Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:

In the verse, the mujahideen are instructed to never be heedless at any time. They should always remain armed; however, if at any time some hardship arises, then in that state it is permissible to put down their weapons. This is not only a Qur'anic directive but also an extremely necessary regulation for the armies of nations throughout the world.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
In times of war, the command is that you should, according to your ability, always be prepared with strength to confront the disbelievers. The act of ‘Abdur-Rahman ibn ‘Awf (radi Allahu anhu) removing his weapons due to illness was, on the surface, contrary to this verse; therefore, the ruling was revealed that it is permissible to remove weapons due to illness. However, along with this permission, the command is also given that one should not become heedless of the enemy, but rather, some precautionary measure must always be taken for protection against them. Otherwise, you may become negligent and the enemy may suddenly attack you. Therefore, guarding the trenches, preparing war equipment before battle, and staying informed about the enemy’s movements are all included in this command.

➋
In the time of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), every combatant individually possessed his own weapons, but nowadays the government provides the weaponry. Therefore, the protection of weapon-manufacturing factories and the stockpiles of arms is included in this command. In short, the protection of the country and the nation, the measures for the safety of military personnel, the safeguarding of war equipment, and keeping battle plans confidential—all these matters are encompassed in the command: ﴿خُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْ﴾ (“Take your precautions”). In this era, the enemy’s effort in war is to first target the secure stockpiles of weapons and the arms factories. Through this verse, Muslims have been directed towards all these matters.

➌
In any case, the mujahideen have been emphatically instructed that they should never be heedless of the enemy and should always remain armed. Yes, if at any time there is a necessity, then in such circumstances weapons may be set aside, but even then, one should not become negligent regarding one’s own protection. This is not only a Qur’anic directive, but it is also the standard protocol for the armies of all nations. ()