Through Force or Faith? — Page 146
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 146 to use the weapons cannot be useful or beneficial either until energy and strength is produced in the limbs by exer- cise and training. If someone knows how to use the sword but does not have the stamina and training, his arms will became useless after a few movements and strokes of the sword and he will became totally useless with exhaustion and will succumb to the enemy in the end. Therefore, understand it and understand it well that mere knowledge and skill and cynic learning cannot be of much avail until there is action, practice and train- ing. Note that even the government does not leave the armies idle due to the same concern. Even in peace times, it uses war games to prevent the armies from becoming rusted and, of course, the routine target practice and parades are norms anyway. (Report Jalsa S a l a na 1897, pp. 65–69, Commentary of the Holy Quran by the Promised Messiah as vol. 2, pp. 236-237) Another aspect of the subject presented in this verse is that Muslims are, in fact, exhorted to make preparations against the opponents to the best of their ability, ٍ مِّن قُوَّة by enhancing their strength and by ِ ْل ی َ مِن رِّبَاط ِ الْخ. As a consequence ْ تُرْهِبُون َ بِه ِ عَدْو َّ الل ِّ وَعَدُوَّكُم they would frighten the enemy and also ْ وَآخَرِين َ مِن دُونِهِم others who are beyond them. What is implied is that you are dealing with such people who are dishonest and untrustworthy. Therefore, you should not become complacent about the precautions by trust- ing the agreement with them. Instead you should fortify your defences to the point that the enemies are forced to abide by their agreements. They should be afraid of you. They should realize that