Surah al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage ) 22 : 58

Overview (Verses 58 - 61)

A Fitting Reward

As for those who leave their homes to serve God’s cause, and are then slain or die, God will most certainly grant them a goodly provision. God is indeed the most munificent provider. He will most certainly admit them to a place with which they shall be well pleased. God is surely All-Knowing, Most Forbearing. (Verses 58-59) Migration, or leaving one’s home, to serve God’s cause represents a desertion of every comfort whether it be family, community and childhood memories, or property and material comforts. When one puts one’s faith ahead of all this for no other reason than to earn God’s pleasure, one demonstrates that such a prize is more valuable than all material goods. Migration was possible before Makkah fell to Islam and the Islamic state was established. After that, migration was invalid. The requirement now is to strive in serving God’s cause. Whoever strives thus for God’s cause and dedicates himself to its service receives a similar reward to that of migration.

“As for those who leave their homes to serve God’s cause, and are then slain or die, God will most certainly grant them a goodly provision.” (Verse 58) This applies whether they die in battle, earning martyrdom, or die normally in their homes. They left their homes and property ready to face any eventuality only to serve Him. They sought martyrdom in any way it might come, sacrificing every worldly comfort. Therefore, God compensates them richly for what they abandoned on His account: “God will most certainly grant them a goodly provision. God is indeed the most munificent provider.” (Verse 58) Such provisions are better than everything they leave behind.

“He will most certainly admit them to a place with which they shall be well pleased.” (Verse 59) They departed in a way that pleased God, and in return He promises that they will be well pleased with the position into which He will admit them. It is indeed a clear aspect of the honour God grants them when He makes sure of answering their wishes and ensuring that they are pleased with what they receive from Him. “God is surely All-Knowing, Most Forbearing.” (Verse 59) He is well aware of what they have suffered of injustice and what makes them feel well compensated. He is also forbearing, giving the unbelievers respite in order that they realize that they are in the wrong. He eventually gives fitting reward to those who suffer injustice and fitting punishment to those who inflict injustice.

Those who are targets of human aggression may not be able to tolerate such treatment or bear it with patience. They would rather respond in kind, measure for measure. If aggressors persist, and continue with their oppression, God is certain to support the oppressed and help them against those who are unjust: “Thus shall it be. If one retaliates only to the extent of the injury he has received, and then is wronged again, God will certainly succour him. God is certainly the One who absolves sin, who is Much- Forgiving.” (Verse 60) The condition that must be fulfilled for God’s help to be forthcoming is that the action must be one of retaliation, seeking to repel aggression. Such help is not forthcoming for aggression of any sort. Moreover, retaliation must not be excessive; rather it must be limited in scale, replying, measure for measure, to the original aggression.

The comment made in the verse on the nature of this retaliation is that “God is certainly the One who absolves sin, who is Much-Forgiving.” It is He who forgives and absolves. Human beings have no say in this. Indeed they may prefer to retaliate and to repel aggression. Given their nature, they are allowed to pursue such retaliatory action. God will help them to achieve victory.

God’s promise of help to victims of aggression is linked to universal laws that testify to His power. These laws operate most accurately, without fail, which, in turn, suggests that God’s help to those at the receiving end of aggression is one of the unfailing universal laws He has set in operation. “Thus it is, because God causes the night to pass into the day, and the day to pass into the night; and because God hears all and sees all.” (Verse 61)

This refers to a natural phenomenon which people observe morning and evening, day and night, winter and summer. The night passes into the day at sunset, and the day passes into the night at sunrise. And the night takes more of the day as we go into the winter, while the day takes up more of the night as summer approaches. People see both phenomena of the two parts of the daily cycle passing into each other, but long familiarity makes them oblivious to their accuracy and unfailing regularity. Nevertheless, these phenomena are witnesses to God’s power which controls the universe and all its events.

The surah wants people to open their eyes and hearts to these often overlooked phenomena that are indicative of God’s superior power that controls the movement and length of both day and night, with absolute accuracy. The same may be said about God’s help to those who suffer aggression and try to repel it. It is as accurate and regular as the passing of the day into the night and the passing of the night into the day. God always smites the power of tyrant oppressors and allows justice to triumph. Again, people tend to be oblivious of this phenomenon, just as they overlook signs and pointers indicating God’s power and control of the universe.