Through Force or Faith? — Page 143
Chapter 2 — Islamic Teachings about Jihad 143 take us out of this town, whose people are oppressors, and make for us some friend from Thyself, and make for us from Thyself some helper?’ Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of the Evil One. Fight ye, therefore, against the friends of Satan; surely, Satan’s strategy is weak. ( S u rah an-Nis a ’, 4:75–77) Explanation: In these verses, Muslims are being commanded to fight in the path of Allah against oppressors. It means that those who have imposed war upon Muslims and who are determined to attack them are so cruel that they tyrannize the weak, the women, and the children of their own community. It means that these aggressors are not only fighting against Muslims, but aggression, obstinacy, and belligerence have become their second nature and they persecute even the weak of their own land. On this account, Muslims must fight this aggression so as not only to defend them- selves, but also to deliver other weak and helpless subjects from the grip of such tyrants. َبْعُّرلا اْوُبِرْضاَف َقْوَف ِقاَنْعَاْلا َو اْوُبِرْضا ْمُهْنِم َّلُك ٍناَنَبْؕذِا ْيِحْوُي َكُّبَر ىَلِا ِةَكِٕىٰٓلَمْلا ْيِّنَا ْمُكَعَم اوُتِّبَثَف َنْيِذَّلا اْوُنَمٰا١ؕ ْيِقْلُاَس ْيِف ِبْوُلُق َنْيِذَّلا اوُرَفَك When thy Lord revealed to the angels, saying, ‘I am with you; so give firmness to those who believe. I will cast ter- ror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Smite, then, the upper part of their necks, and smite off all fingertips’. ( S u rah al-Anf a l, 8:13) Explanation: The reference in this verse is to the infidels who