seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Quran 8:60. And prepare against them all the power you can muster, and all the cavalry you can mobilize, to terrify thereby God’s enemies and your enemies, and others besides them whom you do not know, but God knows them. Whatever you spend in God’s way will be repaid to you in full, and you will not be wronged.
61. But if they incline towards peace, then incline towards it, and put your trust in God. He is the Hearer, the Knower.
62. If they intend to deceive you—God is sufficient for you. It is He who supported you with His aid, and with the believers.
63. And He united their hearts. Had you spent everything on earth, you would not have united their hearts, but God united them together. He is Mighty and Wise.
64. O prophet! Count on God, and on the believers who have followed you.
65. O prophet! Rouse the believers to battle. If there are twenty steadfast among you, they will defeat two hundred; and if there are a hundred of you, they will defeat a thousand of those who disbelieve; because they are a people who do not understand.
66. God has now lightened your burden, knowing that there is weakness in you. If there are a hundred steadfast among you, they will defeat two hundred; and if there are a thousand of you, they will defeat two thousand by God’s leave. God is with the steadfast.
67. It is not for a prophet to take prisoners before he has subdued the land. You desire the materials of this world, but God desires the Hereafter. God is Strong and Wise.
68. Were it not for a predetermined decree from God, an awful punishment would have afflicted you for what you have taken.
69. So consume what you have gained, legitimate and wholesome; and remain conscious of God. God is Forgiving and Merciful.
70. O prophet! Say to those you hold prisoners, “If God finds any good in your hearts, He will give you better than what was taken from you, and He will forgive you. God is Forgiving and Merciful.”
71. But if they intend to betray you, they have already betrayed God, and He has overpowered them. God is Knowing and Wise.
72. Those who believed, and emigrated, and struggled in God’s cause with their possessions and their persons, and those who provided shelter and support—these are allies of one another. As for those who believed, but did not emigrate, you owe them no protection, until they have emigrated. But if they ask you for help in religion, you must come to their aid, except against a people with whom you have a treaty. God is Seeing of what you do.
73. As for those who disbelieve, they are allies of one another. Unless you do this, there will be turmoil in the land, and much corruption.
74. Those who believed, and emigrated, and struggled for God’s cause, and those who gave shelter and support—these are the true believers. They will have forgiveness, and a bountiful provision.
75. As for those who believed afterwards, and emigrated and struggled with you—these belong with you. But family members are nearer to one another in the Book of God. God is Cognizant of everything.
Here's the commentary.
It should be noted that the war to which the Muslims were to be urged was the defensive war which the Muslims had to fight to save themselves and to protect the religion of Islåm.
The Muslims were very few as compared with their enemies, and there was not even one Muslim to ten disbelievers. Thus there is a clear prophecy here that, notwithstanding their fewer numbers, the Muslims shall be victorious. After the battle of Badr came the battle of U√ud, in which the Muslims were less than 1 to 4 against the enemy; this was followed by the battle of the A√zåb, in which they were 1 to 10, yet the enemy was routed.
This verse is supposed by some to abrogate the previous verse, where it is stated that twenty patient Muslims shall overcome two hundred disbelievers. This is not a correct view. Firstly, because only an injunction could be said to be abrogated, and not a statement. Secondly, because the two statements relate to two different states of the Muslims. At the time of the battle of Badr there was no Muslim army in existence. Every man available, young or old, sick or healthy, had to fight to save the life of the community. They had very few arms, and they had never been trained. This is referred to in the words; He knows that there is weakness in you. So the Muslim forces as then constituted could at most be a match for double their numbers. But a time did come when they were a match for ten times their numbers. So both the statements in the Qur’ån proved true. But even if the words may be taken as an injunction to the Muslims to overcome twice and afterwards ten times their numbers, there is no question of abrogation. There are two commandments, one in accordance with the circumstances of the Muslim society as it was then, another in accordance with a future state when they would be well-armed.
Some Muslims desired to attack and capture the unarmed caravan, but depredations like these, though committed by disbelievers upon the Muslims, were not fit for a prophet. He must fight a hard fight in his defence first and then, if he overcomes the enemy, he may take prisoners. Thus this injunction also declares slavery to be illegal, and allows only the retaining of those who are taken prisoners in war. The frail goods of this world appropriately refer to the caravan and its merchandise, while the addition of the concluding words in v. 69, eat then of the lawful and good things which you have acquired in war, shows that the ransom received on account of the prisoners is among the lawful and good things.
The legality of the Holy Prophet’s procedure on this occasion is clearly borne out by an earlier revelation: “So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, smite the necks; then, when you have overcome them, make them prisoners, and afterwards set them free as a favour or for ransom” (47:4). The Prophet never slew a single prisoner of war, even after the battle of Badr, though thousands of prisoners were taken in some of these battles. On the other hand, the prisoners were almost always set free as a favour, and ransom was taken only from the Badr prisoners.
Those who believed, and, having been persecuted, fled from their homes, formed a community at Madßnah along with those who gave them shelter and helped them, i.e., the An©år. But there were those who chose to remain in their homes. The Muslim community at Madßnah could not undertake to guard the interests of such persons, and this is what is meant by saying, you are not responsible for their protection. But if they seek help in the matter of religion, it is incumbent on the Muslim community to give them help, unless there exists a treaty of alliance with the people against whom such help is sought.
If you do not help your brethren in the matter of religion, the disbelievers will become more daring in their persecutions and in causing mischief and disorder in the land.
When even strangers who have accepted Islåm and fled from their homes become “of you”, those who have in addition ties of relationship, possess every title to have their interests guarded by the Muslim community.
Back in the days of Vietnam.... there was a t-shirt that was very popular. It had a verse on it.... generally it was over a skull and crossed guns..... and it said "Kill 'em all and let God sort them out". Well.... according to these verses.... that's definitely an American thing.
Muhammed never killed anyone. Wow.
These verses were written in the 600's. This was almost a thousand years before the first Bible came off the press. This was about 700 years before the first gun was produced. This was a rebel force, severely outnumbered and unarmed. There was no rich treasury financing their battles. They were fighting in self defense.
OK.... time for more Westerns on TV talk. I implore you, turn on any of the old TV shows. There were thousand and thousands of gunfights and rarely was there a blood shot. When blood was shed, on the show, it was either demise of a horrible person or the demise of a totally righteous person calling for revenge. Now.... all the shows are "realistic". The blood is plentiful, splattered intentionally, and it's everywhere. Just like real war.
The shows I'm talking about were all shot in black and white. It was simpler then. The right person, the hero, the good guy, the guy with the white hat always won. Today.... the good guy can get killed off..... Just like real war.
This is about having the power of "Right" on your side.
God provides the power of "Right".
