An-Nisaa (The Women)

The refusal of hypocrites to fight -their secret plans -their propagating falsehood -The Apostle enjoined to fight even single -handed -to depend upon Allah - To ponder over the teachings of the Holy Qur'an.

77. "Have you not seen those to whom it was said: 'Withhold your hand (from war ), and establish prayer and pay the poor-rate,' but when fighting was prescribed for them, a group of them were so afraid of men as (it should be) the fear of Allah, or (even) with a greater fear, and they said: 'Our Lord! Why have You ordained fighting for us? Wherefore did You not grant us a delay to a near end?' Say: 'The capital of this world is scant and the Hereafter will be better for anyone who keeps from evil; and you will not be wronged (even to the extent of) the husk of a date-stone '."

Occasion of Revelation

It is narrated from Ibn-' Abbas that at the advent of Islam, when Muslims were living in Mecca and they were under the harsh pressure of the pagans there, some of them went to the Prophet (S) and said that they had been dear and honoured before Islam but they lost that glory and honesty, besides the hurt and injury they bore from the enemies.

They asked him to allow them to fight against the disbelievers to regain their glory and honour. That day, the Prophet (S) answered them that he was not commissioned to fight then.

But, later, when the command of fight was issued, some of those ardent figures knowingly tarried to participate in the battle-field. Then the verse was revealed in order to encourage the believers and also to blame those careless and neglectful persons.

Those Who only Talk!

Here, in this verse, the Qur'an implies that: indeed it is wonderful that some people, in an inappropriate situation but with a surprising state once ardently asked permission to go to Holy struggle when they were commanded to restrain then and to pay to self-improvement establishing prayer, strengthening their forces, and paying alms; After that when the circumstances became fitting and the command of Holy struggle was revealed, horror and terrible fear filled their whole entity, and they began to protest against that command. It says:

"Have you not seen those to whom it was said: 'Withhold your hand (from war), and establish prayer and pay the poor - rate, , but when fighting was prescribed for them, a group of them were so afraid of men as (it should be) the fear of Allah, or (even) with a greater fear...."

In their protest, they clearly said that why Allah revealed the command of Holy struggle so soon. It would be better He delayed it for a length of time, or that duty would be put upon the coming dynasties. It says:

"... and they said: 'Our Lord! Why have You ordained fighting for us? Wherefore did You not grant us a delay to a near end? '..."

The Qur'an delivers two answers to these persons. The first answer lies in the content of the sentence saying:

"…a group of them fear men as (it should be) the fear of Allah, or (even) with a greater fear,…"

That is, instead of being afraid of the Mighty and the Omnipotent Allah, they fear of the feeble and incapable human beings. They are in horror from such a creature more than that they fear from Allah!

For the second answer it denotes that such people should be told that supposing that without participating in the Holy struggle, they could live calmly for a few days but, at last, this worthless life will end while the eternal life in Hereafter is more valuable for the pious ones, in particular that they will be given their reward completely and they will be wronged naught. It says:

"… Say: ' The capital of this world is scant and the Hereafter will be better for anyone who keeps from evil; and you will not be wronged (even to the extent of) the husk of a date-stone',"