Admonishing Those Who did not join the Jihad

I take refuge with Allaah from the accursed devil.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem: In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Welcome to my blog and praise the Magnificent Lord as you enter: Allahu Akbar: Allah is the Greatest .

May the Peace and Blessings of Allah Azza wa Jal, our Lord Glorified and Praised be He, be upon our beloved  Prophet, his Family, and Companions.

Admonishing Those Who did not join the Jihad

وَإِذَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ أَنْ ءَامِنُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَجَـهِدُواْ مَعَ رَسُولِهِ اسْتَأْذَنَكَ أُوْلُواْ الطَّوْلِ مِنْهُمْ وَقَالُواْ ذَرْنَا نَكُنْ مَّعَ الْقَـعِدِينَ

(86. And when a Surah is revealed, enjoining them to believe in Allah and to strive hard and fight along with His Messenger, the wealthy among them ask your leave to exempt them and say, “Leave us (behind), we would be with those who sit (at home).”)

 رَضُواْ بِأَن يَكُونُواْ مَعَ الْخَوَلِفِ وَطُبِعَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لاَ يَفْقَهُونَ

 (87. They are content to be with those who sit behind. Their hearts are sealed up, so they understand not.)

Surah 9 At Tawba Verse 86-87

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Allah chastises and admonishes those who stayed away from Jihad and refrained from performing it, even though they had the supplies, means and ability to join it. They asked the Messenger for permission to stay behind, saying,

(“Leave us (behind), we would be with those who sit (at home)”) thus accepting for themselves the shame of lagging behind with women, after the army had left. If war starts, such people are the most cowardice, but when it is safe, they are the most boastful among men. Allah described them in another Ayah,

(Then when fear comes, you will see them looking to you, their eyes revolving like (those of) one over whom hovers death; but when the fear departs, they will smite you with sharp tongues.)(33:19) their tongues direct their harsh words against you, when it is safe to do so. In battle, however, they are the most cowardice among men. Allah said in another Ayah,

(Those who believe say: “Why is not a Surah sent down (for us) But when a decisive Surah (explaining and ordering things) is sent down, and fighting is mentioned therein, you will see those in whose hearts is a disease looking at you with a look of one fainting to death. But it was better for them. Obedience (to Allah) and good words (were better for them). And when the matter is resolved on, then if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them.) (47:20-21) Allah said next,

(Their hearts are sealed up) because of their staying away from Jihad and from accompanying the Messenger in Allah’s cause,

(so they understand not.) they neither understand what benefits them so that they perform it nor what hurts them so that they avoid it.

لَـكِنِ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُ جَـهَدُواْ بِأَمْوَلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمُ الْخَيْرَاتُ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

(88. But the Messenger and those who believed with him strove hard and fought with their wealth and their lives. Such are they for whom are the good things, and it is they who will be successful.)

أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ جَنَّـتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَا ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

(89. For them Allah has prepared Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.)

Surah 9 At Tawba verse 88-89

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

After Allah mentioned the sins of the hypocrites, He praised the faithful believers and described ..

(But the Messenger and those who believed with him strove hard and fought) until the end of these two Ayat (9:88-89). This describes the qualities, as well as, the reward of faithful believers. Allah said,

(Such are they for whom are the good things), in the Hereafter, in the gardens of Al-Firdaws and the high grades.

وَجَآءَ الْمُعَذِّرُونَ مِنَ الاٌّعْرَابِ لِيُؤْذَنَ لَهُمْ وَقَعَدَ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُواْ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ سَيُصِيبُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

 (90. And those who made excuses from the bedouins came asking your permission to exempt them (from the battle), and those who had lied to Allah and His Messenger sat at home (without asking the permission for it); a painful torment will seize those of them who disbelieve.)

 Surah 9 At Tawba Verse 90

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Allah describes here the condition of the bedouins who lived around Al-Madinah, who asked for permission to remain behind from Jihad when they came to the Messenger to explain to him their weakness and inability to join the fighting. Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn `Abbas said that they were those who had valid excuses, for Allah said next,

(and those who had lied to Allah and His Messenger sat at home), and did not ask for permission for it; and Allah warned them of painful punishment,

(a painful torment will seize those of them who disbelieve.)

لَّيْسَ عَلَى الضُّعَفَآءِ وَلاَ عَلَى الْمَرْضَى وَلاَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لاَ يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُواْ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ مَا عَلَى الْمُحْسِنِينَ مِن سَبِيلٍ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(91. There is no blame on those who are weak or ill or who find no resources to spend, if they are sincere and true (in duty) to Allah and His Messenger. No means (of complaint) can there be against the doers of good. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.)

 وَلاَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ إِذَا مَآ أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ قُلْتَ لاَ أَجِدُ مَآ أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ تَوَلَّوْا وَّأَعْيُنُهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ حَزَناً أَلاَّ يَجِدُواْ مَا يُنْفِقُونَ

(92. Nor (is there blame) on those who came to you to be provided with mounts, when you said: “I can find no mounts for you,” they turned back, with their eyes overflowing with tears of grief that they could not find anything to spend.)

إِنَّمَا السَّبِيلُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَسْتَأْذِنُونَكَ وَهُمْ أَغْنِيَآءُ رَضُواْ بِأَن يَكُونُواْ مَعَ الْخَوَالِفِ وَطَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ

(93. The means (of complaint) is only against those who are rich, and yet ask exemption. They are content to be with (the women) who sit behind (at home) and Allah has sealed up their hearts so that they know not (what they are losing).)

Surah 9 At Tawba verse 91-93

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Legitimate Excuses for staying away from Jihad.

Allah mentions here the valid excuses that permit one to stay away from fighting. He first mentions the excuses that remain with a person, the weakness in the body that disallows one from Jihad, such as blindness, limping, and so forth. He then mentions the excuses that are not permanent, such as an illness that would prevent one from fighting in the cause of Allah, or poverty that prevents preparing for Jihad. There is no sin in these cases if they remain behind, providing that when they remain behind, they do not spread malice or try to discourage Muslims from fighting, but all the while observing good behavior in this state, just as Allah said,

(No means (of complaint) can there be against the doers of good. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) Al-Awza`i said, “The people went out for the Istisqa’ (rain) prayer. Bilal bin Sa`d stood up, praised Allah and thanked Him then said, `O those who are present! Do you concur that wrong has been done’ They said, `Yes, by Allah!’ He said, `O Allah! We hear your statement,

(No means (of complaint) can there be against the doers of good.) O Allah! We admit our errors, so forgive us and give us mercy and rain.’ He then raised his hands and the people also raised their hands, and rain was sent down on them.” Mujahid said about Allah’s statement,

(Nor (is there blame) on those who came to you to be provided with mounts) Mujahid said; “It was revealed about Bani Muqarrin from the tribe of Muzaynah. ” Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Al-Hasan said that the Messenger of Allah said,

(Some people have remained behind you in Al-Madinah; and you never spent anything, crossed a valley, or afflicted hardship on an enemy, but they were sharing the reward with you.) He then recited the Ayah,

(Nor (is there blame) on those who came to you to be provided with mounts, when you said: “I can find no mounts for you.”) This Hadith has a basis in the Two Sahihs from Anas, the Messenger of Allah said,

(Some people have remained behind in Al-Madinah and you never crossed a valley or marched forth, but they were with you.) They said, “While they are still at Al-Madinah” He said,

(Yes, as they have been held back by a (legal) excuse.) Then, Allah criticized those who seek permission to remain behind while they are rich, admonishing them for wanting to stay behind with women who remained in their homes,

(and Allah has sealed up their hearts, so that they know not (what they are losing).)