The Command to fight Those Who fight Muslims and killing Them wherever They are found
Abu Ja`far Ar-Razi said that Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that Abu Al-`Aliyah commented on what Allah said:
وَقَـتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَـتِلُونَكُمْ
(And fight in the way of Allah those who fight you,)
Abu Al-`Aliyah said, "This was the first Ayah about fighting that was revealed in Al-Madinah. Ever since it was revealed, Allah's Messenger ﷺ used to fight only those who fought him and avoid non-combatants. Later, Surat Bara'ah (chapter 9 in the Qur'an) was revealed." `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said similarly, then he said that this was later abrogated by the Ayah:
فَاقْتُلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ
(then kill them wherever you find them) (9:5).
However, this statement is not plausible, because Allah's statement:
الَّذِينَ يُقَـتِلُونَكُمْ
(...those who fight you) applies only to fighting the enemies who are engaged in fighting Islam and its people. So the Ayah means, `Fight those who fight you', just as Allah said (in another Ayah):
وَقَاتِلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَـتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً
(...and fight against the Mushrikin collectively as they fight against you collectively.) (9:36)
This is why Allah said later in the Ayah:
وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِّنْ حَيْثُ أَخْرَجُوكُمْ
(And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out.) meaning, `Your energy should be spent on fighting them, just as their energy is spent on fighting you, and on expelling them from the areas from which they have expelled you, as a law of equality in punishment.'
The Prohibition of mutilating the Dead and stealing from the captured Goods
Allah said:
وَلاَ تَعْتَدُواْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
(but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors.)
This Ayah means, `Fight for the sake of Allah and do not be transgressors,' such as, by committing prohibitions. Al-Hasan Al-Basri stated that transgression (indicated by the Ayah), "includes mutilating the dead, theft (from the captured goods), killing women, children and old people who do not participate in warfare, killing priests and residents of houses of worship, burning down trees and killing animals without real benefit." This is also the opinion of Ibn `Abbas, `Umar bin `Abdul-`Aziz, Muqatil bin Hayyan and others. Muslim recorded in his Sahih that Buraydah narrated that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said:
«اغْزُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ، قَاتِلُوا مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللهِ، اغْزُوا وَلَا تَغُلُّوا وَلَا تَغْدِرُوا وَلَا تَمْثُلُوا وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا وَلِيدًا وَلَا أَصْحَابَ الصَّوَامِع»
(Fight for the sake of Allah and fight those who disbelieve in Allah. Fight, but do not steal (from the captured goods), commit treachery, mutilate (the dead), or kill a child, or those who reside in houses of worship.)
It is reported in the Two Sahihs that Ibn `Umar said, "A woman was found dead during one of the Prophet's battles and the Prophet then forbade killing women and children. " There are many other Hadiths on this subject.
Shirk is worse than Killing
Since Jihad involves killing and shedding the blood of men, Allah indicated that these men are committing disbelief in Allah, associating with Him (in the worship) and hindering from His path, and this is a much greater evil and more disastrous than killing. Abu Malik commented about what Allah said:
وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ
(And Al-Fitnah is worse than killing.) Meaning what you (disbelievers) are committing is much worse than killing." Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that what Allah said:
وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ
(And Al-Fitnah is worse than killing.) "Shirk (polytheism) is worse than killing."
Fighting in the Sacred Area is prohibited, except in Self-Defense
Allah said:
وَلاَ تُقَـتِلُوهُمْ عِندَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ
(And fight not with them at Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the sanctuary at Makkah))
It is reported in the Two Sahihs that the Prophet said:
«إنَّ هَذَا الْبَلَدَ حَرَّمَهُ اللهُ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّموَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ، فَهُوَ حَرَامٌ بِحُرْمَةِ اللهِ إِلى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَلَمْ يَحِلَّ لِي إِلَّا سَاعَةً مِنْ نَهَارٍ، وَإِنَّهَا سَاعَتِي هذِهِ حَرامٌ بحُرْمَةِ اللهِ إِلى يَوْمِ الْقِيامَةِ، لا يُعْضَدُ شَجَرُهُ، وَلَا يُخْتَلىَ خَلَاهُ، فَإِنْ أَحَدٌ تَرَخَّصَ بِقِتَالِ رَسُولِ اللهِصلى الله عليه وسلّم، فَقُولُوا: إنَّ اللهَ أَذِنَ لِرَسُولِهِ وَلَمْ يَأْذَنْ لَكُم»
(Allah has made this city a sanctuary since the day He created the heavens and the earth. So, it is a sanctuary by Allah's decree till the Day of Resurrection. Fighting in it was made legal for me only for an hour in the daytime. So, it (i.e., Makkah) is a sanctuary, by Allah's decree, from now on until the Day of Resurrection. Its trees should not be cut, and its grass should not be uprooted. If anyone mentions the fighting in it that occurred by Allah's Messenger ﷺ, then say that Allah allowed His Messenger, but did not allow you.)
In this Hadith, Allah's Messenger ﷺ mentions fighting the people of Makkah when he conquered it by force, leading to some deaths among the polytheists in the area of the Khandamah. This occurred after the Prophet proclaimed:
«مَنْ أَغْلَقَ بَابَهُ فهُوَ آمِنٌ،وَمَنْ دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَهُو آمِنٌ، ومَنْ دَخَلَ دَارَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ فَهُوَ آمِن»
(Whoever closed his door is safe. Whoever entered the (Sacred) Mosque is safe. Whoever entered the house of Abu Sufyan is also safe.)
Allah said:
حَتَّى يُقَـتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ فَإِن قَـتَلُوكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ كَذَلِكَ جَزَآءُ الْكَـفِرِينَ
(...unless they (first) fight you there. But if they attack you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.)
Allah states: `Do not fight them in the area of the Sacred Mosque unless they start fighting you in it. In this case, you are allowed to fight them and kill them to stop their aggression.' Hence, Allah's Messenger ﷺ took the pledge from his Companions under the tree (in the area of Al-Hudaybiyyah) to fight (the polytheists), after the tribes of Quraysh and their allies, Thaqif and other groups, collaborated against the Muslims (to stop them from entering Makkah to visit the Sacred House). Then, Allah stopped the fighting before it started between them and said:
وَهُوَ الَّذِى كَفَّ أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَنكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ عَنْهُم بِبَطْنِ مَكَّةَ مِن بَعْدِ أَنْ أَظْفَرَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ
(And He it is Who has withheld their hands from you and your hands from them in the midst of Makkah, after He had made you victors over them.) (48:24) and:
وَلَوْلاَ رِجَالٌ مُّؤْمِنُونَ وَنِسَآءٌ مُّؤْمِنَـتٌ لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوهُمْ أَن تَطَئُوهُمْ فَتُصِيبَكمْ مِّنْهُمْ مَّعَرَّةٌ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ لِّيُدْخِلَ اللَّهُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ لَوْ تَزَيَّلُواْ لَعَذَّبْنَا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْهُمْ عَذَاباً أَلِيماً
(Had there not been believing men and believing women whom you did not know, that you may kill them and on whose account a sin would have been committed by you without (your) knowledge, that Allah might bring into His mercy whom He wills ـ if they (the believers and the disbelievers) had been apart, We verily, would have punished those of them who disbelieved with painful torment.) (48:25)
Allah's statement:
فَإِنِ انتَهَوْاْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
(But if they cease, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) which means, `If they (polytheists) cease fighting you in the Sacred Area, and come to Islam and repent, then Allah will forgive them their sins, even if they had before killed Muslims in Allah's Sacred Area.' Indeed, Allah's forgiveness encompasses every sin, whatever its enormity, when the sinner repents it.
The Order to fight until there is no more Fitnah
Allah then commanded fighting the disbelievers when He said:
حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ
(...until there is no more Fitnah) meaning, Shirk. This is the opinion of Ibn `Abbas, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi`, Muqatil bin Hayyan, As-Suddi and Zayd bin Aslam.
Allah's statement:
وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ للَّهِ
(...and the religion (all and every kind of worship) is for Allah (Alone).) means, `So that the religion of Allah becomes dominant above all other religions.' It is reported in the Two Sahihs that Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said: "The Prophet was asked, `O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! A man fights out of bravery, and another fights to show off, which of them fights in the cause of Allah' The Prophet said:
«مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيا فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ الله»
(He who fights so that Allah's Word is superior, then he fights in Allah's cause.) In addition, it is reported in the Two Sahihs:
«أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لَا إِلهَ إلَّا اللهُ، فَإِذَا قَالُوهَا عَصَمُوا مِنِّي دِمَاءَهُم وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إلَّا بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى الله»
(I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight the people until they proclaim, `None has the right to be worshipped but Allah'. Whoever said it, then he will save his life and property from me, except for cases of the law, and their account will be with Allah.)
Allah's statement:
فَإِنِ انتَهَواْ فَلاَ عُدْوَنَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الظَّـلِمِينَ
(But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against the wrongdoers.) indicates that, `If they stop their Shirk and fighting the believers, then cease warfare against them. Whoever fights them afterwards will be committing an injustice. Verily aggression can only be started against the unjust.' This is the meaning of Mujahid's statement that only combatants should be fought. Or, the meaning of the Ayah indicates that, `If they abandon their injustice, which is Shirk in this case, then do not start aggression against them afterwards.' The aggression here means retaliating and fighting them, just as Allah said:
فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُواْ عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ
(Then whoever transgresses against you, you transgress likewise against him.) (2:194)
Similarly, Allah said:
وَجَزَآءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا
(The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof.) (42:40), and:
وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُمْ بِهِ
(And if you punish them, then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. ) (16:126)
`Ikrimah and Qatadah stated, "The unjust person is he who refuses to proclaim, `There is no God worthy of worship except Allah'."
Under Allah's statement:
وَقَـتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ
(And fight them until there is no more Fitnah) Al-Bukhari recorded that Nafi` said that two men came to Ibn `Umar during the conflict of Ibn Az-Zubayr and said to him, "The people have fallen into shortcomings and you are the son of `Umar and the Prophet's Companion. Hence, what prevents you from going out" He said, "What prevents me is that Allah has for bidden shedding the blood of my (Muslim) brother." They said, "Did not Allah say:
وَقَـتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ
(And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah))" He said, "We did fight until there was no more Fitnah and the religion became for Allah Alone. You want to fight until there is Fitnah and the religion becomes for other than Allah!"
`Uthman bin Salih added that a man came to Ibn `Umar and asked him, "O Abu `Abdur-Rahman! What made you perform Hajj one year and `Umrah another year and abandon Jihad in the cause of Allah, although you know how much He has encouraged performing it" He said, "O my nephew! Islam is built on five (pillars): believing in Allah and His Messenger, the five daily prayers, fasting Ramadan, paying the Zakah and performing Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House." They said, "O Abu `Abdur-Rahman! Did you not hear what Allah said in His Book:
وَإِن طَآئِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُواْ فَأَصْلِحُواْ بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِن بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الأُخْرَى فَقَـتِلُواْ الَّتِى تَبْغِى حَتَّى تَفِىءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ
(And if two parties (or groups) among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both. But if one of them outrages against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which outrages till it complies with the command of Allah.) (49:9) and:
وَقَـتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ
(And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief))
He said, "That we did during the time of Allah's Messenger ﷺ when Islam was still weak and (the Muslim) man used to face trials in his religion, such as killing or torture. When Islam became stronger (and apparent), there was no more Fitnah." He asked, "What do you say about `Ali and `Uthman" He said, "As for `Uthman, Allah has forgiven him. However, you hated the fact that Allah had forgiven him! As for `Ali, he is the cousin of Allah's Messenger ﷺ and his son-in-law." He then pointed with his hand, saying, "This is where his house is located (meaning, `so close to the Prophet's house just as `Ali was so close to the Prophet himself')."
After the Prophet s was prevented from visiting the House in the year of the battle of Hudaybiyya he made a pact with the disbelievers that he would be allowed to return the following year at which time they would vacate Mecca for three days. Having prepared to depart for the Visitation ‘umra he and the believers were concerned that Quraysh would not keep to the agreement and instigate fighting. The Muslims were averse to becoming engaged in fighting while in a state of pilgrimage inviolability in the Sacred Enclosure al-haram and during the sacred months and so the following was revealed And fight in the way of God to elevate His religion with those who fight against you the disbelievers but aggress not against them by initiating the fighting; God loves not the aggressors the ones that overstep the bounds which God has set for them this stipulation was abrogated by the verse of barā’a ‘immunity’ Q. 91 or by His saying below
And fight in the path of God those who fight against you, but do not transgress. God loves not the transgressors. In the language of the recognizers and the path of the chevaliers, this killing and fighting is another way station of the travelers and another state of the lovers. However, as long as you have not been killed by the sword of struggle in the path of the Shariah and you have not been burned by the fire of love, you will not be allowed to enter by this gate. Take care not to believe that fire is simply the lamp that you know and nothing more; or that killing is simply the state that you know. Those killed by the Real are one thing, those killed by the throat something else. Being burned by the fire of punishment is one thing, being burned by the fire of love something else. Thus that great pir said, “How should I have known that this is the smoke of the burning brand's fire? I fancied that wherever there is fire there is a lamp. How should I have known that in friendship the sin belongs to the killed and the judge gives refuge to the adversary!? How should I have known that the bewilderment of union with You is the path, and he who is drowned in You seeks You all the more?” One day Shiblī went into the desert. He saw forty men, distracted, impassioned, and overcome by this talk. Each of them had gone into the desert, a brick under his head, his life having reached the gullet. The tenderness of affinity appeared in Shiblī's breast and he said, “O God, what do You want from them? You have placed the burden of pain on their hearts, You have struck fire in their haystacks. Will You now kill them all with the sword of jealousy?” His secret core was addressed with the words, “I will kill them. Once I kill them, I will pay them the wergild.” Shiblī said, “What is the wergild?” The address came, “When someone is killed by the sword of My majesty, his wergild is the vision of My beauty.” I will fight against Your passion's army and be killed-someone killed has value. The wergild of the one killed by hand is dinars, the wergild of the one killed by passion is seeing.
And fight in the path of God those who fight against you, but do not transgress. God loves not the transgressors. In the language of the recognizers and the path of the chevaliers, this killing and fighting is another way station of the travelers and another state of the lovers. However, as long as you have not been killed by the sword of struggle in the path of the Shariah and you have not been burned by the fire of love, you will not be allowed to enter by this gate. Take care not to believe that fire is simply the lamp that you know and nothing more; or that killing is simply the state that you know. Those killed by the Real are one thing, those killed by the throat something else. Being burned by the fire of punishment is one thing, being burned by the fire of love something else. Thus that great pir said, “How should I have known that this is the smoke of the burning brand's fire? I fancied that wherever there is fire there is a lamp. How should I have known that in friendship the sin belongs to the killed and the judge gives refuge to the adversary!? How should I have known that the bewilderment of union with You is the path, and he who is drowned in You seeks You all the more?” One day Shiblī went into the desert. He saw forty men, distracted, impassioned, and overcome by this talk. Each of them had gone into the desert, a brick under his head, his life having reached the gullet. The tenderness of affinity appeared in Shiblī's breast and he said, “O God, what do You want from them? You have placed the burden of pain on their hearts, You have struck fire in their haystacks. Will You now kill them all with the sword of jealousy?” His secret core was addressed with the words, “I will kill them. Once I kill them, I will pay them the wergild.” Shiblī said, “What is the wergild?” The address came, “When someone is killed by the sword of My majesty, his wergild is the vision of My beauty.” I will fight against Your passion's army and be killed-someone killed has value. The wergild of the one killed by hand is dinars, the wergild of the one killed by passion is seeing.
And fight in the path of God those who fight against you, but do not transgress. God loves not the transgressors. In the language of the recognizers and the path of the chevaliers, this killing and fighting is another way station of the travelers and another state of the lovers. However, as long as you have not been killed by the sword of struggle in the path of the Shariah and you have not been burned by the fire of love, you will not be allowed to enter by this gate. Take care not to believe that fire is simply the lamp that you know and nothing more; or that killing is simply the state that you know. Those killed by the Real are one thing, those killed by the throat something else. Being burned by the fire of punishment is one thing, being burned by the fire of love something else. Thus that great pir said, “How should I have known that this is the smoke of the burning brand's fire? I fancied that wherever there is fire there is a lamp. How should I have known that in friendship the sin belongs to the killed and the judge gives refuge to the adversary!? How should I have known that the bewilderment of union with You is the path, and he who is drowned in You seeks You all the more?” One day Shiblī went into the desert. He saw forty men, distracted, impassioned, and overcome by this talk. Each of them had gone into the desert, a brick under his head, his life having reached the gullet. The tenderness of affinity appeared in Shiblī's breast and he said, “O God, what do You want from them? You have placed the burden of pain on their hearts, You have struck fire in their haystacks. Will You now kill them all with the sword of jealousy?” His secret core was addressed with the words, “I will kill them. Once I kill them, I will pay them the wergild.” Shiblī said, “What is the wergild?” The address came, “When someone is killed by the sword of My majesty, his wergild is the vision of My beauty.” I will fight against Your passion's army and be killed-someone killed has value. The wergild of the one killed by hand is dinars, the wergild of the one killed by passion is seeing.
And fight in the path of God those who fight against you, but do not transgress. God loves not the transgressors. In the language of the recognizers and the path of the chevaliers, this killing and fighting is another way station of the travelers and another state of the lovers. However, as long as you have not been killed by the sword of struggle in the path of the Shariah and you have not been burned by the fire of love, you will not be allowed to enter by this gate. Take care not to believe that fire is simply the lamp that you know and nothing more; or that killing is simply the state that you know. Those killed by the Real are one thing, those killed by the throat something else. Being burned by the fire of punishment is one thing, being burned by the fire of love something else. Thus that great pir said, “How should I have known that this is the smoke of the burning brand's fire? I fancied that wherever there is fire there is a lamp. How should I have known that in friendship the sin belongs to the killed and the judge gives refuge to the adversary!? How should I have known that the bewilderment of union with You is the path, and he who is drowned in You seeks You all the more?” One day Shiblī went into the desert. He saw forty men, distracted, impassioned, and overcome by this talk. Each of them had gone into the desert, a brick under his head, his life having reached the gullet. The tenderness of affinity appeared in Shiblī's breast and he said, “O God, what do You want from them? You have placed the burden of pain on their hearts, You have struck fire in their haystacks. Will You now kill them all with the sword of jealousy?” His secret core was addressed with the words, “I will kill them. Once I kill them, I will pay them the wergild.” Shiblī said, “What is the wergild?” The address came, “When someone is killed by the sword of My majesty, his wergild is the vision of My beauty.” I will fight against Your passion's army and be killed-someone killed has value. The wergild of the one killed by hand is dinars, the wergild of the one killed by passion is seeing.
And fight in the path of God those who fight against you, but do not transgress. God loves not the transgressors.In the language of the recognizers and the path of the chevaliers, this killing and fighting is another way station of the travelers and another state of the lovers. However, as long as you have not been killed by the sword of struggle in the path of the Shariah and you have not been burned by the fire of love, you will not be allowed to enter by this gate.Take care not to believe that fire is simply the lamp that you know and nothing more; or that killing is simply the state that you know. Those killed by the Real are one thing, those killed by the throat something else. Being burned by the fire of punishment is one thing, being burned by the fire of love something else.Thus that great pir said, �How should I have known that this is the smoke of the burning brand's fire? I fancied that wherever there is fire there is a lamp. How should I have known that in friendship the sin belongs to the killed and the judge gives refuge to the adversary!? How should I have known that the bewilderment of union with You is the path, and he who is drowned in You seeks You all the more?�One day Shiblī went into the desert. He saw forty men, distracted, impassioned, and overcome by this talk. Each of them had gone into the desert, a brick under his head, his life having reached the gullet. The tenderness of affinity appeared in Shiblī's breast and he said, �O God, what do You want from them? You have placed the burden of pain on their hearts, You have struck fire in their haystacks. Will You now kill them all with the sword of jealousy?�His secret core was addressed with the words, �I will kill them. Once I kill them, I will pay them the wergild.�Shiblī said, �What is the wergild?�The address came, �When someone is killed by the sword of My majesty, his wergild is the vision of My beauty.�I will fight against Your passion's armyand be killed-someone killed has value. The wergild of the one killed by hand is dinars,the wergild of the one killed by passion is seeing.
وقاتلوا -أيها المؤمنون- لنصرة دين الله الذين يقاتلونكم، ولا ترتكبوا المناهي من المُثْلة، والغُلول، وقَتْلِ من لا يحل قتله من النساء والصبيان والشيوخ، ومن في حكمهم. إن الله لا يحب الذين يجاوزون حدوده، فيستحلون ما حرَّم الله ورسوله.
قال أبو جعفر الرازي عن الربيع بن أنس عن أبي العالية في قوله تعالى "وقاتلوا في سبيل الله الذين يقاتلونكم" قال هذه أول آية نزلت في القتال بالمدينة فلما نزلت كان رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يقاتل من قاتله ويكف عمن كف عنه حتى نزلت سورة براءة وكذا قال عبدالرحمن بن زيد بن أسلم حتى قال هذه منسوخة بقوله: "فاقتلوا المشركين حيث وجدتموهم" وفي هذا نظر لأن قوله "الذين يقاتلونكم" إنما هو تهييج وإغراء بالأعداء الذين همتهم قتال الإسلام وأهله أي كما يقاتلونكم فاقتلوهم أنتم كما قال "وقاتلوا المشركين كافة كما يقاتلونكم كافة" ولهذا قال في هذه الآية "واقتلوهم حيث ثقفتموهم وأخرجوهم من حيث أخرجوكم" أي لتكون همتكم منبعثة على قتالهم كما همتهم منبعثة على قتالكم وعلى إخراجهم من بلادهم التي أخرجوكم منها قصاصا. وقوله "ولا تعتدوا إن الله لا يحب المعتدين" أي قاتلوا في سبيل الله ولا تعتدوا في ذلك ويدخل في ذلك ارتكاب المناهي كما قاله الحسن البصري من المثلة والغلول وقتل النساء والصبيان والشيوخ الذين لا رأي لهم ولا قتال فيهم والرهبان وأصحاب الصوامع وتحريق الأشجار وقتل الحيوان لغير مصلحة كما قال ذلك ابن عباس وعمر بن عبدالعزيز ومقاتل بن حيان وغيرهم ولهذا جاء في صحيح مسلم عن بريدة أن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - كان يقول: "اغزوا في سبيل الله قاتلوا من كفر بالله اغزوا ولا تغلوا ولا تغدروا ولا تمثلوا ولا تقتلوا الوليد ولا أصحاب الصوامع" رواه الإمام أحمد وعن ابن عباس قال: كان رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - إذا بعث جيوشه قال: "اخرجوا بسم الله قاتلوا في سبيل الله من كفر بالله لا تعتدوا ولا تغلوا ولا تمثلوا ولا تقتلوا الولدان ولا أصحاب الصوامع" رواه الإمام أحمد ولأبي داود عن أنس مرفوعا نحوه وفي الصحيحين عن ابن عمر قال: وجدت امرأة في بعض مغازي النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - مقتولة فأنكر رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قتل النساء والصبيان. وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا مصعب بن سلام حدثنا الأجلح عن قيس بن أبي مسلم عن ربعي بن حراش قال: سمعت حذيفة يقول ضرب لنا رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - أمثالا واحدا وثلاثة وخمسة وسبعة وتسعة وأحد عشر فضرب لنا رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - منها مثلا وترك سائرها قال "إن قوما كانوا أهل ضعف ومسكنة قاتلهم أهل تجبر وعداوة فأظهر الله أهل الضعف عليهم فعمدوا إلى عدوهم فاستعملوهم وسلطوهم فأسخطوا الله عليهم إلى يوم القيامة" هذا حديث حسن الإسناد ومعناه أن هؤلاء الضعفاء لما قدروا على الأقوياء فاعتدوا عليهم فاستعملوهم فيما لا يليق بهم أسخطوا الله عليهم بسبب هذا الاعتداء والأحاديث والآثار في هذا كثيرة جدا. ولما كان الجهاد فيه إزهاق النفوس وقتل الرجال نبه تعالى على أن ما هم مشتملون عليه من الكفر بالله والشرك به والصد عن سبيله أبلغ وأشد وأعظم وأطم من القتل ولهذا قال: "والفتنة أشد من القتل".
قال ابن كثير : قال أبو جعفر الرازي عن الربيع بن أسن عن أبي العالية في قوله - تعالى - ( وَقَاتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ الله الذين يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ ) قال : هذا أول آية نزلت في القتال بالمدينة فلما نزلت كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقاتل من قالته وكيف عمن كف عنه حتى نزلت سورة براءة .ويرى بعض العلماء أن هذه الآيات قد وردت في الأذن بالقتال للمحرمين في الأشهر الحرام إذا فوجئوا بالقتال بغياً وعدواناً . فهي متصلة بما قبلها أتم الاتصال ، لأن الآية السابقة بينت أن الأهلة مواقيت للناس في عباداتهم ومعاملاتهم عامة وفي الحج خاصة وهو في أشهر هلالية مخصوصة كان القتال فيها محرماً في الجاهلية . فقد أخرج الواحدي عن ابن عباس أن هذه الآيات نزلة في صلح الحديبية ، وذلك أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم صده المشركون عن البيت الحرام - ثم صالحوه فرضى على أن يرجع عامه القابل ويخلوا له مكة ثلاثة أيام يطوف ويفعل ما يشاء فلما كان العام القابل تجهز هو وأصحابه لعمرة القضاء وخافوا ألا تفى لهم قريش ، وأن يصدوهم عن المسجد الحرام بالقوة ويقاتلوهم وكره أصحابه قتالهم في الحرم والشهر الحرام فأنزل الله - تعالى الآيات .والقتال والمقاتلة : محاولة الرجل قتل من يحاول قتله ، والتقاتل محاولة كل واحد من المتعاديين قتل الآخر .قال أبو حيان : وقوله : ( فِي سَبِيلِ الله ) السبيل هو الطريق . واستعير لدين الله وشرائعه لأن المتبع لذلك يصل به إلى بغيته الدينية والدنيوية ، فشبه بالطريق الموصل الإِنسان إلى ما يقصده ، وهذا من استعارة الأجرام للمعاني ويتعلق ( فِي سَبِيلِ الله ) بقوله : ( وَقَاتِلُواْ ) وهو ظرف مجازي ، لأنه لما وقع القتال بسبب نصرة الدين صار كأنه وقع فيه ، وو على حذف مضاف والتقدير في نصرة دين الله .والمراد بالقتال في سبيل الله : الجهاد من أجل إعلاء كلمته حتى يكون أهل دينه الحق أعزاء لا يسومهم أعداؤه ضيماً ، وأحراراً في الدعوة إليه وإقامة شرائعه العادلة في ظل سلطان مهيب .أي : قاتلوا أيها المؤمنون لإعلاء كلمة الله وإعزاز دينه أعداءكم الذين أعدوا أنفسهم لقتالكم ومناجزتكم وتحققتم منهم سوء النية ، وفساد الطوية .فالآية الكريمة تهييج للمؤمنين وإغراء لهم على قتال أعدائهم بدون تردد أو تهيب ، وإرشاد لهم إلى أن يجعلوا جهادهم من أجل نصرة الحق ، لا من أجل المطامع أو الشهوات .فقد روى الشيخان أبو داود والترمذي والنسائي وابن ماجه عن أبي موسى - رضي الله عنه - " أن أعرابياً أتى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال : يا رسول الله الرجل يقاتل للمغنم ، والرجل يقاتل ليذكر ، والرجل يقاتل ليرى مكانه - أي : ليتحدث الناس بشجاعته وليظهر بينهم - أي ذلك في سبيل الله؟ فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم : من قاتل لتكون كلمة الله هي العليا فهو في سبيل الله " .والأحاديث في الدعوة إلى أن يكون الجهاد في سبيل الله من أجل إعلاء كلمته كثيرة متعددة . وقوله ( وَلاَ تعتدوا ) نهى عن الاعتداء بشتى صورة ويدخل فيه دخولا أولياء الاعتداء في القتال .والاعتداء : مجازة الحد فيما أمر الله به أو نهى عنه .أي : قاتلوا في سبيل الله من يناصبكم القتال من المخالفين ، ولا تتجاوزوا في قتالهم إلى من ليس شأنهم قتالكم ، كنسائهم ، وصبيانهم ورهبانهم ، وشيوخهم الطاعنين في السن إلى حد الهرم ، ويلحق بهؤلاء المريض والمقعد والأعمى والمجنون . وقد وردت في النهي عن قتل هؤلاء الأحاديث النبوية ووصايا الخلفاء الراشدين لقواد جيوشهم ، فهؤلاء يتجنب قتالهم إلا من قامت الشواهد على أن له أثراً من رأى أو عمل في الحرب ، يؤازر به المحارين لينتصروا على المجاهدين .قال ابن كثير : ولهذا جاء في صحيح مسلم عن بريدة أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقول : " أغزوا في سبيل الله ، قاتلوا من كفر بالله ، أغزوا ولا تغلو ولا تغدروا ولا تمثلوا ولا تقتلوا الوليد ولا أصحاب الصوامع " وفي الصحيحين عن ابن عمر قال : وُجِدَتْ امرأة في بعض المغازي مقتولة فأنكر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قتل النساء والصبيان .وقوله : ( إِنَّ الله لاَ يُحِبُّ المعتدين ) كالتعليل لما قبله في النهي عن مجاوزة ما حده الله - تعالى - في قتال المخالفين .ومحبة الله لعباده : صفة من صفاته - تعالى - من أثرها الرعاية والإِنعام . وإذا نفى الله - تعالى - محبته لطائفة من الناس فهو كناية عن بغضه لهم ، واستحقاقهم لعقوبته .
القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلا تَعْتَدُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ (190)قال أبو جعفر: اختلف أهلُ التأويل في تأويل هذه الآية.فقال بعضهم: هذه الآية هي أول آية نـزلت في أمر المسلمين بقتال أهل الشرك. وقالوا: أمر فيها المسلمون بقتال من قاتلهم من المشركين، والكف عمن كفّ عنهم، ثم نُسخت ب " براءة ".* ذكر من قال ذلك:3089 - حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا إسحاق قال، حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن سعد، وابن أبي جعفر، عن أبي جعفر، عن الربيع في قوله: " وقاتلُوا في سبيل الله الذين يُقاتلونكم ولا تَعتدوا إن الله لا يحبّ المعتدين " قال: هذه أوّل آية نـزلت في القتال &; 3-562 &; بالمدينة، فلما نـزلت كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقاتل من يقاتله، ويكفُّ عمن كفّ عنه، حتى نـزلت " براءة "- ولم يذكر عبد الرحمن: " المدينة ".3090 - حدثني يونس، قال: أخبرنا ابن وهب، قال، قال ابن زيد في قوله: " وقاتلوا في سبيل الله الذين يُقاتلونكم " إلى آخر الآية، قال: قد نسخ هذا! وقرأ قول الله: وَقَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَافَّةً كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَافَّةً [سورة التوبة: 36]، وهذه الناسخة، وقرأ: بَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ حتى بلغ: فَإِذَا انْسَلَخَ الأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُمُوهُمْ إلى: إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ [سورة التوبة: 1-5].* * *وقال آخرون: بل ذلك أمر من الله تعالى ذكره للمسلمين بقتال الكفار، لم ينسخ. وإنما الاعتداءُ الذي نهاهم الله عنه، هو نهيه عن قتل النساء والذَّراريّ. قالوا: والنهي عن قتلهم ثابتٌ حُكمه اليوم. قالوا: فلا شيء نُسخ من حكم هذه الآية.* ذكر من قال ذلك:3091 - حدثنا سفيان بن وكيع قال، حدثنا أبي، عن صَدقة الدمشقي، عن يحيى بن يحيى الغساني، قال: كتبتُ إلى عمر بن عبد العزيز أسألهُ عن قوله: " وقاتلوا في سَبيل الله الذين يُقاتلونكم ولا تعتدوا إنّ الله لا يُحب المعتدين "، قال: فكتب إليّ: " إنّ ذلك في النساء والذريّة ومن لم يَنصِبْ لك الحرَب منهم ".3092 - حدثني محمد بن عمرو قال، حدثنا أبو عاصم قال، حدثنا عيسى، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد في قول الله تعالى ذكره: " وقاتلوا في سبيل الله الذين يُقاتلونكم " لأصحاب محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، أمروا بقتال الكفار.3093- حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا أبو حذيفة قال، حدثنا شبل، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد مثله.&; 3-563 &;3094 - حدثني علي بن داود قال، حدثنا أبو صالح، قال، حدثني معاوية، عن علي، عن ابن عباس: " وقاتلوا في سبيل الله الذين يُقاتلونكم ولا تعتدوا إنّ الله لا يحب المعتدين " يقول: لا تقتلوا النساء ولا الصِّبيان ولا الشيخ الكبير وَلا منْ ألقى إليكم السَّلَمَ وكفَّ يَده، فإن فَعلتم هذا فقد اعتديتم.3095- حدثني ابن البرقي قال، حدثنا عمرو بن أبي سلمة، عن سعيد بن عبد العزيز، قال: كتب عمر بن عبد العزيز إلى عديِّ بن أرطاة: " إني وَجَدتُ آية في كتاب الله: " وقاتلوا في سبيل الله الذين يُقاتلونكم ولا تعتدوا إنّ الله لا يحب المعتدين " أي: لا تقاتل من لا يقاتلك، يعني: النساء والصبيان والرُّهبان ".* * *قال أبو جعفر: وأولى هذين القولين بالصواب، القولُ الذي قاله عمر بن عبد العزيز. لأن دعوى المدَّعي نَسْخَ آية يحتمل أن تكون غيرَ منسوخة، بغير دلالة على صحة دعواه، تحكُّم. والتحكم لا يعجِز عنه أحد.* * *وقد دَللنا على معنى " النسخ "، والمعنى الذي من قبَله يَثبت صحة النسخ، بما قد أغنى عن إعادته في هذا الموضع (100) .* * *فتأويل الآية - إذا كان الأمر على ما وصفنا - : وقاتلوا أيها المؤمنون في سبيل الله = وسبيلُه: طريقه الذي أوضحه، ودينه الذي شرعه لعباده = يقول لهم تعالى ذكره: قاتلوا في طاعتي وَعلى ما شرعت لكم من ديني، وادعوا إليه من وَلَّى عنه واستكبر بالأيدي والألسن، حتى يُنيبوا إلى طاعتي، أو يعطوكم الجزية صَغارًا إن كانوا أهل كتاب. وأمرهم تعالى ذكره بقتال مَنْ كان منه قتال من مُقاتِلة أهل الكفر دون من لم يكن منه قتال (101) من نسائهم وذراريهم، فإنهم أموال وخَوَلٌ لهم إذا غُلب المقاتلون منهم فقُهروا، فذلك معنى قوله: " قاتلوا في سبيل الله الذين &; 3-564 &; يقاتلونكم " لأنه أباح الكف عمّن كف، فلم يُقاتل من مشركي أهل الأوثان والكافِّين عن قتال المسلمين من كفار أهل الكتاب على إعطاء الجزية صَغارا.فمعنى قوله: " ولا تعتدوا ": لا تقتلوا وليدًا ولا امرأةً، ولا من أعطاكم الجزية من أهل الكتابَين والمجوس،" إنّ الله لا يُحب المعتدين " الذين يجاوزون حدوده، فيستحلُّون ما حرَّمه الله عليهم من قتل هؤلاء الذين حَرَّم قتلهم من نساء المشركين وذراريهم (102) .* * *---------------------------الهوامش :(100) انظر ما سلف 2 : 471-483 ، وهذا الجزء 3 : 385 .(101) في المطبوعة في الموضعين : "فيه قتال" ، وهو خطأ .(102) انظر تفسير"الاعتداء" فيما سلف 2 : 307 ، وهذا الجزء 3 : 376 ثم : 573 .
( وقاتلوا في سبيل الله ) أي في طاعة الله ( الذين يقاتلونكم ) كان في ابتداء الإسلام أمر الله تعالى رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم بالكف عن قتال المشركين ثم لما هاجر إلى المدينة أمره بقتال من قاتله منهم بهذه الآية وقال الربيع بن أنس : هذه أول آية نزلت في القتال ثم أمره بقتال المشركين كافة قاتلوا أو لم يقاتلوا بقوله ( فاقتلوا المشركين ) فصارت هذه الآية منسوخة بها وقيل نسخ بقوله ( فاقتلوا المشركين ) قريب من سبعين آية وقوله ( ولا تعتدوا ) أي لا تبدءوهم بالقتال ، وقيل هذه الآية محكمة غير منسوخة أمر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بقتال المقاتلين ومعنى قوله : ( ولا تعتدوا ) أي لا تقتلوا النساء والصبيان والشيخ الكبير ، والرهبان ولا من ألقى إليكم السلام هذا قول ابن عباس ومجاهد :أخبرنا أبو الحسن السرخسي أخبرنا زاهر بن أحمد أخبرنا أبو بكر بن سهل القهستاني المعروف بأبي تراب أخبرنا محمد بن عيسى الطرسوسي أنا يحيى بن بكير أنا الليث بن سعد عن جرير بن حازم عن شعبة عن علقمة بن يزيد عن سليمان بن بريدة عن أبيه قال : كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا بعث جيشا قال اغزوا بسم الله وفي سبيل الله قاتلوا من كفر بالله لا تغلوا ولا تقتلوا امرأة ولا وليدا ولا شيخا كبيرا وقال الكلبي عن أبي صالح عن ابن عباس نزلت هذه الآية في صلح الحديبية وذلك أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم خرج مع أصحابه للعمرة وكانوا ألفا وأربعمائة فساروا حتى نزلوا الحديبية فصدهم المشركون عن البيت الحرام فصالحهم على أن يرجع عامه ذلك على أن يخلوا له مكة عام قابل ثلاثة أيام فيطوف بالبيت فلما كان العام القابل تجهز رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه لعمرة القضاء وخافوا أن لا تفي قريش بما قالوا وأن يصدوهم عن البيت الحرام وكره أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قتالهم في الشهر الحرام وفي الحرم فأنزل الله تعالى ( وقاتلوا في سبيل الله ) يعني محرمين ( الذين يقاتلونكم ) يعني قريشا ( ولا تعتدوا ) فتبدءوا بالقتال في الحرم محرمين ( إن الله لا يحب المعتدين ) .
جملة { وقاتلوا } معطوفة على جملة { وليس البر } [ البقرة : 189 ] الخ ، وهو استطراد دعا إليه استعداد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لعُمرة القضاء سنة ست وتوقعُ المسلمين غدر المشركين بالعهد ، وهو قتال متوقع لقَصْد الدفاع لقوله : { الذين يقاتلونكم } ، وهذه الآية أول آية نزلت في القتال وعن أبي بكر الصديق أول آية نزلت في الأمر بالقتال قوله تعالى : { أذن للذين يقاتلون بأنهم ظلموا } في [ سورة الحج : 39 ] ورجحه ابن العربي بأنها مكية وآية سورة البقرة مدنية . وقد ثبت في الصحيح } أن رسول الله أرسل عثمان بن عفان إلى أهل مكة فأرجف بأنهم قتلوه فبايع الناس والرسولَ على الموت في قتال العدو ثم انكشف الأمر عن سلامة عثمان .ونزول هذه الآيات عقب الآيات التي أشارت إلى الإحرام بالعمرة والتي نراها نزلت في شأن الخروج إلى الحديبية ينبىء بأن المشركين كانوا قد أضمروا ضد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم والمسلمين ثم أعرضوا عن ذلك لما رأوا تهيؤ المسلمين لقتالهم ، فقوله تعالى : { ولا تقاتلوهم عند المسجد الحرام } [ البقرة : 191 ] إرشاد للمسلمين بما فيه صلاح لهم يومئذٍ ، ألا ترى أنه لما انقضت الآيات المتكلمة عن القتال عاد الكلام إلى الغرض الذي فارقته وذلك قوله : { وأتموا الحج والعمرة لله } [ البقرة : 196 ] ، الآيات على أنه قد وقع في صلح الحديبية ضرب مدة بين المسلمين والمشركين لا يقاتل فريق منهم الآخر فخاف المسلمون عام عمرة القضاء أن يغدر بهم المشركون إذا حلوا ببلدهم وألاّ يفوا لهم فيصدوهم عن العمرة فأمروا بقتالهم إن هم فعلوا ذلك .وهذا إذن في قتال الدفاع لدفع هجوم العدو ثم نزلت بعدها آية براءة : { وقاتلوا المشركين كافة } [ التوبة : 36 ] ناسخة لمفهوم هذه الآية عند من يرى نسخ المفهوم ولا يرى الزيادة على النص نسخاً ، وهي أيضاً ناسخة لها عند من يرى الزيادة على النص نسخاً ولا يرى نسخ المفهوم ، وهي وإن نزلت لسبب خاص فهي عامة في كل حال يبادىء المشركون فيه المسلمين بالقتال ، لأن السبب لا يخصص .وعن ابن عباس وعمر بن عبد العزيز ومجاهد أن هاته الآية محكمة لم تنسخ ، لأن المراد بالذين يقاتلونكم الذين هم متهيئون لقتالكم أي لا تقاتِلوا الشيوخ والنساء والصبيان ، أي القيد لإخراج طائفة من المقاتلين لا لإخراج المحاجزين ، وقيل : المراد الكفار كلهم ، فإنهم بصدد أن يقاتلوا . ذكره في «الكشاف» ، أي ففعل { يقاتلونكم } مستعمل في مقارنة الفعل والتهيؤ له كما تقدم في قوله تعالى : { إن ترك خيراً } [ البقرة : 180 ] .والمقاتلة مفاعلة وهي حصول الفعل من جانبين ، ولما كان فعلها وهو القتل لا يمكن حصوله من جانبين؛ لأن أحد الجانبين إذا قتل لم يستطع أن يَقْتل كانت المفاعلة في هذه المادة بمعنى مفاعلة أسباب القتل أي المحاربة ، فقوله { وقاتلوا } بمعنى وحاربوا والقتال الحرب بجميع أحوالها من هجوم ومنع سبل وحصار وإغارة واستيلاء على بلاد أو حصون .وإذا أسندت المفاعلة إلى أحد فاعلَيْها فالمقصود أنه هو المبتدىء بالفعل ، ولهذا قال تعالى : { وقاتلوا في سبيل الله } فجعل فاعل المفاعلة المسلمين ثم قال : { الذين يقاتلونكم } فجعل فاعله ضمير عدوهم ، فلزم أن يكون المراد دافعوا الذين يبتدئونكم .والمراد بالمبادأة دلائل القصد للحرب بحيث يتبين المسلمون أن الأعداء خرجوا لحربهم وليس المراد حتى يضربوا ويهجموا؛ لأن تلك الحالة يفوت على المسلمين تداركها ، وهذا الحكم عام في الأشخاص لا محالة ، وعموم الأشخاص يستلزم عموم الأحوال والأمكنة والأزمنة على رأي المحققين ، أو هو مطلق في الأحوال والأزمنة والبقاع ، ولهذا قال تعالى بعد ذلك : { ولا تقاتلوهم عند المسجد الحرام حتى يقاتلونكم فيه } [ البقرة : 191 ] تخصيصاً أو تقييداً ببعض البقاع .فقوله : { ولا تعتدوا أي لا تبتدئوا بالقتال وقوله : إن الله لا يحب المعتدين } تحذير من الاعتداء؛ وذلك مسالمة للعدو واستبقاء لهم وإمهال حتى يجيئوا مؤمنين ، وقيل : أراد ولا تعتدوا في القتال إن قاتلتم ففسر الاعتداء بوجوه كثيرة ترجع إلى تجاوز أحكام الحرب والاعتداء الابتداء بالظلم وتقدم عند قوله تعالى : { فمن اعتدى بعد ذلك فله عذاب أليم } آنفاً .
هذه الآيات, تتضمن الأمر بالقتال في سبيل الله, وهذا كان بعد الهجرة إلى المدينة, لما قوي المسلمون للقتال, أمرهم الله به, بعد ما كانوا مأمورين بكف أيديهم، وفي تخصيص القتال { فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ } حث على الإخلاص, ونهي عن الاقتتال في الفتن بين المسلمين. { الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ } أي: الذين هم مستعدون لقتالكم, وهم المكلفون الرجال, غير الشيوخ الذين لا رأي لهم ولا قتال. والنهي عن الاعتداء, يشمل أنواع الاعتداء كلها, من قتل من لا يقاتل, من النساء, والمجانين والأطفال, والرهبان ونحوهم والتمثيل بالقتلى, وقتل الحيوانات, وقطع الأشجار [ونحوها], لغير مصلحة تعود للمسلمين. ومن الاعتداء, مقاتلة من تقبل منهم الجزية إذا بذلوها, فإن ذلك لا يجوز.
قوله تعالى وقاتلوا في سبيل الله الذين يقاتلونكم ولا تعتدوا إن الله لا يحب المعتدينفيه ثلاث مسائل :الأولى : قوله تعالى : وقاتلوا هذه الآية أول آية نزلت في الأمر بالقتال ، ولا خلاف في أن القتال كان محظورا قبل الهجرة بقوله : ادفع بالتي هي أحسن وقوله : فاعف عنهم واصفح وقوله : واهجرهم هجرا جميلا وقوله : لست عليهم بمسيطر وما كان مثله مما نزل بمكة ، فلما هاجر إلى المدينة أمر بالقتال فنزل : وقاتلوا في سبيل الله الذين يقاتلونكم قاله الربيع بن أنس وغيره ، وروي عن أبي بكر الصديق أن أول آية نزلت في القتال : أذن للذين يقاتلون بأنهم ظلموا ، والأول أكثر ، وأن آية الإذن إنما نزلت في القتال عامة لمن قاتل ولمن لم يقاتل من المشركين ، وذلك أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم خرج مع أصحابه إلى مكة للعمرة ، فلما نزل الحديبية بقرب مكة - والحديبية اسم بئر ، فسمي ذلك الموضع باسم تلك البئر - فصده المشركون عن البيت ، وأقام بالحديبية شهرا ، فصالحوه على أن يرجع من عامه ذلك كما جاء ، على أن تخلى له مكة في العام المستقبل ثلاثة أيام ، وصالحوه على ألا يكون بينهم قتال عشر سنين ، ورجع إلى المدينة ، فلما كان من قابل تجهز لعمرة القضاء ، وخاف المسلمون غدر الكفار وكرهوا القتال في الحرم وفي الشهر الحرام ، فنزلت هذه الآية ، أي يحل لكم القتال إن قاتلكم الكفار ، فالآية متصلة بما سبق من ذكر الحج وإتيان البيوت من ظهورها ، فكان عليه السلام يقاتل من قاتله ويكف عمن كف عنه ، حتى نزل فاقتلوا المشركين فنسخت هذه الآية ، قاله جماعة من العلماء ، وقال ابن زيد والربيع : نسخها وقاتلوا المشركين كافة فأمر بالقتال لجميع الكفار ، وقال ابن عباس وعمر بن عبد العزيز ومجاهد : هي محكمة أي قاتلوا الذين هم بحالة من يقاتلونكم ، ولا تعتدوا في قتل النساء والصبيان والرهبان وشبههم ، على ما يأتي بيانه . قال أبو جعفر النحاس : وهذا أصح القولين [ ص: 324 ] في السنة والنظر ، فأما السنة فحديث ابن عمر أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم رأى في بعض مغازيه امرأة مقتولة فكره ذلك ، ونهى عن قتل النساء والصبيان ، رواه الأئمة ، وأما النظر فإن " فاعل " لا يكون في الغالب إلا من اثنين ، كالمقاتلة والمشاتمة والمخاصمة ، والقتال لا يكون في النساء ولا في الصبيان ومن أشبههم ، كالرهبان والزمنى والشيوخ والأجراء فلا يقتلون ، وبهذا أوصى أبو بكر الصديق رضي الله عنه يزيد بن أبي سفيان حين أرسله إلى الشام ، إلا أن يكون لهؤلاء إذاية ، أخرجه مالك وغيره ، وللعلماء فيهم صور ست :الأولى : النساء إن قاتلن قتلن ، قال سحنون : في حالة المقاتلة وبعدها ، لعموم قوله : وقاتلوا في سبيل الله الذين يقاتلونكم ، واقتلوهم حيث ثقفتموهم . وللمرأة آثار عظيمة في القتال ، منها الإمداد بالأموال ، ومنها التحريض على القتال ، وقد يخرجن ناشرات شعورهن نادبات مثيرات معيرات بالفرار ، وذلك يبيح قتلهن ، غير أنهن إذا حصلن في الأسر فالاسترقاق أنفع لسرعة إسلامهن ورجوعهن عن أديانهن ، وتعذر فرارهن إلى أوطانهن بخلاف الرجال .الثانية : الصبيان فلا يقتلون للنهي الثابت عن قتل الذرية ; ولأنه لا تكليف عليهم ، فإن قاتل [ الصبي ] قتل .الثالثة : الرهبان لا يقتلون ولا يسترقون ، بل يترك لهم ما يعيشون به من أموالهم ، وهذا إذا انفردوا عن أهل الكفر ، لقول أبي بكر ليزيد : " وستجد أقواما زعموا أنهم حبسوا أنفسهم [ ص: 325 ] لله ، فذرهم وما زعموا أنهم حبسوا أنفسهم له " فإن كانوا مع الكفار في الكنائس قتلوا ، ولو ترهبت المرأة فروى أشهب أنها لا تهاج . وقال سحنون : لا يغير الترهب حكمها . قال القاضي أبو بكر بن العربي : " والصحيح عندي رواية أشهب ; لأنها داخلة تحت قوله : " فذرهم وما حبسوا أنفسهم له " .الرابعة : الزمنى . قال سحنون : يقتلون ، وقال ابن حبيب : لا يقتلون ، والصحيح أن تعتبر أحوالهم ، فإن كانت فيهم إذاية قتلوا ، وإلا تركوا وما هم بسبيله من الزمانة وصاروا مالا على حالهم وحشوة .الخامسة : الشيوخ . قال مالك في كتاب محمد : لا يقتلون ، والذي عليه جمهور الفقهاء : إن كان شيخا كبيرا هرما لا يطيق القتال ، ولا ينتفع به في رأي ولا مدافعة فإنه لا يقتل ، وبه قال مالك وأبو حنيفة . وللشافعي قولان : أحدهما : مثل قول الجماعة ، والثاني : يقتل هو والراهب ، والصحيح الأول لقول أبي بكر ليزيد ، ولا مخالف له فثبت أنه إجماع ، وأيضا فإنه ممن لا يقاتل ولا يعين العدو فلا يجوز قتله كالمرأة ، وأما إن كان ممن تخشى مضرته بالحرب أو الرأي أو المال فهذا إذا أسر يكون الإمام فيه مخيرا بين خمسة أشياء : القتل أو المن أو الفداء أو الاسترقاق أو عقد الذمة على أداء الجزية .السادسة : العسفاء ، وهم الأجراء والفلاحون ، فقال مالك في كتاب محمد : لا يقتلون وقال الشافعي : يقتل الفلاحون والأجراء والشيوخ الكبار إلا أن يسلموا أو يؤدوا الجزية . والأول أصح ، لقوله عليه السلام في حديث رباح بن الربيع الحق بخالد بن الوليد فلا يقتلن ذرية ولا عسيفا ، وقال عمر بن الخطاب : اتقوا الله في الذرية والفلاحين الذي لا ينصبون لكم الحرب ، وكان عمر بن عبد العزيز لا يقتل حراثا ، ذكره ابن المنذر .الثانية : روى أشهب عن مالك أن المراد بقوله : وقاتلوا في سبيل الله الذين يقاتلونكم أهل الحديبية أمروا بقتال من قاتلهم ، والصحيح أنه خطاب لجميع المسلمين ، أمر كل أحد أن يقاتل من قاتله إذ لا يمكن سواه . ألا تراه كيف بينها في سورة " براءة " بقوله : [ ص: 326 ] قاتلوا الذين يلونكم من الكفار وذلك أن المقصود أولا كان أهل مكة فتعينت البداءة بهم ، فلما فتح الله مكة كان القتال لمن يلي ممن كان يؤذي حتى تعم الدعوة وتبلغ الكلمة جميع الآفاق ولا يبقى أحد من الكفرة ، وذلك باق متماد إلى يوم القيامة ، ممتد إلى غاية هي قوله عليه السلام : الخيل معقود في نواصيها الخير إلى يوم القيامة الأجر والمغنم ، وقيل : غايته نزول عيسى ابن مريم عليه السلام ، وهو موافق للحديث الذي قبله ; لأن نزوله من أشراط الساعة .الثالثة : ولا تعتدوا قيل في تأويله ما قدمناه ، فهي محكمة ، فأما المرتدون فليس إلا القتل أو التوبة ، وكذلك أهل الزيغ والضلال ليس إلا السيف أو التوبة ، ومن أسر الاعتقاد بالباطل ثم ظهر عليه فهو كالزنديق يقتل ولا يستتاب . وأما الخوارج على أئمة العدل فيجب قتالهم حتى يرجعوا إلى الحق ، وقال قوم : المعنى لا تعتدوا في القتال لغير وجه الله ، كالحمية وكسب الذكر ، بل قاتلوا في سبيل الله الذين يقاتلونكم ، يعني دينا وإظهارا للكلمة ، وقيل : لا تعتدوا أي لا تقاتلوا من لم يقاتل ، فعلى هذا تكون الآية منسوخة بالأمر بالقتال لجميع الكفار ، والله أعلم .
The fighting (qital) mentioned here refers to that which took place during the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet’s Makkan opponents, not content with just expelling the Prophet and his companions from Makkah, their hometown, also prevented them from living and working peacefully in the neighbouring town of Yathrib (Madinah) where they had gone to settle. Without any provocation, they repeatedly attacked the Muslims who then had to fight in self-defence. When aggression has already been committed by opponents, believers are obliged to defend themselves. Initiating hostilities is not permitted for Muslims. Only defensive war is permitted in Islam. Even defensive war has to be openly declared by an established state.
Jihad: To fight in the way of Allah
That Jihad and Qital or fighting against disbelievers was prohibited prior to the emigration to Madinah is a fact the entire Muslim community agrees upon. All verses revealed during that time advised Muslims to be patient against pains inflicted on them by disbelievers, even to ignore and forgive when they can. It was after the emigration to Madinah that the first command to fight against them came through this verse (as said by al-Rabi' ibn Anas and others). Another narration from Sayyidna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq ؓ says that the first verse relating to this subject is: أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا Leave is' given to those who are fought against because they were wronged", but according to a majority of the blessed Companions and their successors, the first verse commanding to fight the disbelievers is this very verse from Surah al-Baqarah while the verse which has been identified as the first verse on this subject by Sayyidna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq ؓ ، that too being among the very initial verses revealed, could be called the first.
The command in this verse is that Muslims should fight only those disbelievers who come to fight against them. It means that there are other people too who do not take part in fighting, such as, the women, the children, the very old, the priests and monks and others devoting themselves to quiet religious pursuits, and the physically handicapped, and those casual labourers who work for disbelievers and do not go to fight along with them; it is not permissible to kill such people in a Jihad. The reason is that the command in the verse is restricted to fighting those who come to fight Muslims. The kind of people mentioned above are not all fighters. That is why Muslim Jurists رحمۃ اللہ علیہم have also ruled that should a woman, an old man or, religious person take part in actual fighting along with disbelievers or be helping them in any manner in their fight against the Muslims, then, killing them is permissible because they come under the purview of الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ those who fight you'. (Mazhari, Qurtubi and Jassas)
The battle orders of the Holy Prophet ﷺ given to the mujahidin of Islam at the time of Jihad carry a good explanation of this injunction. In a hadith from al-Bukhari and Muslim, as narrated by the blessed Companion ` Abdullah ibn ` Umar ؓ ، it is said:
نھی رسول اللہ ﷺ عن قتل النساء والصبیان
The Holy Prophet ﷺ has prohibited the killing of women and children.'
The following instructions from the Holy Prophet ﷺ given to the Companions going on Jihad have been narrated in a hadith from Sayyidna Anas ؓ which appears in Abu Dawud: 'Go for Jihad in the name of Allah adhering to the community of the Messenger of Allah. Do not kill anyone old and weak, any young child or any woman.' (Mazhari)
When Sayyidna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq ؓ sent Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan ؓ to Syria, he gave him the same instructions. Also added there is the prohibition of killing the religiously-devoted, the monks and priests, and the labourers employed by disbelievers, especially when they do not take part in fighting (Qurtubi).
(Fight in the way of Allah) in obedience of Allah whether in the Sacred Precinct or in other places (against those who fight against you) against those who initiate fight against you, (but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors) He does not love those who initiate fighting whether in the Sacred Precinct or in other locations.
After the Prophet s was prevented from visiting the House in the year of the battle of Hudaybiyya he made a pact with the disbelievers that he would be allowed to return the following year at which time they would vacate Mecca for three days. Having prepared to depart for the Visitation ‘umra he and the believers were concerned that Quraysh would not keep to the agreement and instigate fighting. The Muslims were averse to becoming engaged in fighting while in a state of pilgrimage inviolability in the Sacred Enclosure al-haram and during the sacred months and so the following was revealed And fight in the way of God to elevate His religion with those who fight against you the disbelievers but aggress not against them by initiating the fighting; God loves not the aggressors the ones that overstep the bounds which God has set for them this stipulation was abrogated by the verse of barā’a ‘immunity’ Q. 91 or by His saying below
The Command to fight Those Who fight Muslims and killing Them wherever They are found
Abu Ja`far Ar-Razi said that Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that Abu Al-`Aliyah commented on what Allah said:
وَقَـتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَـتِلُونَكُمْ
(And fight in the way of Allah those who fight you,)
Abu Al-`Aliyah said, "This was the first Ayah about fighting that was revealed in Al-Madinah. Ever since it was revealed, Allah's Messenger ﷺ used to fight only those who fought him and avoid non-combatants. Later, Surat Bara'ah (chapter 9 in the Qur'an) was revealed." `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said similarly, then he said that this was later abrogated by the Ayah:
فَاقْتُلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ
(then kill them wherever you find them) (9:5).
However, this statement is not plausible, because Allah's statement:
الَّذِينَ يُقَـتِلُونَكُمْ
(...those who fight you) applies only to fighting the enemies who are engaged in fighting Islam and its people. So the Ayah means, `Fight those who fight you', just as Allah said (in another Ayah):
وَقَاتِلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَـتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً
(...and fight against the Mushrikin collectively as they fight against you collectively.) (9:36)
This is why Allah said later in the Ayah:
وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِّنْ حَيْثُ أَخْرَجُوكُمْ
(And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out.) meaning, `Your energy should be spent on fighting them, just as their energy is spent on fighting you, and on expelling them from the areas from which they have expelled you, as a law of equality in punishment.'
The Prohibition of mutilating the Dead and stealing from the captured Goods
Allah said:
وَلاَ تَعْتَدُواْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
(but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors.)
This Ayah means, `Fight for the sake of Allah and do not be transgressors,' such as, by committing prohibitions. Al-Hasan Al-Basri stated that transgression (indicated by the Ayah), "includes mutilating the dead, theft (from the captured goods), killing women, children and old people who do not participate in warfare, killing priests and residents of houses of worship, burning down trees and killing animals without real benefit." This is also the opinion of Ibn `Abbas, `Umar bin `Abdul-`Aziz, Muqatil bin Hayyan and others. Muslim recorded in his Sahih that Buraydah narrated that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said:
«اغْزُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ، قَاتِلُوا مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللهِ، اغْزُوا وَلَا تَغُلُّوا وَلَا تَغْدِرُوا وَلَا تَمْثُلُوا وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا وَلِيدًا وَلَا أَصْحَابَ الصَّوَامِع»
(Fight for the sake of Allah and fight those who disbelieve in Allah. Fight, but do not steal (from the captured goods), commit treachery, mutilate (the dead), or kill a child, or those who reside in houses of worship.)
It is reported in the Two Sahihs that Ibn `Umar said, "A woman was found dead during one of the Prophet's battles and the Prophet then forbade killing women and children. " There are many other Hadiths on this subject.
Shirk is worse than Killing
Since Jihad involves killing and shedding the blood of men, Allah indicated that these men are committing disbelief in Allah, associating with Him (in the worship) and hindering from His path, and this is a much greater evil and more disastrous than killing. Abu Malik commented about what Allah said:
وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ
(And Al-Fitnah is worse than killing.) Meaning what you (disbelievers) are committing is much worse than killing." Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that what Allah said:
وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ
(And Al-Fitnah is worse than killing.) "Shirk (polytheism) is worse than killing."
Fighting in the Sacred Area is prohibited, except in Self-Defense
Allah said:
وَلاَ تُقَـتِلُوهُمْ عِندَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ
(And fight not with them at Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the sanctuary at Makkah))
It is reported in the Two Sahihs that the Prophet said:
«إنَّ هَذَا الْبَلَدَ حَرَّمَهُ اللهُ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّموَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ، فَهُوَ حَرَامٌ بِحُرْمَةِ اللهِ إِلى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَلَمْ يَحِلَّ لِي إِلَّا سَاعَةً مِنْ نَهَارٍ، وَإِنَّهَا سَاعَتِي هذِهِ حَرامٌ بحُرْمَةِ اللهِ إِلى يَوْمِ الْقِيامَةِ، لا يُعْضَدُ شَجَرُهُ، وَلَا يُخْتَلىَ خَلَاهُ، فَإِنْ أَحَدٌ تَرَخَّصَ بِقِتَالِ رَسُولِ اللهِصلى الله عليه وسلّم، فَقُولُوا: إنَّ اللهَ أَذِنَ لِرَسُولِهِ وَلَمْ يَأْذَنْ لَكُم»
(Allah has made this city a sanctuary since the day He created the heavens and the earth. So, it is a sanctuary by Allah's decree till the Day of Resurrection. Fighting in it was made legal for me only for an hour in the daytime. So, it (i.e., Makkah) is a sanctuary, by Allah's decree, from now on until the Day of Resurrection. Its trees should not be cut, and its grass should not be uprooted. If anyone mentions the fighting in it that occurred by Allah's Messenger ﷺ, then say that Allah allowed His Messenger, but did not allow you.)
In this Hadith, Allah's Messenger ﷺ mentions fighting the people of Makkah when he conquered it by force, leading to some deaths among the polytheists in the area of the Khandamah. This occurred after the Prophet proclaimed:
«مَنْ أَغْلَقَ بَابَهُ فهُوَ آمِنٌ،وَمَنْ دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَهُو آمِنٌ، ومَنْ دَخَلَ دَارَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ فَهُوَ آمِن»
(Whoever closed his door is safe. Whoever entered the (Sacred) Mosque is safe. Whoever entered the house of Abu Sufyan is also safe.)
Allah said:
حَتَّى يُقَـتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ فَإِن قَـتَلُوكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ كَذَلِكَ جَزَآءُ الْكَـفِرِينَ
(...unless they (first) fight you there. But if they attack you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.)
Allah states: `Do not fight them in the area of the Sacred Mosque unless they start fighting you in it. In this case, you are allowed to fight them and kill them to stop their aggression.' Hence, Allah's Messenger ﷺ took the pledge from his Companions under the tree (in the area of Al-Hudaybiyyah) to fight (the polytheists), after the tribes of Quraysh and their allies, Thaqif and other groups, collaborated against the Muslims (to stop them from entering Makkah to visit the Sacred House). Then, Allah stopped the fighting before it started between them and said:
وَهُوَ الَّذِى كَفَّ أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَنكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ عَنْهُم بِبَطْنِ مَكَّةَ مِن بَعْدِ أَنْ أَظْفَرَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ
(And He it is Who has withheld their hands from you and your hands from them in the midst of Makkah, after He had made you victors over them.) (48:24) and:
وَلَوْلاَ رِجَالٌ مُّؤْمِنُونَ وَنِسَآءٌ مُّؤْمِنَـتٌ لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوهُمْ أَن تَطَئُوهُمْ فَتُصِيبَكمْ مِّنْهُمْ مَّعَرَّةٌ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ لِّيُدْخِلَ اللَّهُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ لَوْ تَزَيَّلُواْ لَعَذَّبْنَا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْهُمْ عَذَاباً أَلِيماً
(Had there not been believing men and believing women whom you did not know, that you may kill them and on whose account a sin would have been committed by you without (your) knowledge, that Allah might bring into His mercy whom He wills ـ if they (the believers and the disbelievers) had been apart, We verily, would have punished those of them who disbelieved with painful torment.) (48:25)
Allah's statement:
فَإِنِ انتَهَوْاْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
(But if they cease, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) which means, `If they (polytheists) cease fighting you in the Sacred Area, and come to Islam and repent, then Allah will forgive them their sins, even if they had before killed Muslims in Allah's Sacred Area.' Indeed, Allah's forgiveness encompasses every sin, whatever its enormity, when the sinner repents it.
The Order to fight until there is no more Fitnah
Allah then commanded fighting the disbelievers when He said:
حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ
(...until there is no more Fitnah) meaning, Shirk. This is the opinion of Ibn `Abbas, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi`, Muqatil bin Hayyan, As-Suddi and Zayd bin Aslam.
Allah's statement:
وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ للَّهِ
(...and the religion (all and every kind of worship) is for Allah (Alone).) means, `So that the religion of Allah becomes dominant above all other religions.' It is reported in the Two Sahihs that Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said: "The Prophet was asked, `O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! A man fights out of bravery, and another fights to show off, which of them fights in the cause of Allah' The Prophet said:
«مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيا فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ الله»
(He who fights so that Allah's Word is superior, then he fights in Allah's cause.) In addition, it is reported in the Two Sahihs:
«أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لَا إِلهَ إلَّا اللهُ، فَإِذَا قَالُوهَا عَصَمُوا مِنِّي دِمَاءَهُم وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إلَّا بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى الله»
(I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight the people until they proclaim, `None has the right to be worshipped but Allah'. Whoever said it, then he will save his life and property from me, except for cases of the law, and their account will be with Allah.)
Allah's statement:
فَإِنِ انتَهَواْ فَلاَ عُدْوَنَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الظَّـلِمِينَ
(But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against the wrongdoers.) indicates that, `If they stop their Shirk and fighting the believers, then cease warfare against them. Whoever fights them afterwards will be committing an injustice. Verily aggression can only be started against the unjust.' This is the meaning of Mujahid's statement that only combatants should be fought. Or, the meaning of the Ayah indicates that, `If they abandon their injustice, which is Shirk in this case, then do not start aggression against them afterwards.' The aggression here means retaliating and fighting them, just as Allah said:
فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُواْ عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ
(Then whoever transgresses against you, you transgress likewise against him.) (2:194)
Similarly, Allah said:
وَجَزَآءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا
(The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof.) (42:40), and:
وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُمْ بِهِ
(And if you punish them, then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. ) (16:126)
`Ikrimah and Qatadah stated, "The unjust person is he who refuses to proclaim, `There is no God worthy of worship except Allah'."
Under Allah's statement:
وَقَـتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ
(And fight them until there is no more Fitnah) Al-Bukhari recorded that Nafi` said that two men came to Ibn `Umar during the conflict of Ibn Az-Zubayr and said to him, "The people have fallen into shortcomings and you are the son of `Umar and the Prophet's Companion. Hence, what prevents you from going out" He said, "What prevents me is that Allah has for bidden shedding the blood of my (Muslim) brother." They said, "Did not Allah say:
وَقَـتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ
(And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah))" He said, "We did fight until there was no more Fitnah and the religion became for Allah Alone. You want to fight until there is Fitnah and the religion becomes for other than Allah!"
`Uthman bin Salih added that a man came to Ibn `Umar and asked him, "O Abu `Abdur-Rahman! What made you perform Hajj one year and `Umrah another year and abandon Jihad in the cause of Allah, although you know how much He has encouraged performing it" He said, "O my nephew! Islam is built on five (pillars): believing in Allah and His Messenger, the five daily prayers, fasting Ramadan, paying the Zakah and performing Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House." They said, "O Abu `Abdur-Rahman! Did you not hear what Allah said in His Book:
وَإِن طَآئِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُواْ فَأَصْلِحُواْ بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِن بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الأُخْرَى فَقَـتِلُواْ الَّتِى تَبْغِى حَتَّى تَفِىءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ
(And if two parties (or groups) among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both. But if one of them outrages against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which outrages till it complies with the command of Allah.) (49:9) and:
وَقَـتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ
(And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief))
He said, "That we did during the time of Allah's Messenger ﷺ when Islam was still weak and (the Muslim) man used to face trials in his religion, such as killing or torture. When Islam became stronger (and apparent), there was no more Fitnah." He asked, "What do you say about `Ali and `Uthman" He said, "As for `Uthman, Allah has forgiven him. However, you hated the fact that Allah had forgiven him! As for `Ali, he is the cousin of Allah's Messenger ﷺ and his son-in-law." He then pointed with his hand, saying, "This is where his house is located (meaning, `so close to the Prophet's house just as `Ali was so close to the Prophet himself')."
And fight in the path of God those who fight against you, but do not transgress. God loves not the transgressors. In the language of the recognizers and the path of the chevaliers, this killing and fighting is another way station of the travelers and another state of the lovers. However, as long as you have not been killed by the sword of struggle in the path of the Shariah and you have not been burned by the fire of love, you will not be allowed to enter by this gate. Take care not to believe that fire is simply the lamp that you know and nothing more; or that killing is simply the state that you know. Those killed by the Real are one thing, those killed by the throat something else. Being burned by the fire of punishment is one thing, being burned by the fire of love something else. Thus that great pir said, “How should I have known that this is the smoke of the burning brand's fire? I fancied that wherever there is fire there is a lamp. How should I have known that in friendship the sin belongs to the killed and the judge gives refuge to the adversary!? How should I have known that the bewilderment of union with You is the path, and he who is drowned in You seeks You all the more?” One day Shiblī went into the desert. He saw forty men, distracted, impassioned, and overcome by this talk. Each of them had gone into the desert, a brick under his head, his life having reached the gullet. The tenderness of affinity appeared in Shiblī's breast and he said, “O God, what do You want from them? You have placed the burden of pain on their hearts, You have struck fire in their haystacks. Will You now kill them all with the sword of jealousy?” His secret core was addressed with the words, “I will kill them. Once I kill them, I will pay them the wergild.” Shiblī said, “What is the wergild?” The address came, “When someone is killed by the sword of My majesty, his wergild is the vision of My beauty.” I will fight against Your passion's army and be killed-someone killed has value. The wergild of the one killed by hand is dinars, the wergild of the one killed by passion is seeing.
And fight in the path of God those who fight against you, but do not transgress. God loves not the transgressors. In the language of the recognizers and the path of the chevaliers, this killing and fighting is another way station of the travelers and another state of the lovers. However, as long as you have not been killed by the sword of struggle in the path of the Shariah and you have not been burned by the fire of love, you will not be allowed to enter by this gate. Take care not to believe that fire is simply the lamp that you know and nothing more; or that killing is simply the state that you know. Those killed by the Real are one thing, those killed by the throat something else. Being burned by the fire of punishment is one thing, being burned by the fire of love something else. Thus that great pir said, “How should I have known that this is the smoke of the burning brand's fire? I fancied that wherever there is fire there is a lamp. How should I have known that in friendship the sin belongs to the killed and the judge gives refuge to the adversary!? How should I have known that the bewilderment of union with You is the path, and he who is drowned in You seeks You all the more?” One day Shiblī went into the desert. He saw forty men, distracted, impassioned, and overcome by this talk. Each of them had gone into the desert, a brick under his head, his life having reached the gullet. The tenderness of affinity appeared in Shiblī's breast and he said, “O God, what do You want from them? You have placed the burden of pain on their hearts, You have struck fire in their haystacks. Will You now kill them all with the sword of jealousy?” His secret core was addressed with the words, “I will kill them. Once I kill them, I will pay them the wergild.” Shiblī said, “What is the wergild?” The address came, “When someone is killed by the sword of My majesty, his wergild is the vision of My beauty.” I will fight against Your passion's army and be killed-someone killed has value. The wergild of the one killed by hand is dinars, the wergild of the one killed by passion is seeing.
And fight in the path of God those who fight against you, but do not transgress. God loves not the transgressors. In the language of the recognizers and the path of the chevaliers, this killing and fighting is another way station of the travelers and another state of the lovers. However, as long as you have not been killed by the sword of struggle in the path of the Shariah and you have not been burned by the fire of love, you will not be allowed to enter by this gate. Take care not to believe that fire is simply the lamp that you know and nothing more; or that killing is simply the state that you know. Those killed by the Real are one thing, those killed by the throat something else. Being burned by the fire of punishment is one thing, being burned by the fire of love something else. Thus that great pir said, “How should I have known that this is the smoke of the burning brand's fire? I fancied that wherever there is fire there is a lamp. How should I have known that in friendship the sin belongs to the killed and the judge gives refuge to the adversary!? How should I have known that the bewilderment of union with You is the path, and he who is drowned in You seeks You all the more?” One day Shiblī went into the desert. He saw forty men, distracted, impassioned, and overcome by this talk. Each of them had gone into the desert, a brick under his head, his life having reached the gullet. The tenderness of affinity appeared in Shiblī's breast and he said, “O God, what do You want from them? You have placed the burden of pain on their hearts, You have struck fire in their haystacks. Will You now kill them all with the sword of jealousy?” His secret core was addressed with the words, “I will kill them. Once I kill them, I will pay them the wergild.” Shiblī said, “What is the wergild?” The address came, “When someone is killed by the sword of My majesty, his wergild is the vision of My beauty.” I will fight against Your passion's army and be killed-someone killed has value. The wergild of the one killed by hand is dinars, the wergild of the one killed by passion is seeing.
And fight in the path of God those who fight against you, but do not transgress. God loves not the transgressors. In the language of the recognizers and the path of the chevaliers, this killing and fighting is another way station of the travelers and another state of the lovers. However, as long as you have not been killed by the sword of struggle in the path of the Shariah and you have not been burned by the fire of love, you will not be allowed to enter by this gate. Take care not to believe that fire is simply the lamp that you know and nothing more; or that killing is simply the state that you know. Those killed by the Real are one thing, those killed by the throat something else. Being burned by the fire of punishment is one thing, being burned by the fire of love something else. Thus that great pir said, “How should I have known that this is the smoke of the burning brand's fire? I fancied that wherever there is fire there is a lamp. How should I have known that in friendship the sin belongs to the killed and the judge gives refuge to the adversary!? How should I have known that the bewilderment of union with You is the path, and he who is drowned in You seeks You all the more?” One day Shiblī went into the desert. He saw forty men, distracted, impassioned, and overcome by this talk. Each of them had gone into the desert, a brick under his head, his life having reached the gullet. The tenderness of affinity appeared in Shiblī's breast and he said, “O God, what do You want from them? You have placed the burden of pain on their hearts, You have struck fire in their haystacks. Will You now kill them all with the sword of jealousy?” His secret core was addressed with the words, “I will kill them. Once I kill them, I will pay them the wergild.” Shiblī said, “What is the wergild?” The address came, “When someone is killed by the sword of My majesty, his wergild is the vision of My beauty.” I will fight against Your passion's army and be killed-someone killed has value. The wergild of the one killed by hand is dinars, the wergild of the one killed by passion is seeing.
And fight in the path of God those who fight against you, but do not transgress. God loves not the transgressors.In the language of the recognizers and the path of the chevaliers, this killing and fighting is another way station of the travelers and another state of the lovers. However, as long as you have not been killed by the sword of struggle in the path of the Shariah and you have not been burned by the fire of love, you will not be allowed to enter by this gate.Take care not to believe that fire is simply the lamp that you know and nothing more; or that killing is simply the state that you know. Those killed by the Real are one thing, those killed by the throat something else. Being burned by the fire of punishment is one thing, being burned by the fire of love something else.Thus that great pir said, �How should I have known that this is the smoke of the burning brand's fire? I fancied that wherever there is fire there is a lamp. How should I have known that in friendship the sin belongs to the killed and the judge gives refuge to the adversary!? How should I have known that the bewilderment of union with You is the path, and he who is drowned in You seeks You all the more?�One day Shiblī went into the desert. He saw forty men, distracted, impassioned, and overcome by this talk. Each of them had gone into the desert, a brick under his head, his life having reached the gullet. The tenderness of affinity appeared in Shiblī's breast and he said, �O God, what do You want from them? You have placed the burden of pain on their hearts, You have struck fire in their haystacks. Will You now kill them all with the sword of jealousy?�His secret core was addressed with the words, �I will kill them. Once I kill them, I will pay them the wergild.�Shiblī said, �What is the wergild?�The address came, �When someone is killed by the sword of My majesty, his wergild is the vision of My beauty.�I will fight against Your passion's armyand be killed-someone killed has value. The wergild of the one killed by hand is dinars,the wergild of the one killed by passion is seeing.
هذه الآيات, تتضمن الأمر بالقتال في سبيل الله, وهذا كان بعد الهجرة إلى المدينة, لما قوي المسلمون للقتال, أمرهم الله به, بعد ما كانوا مأمورين بكف أيديهم، وفي تخصيص القتال { فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ } حث على الإخلاص, ونهي عن الاقتتال في الفتن بين المسلمين. { الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ } أي: الذين هم مستعدون لقتالكم, وهم المكلفون الرجال, غير الشيوخ الذين لا رأي لهم ولا قتال. والنهي عن الاعتداء, يشمل أنواع الاعتداء كلها, من قتل من لا يقاتل, من النساء, والمجانين والأطفال, والرهبان ونحوهم والتمثيل بالقتلى, وقتل الحيوانات, وقطع الأشجار [ونحوها], لغير مصلحة تعود للمسلمين. ومن الاعتداء, مقاتلة من تقبل منهم الجزية إذا بذلوها, فإن ذلك لا يجوز.
Jihad: To fight in the way of Allah
That Jihad and Qital or fighting against disbelievers was prohibited prior to the emigration to Madinah is a fact the entire Muslim community agrees upon. All verses revealed during that time advised Muslims to be patient against pains inflicted on them by disbelievers, even to ignore and forgive when they can. It was after the emigration to Madinah that the first command to fight against them came through this verse (as said by al-Rabi' ibn Anas and others). Another narration from Sayyidna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq ؓ says that the first verse relating to this subject is: أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا Leave is' given to those who are fought against because they were wronged", but according to a majority of the blessed Companions and their successors, the first verse commanding to fight the disbelievers is this very verse from Surah al-Baqarah while the verse which has been identified as the first verse on this subject by Sayyidna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq ؓ ، that too being among the very initial verses revealed, could be called the first.
The command in this verse is that Muslims should fight only those disbelievers who come to fight against them. It means that there are other people too who do not take part in fighting, such as, the women, the children, the very old, the priests and monks and others devoting themselves to quiet religious pursuits, and the physically handicapped, and those casual labourers who work for disbelievers and do not go to fight along with them; it is not permissible to kill such people in a Jihad. The reason is that the command in the verse is restricted to fighting those who come to fight Muslims. The kind of people mentioned above are not all fighters. That is why Muslim Jurists رحمۃ اللہ علیہم have also ruled that should a woman, an old man or, religious person take part in actual fighting along with disbelievers or be helping them in any manner in their fight against the Muslims, then, killing them is permissible because they come under the purview of الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ those who fight you'. (Mazhari, Qurtubi and Jassas)
The battle orders of the Holy Prophet ﷺ given to the mujahidin of Islam at the time of Jihad carry a good explanation of this injunction. In a hadith from al-Bukhari and Muslim, as narrated by the blessed Companion ` Abdullah ibn ` Umar ؓ ، it is said:
نھی رسول اللہ ﷺ عن قتل النساء والصبیان
The Holy Prophet ﷺ has prohibited the killing of women and children.'
The following instructions from the Holy Prophet ﷺ given to the Companions going on Jihad have been narrated in a hadith from Sayyidna Anas ؓ which appears in Abu Dawud: 'Go for Jihad in the name of Allah adhering to the community of the Messenger of Allah. Do not kill anyone old and weak, any young child or any woman.' (Mazhari)
When Sayyidna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq ؓ sent Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan ؓ to Syria, he gave him the same instructions. Also added there is the prohibition of killing the religiously-devoted, the monks and priests, and the labourers employed by disbelievers, especially when they do not take part in fighting (Qurtubi).