Encouragement to Fight

They ask you about fighting in the sacred month, say, ‘Fighting in it is a grave matter, but hindering people from Allah’s path, denying Him, preventing access to the Sacred Mosque, and expelling its people from it, these are far worse in Allah’s sight.

O Prophet! Inspire the believers to fight. If twenty among you remain steadfast, they will overcome two hundred; and if one hundred remain steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of the disbelievers, for they are a people who do not understand.

Now Allah has lightened your burden, knowing that there is weakness among you. If one hundred remain steadfast, they will overcome two hundred; and if one thousand remain steadfast, they will overcome two thousand, by Allah’s permission. Allah is with the steadfast.

So do not falter or call for peace when you have the upper hand. God is with you and will never deprive you of your deeds.

Indeed, those who have embraced faith, migrated with purpose, and strove with heart and hand in the path of God, they are the ones who truly hope for God’s mercy.

Will you not fight a people who broke their oaths, plotted to expel the Messenger, and attacked you first? Do you fear them? Allah is more deserving of your fear, if you are believers.

Fight them, Allah will punish them at your hands, disgrace them, grant you victory over them, and heal the hearts of a believing people.

He will remove the anger from their hearts. Allah accepts repentance from whomever He wills.

Do you think you will be left alone without Allah distinguishing those among you who strive and take none as allies except Allah, His Messenger, and the believers?

March forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and lives in Allah’s cause. That is better for you, if you only knew.

Allah has purchased the lives and wealth of the believers in exchange for Paradise. They fight in His cause, slaying and being slain. This is a true promise in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran. Who fulfils His promise better than Allah? So, rejoice in your transaction; this is the supreme triumph.

So, fight in Allah’s cause, you are responsible only for yourself. Encourage the believers, and perhaps Allah will restrain the might of the disbelievers.

Among the believers are those who have remained true to their covenant with God; some have fulfilled their vow, while others await their time, never wavering.

That God may reward the truthful for their sincerity and punish the hypocrites if He wills, or turn to them in mercy.

God repelled the disbelievers in their rage, leaving them empty-handed. God sufficed the believers in battle.

So, when you meet the disbelievers in battle, strike their necks. Then, once you have subdued them, bind them firmly. Afterward, release them graciously or for ransom, until the war lays down its burdens. Had God willed, He could have defeated them Himself, but He tests some of you through others. And those who are slain in God’s cause, He will never let their deeds go to waste.

So do not falter or call for peace when you have the upper hand. God is with you and will never deprive you of your deeds.

Truly, God loves those who fight in His cause as one solid rank, like a wall forged of iron.

Have you not seen those who were told, ‘Restrain yourselves, establish prayer, and give charity’? But when fighting was ordained, some feared people as they should fear Allah, or even more. They said, ‘Our Lord, why have You commanded us to fight? If only You had delayed it for a while!’ Say, ‘The enjoyment of this world is brief, but the Hereafter is far better for the mindful. You will not be wronged even by the width of a thread.’

Fighting has been ordained for you, though you dislike it. Yet perhaps you dislike something that is good for you, and perhaps you love something that is harmful to you.

And if you are killed or die in Allah’s cause, His forgiveness and mercy are far better than all the wealth they amass.

Whether you die or are killed, you will all return to Allah.

They rejoice in what Allah has granted them, and they celebrate the good news of those who have yet to join them, knowing that no fear or sorrow will touch them.

They delight in Allah’s favour and bounty, realizing that He never lets the reward of the faithful go to waste.

Those who responded to Allah and His Messenger after suffering injury, those who remained steadfast and mindful, will have a great reward.

O believers, those whom Allah has blessed with guidance will be among the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous, what an excellent company!

So let those who trade this life for the Hereafter fight in Allah’s cause. Whoever fights and is slain or victorious, We will grant them a great reward.

Believers fight for Allah’s cause, while disbelievers fight for falsehood. So, battle against the allies of Satan, his schemes are weak.

Whatever you spend in His cause will be repaid in full, and you will not be wronged.

They ask you about the spoils of war. Say, “The spoils belong to Allah and His Messenger. So be mindful of Allah, mend your relationships, and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you are truly believers.”

And know that whatever spoils you gain, a fifth belongs to Allah, His Messenger, the needy, the orphans, the poor, and the traveller, if you truly believe in Allah and what We sent down to Our servant on the Day of Distinction, the day the two armies met.

It is not for a prophet to take captives until he has fully subdued the land. You desire the gains of this world, but Allah desires the Hereafter.

Had it not been for a prior decree from Allah, a severe punishment would have befallen you for what you took.

So, consume what you have gained, lawful and good.

O Prophet! Say to the captives in your hands: “If Allah knows goodness in your hearts, He will grant you better than what was taken from you and forgive you.

But if they intend to betray you, they have already betrayed Allah before, and He has given you power over them.

Those who stayed behind will say, when you set out to collect the spoils, “Let us follow you.” They want to change God’s words. Say: You will not follow us, God has already said so. Then they will say, “You’re just jealous of us.” No, they understand little.

God was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquillity upon them and rewarded them with a near victory

And abundant spoils they will soon take.

God has promised you many gains to come, and He has hastened this one for you, and withheld the hands of others from you, so that it may be a sign for the believers and that He may guide you on a straight path.

It is not for a prophet to betray trust. Whoever does so will carry the burden of their deceit on the Day of Judgment. Then every soul will be repaid in full for what it has earned, and none will be wronged.