Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 60

(Ayah 60) ➊ The word {وَ اَعِدُّوْا لَهُمْ مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِّنْ قُوَّةٍ: ’’ قُوَّةٍ ‘‘} has been brought in the indefinite form, and with {’’ مِنْ ‘‘} it has become general and more extensive, meaning every kind of strength, whatever it may be, so that all those things are included which can be a means of strength in war. Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) recite this verse: « وَ اَعِدُّوْا لَهُمْ مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِّنْ قُوَّةٍ » and he said: [ أَلاَ إِنَّ الْقُوَّةَ الرَّمْيُ، أَلاَ إِنَّ الْقُوَّةَ الرَّمْيُ، أَلاَ إِنَّ الْقُوَّةَ الرَّمْيُ ] He said three times: Remember! The real strength is {’’رَمْيٌ‘‘}. [ مسلم، الإمارۃ، باب فضل الرمی والحث علیہ… : ۱۹۱۷ ] The word {’’ رَمْيٌ ‘‘}, although it also means archery, but along with arrows, it includes all those things that are thrown from a distance, as in the statement of Allah Almighty: «وَ مَا رَمَيْتَ اِذْ رَمَيْتَ » [ الأنفال : ۱۷ ] refers to throwing a handful of dust and pebbles. In the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), whatever thing was available for striking from a distance, he used it in war, even the mangonel (catapult) was used against the enemy, with which stones were thrown from a distance to break the walls of forts, and always, during the times of Muslim dominance, every modern weapon, such as weapons using nift (petroleum, etc.), was used. Even after the invention of gunpowder, the Ottoman caliphs did not neglect the preparation of cannons, but alas! After that, Muslims became so heedless of this command that the enemy surpassed them greatly in the field of weapon preparation. Now, the Islamic world, despite every blessing given by Allah Almighty, is dependent on others for weapons; small arms are made, but for airplanes, helicopters, vehicles, computers, cannons, radars, etc., in all these things, they are dependent on others. (Except whom Allah wills.) As a result, the disbelievers are plundering the wealth of the Muslims, seizing their resources and religious values, and whenever they wish, by stopping the supply of these weapons and aircraft, they render them helpless, although if Pakistan can make an atomic bomb, then what is there that Muslim countries cannot make? But the Muslims’ estrangement from religion, the enemy’s cunning, the betrayal of their own, and the cowardice born from greed and avarice do not allow them the courage to make these things. The reality is that when we travel in a vehicle, train, or airplane within our country or abroad, there is great pain in the heart that all these means of transport are made by our enemies; we could not make anything on our own strength. All this is the doing of the leaders of the Muslims, who are themselves a reflection of their people, but it is in no way permissible to despair, nor to consider the disbelievers invincible and sit with folded hands, because according to the statement of Allah Almighty, no matter how much the disbelievers try, they will never be able to extinguish the light of Islam. He said: «يُرِيْدُوْنَ لِيُطْفِـُٔوْا نُوْرَ اللّٰهِ بِاَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَ اللّٰهُ مُتِمُّ نُوْرِهٖ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْكٰفِرُوْنَ» [ الصف : ۸ ] “They wish to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, even though the disbelievers dislike it.” And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “This religion will always remain established, a group of Muslims will continue to fight for it until the Day of Resurrection.” [ مسلم، الإمارۃ، باب قولہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : لا تزال طائفۃ من أمتی… : ۱۹۲۲، عن جابر بن سمرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ] In the ahadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) narrated from Mughirah bin Shu’bah, Jabir bin Abdullah, and Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with them), there is also the glad tidings of those people remaining firm on the religion and being dominant. [دیکھیے مسلم، الإمارۃ، باب قولہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : لا تزال طائفۃ من أمتی… : ۱۹۲۱، ۱۹۲۳، ۱۰۳۷، بعد ح : ۱۹۲۳ ] Allah Almighty knows best how much trial remains for the people of Islam in the ongoing war between the mujahideen of Islam and the disbelievers at this time, and to what extent the disbelievers have reached in rebellion against Allah Almighty, how much delay there is in their punishment, and through which of His servants Allah Almighty will bring the disbelievers to their end. The divine statement is: «وَ اِنْ تَتَوَلَّوْا يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُوْنُوْۤا اَمْثَالَكُمْ» [ محمد : ۳۸ ] “And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people, then they will not be like you.” And see Surah al-Ma’idah (5:54).

➋ {وَ مِنْ رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ:} This command shows the importance of cavalry. In { ’’ قُوَّةٍ ‘‘} and {’’ رِبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ ‘‘}, military vehicles, tanks, armored vehicles, warplanes, submarines, naval fleets, surveillance equipment and agencies, and means of communication are all included, but despite all these, the need and importance of horses in war will never end until the Day of Resurrection. The work that this blessed animal can do, nothing else in the world can do. Urwah al-Bariqi and Jarir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrate from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: “These horses, goodness has been tied to their forelocks until the Day of Resurrection: reward and spoils.” [ مسلم، الإمارۃ، باب فضیلۃ الخیل … : ۱۸۷۲، ۱۸۷۳ ] Therefore, it is necessary for Muslims to be drivers, pilots, sailors, naval fighters, swimmers, and divers, as well as horse riders.

➌ { تُرْهِبُوْنَ بِهٖ عَدُوَّ اللّٰهِ وَ عَدُوَّكُمْ:} That is, prepare so strongly that the enemy of Allah and your enemy and everyone who harbors enmity against you is afraid of you and does not even dare to fight. Among these clear enemies are the polytheists, Jews and Christians, and well-known hypocrites.

➍ {وَ اٰخَرِيْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِهِمْ:} By this are meant the hypocrites who are hidden sympathizers of the disbelievers within the ranks of the Muslims. See Surah al-Tawbah (9:101). In addition, there are many nations who apparently are not against you at this time, but when given the opportunity, intend in their hearts to fight you; your complete preparation and constant engagement in jihad will keep everyone fearful. Some commentators have taken this to mean the armies of jinn and devils; due to your preparation, they too will not be able to stir up feelings of battle in the hearts of the enemies.

➎ {وَ مَا تُنْفِقُوْا مِنْ شَيْءٍ …:} The purpose of this is to encourage spending wealth in jihad. For the virtue of spending in the way of Allah, see Surah al-Baqarah (2:261).

60. 1. The explanation of فُوَّۃِ is established from the Prophet ﷺ, meaning archery, because in that era it was a very significant weapon of war and an extremely important skill, just as horses were an indispensable necessity for war, as is clear from the verse. But now, the military importance, usefulness, and necessity of archery and horses no longer remain, therefore, under (وَاَعِدُّوْا لَهُمْ مَّا اسْـتَـطَعْتُمْ مِّنْ قُوَّةٍ) 8. Al-Anfal:60), the preparation of today's weapons of war (مثلًا میزائل، ٹینک، بم اور جنگی جہاز اور بحری جنگ کے لئے آبدوزیں وغیرہ) is necessary.

60. And prepare against them whatever force you can and steeds of war, by which you may terrify [62] the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know but Allah knows them. And whatever you spend in the way of Allah will be repaid to you in full, and you will not be wronged.

[62]
Encouragement for Military Equipment and Martial Skills:

That is, Muslims should always be prepared for war, not only in normal circumstances but also to face any sudden attack from a treacherous treaty-breaker, and as far as possible, they should keep war weapons ready. Another benefit of this is that all your open and hidden enemies will remain overawed by you, and whatever you spend for this purpose will all be counted as spent in the way of Allah, and you will receive a full reward for it from Allah Almighty. In the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the weapons of war included arrows, spears, swords, and war horses. Defensive equipment included shields, armor, and helmets, etc., and in terms of military training, archery held the first place. The interest of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the arrangement of Muslim armies, the use and provision of military equipment, can be gauged from the following hadiths:
1. Uqbah bin Amir ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ recited this verse from the pulpit and said that by "strength" is meant archery. He ﷺ repeated this three times and said: Listen! Allah Almighty will grant you victory in the land and will suffice you through your efforts. Therefore, none of you should be negligent in playing with his arrows. [ترمذي، ابواب التفسير]
2. The Prophet ﷺ also said: "Whoever learned archery and then abandoned it, he is not from us, or he has disobeyed." [مسلم، كتاب الامارة، باب فضل الرمي والحث عليه الخ]
3. Salamah bin Akwa ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ passed by a group of the tribe of Aslam who were practicing archery. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "O Bani Ismail! Practice archery, for your father was a great archer, and I am with Bani so-and-so." At this, the other party stopped their hands. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Why do you not shoot?" They said: "How can we shoot when you are with them?" The Prophet ﷺ said: "Shoot, for I am with all of you." [ بخاري۔ كتاب الجهاد۔ باب التحريص على الرمي]
4. Abdullah bin Umar ؓ says that for the horses prepared for racing, the Prophet ﷺ fixed the race from Hafya to Thaniyyat al-Wada, and for those not prepared, he fixed the race up to the mosque of Bani Zuraiq, and I was among those who raced horses. [بخاري۔ كتاب الصلوة، باب هل يقال مسجد بني فلاں]
5. Sayyidah Aisha ؓ says that on one (Eid) day, I saw the Prophet ﷺ at the door of my chamber, and the Abyssinians were playing in the mosque with their weapons, and the Prophet ﷺ was covering me with his cloak, and I was also watching their play. [بخاري۔ كتاب الصلوة۔ باب اصحاب الحراب فى المسجد]
But today is not the era of arrows and swords. Rather, it is the era of Kalashnikovs, missiles, and bombs. Therefore, today Muslims should be fully aware of these modern weapons and trained in their use. The extent to which Muslims are negligent in this matter today is the same extent to which they are dependent on other nations and humiliated before them.

Jihad and American Policy:

Today, the fervor of faith among Muslims has cooled. Their trust in Allah has vanished. With their tongues, they say hundreds of times daily in their prayers that Allah is the Greatest, but in reality, they consider America to be the greatest, and the fear of America's displeasure is greater for them than the fear of Allah. Therefore, they consider their success to lie in increasing friendship with America. However, according to the clear statement of the Quran, America can never be a friend of Muslims. Even under the guise of this friendship, it will only deceive and ruin the Muslims. Allah Almighty has granted Muslim countries immense material resources. But their greatest misfortune is that they do not unite, and all of them have become dependent on America and loyal to it, and for the solution of their problems, they do not turn to Allah, that is, to the Book and Sunnah, but rather turn to America. And America is only pleased with those countries that completely eliminate the spirit of jihad from their lands. Those countries that have the capability to make atomic bombs are made to completely destroy such plans. For the mujahideen, it has coined a new term, "terrorist," and Muslim countries are always afraid that America the Brave might declare them terrorists. In other words, America the Brave wants to eliminate both the spirit of jihad and military strength from Muslim countries, for which Muslims are being given a strict command in this verse, and if Muslim countries continue this behavior, it clearly means that their days of misfortune are not yet over.