The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 246
CH. 22 AL-HAJJ PT. 17 الَّذِيْنَ إِنْ مَّكَثُهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ Those who, if We establish. 42 them in the earth, will observe أَقَامُوا الصَّلوةَ وَاتَوُا الزَّكُوةَ وَاَمَرُوا Prayer and pay the Zakah and بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ. وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الْأُمُورِ enjoin good and forbid evil. And with Allah rests the final issue of all affairs. 2472 or embarrassment by their enemies in lieu of the poll-tax they have promised to pay. If they prefer themselves to defend their properties and persons, they will be allowed to do so and will not be put to any inconvenience on that account. No bishop will be expelled from his bishopric, no monk from his monastery, no priest from his place of worship, and no pilgrim will be detained in his pilgrimage. None of their churches and other places of be desolated worship will destroyed or demolished. No material of their churches will be used for building mosques or houses for the Muslims, any Muslim so doing will be regarded as recalcitrant to God and His Prophet. Monks and bishops will be subject to no tax or indemnity whether they live in forests or on the rivers, or in the East or West, North or South. I give them my word of honour. They have my promise and covenant and will enjoy perfect immunity from all sorts of inconveniences. Every help shall be given them in the repair of their churches. They shall be absolved from wearing arms. They shall be protected by the Muslims. Let this document be not disobeyed till the Judgement Day (Balādharī). b Similar charters were granted to the followers of other faiths. True Muslims have always tried to follow faithfully the example of their Prophet. The words, "And Allah will surely help one who helps Him," signify that Muslim armies will receive Divine help because they fight Allah's own battles and promote the sacred cause which is very dear to Him. 2472. Commentary: The verse some lays down principles of universal application: Firstly: Those true servants of God are entitled to receive God's help, power and authority to use it for the good of humanity who do their duty to God and man, and are devout and God-fearing, who help their fellow beings with all the means at their disposal and not only themselves live righteous lives but exhort others to lead good and useful lives and abstain from evil. 2160 Secondly: Any nation or people who seek to receive Divine help and rise to power and influence should act upon these principles. Thirdly: a nation or people on whom God confers power and dominion continue to enjoy these blessings so long as they observe