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Fighting the Aggression: Commentary of the Quran (Chapter 2:190) / By: Mohammad Sobhanie

Commentary of the Quran

Commentary of the Quran (Chapter 2:190)

By: Mohammad Sobhanie

Fighting the Aggression

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ ﴿١٩٠

2:190 And fight in the way of Allah against those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression, verily, Allah does not like aggressors.

Commentary: The Messenger of Allah (SAWA), with 1,400 of his companions, went for the pilgrimage of Hajj in the year of 6th Hijri. While the city of Mecca was still under the control disbelievers. When they reached the vicinity of Mecca, a place called Hadidibi, the disbelievers blocked all the roads and barred the Prophet (SAWA) and his companion from entering Mecca.

After an extended negotiation, the disbelievers signed a treaty with the Prophet (SAWA) in which the Prophet (SAWA) and his companions would return to Medina that year, and they would perform the pilgrimage of Hajj next year.

The following year, when the Prophet (SAWA) was about to depart for the pilgrimage of Hajj, He was deeply concerned as to whether the disbelievers would breach the treaty and war might inadvertently break out between them in the sacred month of Hajj. The verses, 2:190-195 were reveled in the year of 7th Hijri, after the peace Treaty of Hudaybiyyah [Arabic: (صلح الحديبية)], in response to the Prophet’s concern, [TafseereNamoona, Vol.2, P. 17].

The verse 2:190 directs Muslims to fight with those who wage war against them (وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ). Nonetheless, the battle was instructed to be fought within the principles dictated by Allah (SWT), which the Quran names as:In the way of Allah” or “In the cause of Allah” (فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ).

The end of the verse states to not transgress the rules of battles, (وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا), since Allah (SWT) does not like transgressors (إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ).  Hence, one must observe many ethical principles in warfare such as avoiding the harm of elders, women, children, the wounded and captives. There is also requirement of circumventing the destruction of plants, crops and the environment. For this latter argument, jurists have forbidden biological and chemical warfare.

Imam Ali (AS), as recorded in letter 14 of Nahj al-Balaghah, came to his troops before the start of the battle of Siffin and reminded them of the rules of battle, which enlightens our understanding from the verse. Imam Ali (AS) said:

لاَ تُقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى يَبْدَأُوكُمْ، فَإِنَّكُمْ بِحَمْدِ اللهِ عَلَى حُجَّة، وَتَرْكُكُمْ إِيَّاهُمْ حَتَّى يَبْدَأُوكُمْ حُجَّةٌ أُخْرَى لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَإذَا كَانَتِ الْهَزِيمَةُ بِإذْنِ اللهِ فَلاَ تَقْتُلُوا مُدْبِراً، وَلاَ تُصيِبُوا مُعْوِراً، وَلاَ تُجْهِزُوا عَلَى جَرِيح، …

Do not fight them unless they initiate the fighting, because, by the grace of Allah, you have evidence for your truthfulness. And leave them until they begin fighting, that will be another evidence for you and against them. If, by the will of Allah, the enemy is defeated then do not kill the fugitives, do not strike a helpless person, do not kill the wounded. …

Revelation verses of Jihad: The Prophet’s (SAWA) mission lasted 23 years: 13 years in Mecca and 10 years in Medina. In Mecca, the disbelievers of Mecca persecuted the Prophet and his followers until the Prophet (SAWA) migrated from Mecca to Medina.

In Mecca, Allah (SWT) invited the Prophet to exercise patience and endurance unless He commanded him otherwise [Al-Mizan, Vol.1, P 382]:

… فَاعْفُوا وَاصْفَحُوا حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَ اللَّـهُ بِأَمْرِهِ … ﴿١٠٩

2:109 …So pardon and overlook until Allah delivers His command.

In Medina, the disbelievers of Mecca waged many wars against the Prophet and his companions. Hence, Allah (SWT) commanded the Prophet and believers to fight back and defend themselves from their violent, offensive aggressions [Chapter Hajj, Verse 93]:

أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ ﴿٣٩

2: 39 Permission (to fight) is given to those (believers) who are fought against, because they have been oppressed; and surely, Allah is able to give them victory.

Word-for-Word Translation:

2:190 [وَقَاتِلُوا] And fight [فِي] in [سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ] the way of Allah [الَّذِينَ] those who [يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ] fight you [وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا] and do not transgress [إِنَّ اللَّـهَ] Indeed Allah [لَا يُحِبُّ] does not like [الْمُعْتَدِينَ] the transgressor

 

 

 

 

 

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