The Iron — Verse 8

And why should you not believe — an address to the disbelievers — in other words there is nothing to prevent you from believing in God when the Messenger is calling you to believe in your Lord and a pledge has been taken from you reading it as ukhidha mīthāqukum; otherwise akhadha mīthāqakum ‘He has taken a pledge from you’ concerning it — that is to say God took this pledge from you in the world of atoms when He made them bear witness against themselves ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said ‘Yea indeed’ Q. 7172 — if you are believers? that is to say if your intention is to believe in Him then apply yourselves to this duty of faith.

وأيُّ عذر لكم في أن لا تصدقوا بوحدانية الله وتعملوا بشرعه، والرسول يدعوكم إلى ذلك، وقد أخذ الله ميثاقكم على ذلك، إن كنتم مؤمنين بالله خالقكم؟

أي وأي شيء يمنعكم من الإيمان والرسول بين أظهركم يدعوكم إلى ذلك ويبين لكم الحجج والبراهين على صحة ما جاءكم به وقد روى في الحديث من طرق في أوائل شرح كتاب الإيمان من صحيح البخاري أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال يوما لأصحابه "أي المؤمنين أعجب إليكم إيمانا؟ - قالوا الملائكة قال - وما لهم لا يؤمنون وهم عند ربهم قالوا فالأنبياء قال - وما لهم لا يؤمنون والوحي ينزل عليهم - قالوا فنحن قال - وما لكم لا تؤمنون وأنا بين أظهركم ولكن أعجب المؤمنين إيمانا قوم يجيئون بعدكم يجدون صحفا يؤمنون بما فيها" وقد ذكرنا طرفا من هذه في أول سورة البقرة عند قوله تعالى "الذين يؤمنون بالغيب" وقوله تعالى "وقد أخذ ميثاقكم" كما قال تعالى "واذكروا نعمة الله عليكم وميثاقه الذي واثقكم به أذ قلتم سمعنا وأطعنا" ويعني بذلك بيعة الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم وزعم ابن جرير أن المراد بذلك الميثاق الذي أخذ عليهم في صلب آدم وهو مذهب مجاهد فالله أعلم.

ثم رغبهم - سبحانه - فى الثبات على الإيمان بالله ورسوله فقال : ( وَمَا لَكُمْ لاَ تُؤْمِنُونَ بالله والرسول يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُواْ بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِينَ ) .أى : وأى مانع يمنعكم من الثبات على الإيمان . ومن القيام بتكاليفه ، ومن إخلاص العبادة له - تعالى - وحده ، والحال أن الرسول - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بينكم صباح مساء ، يدعوكم إلى الإيمان بربكم ، وقد أخذ - سبحانه - عليكم العهود والمواثيق على هذا الإيمان ، عن طريق ما ركب فيكم من عقول تعقل ، وعن طريق ما نصب لكم من أدلة متنوعة كلها تدل على وجوب إخلاص العبادة لله الواحد القهار .قال : الإمام ابن كثير عند تفسيره لهذه الآية : أى : وأى شىء يمنعكم من الإيمان ، والرسول بين أظهركم يدعوكم إلى ذلك ، ويبين لكم الحجج والبراهين على صحة ما جاءكم به .وقد روينا فى الحديث من طرق ، فى أوائل شرح كتاب الإيمان من صحيح البخارى ، " أن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قال يوما لأصحابه : " أى المؤمنين أعجب إليكم إيمانا؟ " قالوا : الملائكة .قال : " وما لهم لا يؤمنون وهم عند ربهم؟ " قالوا : فالأنبياء قال : " ومالهم لا يؤمنون والوحى ينزل عليهم " قالوا : فنحن ، قال : " فما لكم لا تؤمنون وأنا بين أظهركم؟ ولكن أعجب المؤمنين إيمانا قوم يجيئون بعدكم ، يجدون صحفا يؤمنون بما فيها " " .وقوله - تعالى - : ( وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ ) كما قال - تعالى - : ( واذكروا نِعْمَةَ الله عَلَيْكُمْ وَمِيثَاقَهُ الذي وَاثَقَكُم بِهِ إِذْ قُلْتُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا . . ) ويعنى بذلك بيعة الرسول - صلى الله عليه وسلم - .وزعم ابن جرير : أن المراد بذلك : الميثاق الذى أخذ عليهم فى صلب آدم .وجواب الشرط فى قوله - تعالى - : ( إِن كُنتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِينَ ) محذوف لدلالة ما قبله عليه .أى : إن كنتم مؤمنين لسبب من الأسباب ، فعلى رأس هذه الأسباب وجود الرسول - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بينكم يدعوكم إلى هذا الإيمان ويقنعكم بوجوب الاعتصام به .

يقول تعالى ذكره: (وما لكم لا تؤمنون بالله)، وما شأنكم أيها الناس لا تقرّون بوحدانية الله، ورسوله محمد صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم يدعوكم إلى الإقرار بوحدانيته، وقد أتاكم من الحجج على حقيقة ذلك، ما قطع عذركم، وأزال الشكّ من قلوبكم، (وقد أخذ ميثاقكم)، قيل: عني بذلك؛ وقد أخذ منكم ربكم ميثاقكم في صُلب آدم، بأن الله ربكم لا إله لكم سواه.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثني محمد بن عمرو، قال: ثنا أبو عاصم، قال: ثنا عيسى؛ وحدثني الحارث، قال: ثنا الحسن، قال: ثنا ورقاء جميعا، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد، قوله: (وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ ) قال: في ظهر آدم.واختلفت القرّاء في قراءة ذلك، فقرأته عامة قرّاء الحجاز والعراق غير أبي عمرو (وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ )، بفتح الألف من أخذ ونصب الميثاق، بمعنى: وقد أخذ ربكم ميثاقكم. وقرأ ذلك أبو عمرو: ( وَقَدْ أخَذَ مِيثاقَكُمْ ) بضمّ الألف ورفع الميثاق، على وجه ما لم يسمّ فاعله.والصواب من القول في ذلك أنهما قراءتان متقاربتا المعنى، فبأيتهما قرأ القارئ فمصيب، وإن كان فتح الألف من أخذ ونصب الميثاق أعجب القراءتين إليّ في ذلك، لكثرة القراءة بذلك، وقلة القراءة بالقراءة الأخرى.وقوله: (إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ ) يقول: إن كنتم تريدون أن تؤمنوا بالله يوما من الأيام، فالآن أحرى الأوقات، أن تؤمنوا لتتابع الحجج عليكم بالرسول وإعلامه، ودعائه إياكم إلى ما قد تقرّرت صحته عندكم بالإعلام، والأدلة والميثاق المأخوذ عليكم.

( وما لكم لا تؤمنون بالله والرسول يدعوكم لتؤمنوا بربكم وقد أخذ ميثاقكم ) قرأ أبو عمرو : " أخذ " بضم الهمزة وكسر الخاء " ميثاقكم " برفع القاف على ما لم يسم فاعله . وقرأ الآخرون بفتح الهمزة والخاء والقاف ، أي : أخذ الله ميثاقكم حين أخرجكم من ظهر آدم عليه السلام بأن الله ربكم لا إله لكم سواه ، قاله مجاهد .وقيل : أخذ ميثاقكم بإقامة الحجج والدلائل التي تدعو إلى متابعة الرسول - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ( إن كنتم مؤمنين ) يوما ، فالآن أحرى الأوقات أن تؤمنوا لقيام الحجج والإعلام ببعثة محمد - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ونزول القرآن .

وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ (8)ظاهر استعمال أمثال قوله : { وما لكم لا تؤمنون } أن يكون استفهاماً مستعملاً في التوبيخ والتعجيب ، وهو الذي يناسب كون الأمر في قوله : { آمنوا بالله ورسوله } مستعملاً في الطلب لا في الدوام .وتكون جملة { لا تؤمنون } حالاً من الضمير المستتر في الكون المتعلق به الجار والمجرور كما تقول : ما لك قائماً؟ بمعنى ما تصنع في حال القيام . والتقدير : وما لكم كافرين بالله ، أي ما حصل لكم في حالة عدم الإيمان .وجملة { والرسول يدعوكم } حال ثانية ، والواو واو الحال لا العطف ، فهما حالان متداختان . والمعنى : ماذا يمنَعكم من الإيمان وقد بين لكم الرسولُ من آيات القرآن ما فيه بلاغ وحجة على أن الإِيمان بالله حق فلا عذر لكم في عدم الإِيمان بالله فقد جاءتكم بينات حقّيّته فتعين أن إصراركم على عدم الإِيمان مكابرة وعناد .وعلى هذا الوجه فالميثاق المأخوذ عليهم هو ميثاق من الله ، أي ما يماثل الميثاق من إيداع الإيمان بوجود الله وبوحدانيته في الفطرة البشرية فكأنه ميثاق قد أخذ على كل واحد من الناس في الأزل وشرط التكوين فهو ناموس فطري . وهذا إشارة إلى قوله تعالى : { وإذ أخذ ربك من بني آدم من ظهورهم ذرياتهم وأشهدهم على أنفسهم ألست بربكم قالوا بلى } وقد تقدم في سورة الأعراف ( 172 ) .فضمير { أخذ } عائد إلى اسم الجلالة في قوله : { وما لكم لا تؤمنون بالله } والمعنى : أن النفوس لو خلت من العناد وعن التمويه والتضليل كانت منساقة إلى إدراك وجود الصانع ووحدانيته وقد جاءهم من دعوة الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم ما يكشف عنهم ما غشى على إدراكهم من دعاء أيمة الكفر والضلال .وجملة { إن كنتم مؤمنين } مستأنفة ، وجواب الشرط محذوف دل عليه قوله : { والرسول يدعوكم لتؤمنوا بربكم وقد أخذ ميثاقكم } .واسم فاعل في قوله { إن كنتم مؤمنين } مستعمل في المستقبل بقرينة وقوعه في سياق الشرط ، أي فقد حصل ما يقتضي أن تؤمنوا من السبب الظاهر والسبب الخفي المرتكز في الجبلة .ويرجح هذا المعنى أن ظاهر الأمر في قوله : { آمنوا بالله ورسوله } [ الحديد : 7 ] أنه لطلب إيجاد الإِيمان كما تقدم في تفسيرها وأن الآية مكية .وقرأ الجمهور { أخذ } بالبناء للفاعل ونصب { ميثاقكم } على أن الضمير عائد إلى اسم الجلالة ، وقرأه أبو عمرو { أُخِذ } بالبناء للنائب ورفع { ميثاقُكم } .

{ وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ } أي: وما الذي يمنعكم من الإيمان، والحال أن الرسول محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم أفضل الرسل وأكرم داع دعا إلى الله يدعوكم، فهذا مما يوجب المبادرة إلى إجابة دعوته، والتلبية والإجابة للحق الذي جاء به، وقد أخذ عليكم العهد والميثاق بالإيمان إن كنتم مؤمنين، ومع ذلك، من لطفه وعنايته بكم، أنه لم يكتف بمجرد دعوة الرسول الذي هو أشرف العالم، بل أيده بالمعجزات، ودلكم على صدق ما جاء به بالآيات البينات .

قوله تعالى : وما لكم لا تؤمنون بالله استفهام يراد به التوبيخ . أي : أي عذر لكم في ألا تؤمنوا وقد أزيحت العلل ؟ والرسول يدعوكم بين بهذا أنه لا حكم قبل ورود الشرائع . قرأ أبو عمرو : " وقد أخذ ميثاقكم " على غير مسمى الفاعل . والباقون على مسمى الفاعل ، أي : أخذ الله ميثاقكم . قال مجاهد : هو الميثاق الأول الذي كان وهم في ظهر آدم بأن الله ربكم لا إله لكم سواه . وقيل : أخذ ميثاقكم بأن ركب فيكم العقول ، وأقام عليكم الدلائل والحجج التي تدعو إلى متابعة الرسول إن كنتم مؤمنين أي : إذ كنتم . وقيل : أي : إن كنتم مؤمنين بالحجج والدلائل . وقيل : أي : إن كنتم مؤمنين بحق يوما من الأيام ، فالآن أحرى الأوقات أن تؤمنوا لقيام الحجج والإعلام ببعثة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم فقد صحت براهينه . وقيل : إن كنتم مؤمنين بالله خالقكم . وكانوا يعترفون بهذا . وقيل : هو خطاب لقوم آمنوا وأخذ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ميثاقهم فارتدوا . وقوله : إن كنتم مؤمنين أي : إن كنتم تقرون بشرائط الإيمان .

When the call of Islam is given, it is based on clear reasoning in its preliminary stages. The second stage is marked by victory in its immediate surroundings. In the first stage, only those who have the capacity to see the inherent greatness of a thing solely on the level of reasoning are courageous enough to make sacrifices for Islam. But when Islam has already been crowned by success, every individual is able to see its greatness and everybody feels proud of coming forward and offering his life and property for its sake. One who spends for the cause of Islam in the early stages has to do it without thought of reward, while in the latter stage, whatever a man spends is redoubled in this world itself, as a reward in various forms. That explains why, in the eyes of God, each group has a different status.

Ordering Faith وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ (...and He has taken your covenant ....57:8) This could refer to the covenant taken in ` anal' (pre-eternity). According to verses 172-174 of Surah Al-A'raf, Allah gathered all the souls even before they took the form of their existence, and took the covenant of 'alast' [ the pre-eternal covenant ]. He asked them: اَلَستُ بِرَبِّکُم ("Am I not your Lord?" ) They replied: بَلیٰ (Of course You are, we affirm). Another possibility is that this covenant could refer to the pledge taken from the previous prophets and their followers to believe in the final Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and support him. This covenant is mentioned by the Holy Qur'an in the following words: ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَ‌سُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنصُرُ‌نَّهُ ۚ قَالَ أَأَقْرَ‌رْ‌تُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِ‌ي ۖ قَالُوا أَقْرَ‌رْ‌نَا ۚ قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُم مِّنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ "...then comes to you a messenger verifying what is with you; you shall have to believe in him and you shall have to support him. He said: 'Do you affirm and accept my covenant in this respect?' They said: 'We affirm.' He said: 'Then, bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses." (3:81) إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ (...if you are believers - 57:8). A question may arise here: In the earlier part of this very verse [ 8], the infidels and idolaters were reprimanded in the following words, "And what is wrong with you that you do not believe in Allah" This goes to show that the addressees of this phrase are 'non-believers', then how is it appropriate to say 'if you are believers'? The answer to this question is that the unbelievers did not deny the existence of the Creator. In point of fact, they claimed to believe in God, and thus they used to say مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّ‌بُونَا إِلَى اللَّـهِ زُلْفَىٰ (We only worship them [ the idols ] that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position....39:3) In this context, the concluding phrase of verse [ 8] implies that 'If your claim [ that you believe in God ] is true, then go about the perfect and right way in "believing in God" which is not only to believe in God but also to believe in His Messenger ﷺ .

(What aileth you) O people of Mecca (that ye believe not in Allah) that you deny Allah's divine Oneness, (when the messenger) Muhammad (pbuh) (calls you to believe in your Lord) to profess your Lord's divine Oneness, (and He hath already made a covenant with you) and He has already taken your declaration of Allah's divine Oneness, (if ye are believers) on the Day of Covenant?

Ordering Faith and encouraging spending Allah the Exalted and Blessed orders having perfect faith in Him and in His Messenger, and that one should persist on this path adhereing firmly to it. Allah encourages spending from what He has made mankind trustees of, the wealth that you - mankind - have, that He has lent you. This wealth was in the hands of those before you and was later transferred to you. Therefore, O mankind, spend as Allah commanded you from the wealth that He entrusted to you for His obedience. Otherwise, He will hold you accountable and punish you for your ignoring what He ordained on you in this regard. Allah's statement, مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ (of that whereof He has made you trustees.), indicates that you - mankind -- will surrender this wealth to someone else. In this case, those who will inherit from you might obey Allah with their wealth, and thus acquire more happiness than you on account of what Allah has granted them. They might disobey Allah, and in this case you will have helped them commit evil and transgression. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Ash-Shikhkhir said, "I came to Allah's Messenger ﷺ as he was reciting and saying, أَلْهَـكُمُ التَّكَّاثُرُ يَقُولُ ابْنُ آدَمَ: مَالِي مَالِي، وَهَلْ لَكَ مِن مَالِكَ إِلَّا مَاأَكَلْتَ فَأَفْنَيْتَ، أَوْ لَبِسْتَ فَأَبْلَيْتَ، أَوْ تَصَدَّقْتَ فَأَمْضَيْتَ؟» ((abundance diverts you.)( The Son of `Adam claims, "My wealth, my wealth." But is there anything belonging to you, except that which you consumed, which you used, or which you wore and then it became worn or you gave as charity and sent it forward) Muslim also collected with the addition: «وَمَا سِوَى ذلِكَ، فَذَاهِبٌ وَتَارِكُهُ لِلنَّاس» (Other than that, you will go away from it and leave it behind for other people.) Allah's statement, فَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمْ وَأَنفَقُواْ لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ (And such of you as believe and spend, theirs will be a great reward.) encourages having faith and spending in acts of obedience. Allah the Exalted said, وَمَا لَكُمْ لاَ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُواْ بِرَبِّكُمْ (And what is the matter with you that you believe not in Allah! While the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord;) meaning, "what prevents you from believing, while the Messenger is among you calling you to faith and bringing forward clear proofs and evidences that affirm the truth of what he brought you" And we have reported the Hadith through different routes in the beginning of the explanation on the chapter on Faith in Sahih Al-Bukhari, wherein one day the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to his Companions, «أَيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعْجَبُ إِلَيْكُمْ إِيمَانًا؟» (Who do you consider among the believers as having the most amazing faith) They said, "The angels." He said, «وَمَا لَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ وَهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ؟» (And what prevents them from believing when they are with their Lord) They said, "Then the Prophets." He said, «وَمَالَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْوَحْيُ يَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهِمْ؟» (What prevents them from believing when the revelation comes down to them) They said, "Then us." He said, «وَمَالَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَنَا بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ؟ وَلكِنْ أَعْجَبُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا، قَوْمٌ يَجِيئُونَ بَعْدَكُمْ، يَجِدُونَ صُحُفًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا فِيهَا» (What prevents you from believing, when I am amongst you Actually, the believers who have the most amazing faith, are some people who will come after you; they will find pages that they will believe in.) We mentioned a part of this Hadith when explaining Allah's statement in Surat Al-Baqarah, الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ (who believe in the Ghayb (unseen).)(2:3) Allah's statement, وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَـقَكُمْ (and He has indeed taken your covenant,) is similar to another of His statements, وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمِيثَـقَهُ الَّذِى وَاثَقَكُم بِهِ إِذْ قُلْتُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا (And remember Allah's favor to you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said: "We hear and we obey.")(5:7), which refers to giving the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet . Ibn Jarir said that the covenant mentioned here, is that taken from mankind, when they were still in Adam's loin. This is also the opinion of Mujahid, and Allah knows best. Allah said, هُوَ الَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ ءَايَـتٍ بَيِّنَـتٍ (It is He Who sends down manifest Ayat to His servant) clear proofs, unequivocal evidences and plain attestations, لِيُخْرِجَكُمْ مِّنَ الظُّلُمَـتِ إِلَى النُّورِ (that He may bring you out from darkness into light.) from the darkness of ignorance, disbelief and contradictory statements to the light of guidance, certainty and faith, وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ (And verily, Allah is to you full of kindness, Most Merciful.) by revealing the Divine Books and sending the Messengers to guide mankind, eradicating doubts and removing confusion. After Allah commanded mankind to first believe and spend, He again encouraged them to acquire faith and stated that He has removed all barriers between them and the acquisition of faith. Allah again encouraged them to spend, وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلاَّ تُنفِقُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ (And what is the matter with you that you spend not in the cause of Allah And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth.) means, spend and do not fear poverty or scarcity. Surely, He in Whose cause you spent is the King and Owner of the heavens and earth and has perfect control over their every affair, including their treasuries. He is the Owner of the Throne, with all the might that it contains, and He is the One Who said, وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُمْ مِّن شَىْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ (And whatsoever you spend of anything, He will replace it. And He is the best of providers.)(34:39), and, مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ (whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever is with Allah will remain.)(16:96) Therefore, those who trust in and depend on Allah will spend, and they will not fear poverty or destitution coming to them from the Owner of the Throne. They know that Allah will surely compensate them for whatever they spend. The Virtues of spending and fighting before the Conquest of Makkah Allah's statement, لاَ يَسْتَوِى مِنكُم مَّنْ أَنفَقَ مِن قَبْلِ الْفَتْحِ وَقَـتَلَ (Not equal among you are those who spent before the conquering and fought.) meaning those who did not fight and spend before the Conquest are not equal to those who spent and fought. Before Makkah was conquered, things were difficult for Muslims and only the righteous ones embraced Islam. After Makkah was conquered, Islam spread tremendously throughout the known world and people embraced the religion of Allah en masse. Similarly He said: أُوْلَـئِكَ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أَنفَقُواْ مِن بَعْدُ وَقَـتَلُواْ وَكُلاًّ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَى (Such are higher in degree than those who spent and fought afterwards. But to all Allah has promised the best (reward).) The majority considers the Conquest here to be the conquest of Makkah. Ash-Sha`bi and several others said that the Ayah refers to the treaty at Al-Hudaybiyyah. There is proof for this opinion found in a Hadith from Anas, collected by Imam Ahmad. Anas said, "Khalid bin Al-Walid and `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf had a dispute. Khalid said to `Abdur-Rahman, `You boast about days (battles) that you participated in before us.' When the news of this statement reached the Prophet he said, «دَعُوا لِي أَصْحَابِي، فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْ أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ أَوْ مِثْلَ الْجِبَالِ ذَهَبًا، مَا بَلَغْتُمْ أَعْمَالَهُم» (Do not bother my Companions, for by He in Whose Hand is my soul! If you spend an amount of gold equal to (Mount) Uhud, (or equal to the mountains), you will not reach the level of their actions.)" It is a known fact that Khalid bin Al-Walid, whom the Prophet addressed this statement to, embraced Islam during the period between the treaty of Al-Hudaybiyyah and the conquering of Makkah. The dispute between Khalid and `Abdur-Rahman occurred because of the battle of Bani Jadhimah. The Prophet sent Khalid bin Al-Walid to them after the conquest of Makkah, and they said, "Saba'na," instead of saying, "Aslamna" (we embraced Islam). So Khalid ordered their execution and the execution of their prisoners (of war); `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf and `Abdullah bin `Umar opposed him. This is the reason behind the dispute that occurred between Khalid and `Abdur-Rahman. But in the Sahih, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَا تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابِي، فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْ أَنْفَقَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا، مَا بَلَغَ مُدَّ أَحَدِهِمْ وَلَا نَصِيفَه» (None should revile my Companions, for by He in Whose Hand is my soul! If one of you were to spend as much gold as Uhud, it would not reach the level of them equal to an amount as much as one Mudd of one of them or half of it.) Allah said, وَكُلاًّ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَى (But to all Allah has promised the best (reward).) meaning, those who spent before and after the conquest of Makkah; they all will gain a reward for their good deeds, even though some of them vary in rank and earn a better reward than others as Allah said, لاَّ يَسْتَوِى الْقَـعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ وَالْمُجَـهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَـهِدِينَ بِأَمْوَلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى الْقَـعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً وَكُـلاًّ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَى وَفَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَـهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَـعِدِينَ أَجْراً عَظِيماً (Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled, and those who strive hard and fight in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has promised good, but Allah has preferred by a great reward those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home).)(4:95) There is a Hadith in the Sahih that states, «الْمُؤْمِنُ الْقَوِيُّ خَيْرٌ وَأَحَبُّ إِلَى اللهِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ الضَّعِيفِ، وَفِي كُلَ خَيْر» (The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer; both have goodness in them.) The Prophet ended his statement this way to draw attention to the second type of believer, so that their own qualities are not forgotten in the midst of preferring the former type. In this way, the latter is not dismissed as being degraded in the Hadith. Therefore, the Prophet ended his statement by praising the second type -- the weak believers -- after giving preference to the first type. Allah said: وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ (And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.) meaning, since Allah is perfectly aware of all things, He made distinctions between the rewards of the believers who spent and fought before the Conquest and those who spent and fought afterwards. Surely, Allah does this by His knowledge of the intention of the former type and their perfect sincerity to Him, all the while spending in times of hardship, poverty and dire straits. This is found in the Hadith, «سَبَقَ دِرْهَمٌ مِائَةَ أَلْف» (Spending one Dirham is preceded over a hundred thousand.) There is no doubt that the people of faith consider Abu Bakr As-Siddiq to be the person who has the best share according to the meaning of this Ayah. He was the chief of those who implemented it, among all followers of all Prophets. He spent all of his wealth seeking the Face of Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored. He did it voluntarily too, not to repay a debt or a favor that anyone from mankind had on him. May Allah be pleased with him. The Encouragement to make a Handsome Loan in the Cause of Allah Allah said, مَّن ذَا الَّذِى يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا (Who is he that will lend Allah a handsome loan:) `Umar bin Al-Khattab said that this Ayah refers to spending in Allah's cause. It was also said that it pertains to spending on children. What is correct is that it is more general than that. So all those who spend in the cause of Allah with good intentions and a sincere heart, then they fall under the generality of this Ayah. This is why Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah: مَّن ذَا الَّذِى يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ (Who is he that will lend Allah handsome loan: then (Allah) will increase it manifold to his credit (in repaying),) and in another Ayah, أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً (many times) (2:245), meaning, being handsome reward and tremendous provisions: Paradise on the Day of Resurrection. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "When this Ayah, مَّن ذَا الَّذِى يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ (Who is he that will lend Allah handsome loan: then (Allah) will increase it manifold to his credit (in repaying),) was revealed, Abu Ad-Dahdah Al-Ansari said, `O Allah's Messenger! Does Allah ask us for a loan' The Prophet said, «نَعَمْ، يَاأَبَا الدَّحْدَاح» (Yes, O Abu Ad-Dahdah.) He said, `Give me your hand, O Allah's Messenger,' and the Prophet placed his hand in his hand. Abu Ad-Dahdah said, `Verily, I have given my garden as a loan to my Lord.' He had a garden that contained six hundred date trees; his wife and children were living in that garden too. Abu Ad-Dahdah went to his wife and called her, `Umm Ad-Dahdah!' She said, `Here I am.' He said, `Leave the garden, because I have given it as a loan to my Lord, the Exalted and Most Honored.' She said, `That is a successful trade, O Abu Ad-Dahdah!' She then transferred her goods and children. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «كَمْ مِنْ عَذْقٍ رَدَاحٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لِأَبِي الدَّحْدَاح» (How plentiful are the sweet date clusters that Abu Ad-Dahdah has in Paradise!)" In another narration, the Prophet said, «رُبَّ نَخْلَةٍ مُدَلَّاةٍ، عُرُوقُهَا دُرٌّ وَيَاقُوتٌ، لِأَبِي الدَّحْدَاحِ فِي الْجَنَّة» (How many a date tree that has lowered down its clusters, which are full of pearls and gems in Paradise for Abu Ad-Dahdah!)