Overview (Verses 38 - 39)

A Slackening Resolve

The passage begins with a word of reproach and a warning against the reluctance to join the campaign of jihād, or struggle for God’s cause. The believers are reminded of the help God gave to His Messenger even before any one of them had joined him, and also of His ability to help him to victory without them. In such an eventuality they would have nothing except their disobedience of God and their failure to support His Messenger.Believers, what is amiss with you that, when it is said to you: ‘Go forth to fight in God’s cause,’ you cling heavily to the earth? (Verse 38)

Such reluctance to march forth in support of God’s cause is only motivated by worldly considerations and ambitions. People may fear for their lives and their property. They are keen to protect their interests and preserve their pleasures, and would prefer a settled life of ease and comfort. They think primarily of their present life, immediate objectives, close relatives and physical needs. The words chosen here give a vivid impression of “clinging heavily to the earth”. It is as if we are looking at a heavy object that has been in its position for a long time. It is lifted up by a group of people, but it soon falls down with a strong gravitational pull.

Joining a jihād campaign for God’s cause represents freedom from the shackles of this earthly life and physical pleasures. It emphasizes the yearning for freedom after the shedding of narrow needs, and the expanse of eternity after getting rid of this limited worldly life: “Are you content with the comforts of this world in preference to the life to come? Paltry indeed are the enjoyments of life in this world when compared with those to come.” (Verse 38)

No one who believes in God would hesitate to set out to fight for God’s cause unless there is some weakness in his faith. The Prophet says: “A person who dies without having ever joined an expedition fighting for God’s cause or having thought about joining such an expedition must surely have a characteristic of hypocrisy.” Hypocrisy, which is essentially a weakness of faith, is the characteristic which holds a person who claims to believe in God from joining a fight for God’s cause, because he fears death or poverty when life and death are determined by God, and all provisions and wealth are granted by Him. Besides, all the comforts and pleasures of this life are petty and meaningless when compared with what is in store for the believers in the life to come.

A stern threat then follows: If you do not go forth to fight [in God’s cause], He will punish you severely and replace you by other people. You will not harm Him in any way, for God has power over all things. (Verse 39)

The address here is made to certain people at a certain period of time, but its import applies to all those who believe in God. The punishment with which they are threatened is not limited to the life to come, but it also includes a punishment in this life. They will suffer the humiliation which afflicts all those who refrain from fighting for God’s cause when their enemies have power over them. They are also deprived of the enjoyments and comforts of this life which will be taken up by their enemies. In addition their loss of life and property is far greater than what they will lose when they fight in support of God’s cause. Whenever a community abandons jihād and refuses to fight for God’s cause, it is bound to suffer humiliation. Its eventual loss is much greater than it would need to sacrifice when it fights with the spirit of jihād.

“He will ... replace you by other people,” (Verse 39) who will guard their faith and who are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices without ever submitting to God’s enemies. “You will not harm Him in any way,” (Verse 39) and you can have no effect on the outcome. “For God has power over all things.” (Verse 39) He can easily cause you to perish and bring about a different community to take your place. In the final balance you will count for nothing.

To elevate oneself above the shackles of the earth and over one’s own weaknesses is to enhance one’s noble existence. It represents the higher meaning of life. To give in to fears for one’s life and the attractions of this worldly life is to condemn one’s humanity to extinction. This is the real death knell of the spiritual aspect which distinguishes human life.

Overview (Verses 38 - 39)

A Slackening Resolve

The passage begins with a word of reproach and a warning against the reluctance to join the campaign of jihād, or struggle for God’s cause. The believers are reminded of the help God gave to His Messenger even before any one of them had joined him, and also of His ability to help him to victory without them. In such an eventuality they would have nothing except their disobedience of God and their failure to support His Messenger.Believers, what is amiss with you that, when it is said to you: ‘Go forth to fight in God’s cause,’ you cling heavily to the earth? (Verse 38)

Such reluctance to march forth in support of God’s cause is only motivated by worldly considerations and ambitions. People may fear for their lives and their property. They are keen to protect their interests and preserve their pleasures, and would prefer a settled life of ease and comfort. They think primarily of their present life, immediate objectives, close relatives and physical needs. The words chosen here give a vivid impression of “clinging heavily to the earth”. It is as if we are looking at a heavy object that has been in its position for a long time. It is lifted up by a group of people, but it soon falls down with a strong gravitational pull.

Joining a jihād campaign for God’s cause represents freedom from the shackles of this earthly life and physical pleasures. It emphasizes the yearning for freedom after the shedding of narrow needs, and the expanse of eternity after getting rid of this limited worldly life: “Are you content with the comforts of this world in preference to the life to come? Paltry indeed are the enjoyments of life in this world when compared with those to come.” (Verse 38)

No one who believes in God would hesitate to set out to fight for God’s cause unless there is some weakness in his faith. The Prophet says: “A person who dies without having ever joined an expedition fighting for God’s cause or having thought about joining such an expedition must surely have a characteristic of hypocrisy.” Hypocrisy, which is essentially a weakness of faith, is the characteristic which holds a person who claims to believe in God from joining a fight for God’s cause, because he fears death or poverty when life and death are determined by God, and all provisions and wealth are granted by Him. Besides, all the comforts and pleasures of this life are petty and meaningless when compared with what is in store for the believers in the life to come.

A stern threat then follows: If you do not go forth to fight [in God’s cause], He will punish you severely and replace you by other people. You will not harm Him in any way, for God has power over all things. (Verse 39)

The address here is made to certain people at a certain period of time, but its import applies to all those who believe in God. The punishment with which they are threatened is not limited to the life to come, but it also includes a punishment in this life. They will suffer the humiliation which afflicts all those who refrain from fighting for God’s cause when their enemies have power over them. They are also deprived of the enjoyments and comforts of this life which will be taken up by their enemies. In addition their loss of life and property is far greater than what they will lose when they fight in support of God’s cause. Whenever a community abandons jihād and refuses to fight for God’s cause, it is bound to suffer humiliation. Its eventual loss is much greater than it would need to sacrifice when it fights with the spirit of jihād.

“He will ... replace you by other people,” (Verse 39) who will guard their faith and who are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices without ever submitting to God’s enemies. “You will not harm Him in any way,” (Verse 39) and you can have no effect on the outcome. “For God has power over all things.” (Verse 39) He can easily cause you to perish and bring about a different community to take your place. In the final balance you will count for nothing.

To elevate oneself above the shackles of the earth and over one’s own weaknesses is to enhance one’s noble existence. It represents the higher meaning of life. To give in to fears for one’s life and the attractions of this worldly life is to condemn one’s humanity to extinction. This is the real death knell of the spiritual aspect which distinguishes human life.