Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 24

(Ayah 24) ➊ The meaning of { يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوا اسْتَجِيْبُوْا لِلّٰهِ وَ لِلرَّسُوْلِ:’’اَجَابَ يُجِيْبُ‘‘} is to accept, and {’’ اسْتَجِيْبُوْا ‘‘} is from the form Istif‘al of {’’اِسْتَجَابَ يَسْتَجِيْبُ ‘‘ }, in which generally there is a sense of seeking. Here, the meaning of seeking is not possible, therefore, with the addition of "seen" and "taa", an increase in meaning is intended. That is why it has been translated as "accept gladly," meaning it is obligatory upon you to respond joyfully to the call of Allah and His Messenger.

➋ The meaning of { اِذَا دَعَاكُمْ:} "when he calls you" is that you should accept immediately, without delay. Ubayy bin Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) was praying when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called him. He completed his prayer and then came, so the Prophet recited this verse and said: "Did you not hear Allah’s command?" He replied: "From now on, insha’Allah, I will not do so." [ ترمذی، فضائل القرآن، باب ما جاء فی فضل فاتحۃ الکتاب : ۲۸۷۵ ] In Sahih Bukhari, in the commentary of this verse, it is mentioned that Abu Sa‘id bin Ma‘la (may Allah be pleased with him) was called while praying, and when he did not come immediately, the same instruction was given. [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب : «یأیھا الذین اٰمنوا استجیبوا… » : ۴۶۴۷ ]

➌ {لِمَا يُحْيِيْكُمْ:} "for that which gives you life" — regarding this, the scholars of the Salaf have different opinions. Some said it refers to Islam and faith, some to the Qur’an, but most have interpreted it as Jihad, because Jihad is the greatest means of life in this world and the Hereafter, especially since this is the subject from the beginning of the Surah. The verse: «{ اَلَمْ تَرَ اِلَى الَّذِيْنَ خَرَجُوْا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ وَ هُمْ اُلُوْفٌ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ }» [ البقرۃ : ۲۴۳ ] also encourages Jihad. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "When you engage in ‘inah (a form of usury through trickery), hold onto the tails of cattle, become content with agriculture, and abandon Jihad, Allah will impose upon you such great humiliation that He will not remove it until you return to your religion." [ أبوداوٗد، البیوع، باب فی النہی عن العینۃ : ۳۴۶۲۔ السلسۃ الصحیحۃ : ۱۱ ]

➍ {وَ اعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يَحُوْلُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَ قَلْبِهٖ:} That is, even after the truth becomes clear, if someone does not obey the command of Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), then Allah punishes such a person by coming between him and his heart, and after that, he is not granted the ability to respond to the call of Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), as Allah said: «{ فَلَمَّا زَاغُوْۤا اَزَاغَ اللّٰهُ قُلُوْبَهُمْ }» [ الصف : ۵ ] "When they themselves deviated, Allah caused their hearts to deviate." These are the meanings explained by Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and the majority of commentators. The same point is mentioned in Surah Al-An‘am, verses (109, 110). During the Battle of Tabuk, Ka‘b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) could not set out immediately, and later he was not granted the ability to go; however, Allah, due to his sincerity and repentance, granted him the ability to repent and mentioned him with goodness in the Qur’an. Shah ‘Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) explained this verse as follows: "Do not delay in carrying out the command, perhaps at that time the heart may not remain the same; the heart is in Allah’s hand." (Mawduh) Some commentators have explained that Allah’s coming between means death, i.e., obey before death comes, and the phrase «{ وَ اَنَّهٗۤ اِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُوْنَ }» (and know that this is a certain reality that you will be returned to Him) also supports this meaning. In reality, both meanings can be intended, and there is no contradiction between them.