seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Quran 8:41. And know that whatever spoils you gain, to God belongs its fifth, and to the Messenger, and the relatives, and the orphans, and the poor, and to the wayfarer, provided you believe in God and in what We revealed to Our servant on the Day of Distinction, the day when the two armies met. God is Capable of everything.
42. Recall when you were on the nearer bank, and they were on the further bank, and the caravan was below you. Had you planned for this meeting, you would have disagreed on the timing, but God was to carry out a predetermined matter, so that those who perish would perish by clear evidence, and those who survive would survive by clear evidence. God is Hearing and Knowing.
43. God made them appear in your dream as few. Had He made them appear as many, you would have lost heart, and disputed in the matter. But God saved the situation. He knows what the hearts contain.
44. When you met, He made them appear as few in your eyes, and made you appear fewer in their eyes, so that God may conclude a predetermined matter. To God all matters revert.
45. O you who believe! When you meet a force, stand firm, and remember God much, so that you may prevail.
46. And obey God and His Messenger, and do not dispute, lest you falter and lose your courage. And be steadfast. God is with the steadfast.
47. And do not be like those who left their homes boastfully, showing off before the people, and barring others from the path of God. God comprehends what they do.
48. Satan made their deeds appear good to them, and said, “You cannot be defeated by any people today, and I am at your side.” But when the two armies came in sight of one another, he turned on his heels, and said, “I am innocent of you; I see what you do not see; I fear God; God is severe in punishment.”
49. The hypocrites and those in whose hearts is sickness said, “Their religion has deluded these people.” But whoever puts his trust in God—God is Mighty and Wise.
50. If only you could see, as the angels take away those who disbelieve, striking their faces and their backs: “Taste the agony of the Burning.”
51. “That is because of what your hands have committed, and because God is not unjust to the servants.”
52. Like the behavior of the people of Pharaoh, and those before them. They rejected the signs of God, so God seized them for their sins. God is Powerful, Severe in punishment.
53. That is because God would never change a blessing He has bestowed on a people unless they change what is within themselves, and because God is Hearing and Knowing.
54. Such was the case with the people of Pharaoh, and those before them. They denied the signs of their Lord, so We annihilated them for their wrongs, and We drowned the people of Pharaoh—they were all evildoers.
55. The worst of creatures in God's view are those who disbelieve. They have no faith.
56. Those of them with whom you made a treaty, but they violate their agreement every time. They are not righteous.
57. If you confront them in battle, make of them a fearsome example for those who follow them, that they may take heed.
58. If you fear treachery on the part of a people, break off with them in a like manner. God does not like the treacherous.
This is from the commentary.
Regarding the one-fifth spoken of here, the most generally accepted opinion is that it is to be divided again into five parts, the Prophet, the near of kin, the orphans, the poor, and the wayfarer being equal sharers. The near of kin included all individuals belonging to the tribes of Banß Håshim and Banß ‘Abd al-Mu∆∆alib, to whom zakåt money was not allowed. The poor among them were thus paid from this source of income. As to the Prophet’s twenty-fifth, it appears that it was also used for the benefit of the Muslims. The words of one of his sayings are: wa-l-khumsu mard∂d-un f ß-kum, i.e. the fifth (too) is given back to you. That the Prophet led a life of the utmost simplicity is admitted on all hands. The remaining four-fifths of the ghanßmah were divided among those who took part in the battle, as they were not otherwise paid for their services, but there is no order to this effect in the Qur’ån itself. It may be further noted that this arrangement was simply an exigency. The war was forced on the Muslims all of a sudden when the State had not yet been formed in the proper sense of the word; there was no army at all, nor a treasury from which to pay it; and just as they were required to carry it on on the basis of voluntary gifts, so they were allowed a share in the war acquisitions. If the State pays its soldiers as it pays its civil servants, the war acquisitions would all go to the State treasury, just as income from zakåt or tribute went to the State treasury. It is nowhere laid down that the Muslim State shall not maintain a regular army.
The day of Discrimination referred to here is the battle of Badr. It is so called because prophecies of an encounter between the Muslims and their enemies and of the vanquishment of the enemy are met with in very early revelations
The Muslims were so weak that they could not think of making an appointment with the enemy — they would have broken away from the appointment.
It shows how the opponents of Islåm disregarded their responsibility and violated their agreements. The use of the words every time with regard to these violations shows clearly that the Muslims never hesitated in making a new agreement when one was violated, but the disbelievers did not even then respect their agreements; hence, as a last resort, the Muslims were allowed to repudiate unrespected agreements
There is an ellipsis here, the meaning being, but an encounter was brought about without an appointment.
The person referred to here is said to have been Suråqah ibn Målik, who was of the tribe of Banß Bakr, a branch of Banß Kanånah. When setting out to attack Madßnah, the Quraish had a fear that the Banß Kanånah, who were their inveterate enemies, might attack Makkah in their absence. Suråqah gave them promise of help. It may be, however, that what is stated here is only the devil’s suggestion to the Quraish leaders.
If the other party does not remain faithful to the agreement of peace, the Muslims may also repudiate it. The use of the word fear does not indicate that a mere apprehension, unattended with any action on the part of the other party, is sufficient for repudiation.
There are some times when God wants us to defend ourselves. From these verses.... we are reminded that this was a few unarmed old men and a few inexperienced unarmed young boys. They had knives and swords of their own.... but they weren't well financed at all. They were rebel troops going up against trained armies. There is no way they were supposed to win the battle.... but they did. God was there. He planned the whole thing. If they had planned it... well they would have gone home.... because there is no way they were going to live through such an outnumbered event.... but they not only survived.... they won.God has a way of making a project look manageable when it's normally far from it. This is about taking on bullies.
When I was a kid.... I was a head taller than all the other kids in school. By the time I got to Junior High a few boys got a growth spirt and caught up with me.... but I was always all legs and taller than the rest. PE teachers salivated when they saw me.... they saw basketball scholarship written all over my stature.... but I was not good at basketball.....
Anyway.... back to the point.... there were always bullies. I'm a Navy Brat.... so I went to a few schools. I met a few bullies. I was always a head taller then them.... I physically looked down on them. My knees always shook.... I wanted to run.... every single time.... because just like I am no good at basketball.... I am no good at fighting. I'm kind.
BUT.... when a bully was picking on someone.... I was called to rescue.... yep.... pigtailed, freckled, all legs, tall Becky.... that's me. Bullies respected me..... shorties hated me..... ho ho ho.... the jolly green giant was scared of fighting.... but I would stand up for anyone who asked.... I'm kind.
I think.... this is about facing bullies.
