Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 317
317 help us against the disbelieving people’” (3:147 ⎯ 148). The enemy must be faced with courage and steadfastness. No one should turn his back on the enemy “unless manoeuvring for battle or turning to join another company. ” Conduct inconsistent with this brings down upon those concerned “the wrath of Allah” (8:16 ⎯ 17). “Allah loves those who fight in His cause arrayed in solid ranks, as though they were a strong structure cemented with molten lead” (61:5). But even on the field of battle and in the face of the enemy, the duty owed to God is not to be neglected. The strengthening and nourishing of the spirit must be attended to at all times. Fighting may be imposed as a hard necessity, and so become a duty to be well performed, but it must always be remembered that it is only a means of securing and safeguarding suitable conditions for the pursuit and achievement of the purpose of life. It is not an end in itself. During the course of the fighting, therefore, the soul must be occupied with the constant remembrance of God, and the body should join in His worship as much as circumstances permit. Among the injunctions relating to conditions of war are the following: “When thou art among them, and leadest the Prayer for them, let a party of them stand in Prayer with thee, and let them take their arms. When they have performed their prostrations, let them go to the rear, and let another