Surah Al-Hajj (22) — Ayah 39

(Ayah 39) ➊ {اُذِنَ لِلَّذِيْنَ يُقٰتَلُوْنَ … :’’أَيْ فِي الْقِتَالِ‘‘} In this verse, the method of Allah’s defense for the believers is described: Allah will accomplish this through the Muslims. If He wills, He can destroy the disbelievers through heavenly punishment, just as He did with the people of Nuh, ‘Ad, Thamud, the people of Lut, and the companions of Madyan. However, after drowning Pharaoh and his army in the time of Musa (peace be upon him), Allah adopted the method of punishing the disbelievers at the hands of the Muslims, because there are countless wisdoms in this. Thus, Allah said: «{ قَاتِلُوْهُمْ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ اللّٰهُ بِاَيْدِيْكُمْ وَ يُخْزِهِمْ وَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ يَشْفِ صُدُوْرَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِيْنَ (14) وَ يُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوْبِهِمْ وَ يَتُوْبُ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مَنْ يَّشَآءُ وَ اللّٰهُ عَلِيْمٌ حَكِيْمٌ }» [ التوبۃ : ۱۴، ۱۵ ] “Fight them; Allah will punish them at your hands, disgrace them, help you against them, heal the hearts of believing people, remove the anger from their hearts, and Allah grants repentance to whom He wills, and Allah is All-Knowing, Most Wise.” For some wisdoms of jihad, see Surah Muhammad (4), Al ‘Imran (140–142, 179), and At-Tawbah (16).

➋ This is the first verse in which permission to fight the disbelievers was given, because in Makkah, despite countless excesses by the disbelievers, Muslims were not allowed to fight; rather, they were commanded to restrain their hands, as He said: « اَلَمْ تَرَ اِلَى الَّذِيْنَ قِيْلَ لَهُمْ كُفُّوْۤا اَيْدِيَكُمْ وَ اَقِيْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اٰتُوا الزَّكٰوةَ » [ النساء : ۷۷ ] “Have you not seen those to whom it was said, ‘Restrain your hands, establish prayer, and give zakah.’” ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates: [ لَمَّا أُخْرِجَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ مَكَّةَ قَالَ أَبُوْ بَكْرٍ أَخْرَجُوْا نَبِيَّهُمْ إِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ ! لَيُهْلِكُنَّ فَأَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی : « اُذِنَ لِلَّذِيْنَ يُقٰتَلُوْنَ بِاَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوْا وَ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلٰى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيْرُ » وَهِيَ أَوَّلُ آيَةٍ نَزَلَتْ فِي الْقِتَالِ ] [ مستدرک حاکم : 246/2، ح : ۲۹۶۸۔ مسند أحمد : 216/1، ح : ۱۸۷۰ ] “When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was expelled from Makkah, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘They (the people of Makkah) have expelled their Prophet. Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. They will surely be destroyed.’ So at that moment, Allah revealed this verse: «{ اُذِنَ لِلَّذِيْنَ يُقٰتَلُوْنَ بِاَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوْا وَ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلٰى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيْرُ }» [ الحج : ۳۹ ] ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: ‘This is the first verse revealed regarding fighting.’ When the Muslims migrated to Madinah, a small Islamic state was established. The disbelievers did not let them live in peace even there, so in this verse, Muslims were granted permission to fight. This happened around the end of the first year after the Hijrah. After this, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sent several expeditions against the disbelievers of Makkah, resulting in the first decisive battle at Badr, which Allah called the Day of Criterion, and in which the Muslims were aided by angels.

➌ Fighting (qital) is a very difficult task. No doubt, the time of death is fixed, but a person tries to save his life by avoiding battle. Therefore, Allah made fighting obligatory gradually: first, through this verse, permission for fighting was given; then, with the command of {’’قَاتِلُوْا ‘‘}, fighting was made obligatory, but only against those who fight you, as He said: « وَ قَاتِلُوْا فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ الَّذِيْنَ يُقَاتِلُوْنَكُمْ وَ لَا تَعْتَدُوْا » [ البقرۃ : ۱۹۰ ] “And fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress.” After that, fighting all disbelievers was made obligatory. He said: « كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَ هُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ » [البقرۃ : ۲۱۶ ] “Fighting has been prescribed for you, though it is disliked by you.” And He said: «{ فَاِذَا انْسَلَخَ الْاَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُّمُوْهُمْ وَ خُذُوْهُمْ وَ احْصُرُوْهُمْ وَ اقْعُدُوْا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ }» [ التوبۃ : ۵ ] “So when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them, capture them, besiege them, and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush.” And He said: «{ قَاتِلُوا الَّذِيْنَ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَ لَا بِالْيَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ وَ لَا يُحَرِّمُوْنَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ وَ رَسُوْلُهٗ وَ لَا يَدِيْنُوْنَ دِيْنَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِيْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ حَتّٰى يُعْطُوا الْجِزْيَةَ عَنْ يَّدٍ وَّ هُمْ صٰغِرُوْنَ }» [ التوبۃ : ۲۹] “Fight those who do not believe in Allah or the Last Day, nor forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, nor adopt the religion of truth, among those who were given the Book, until they pay the jizyah with willing submission and feel themselves subdued.” Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتّٰی يَشْهَدُوْا أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ وَ يُقِيْمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ فَإِذَا فَعَلُوْا ذٰلِكَ عَصَمُوْا مِنِّيْ دِمَاءَ هُمْ وَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلَّا بِحَقِّ الإْسْلَامِ وَ حِسَابُهُمْ عَلَی اللّٰهِ ] [ بخاري، الإیمان، باب « فإن تابوا و أقاموا الصلاۃ… :» ۲۵ ] “I have been commanded to fight all people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah, establish prayer, and give zakah. When they do that, they have protected their blood and wealth from me except for the right of Islam, and their reckoning is with Allah.” The gradual obligation of fighting is just like the prohibition of alcohol, which was completed in three stages. See the commentary of Surah Al-Ma’idah (90). Similarly, fasting was made obligatory in its current form in three stages.

➍ {بِاَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوْا :} That is, Muslims were given permission to fight because they were wronged. This oppression was inflicted upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and upon the Muslims. ‘Urwah ibn Zubayr said: [ سَأَلْتُ عَبْدَ اللّٰهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو عَنْ أَشَدِّ مَا صَنَعَ الْمُشْرِكُوْنَ بِرَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ عُقْبَةَ بْنَ أَبِيْ مُعَيْطٍ جَاءَ إِلَی النَّبِيِّ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّيْ، فَوَضَعَ رِدَائَهٗ فِيْ عُنُقِهِ فَخَنَقَهُ بِهَا خَنْقًا شَدِيْدًا، فَجَاءَ أَبُوْ بَكْرٍ حَتّٰی دَفَعَهُ عَنْهُ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: «{ اَتَقْتُلُوْنَ رَجُلًا اَنْ يَّقُوْلَ رَبِّيَ اللّٰهُ وَ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ بِالْبَيِّنٰتِ مِنْ رَّبِّكُمْ }» ] [ بخاري، فضائل أصحاب النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ، باب : ۳۶۷۸ ] “I asked ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with them): ‘What was the harshest harm the polytheists inflicted upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)?’ He said: ‘I saw (the wretched) ‘Uqbah ibn Abi Mu’it approach the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) while he was praying, put his cloak around his neck, and choked him severely. Then Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) came, pushed him away, and said: «{ اَتَقْتُلُوْنَ رَجُلًا اَنْ يَّقُوْلَ رَبِّيَ اللّٰهُ وَ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ بِالْبَيِّنٰتِ مِنْ رَّبِّكُمْ }» [ المؤمن : ۲۸ ] “Do you kill a man because he says, ‘My Lord is Allah,’ while he has come to you with clear proofs from your Lord?” ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: [ كَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَظْهَرَ إِسْلَامَهُ سَبْعَةٌ : رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، وَأَبُوْ بَكْرٍ، وَعَمَّارٌ، وَأُمُّهُ سُمَيَّةُ، وَصُهَيْبٌ، وَبِلاَلٌ، وَالْمِقْدَادُ ، فَأَمَّا رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ فَمَنَعَهُ اللّٰهُ بِعَمِّهِ أَبِيْ طَالِبٍ وَ أَمَّا أَبُوْ بَكْرٍ فَمَنَعَهُ اللّٰهُ بِقَوْمِهِ وَ أَمَّا سَائِرُهُمْ، فَأَخَذَهُمُ الْمُشْرِكُوْنَ وَأَلْبَسُوْهُمْ أَدْرَاعَ الْحَدِيْدِ وَصَهَرُوْهُمْ فِي الشَّمْسِ، فَمَا مِنْهُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ وَقَدْ وَاتَاهُمْ عَلٰی مَا أَرَادُوْا، إِلاَّ بِلَالاً، فَإِنَّهُ هَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ نَفْسُهُ فِي اللّٰهِ، وَهَانَ عَلٰي قَوْمِهِ، فَأَخَذُوْهُ، فَأَعْطَوْهُ الْوِلْدَانَ، فَجَعَلُوْا يَطُوْفُوْنَ بِهِ فِيْ شِعَابِ مَكَّةَ وَهُوَ يَقُوْلُ : أَحَدٌ، أَحَدٌ ] [ ابن ماجہ، السنۃ، باب فضل سلمان وأبي ذر والمقداد : ۱۵۰ و صححہ الحاکم والذھبي وابن حبان وغیرھم و الألباني ] “The first people to openly declare their Islam were seven: the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), Abu Bakr, ‘Ammar, his mother Sumayyah, Suhayb, Bilal, and Miqdad (may Allah be pleased with them). Allah protected the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) through his uncle Abu Talib, and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) through his tribe. The rest were seized by the polytheists, made to wear iron armor, and thrown into the sun to burn. Each of them said what the polytheists wanted, except Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him). In Allah’s cause, his life became worthless to him (he did not care for his life), and he became so worthless in their eyes that they handed him over to the boys, who dragged him through the valleys of Makkah, and he would say: ‘Allah is One, Allah is One.’” The mention of the severe beating of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) by the polytheists is also found in the books of Seerah. Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: [ أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَرَّ بِعَمَّارٍ وَأَهْلِهِ وَهُمْ يُعَذَّبُوْنَ فَقَالَ أَبْشِرُوْا آلَ عَمَّارٍ وَآلَ يَاسِرٍ فَإِنَّ مَوْعِدَكُمُ الْجَنَّةُ ] [ مستدرک حاکم : 383/3، ح : ۵۶۶۶ و صححہ الحاکم و وافقہ الذھبی ] “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) passed by ‘Ammar and his family while they were being tortured and said: ‘O family of ‘Ammar and family of Yasir! Rejoice, your promised place is Paradise.’” Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: I came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) while he was reclining in the shade of the Ka‘bah, and we had suffered greatly at the hands of the polytheists. I said: “Will you not pray to Allah for us?” He (sat up and) his face became red (with anger) and he said: “Among those before you, a man would have his flesh and sinews scraped from his bones with iron combs, yet that would not turn him away from his religion. And he would be sawn in half from the top of his head, yet that would not turn him away from his religion. By Allah, this matter will be completed until a rider will travel from Sana‘a to Hadramawt fearing none but Allah, or the wolf for his sheep. But you are hasty.” [ بخاري، مناقب الأنصار، باب ما لقي النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم و أصحابہ من المشرکین بمکۃ : ۳۸۵۲ ] The disbelievers inflicted so much oppression and torture upon the Muslims that some of them migrated to Abyssinia, while others continued to suffer in Makkah, until they migrated to Madinah, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) also migrated to Madinah. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) once set out to migrate, but Ibn al-Dughunnah brought him back from Bark al-Ghamad. Later, he too migrated to Madinah with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).

➎ {وَ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلٰى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيْرُ:} That is, even though their numbers are very few, Allah is fully capable of helping them and granting them victory. It should be remembered that at that time, in the small town of Madinah, the number of Muslims was not more than a few hundred, while their opponents were the Quraysh, whose leadership was recognized throughout Arabia, and all the polytheist tribes of Arabia were behind them. Later, the Jews also joined them. At this moment, the statement of the Owner and King of the universe that “Indeed, Allah is surely fully capable of helping them” was a statement that strengthened and established those Muslims who were being told to face the whole of Arabia, and it was also a warning to the disbelievers that they were not facing a handful of Muslims, but Allah Himself, because the purpose is not merely to state Allah’s power, but to promise His help.

39. 1. Most of the Salaf say that in this verse, the command for jihad was given first of all, and two objectives have been mentioned here. The end of oppression and the exaltation of the word of Allah. Because if the oppressed are not helped and their grievances are not redressed, then in the world the powerful will not let the weak and the helpless live, due to which the earth will be filled with corruption. And if falsehood prevails, then due to the dominance of falsehood, there will be no peace and tranquility in the world, nor will there remain any place of worship for those who take the name of Allah (for further explanation, see the footnote of Surah Baqarah, verse 251).

39. Permission (to fight) is given to those against whom war is being waged, because they have been wronged [65], and Allah is certainly able to help them [66].

[65]
The First Verse Granting Permission for Jihad:

When the mountains of oppression and cruelty were being unleashed upon the Muslims in Makkah, at that time some courageous Companions sought permission to fight those disbelievers, but Allah did not grant them such permission then. Rather, they were continually instructed to endure the oppression with patience and steadfastness. Then, when the Muslims migrated to Madinah and the foundation of a small Islamic state was laid—which was limited only to a small town of Madinah—the Prophet’s Mosque was built, which served as the headquarters for all matters of the Muslims. The issue of livelihood for the Muhajirun was to some extent resolved through brotherhood (Mu’akhah). Treaties of peaceful coexistence were established with the Jewish tribes and the polytheist tribes. And the Muslims became capable of standing on their own feet. Then they were granted permission to fight the disbelievers. And this is the first verse in which Muslims were given permission for defensive warfare, and the reason for this permission was clearly stated: that this permission is being given to them because they have been continuously subjected to oppression. This permission was granted at the end of the first year of Hijrah. Later, many such verses were revealed in which not only was permission for defensive warfare given, but also the command was given to confront and fight against every force that stands in the way of Allah’s religion.

[66] This phrase has two meanings: one is that Allah is also capable of helping the Muslims and granting them dominance even without jihad and fighting; and the second is that Allah, the Exalted, is also capable of granting dominance to the Muslims—who are destitute, deprived, and a small handful—over those disbelievers of Makkah who, in terms of weaponry, wealth, and numbers, are far superior to the Muslims. Furthermore, all the polytheist tribes and the Jews are also their helpers and supporters.