Category: Aḥmad Imān ‘Alī

UPDATE 2/26/12 9:39 PM: Here is an Arabic translation of the below video message:

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NOTE: The title of this video is a part of verse 8:72 of the Qur’ān (Sūrat al-Anfāl; Spoils of War). The full verse reads:

Indeed, those who have believed and emigrated and fought with their wealth and lives in the cause of Allah and those who gave shelter and aided – they are allies of one another. But those who believed and did not emigrate – for you there is no guardianship of them until they emigrate. But if they seek your help in religion, it is your duty to help them, except against a people between yourselves and whom is a treaty. And Allah is Seeing of what you do.

For those interested, here is some Qur’ān tafāsīr (exegesis) from classical mufassirūn (exegetes) on this particular verse: Tafsīr al-Tustarī Truly those who believed and emigrated and strove with their wealth and their lives in the way of God…He [Sahl] said:All forms of obedience to God involve struggle with the lower self (jihād al-nafs). There is no struggle easier than the struggle with swords, and no struggle harder than opposing the lower self. Sahl said, ‘Muḥammad b. Sawwār informed me from Mālik b. Dīnār from Maʿrūf b. ʿAlī from al-Ḥasan, from Maḥārib b. Dithār, from Jābir b. ʿAbd Allāh (may God be pleased with them all), that he reported that when Sūrat Barāʾa was sent down, the Messenger of God said, “I was sent to treat people with affability (mudārāt).”’ His words, Exalted is He. Tafsīr al-Jalālayn Truly those who believed and emigrated and strove with their wealth and their lives in the way of God, these being the Emigrants, and those who provided refuge, for the Prophet (s), and assisted, these being the Helpers, those are allies of one another, in terms of [mutual] support and inheritance. And those who believed but did not emigrate — you have no duty to make an alliance (read wilāya or walāya) with them, and so there is no inheriting between you and them and no share of the spoils for them, until they emigrate, this was abrogated by the end of this sūra; but if they ask you for assistance in the matter of religion then it is your duty to assist, them against the disbelievers, except against a folk between whom and you there is a covenant, a pact: in which case, do not assist them against these others and so break your pact; and God sees what you do. Tanwīr al-Miqbās min Tafsīr Ibn ‘Abbās (Lo! those who believed) in Muhammad and in the Qur’an (and left their homes) in Mecca and headed towards Medina (and strove with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah) in obedience of Allah, (and those who took them in) those who hosted Muhammad (pbuh) and his Companions in Medina (in and helped them) on the Day of Badr; (these are protecting friends one of another) in inheritance. (And those who believed) in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur’an (but did not leave their homes) in Mecca to migrate to Medina, (ye have no duty to protect them) you do not inherit them, nor do they inherit you (till they leave their homes) and migrate to Medina; (but if they seek help from you in the matter of religion) if they seek your help against their enemies in religion (then it is your duty to help (them)) against their enemies (except against a folk between whom and you there is a treaty) in which case you should not help them, but rather try to make peace between them. (Allah is Seer of what ye do) regarding peace and other things. Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr Here Allah mentions the types of believers, dividing them into the Muhajirin, who left their homes and estates, emigrating to give support to Allah and His Messenger to establish His religion. They gave up their wealth and themselves in this cause. There are also the Ansar, the Muslims of Al-Madinah, who gave asylum to their Muhajirin brethren in their own homes and comforted them with their wealth. They also gave aid to Allah and His Messenger by fighting alongside the Muhajirun. Certainly they are, (allies to one another), for each one of them has more right to the other than anyone else. This is why Allah’s Messenger forged ties of brotherhood between the Muhajirin and Ansar, as Al-Bukhari recorded from Ibn `Abbas. They used to inherit from each other, having more right to inheritance than the deceased man’s relatives, until Allah abrogated that practice with the fixed share for near relatives. Imam Ahmad recorded that Jarir bin `Abdullah Al-Bajali said that the Messenger of Allah said,  (The Muhajirun and Al-Ansar are the supporters of each other, while the Tulaqa’ of Quraysh (whom the Prophet set free after conquering Makkah) and `Utaqa’ from Thaqif (whom the Prophet set free from captivity after the battle of Hunayn) are supporters of each other until the Day of Resurrection.) Only Ahmad collected this Hadith.Allah praised the Muhajirin and the Ansar in several Ayat of His Book and His Messenger (also praised them too). Allah said, (And the foremost to embrace Islam of the Muhajirun and the Ansar and also those who followed them exactly. Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise).)﴿9:100﴾,(Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the time of distress.) ﴿9:117﴾, and, ((And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor Muhajirin, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking bounties from Allah and (His) good pleasure, and helping Allah and His Messenger. Such are indeed the truthful. And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madinah) and adopted the faith, love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given, and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves even though they were in need of that) ﴿59:8-9﴾.The best comment on Allah’s statement, (…and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given) is that it means, they do not envy the Muhajirin for the rewards that Allah gave them for their emigration. These Ayat indicate that the Muhajirin are better in grade than the Ansar, and there is a consensus on this ruling among the scholars. Allah said, (And as to those who believed but did not emigrate, you owe no duty of protection to them until they emigrate,) ﴿8:72﴾.This is the third category of believers, those who believed, but did not perform Hijrah and instead remained in their areas. They do not have any share in the war booty or in the fifth ﴿designated for Allah and His Messenger, the relatives of the Prophet , the orphans, the poor and the wayfarer﴾, unless they attend battle. Imam Ahmad recorded that Buraydah bin Al-Hasib Al-Aslami said, “When the Messenger of Allah would send a commander with an expedition force or an army, he would advise him to have Taqwa of Allah and be kind to the Muslims under his command. He used to say, (Fight in the Name of Allah, in the cause of Allah. Fight those who disbelieve in Allah. When you meet your Mushrik enemy, then call them to one of three choices, and whichever they agree to, then accept it and turn away from them. Call them to embrace Islam, and if they agree, accept it from them and turn away from them. Then call them to leave their area and come to areas in which the Muhajirin reside. Make known to them that if they do this, they will have the rights, as well as, the duties of the Muhajirin. If they refuse and decide to remain in their area, make known to them that they will be just like Muslim bedouins, and that Allah’s law applies to them just as it does to all believers. However, they will not have a share in the war booty or Fai’ (booty without war), unless they perform Jihad along with Muslims. If they refuse all of this, then call them to pay the Jizyah, and if they accept, then take it from them and turn away from them. If they refuse all these ﴿three﴾ options, then trust in Allah and fight them.) Muslim collected this Hadith. Allah said next, (But if they seek your help in religion, it is your duty to help them.) Allah commands, if these bedouins, who did not perform Hijrah, ask you to aid them against their enemy, then aid them. It is incumbent on you to aid them in this case, because they are your brothers in Islam, unless they ask you to aid them against disbelievers with whom you have a fixed-term treaty of peace. In that case, do not betray your treaties or break your promises with those whom you have treaties of peace. This was reported from Ibn `Abbas. —

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