The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 59
II - Commencement of Jihād by the Sword & Fundamental Discussion on Jihād 59 arms at night and during the day they would walk around armed in case of a sudden attack. They would say to each other that let us see if we live till such a time when we might be able to sleep in peace at night without any fear except the fear of God. ’” 1 The state of the Chief of Mankind himself was that: ِ كَان َ رَسُوْل ُ اللّٰه ِ صَلَّی اللّٰه ُ عَلَیْه ِ وَسَلَّم َ اَوَّل َ مَا قَدِم َ الْمَدِیْنَة َ یَسْھَر ُ مِن َ اللَّیْل “In the beginning, when the Holy Prophet sa arrived to Madīnah, he would often remain awake during the night in apprehension of an enemy attack. ” 2 With regards to the very same era, the Holy Qur’ān states: “O ye Muslims! And remember the time when you were few and were considered to be weak in the land, and were in constant fear lest people should snatch you away and destroy you. But God sheltered you and granted you support with His Succour and opened the doors of pure provisions upon you. Therefore, you should now live as thankful servants. ” 3 This was the state of external threats and, even in Madīnah, the state was that until now, a substantial segment from among the Aus and Khazraj stood firm upon polytheism. Although they were apparently with their brethren and kindred, but in such circumstances, how could a polytheist be trusted? Secondly, were the hypocrites, who at the outset had accepted Islām, but in secret they were enemies of Islām, and their presence in Madīnah posed 1 Lubābun-Nuqūli Fī Asbābin-Nuzūli, By ‘Allāmah Jalālud-Dīn ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin Abī Bakr As-Suyūṭī, Sūratun-Nūr, Qauluhū Ta‘ālā Wa‘adallāhulladhīna Āmanū Minkum…. . , p. 174, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon (2003) 2 As-Sunanul-Kubrā’, By Abū ‘Abdir-Raḥmān Aḥmad bin Shu‘aib An-Nasa’ī, Volume 5, p. 61, Kitābul- Manāqib, Sa‘dubnu Mālik ra , Ḥadīth No. 8217, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon (1991) 3 Al-Anfāl (8:27)