Day of Resurrection.  

Testing people has always been Allah’s policy on Earth since the creation of Adam, peace upon him, when Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat from one particular tree.

Since then, Allah the Highest has been testing all the people on Earth, particularly after they declare their faith.  Allah the Highest said: “DID PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY WILL BE LEFT FOR SAYING: “WE BELIEVE”, WITHOUT BEING TRIED AND TESTED”.   (S:29 A:2)

There are two strong evidence for having strong belief; which are:

1. Jihad with one’s self and/or money.
2. In the choosing of one’s close and entrusted companions, who should be from among the fellow believers.

Allah the Highest said: “OR DID YOU THINK YOU WILL ENTER THE PARADISE WITHOUT ALLAH KNOWING THOSE WHO FOUGHT FOR HIS CAUSE AND KNOW THOSE WHO ARE PATIENT AND PERSEVERING”.  (S:3 A:142)