Essence of the Holy Qur’an — Page 23
Al-Anf a l and At-Taubah 23 denunciation of the treaties there was no sense in combining the Declaration with the injunction that they should go about the land and see for themselves that God’s purpose had prevailed. He who is granted a limited respite naturally makes hasty preparations to depart for a place of safety and does not go about in the land sightseeing. Again, if the verse be understood to give notice of termination of existing treaties and to grant a limited respite to those idolatrous tribes who had treaties of alliance with Muslims, how would the very next verse be explained which says that such people as have entered into treaties with Muslims are not to be expelled till the termination of their treaties. It is thus clear that the Qur’ a nic words “Alladh i na ‘ a hadttum” used in the first verse of Chapter at-Taubah allude to no political treaty or agreement but only to such declarations as Muslims and disbelievers had made against each other about the ultimate triumph of their respective causes. On the side of Islam, it was declared in Chapter Al- Anf a l that the property and possessions of disbelievers would fall into the hands of Muslims, and the disbelievers, on their side, had declared that Islam would be exterminated and they would capture the belongings of the Muslims. It is these contradictory declarations that have been metaphorically termed as ‘ Ahd or agreement in the verse referred to above, and the idolaters are told to go about in the country and see for themselves whether or not the declaration which was made in Chapter Al- Anf a l about their eventual destruction had proved true. So, truly speaking, S u rah Bar a ’at constitutes only a declaration of the fulfilment of the great prophecy made in S u rah Al- Anf a l and is thus not a separate S u rah. In short, there exists a very real connection between these two Chapters which really constitute one Chapter, for, as stated above, S u rah Al- Anf a l was revealed at the time of the Battle of Badr and in it a clear prophecy was made about the ultimate destruction of disbelievers. Then after the last encounter with the idolaters of Mecca, S u rah Bar a ’at was revealed to announce the fulfilment of that prophecy and the ushering in of a new era. Subject-Matter of the S u rahs Chapter Al- Anf a l opens with a description of the Battle of Badr and at the outset Muslims are told that they will win a great victory over the disbelievers whose property and possessions will fall into their hands. These wars are the Signs of God and should not be made the means of seeking worldly gains. Next, they are told that they should fight courageously in the cause of God and should not be proud of their strength or organization, neither should they be afraid of the numbers and military prowess of their enemies. Further, obedience to authority is emphasized and it is stated that obedience to God’s commands will open for the Muslims the avenues to success and prosperity and will protect them from the machinations and intrigues of their enemies, even as God had protected the Holy Prophet against the secret plots of the Meccans. The S u rah proceeds to say that the enemy is proud of his numbers and military prowess and believes himself to be in the right, and even invokes the wrath of God upon