Al-Mujaadila (The Pleading Woman)

22. You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, befriend those who take a stance against Allah and His Messenger, even though they were their fathers, their sons, their brothers, or their kindred. For such He has strengthened faith in their hearts and strengthened them with true guidance from Himself. And He will admit them to Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever. Allah is pleased with them and they with Him. They are the Party of Allah. Indeed, it is the Party of Allah that will be the triumphant and saved.

Satisfaction is more elevated in rank than submission, namely God's servant is not only submits to Divine Ordainments and His Commands, but also he is satisfied with them in his heart and accepts them out of satisfaction.

Thus in the last blessed Verse which is one of the most decisive Qur’anic Verses, God Almighty warns believers that one may not love God and His enemies, but they are supposed to select one of the two. If they are true believers, they should refrain from befriending God's enemies; otherwise they should not pretend being Muslims.

One who believes in God Almighty and the Day of Resurrection should not befriend the enemies of God Almighty and His Messenger (S), even if the enemies happen to be their fathers, children, siblings, or other relatives. One may not foster love for the twain and those who claim to befriend both, are either weak of faith or hypocrites.

Thus, Muslims struggled against and even killed some of their own relatives in battles, since their relatives had joined the hosts of enemies. It is befitting to love one's father, children, siblings, and other relatives as such love is a token of humane emotions, but when such love confronts that of God Almighty, it loses its value.

The blessed Verse further treats of the great rewards bestowed upon those who solely love God Almighty. In this vein, the blessed Verse treats of five points concerned with Divine assistance and triumph some of which are the fruits of such love.

The first two points indicate that such people are those upon whose hearts God Almighty has written faith in Him and His Messenger (S) and has also strengthened their faith;

(“For such He has strengthened faith in their hearts and strengthened them with true guidance from Himself”).

The third point is that:

“He will admit them to Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever.”

The fourth point is that

“Allah is pleased with them and they with Him.”

There is no Blessing more exalted that such bilateral satisfaction as it leads to further Blessings and Bounties. When God Almighty is satisfied with someone, He will grant him whatever he desires, since He is All-Generous and Omnipotent. The expression is quite of interest, reflecting that God Almighty is satisfied with them and they are also satisfied with Him, namely they have attained to such rank that they and their satisfaction is mentioned beside God Almighty and His Satisfaction.

The last point which is a call addressed to all reflects another Blessing:

“They are the Party of Allah. Indeed, it is the Party of Allah that will be the triumphant and saved.”

Such people are not only triumphant in the Hereafter and will be granted all kinds of material and spiritual Blessings and Bounties on the Day of Resurrection, but as mentioned in the preceding blessed Verses, thanks to Divine Grace, they are also triumphant over enemies and the rule of truth and justice will be in their hands in the last days of the world.

In this vein, mention will be made of some traditions. Salman, the Persian, said unto the Commander of the Faithful, Imam ‘Ali (as) that whenever he had gone to the Noble Prophet (S), he put his hand on his shoulder, referred to repentance and said:

“O Salman! This man and his party are triumphant.”1

According to another tradition, the Noble Prophet (S) said:

“For believers, love for God Almighty is one of the most significant bases of faith.”2

According to the third tradition, Imam Sadiq (as) said:

“No one's faith in God Almighty may be purified unless he loves God Almighty more than his life, father, mother, children, possessions, and all people.”3

O my Lord! If you bestow such spirit of faith upon us, you have granted these weak servants the greatest of Bounties and they will grieve no more.