Muhammad (Muhammad)

21. Obedience and carefully considered words [were better for them]. And when the matter [jihad] is resolved on, then if they had been true to Allah [and engage in jihad wholeheartedly] it would have been [certainly] better for them.

Believers are wholeheartedly obedient before the Divine declaration of jihad

(“obedience”).

Words and deeds are to be both accurate and well considered;

(“obedience and carefully considered words [were better for them]”).

People with frail faith are afraid of engaging in jihad. They not only disobey the Command but they also attempt at justifications and irrelevant words.

Their pretexts are mentioned in different instances in the Holy Qur’an, e.g. inability to engage in jihad,

“insecurity of their families, insecurity of their houses,” “hot weather,”

being tempted to commit sin in case of engagement in jihad, looking at Roman maids will tempt us into getting involved in sedition (at the battle of Tabuk). The Holy Qur’an says that their deserting is the sedition.

Other pretexts to refrain from engagement in jihad include: inappropriate time designated for battle, preferably postponed

“for the fear of evading incurring loss and suffering from disaster.”

The verse in question says that it would be better to obey the Command and say good words rather than uttering such pretexts. In other words, it says that it would be better for them if they speak and act wholeheartedly when the declaration of jihad is decisive, since they will lead to their pride and honor in this world and great reward, felicity, and salvation in the hereafter.

The clause:

“the matter is resolved on” basically indicates decisiveness but taking the preceding and the following Verses into consideration it connotes “jihad.”