22:40 Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)

{ الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ } أي: ألجئوا إلى الخروج بالأذية والفتنة { بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّا } أن ذنبهم الذي نقم منهم أعداؤهم { أَنْ يَقُولُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ } أي: إلا أنهم وحدوا الله، وعبدوه مخلصين له الدين، فإن كان هذا ذنبا، فهو ذنبهم كقوله تعالى: { وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ } وهذا يدل على حكمة الجهاد، وأن المقصود منه إقامة دين الله، وذب الكفار المؤذين للمؤمنين، البادئين لهم بالاعتداء، عن ظلمهم واعتدائهم، والتمكن من عبادة الله، وإقامة الشرائع الظاهرة، ولهذا قال: { وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ } فيدفع الله بالمجاهدين في سبيله ضرر الكافرين، { لَهُدِّمَتْ صَوَامِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَاتٌ وَمَسَاجِدُ } أي: لهدمت هذه المعابد الكبار، لطوائف أهل الكتاب، معابد اليهود والنصارى، والمساجد للمسلمين، { يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا } أي: في هذه المعابد { اسْمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيرًا } تقام فيها الصلوات، وتتلى فيها كتب الله، ويذكر فيها اسم الله بأنواع الذكر، فلولا دفع الله الناس بعضهم ببعض، لاستولى الكفار على المسلمين، فخربوا معابدهم، وفتنوهم عن دينهم، فدل هذا، أن الجهاد مشروع، لأجل دفع الصائل والمؤذي، ومقصود لغيره، ودل ذلك على أن البلدان التي حصلت فيها الطمأنينة بعبادة الله، وعمرت مساجدها، وأقيمت فيها شعائر الدين كلها، من فضائل المجاهدين وببركتهم، دفع الله عنها الكافرين، قال الله تعالى: { وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَفَسَدَتِ الْأَرْضُ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ } فإن قلت: نرى الآن مساجد المسلمين عامرة لم تخرب، مع أنها كثير منها إمارة صغيرة، وحكومة غير منظمة، مع أنهم لا يدان لهم بقتال من جاورهم من الإفرنج، بل نرى المساجد التي تحت ولايتهم وسيطرتهم عامرة، وأهلها آمنون مطمئنون، مع قدرة ولاتهم من الكفار على هدمها، والله أخبر أنه لولا دفع الله الناس بعضهم ببعض، لهدمت هذه المعابد، ونحن لا نشاهد دفعا. أجيب بأن هذا السؤال والاستشكال، داخل في عموم هذه الآية وفرد من أفرادها، فإن من عرف أحوال الدول الآن ونظامها، وأنها تعتبر كل أمة وجنس تحت ولايتها، وداخل في حكمها، تعتبره عضوا من أعضاء المملكة، وجزء من أجزاء الحكومة، سواء كانت تلك الأمة مقتدرة بعددها أو عددها، أو مالها، أو عملها، أو خدمتها، فتراعي الحكومات مصالح ذلك الشعب، الدينية والدنيوية، وتخشى إن لم تفعل ذلك أن يختل نظامها، وتفقد بعض أركانها، فيقوم من أمر الدين بهذا السبب ما يقوم، خصوصا المساجد، فإنها -ولله الحمد- في غاية الانتظام، حتى في عواصم الدول الكبار. وتراعي تلك الدول الحكومات المستقلة، نظرا لخواطر رعاياهم المسلمين، مع وجود التحاسد والتباغض بين دول النصارى، الذي أخبر الله أنه لا يزال إلى يوم القيامة، فتبقى الحكومة المسلمة، التي لا تقدر تدافع عن نفسها، سالمة من [كثير] ضررهم، لقيام الحسد عندهم، فلا يقدر أحدهم أن يمد يده عليها، خوفا من احتمائها بالآخر، مع أن الله تعالى لا بد أن يري عباده من نصر الإسلام والمسلمين، ما قد وعد به في كتابه. وقد ظهرت -ولله الحمد- أسبابه [بشعور المسلمين بضرورة رجوعهم إلى دينهم والشعور مبدأ العمل] فنحمده ونسأله أن يتم نعمته، ولهذا قال في وعده الصادق المطابق للواقع: { وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ } أي: يقوم بنصر دينه، مخلصا له في ذلك، يقاتل في سبيله، لتكون كلمة الله هي العليا. { إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ } أي: كامل القوة، عزيز لا يرام، قد قهر الخلائق، وأخذ بنواصيهم، فأبشروا، يا معشر المسلمين، فإنكم وإن ضعف عددكم وعددكم، وقوي عدد عدوكم وعدتهم فإن ركنكم القوي العزيز، ومعتمدكم على من خلقكم وخلق ما تعملون، فاعملوا بالأسباب المأمور بها، ثم اطلبوا منه نصركم، فلا بد أن ينصركم. { يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ } وقوموا، أيها المسلمون، بحق الإيمان والعمل الصالح، فقد { وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا }

"الذين أخرجوا من ديارهم بغير حق " قال العوفي عن ابن عباس أخرجوا من مكة إلى المدينة بغير حق يعني محمدا وأصحابه " إلا أن يقولون ربنا الله " أي ما كان لهم إلى قومهم إساءة ولا كان لهم ذنب إلا أنهم وحدوا الله وعبدوه لا شريك له وهذا استثناء منقطع بالنسبة إلى ما في نفس الأمر وأما عند المشركين فإنه أكبر الذنوب كما قال تعالى " يخرجون الرسول وإياكم أن تؤمنوا بالله ربكم " وقال تعالى في قصة أصحاب الأخدود " وما نقموا منهم إلا أن يؤمنوا بالله العزيز الحميد " ولهذا لما كان المسلمون يرتجزون في بناء الخندق ويقولون: لاهم لولا أنت ما اهتدينا ولا تصـدقنا ولا صليـنا فأنزلـن سـكيـنـة عليــنـــا وثبت الأقدام إن لاقينا إن الألى قد بـــغـوا عـلينا إذا أرادوا فتــنة أبينا فيوافقهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ويقوم معهم آخر كل قافية فإذا قالوا إذا أرادوا فتنة أبينا يقول " أبينا " يمد بها صوته ثم قال تعالى " ولولا دفع الله الناس بعضهم ببعض" أي لولا أنه يدفع بقوم عن قوم ويكف شرور أناس عن غيرهم بما يخلقه ويقدره من الأسباب لفسدت الأرض ولأهلك القوي الضعيف " لهدمت صوامع " وهي المعابد الصغار للرهبان قاله ابن عباس ومجاهد وأبو العالية وعكرمة والضحاك وغيرهم وقال قتادة هي معابد الصابئين وفي رواية عنه صوامع المجوس وقال مقاتل بن حيان هي البيوت التي على الطرق " وبيع " وهي أوسع منها وأكثر عابدين فيها وهي للنصارى أيضا قاله أبو العالية وقتادة والضحاك وابن صخر ومقاتل بن حيان وخصيف وغيرهم وحكى ابن جبير عن مجاهد وغيره أنها كنائس اليهود وحكى السدي عمن حدثه عن ابن عباس أنها كنائس اليهود ومجاهد إنما قال هي الكنائس والله أعلم وقوله " وصلوات " قال العوفي عن ابن عباس الصلوات الكنائس وكذا قال عكرمة والضحاك وقتادة: إنها كنائس اليهود وهم يسمونها صلوات وحكى السدي عمن حدثه عن ابن عباس أنها كنائس النصارى وقال أبو العالية وغيره الصلوات معابد الصابئين وقال ابن أبي نجيح عن مجاهد الصلوات مساجد لأهل الكتاب ولأهل الإسلام بالطرق وأما المساجد فهي للمسلمين وقوله " يذكر فيها اسم الله كثيرا " فقد قيل الضمير في قوله يذكر فيها عائد إلى المساجد لأنها أقرب المذكورات وقال الضحاك الجميع يذكر فيها اسم الله كثيرا وقال ابن جرير الصواب لهدمت صوامع الرهبان وبيع النصارى وصلوات اليهود وهي كنائسهم ومساجد المسلمين التي يذكر فيها اسم الله كثيرا لأن هذا هو المستعمل المعروف في كلام العرب وقال بعض العلماء هذا ترقٍ من الأقل إلى الأكثر إلى أن انتهى إلى المساجد وهي أكثر عمارا وأكثر عبادا وهم ذوو القصد الصحيح وقوله " ولينصرن الله من ينصره " كقوله تعالى " يا أيها الذين آمنوا إن تنصروا الله ينصركم ويثبت أقدامكم والذين كفروا فتعسا لهم وأضل أعمالهم " وقوله " إن الله لقوي عزيز " وصف نفسه بالقوة والعزة فبقوته خلق كل شيء فقدره تقديرا وبعزته لا يقهره قاهر ولا يغلبه غالب بل كل شيء ذليل لديه فقير إليه ومن كان القوي العزيز ناصره فهو المنصور وعدوه هو المقهور قال الله تعالى " ولقد سبقت كلمتنا لعبادنا المرسلين إنهم لهم المنصورون وإن جندنا لهم الغالبون " وقال تعالى " كتب الله لأغلبن أنا ورسلي إن الله لقوي عزيز ".

Permission to fight; this is the first Ayah of Jihad

Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "This was revealed about Muhammad ﷺ and his Companions, when they were expelled from Makkah." Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak and others among the Salaf, such as Ibn `Abbas, `Urwah bin Az-Zubayr, Zayd bin Aslam, Muqatil bin Hayan, Qatadah and others said, "This is the first Ayah which was revealed about Jihad." Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "When the Prophet was driven out of Makkah, Abu Bakr said, `They have their Prophet. Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return; surely they are doomed."' Ibn `Abbas said, "Then Allah revealed the words:

أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَـتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُواْ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ

(Permission (to fight) is given to those (believers) fought against, because they have been wronged; and surely, Allah is able to give them victory.)" Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "Then I knew that there would be fighting." Imam Ahmad added: "Ibn `Abbas said, `This was the first Ayah to be revealed concerning fighting."' This was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i in the Book of Tafsir of their Sunans. At-Tirmidhi said: "It is a Hasan Hadith."

وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ

(and surely, Allah is able to give them victory.) means, He is able to grant victory to His believing servants without any fighting taking place, but He wants His servants to strive their utmost in obeying Him, as He says:

فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ حَتَّى إِذَآ أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّواْ الْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّى تَضَعَ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ذَلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَآءُ اللَّهُ لاَنْتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَـكِن لِّيَبْلُوَ بَعْضَكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ وَالَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَـلَهُمْ - سَيَهْدِيهِمْ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَهُمْ - وَيُدْخِلُهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ عَرَّفَهَا لَهُمْ

(So, when you meet those who disbelieve, strike necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly. Thereafter either for generosity, or ransom, until war lays down its burden. Thus, but if it had been Allah's will, He Himself could certainly have punished them. But (He lets you fight) in order to test some of you with others. But those who are killed in the way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost. He will guide them and set right their state. And admit them to Paradise which He has made known to them.) 47:4-6

قَـتِلُوهُمْ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ وَيُخْزِهِمْ وَيَنْصُرْكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَيَشْفِ صُدُورَ قَوْمٍ مُّؤْمِنِينَ - وَيُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَيَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَن يَشَآءُ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

(Fight against them so that Allah will punish them by your hands, and disgrace them, and give you victory over them, and heal the breasts of a believing people, and remove the anger of their (believers') hearts. Allah accepts the repentance of whom He wills. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.) 9:14-15

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ حَتَّى نَعْلَمَ الْمُجَـهِدِينَ مِنكُمْ وَالصَّـبِرِينَ وَنَبْلُوَ أَخْبَـرَكُمْ

(And surely, We shall try you till We test those who strive hard and the patient, and We shall test your facts.) 47:31. And there are many similar Ayat. Ibn `Abbas commented on the Ayah,

وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ

(and surely, Allah is able to give them (believers) victory.) "And this is what He did." Allah prescribed Jihad at an appropriate time, because when they were in Makkah, the idolators outnumbered them by more than ten to one. Were they to engage in fighting at that time, the results would have been disastrous. When the idolators went to extremes to persecute Muslims, to expel the Prophet and resolving to kill him; when they sent his Companions into exile here and there, so that some went to Ethiopia and others went to Al-Madinah; when they settled in Al-Madinah and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ joined them there, and they gathered around him and lent him their support, and they had a place where Islam prevailed, and a stronghold to which they could retreat; then Allah prescribed Jihad against the enemy, and this was the first Ayah to be revealed for it. Allah said:

أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَـتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُواْ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُواْ مِن دِيَـرِهِم بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ

(Permission (to fight) is given to those fought against, because they have been wronged; and surely, Allah is able to give them victory. Those who have been expelled from their homes unjustly) Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said; "They were driven out of Makkah to Al-Madinah unjustly, i.e., Muhammad ﷺ and his Companions."

إِلاَّ أَن يَقُولُواْ رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ

(only because they said: "Our Lord is Allah.") means, they had not done anything to their people or committed any wrongs against them, apart from the fact that they believed in the Oneness of Allah and they worshipped Him Alone, with no partner or associate. But for the idolators, this was the worst of sins, as Allah says:

يُخْرِجُونَ الرَّسُولَ وَإِيَّـكُمْ أَن تُؤْمِنُواْ بِاللَّهِ رَبِّكُمْ

(and have driven out the Messenger and yourselves because you believe in Allah, your Lord!) 60:1. Then Allah says:

وَلَوْلاَ دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ

(For had it not been that Allah checks one set of people by means of another,) meaning, were it not for the fact that He repels one people by means of another, and restrains the evil of people towards others by means of whatever circumstances He creates and decrees, the earth would have been corrupted and the strong would have destroyed the weak.

لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَمِعُ

(Sawami` surely have been pulled down) means the small temples used by monks. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Abu Al-`Aliyah, `Ikrimah, Ad-Dahhak and others. Qatadah said, "This refers to the places of worship of the Sabians;" according to another report, he said, "The Sawami` of the Zoroastrians." Muqatil bin Hayyan said, "These are houses along the roads."

وَبِيَعٌ

(Biya`.) These are larger than the Sawami` and accommodate more worshippers; the Christians also have these. This was the view of Abu Al-`Aliyah, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, Ibn Sakhr, Muqatil bin Hayyan, Khusayf and others. Ibn Jubayr reported from Mujahid and others that this referred to the synagogues of the Jews which are known to them as Salut. And Allah knows best.

وَصَلَوَتِ

(Salawat) Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "Salawat means churches." `Ikrimah, Ad-Dahhak and Qatadah said that it referred to the synagogues of the Jews. Abu Al-`Aliyah and others said, "Salawat refers to the places of worship of the Sabians." Ibn Abi Najih reported that Mujahid said, "Salawat refers to places of worship of the People of the Book and of the people of Islam along the roads." Masjids belong to the Muslims.

يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيراً

(wherein the Name of Allah is mentioned much,) It was said that the pronoun refers to Masjids, because this is the closest of the words mentioned. Ad-Dahhak said, "In all of them the Name of Allah is often mentioned." Ibn Jarir said, "The correct view is that the monasteries of the monks, the churches of the Christians, the synagogues of the Jews and the Masjids of the Muslims, in which the Name of Allah is mentioned much, would have been destroyed -- because this is the usual usage in Arabic." Some of the scholars said, "This is a sequence listing the smallest to the greatest, because the Masjids are more frequented by more worshippers who have the correct intention and way."

وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ

(Verily, Allah will help those who help His (cause).) This is like the Ayah:

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِن تَنصُرُواْ اللَّهَ يَنصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ - وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَتَعْساً لَّهُمْ وَأَضَلَّ أَعْمَـلَهُمْ

(O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm. But those who disbelieve, for them is destruction, and (Allah) will make their deeds vain.) 47:7-8

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ

(Truly, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.) Allah describes Himself as being All-Strong and All-Mighty. By His strength He created everything and measured it exactly according to its due measurements; by His might nothing can overpower Him or overwhelm Him, rather everything is humbled before Him and is in need of Him. Whoever is supported by the All-Strong, the All-Mighty, is indeed supported and helped, and his enemy will be overpowered. Allah says:

وَلَقَدْ سَبَقَتْ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا الْمُرْسَلِينَ - إِنَّهُمْ لَهُمُ الْمَنصُورُونَ - وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ الْغَـلِبُونَ

(And, verily, Our Word has gone forth of old for Our servants, the Messengers, that they verily, would be made triumphant, and that Our soldiers! They verily, would be the victors.) 37:171-173

كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لاّغْلِبَنَّ أَنَاْ وَرُسُلِى إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ

(Allah has decreed: "Verily, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious." Verily, Allah is All-Powerful, All-Mighty.) 58:21

they are those who were expelled from their homes without right for their expulsion; they were expelled only because they said that is because of their saying ‘Our Lord is God’ alone such a saying is ‘right’ and so then to be expelled for saying it is to be expelled without right. Were it not for God’s causing some people ba‘dahum ‘some’ substitutes for al-nāsa ‘people’ to drive back others destruction would have befallen read la-huddimat to emphasise a great number of destructions; or read la-hudimat the monasteries sawāmi‘ is for monks and churches kanā’is are for Christians and synagogues salawāt is the Hebrew term for Jewish houses of worship kanā’is and mosques masājid are for Muslims in which that is in which mentioned places God’s Name is mentioned greatly and with such destruction acts of worship cease. Assuredly God will help those who help Him that is who help His religion. God is truly Strong overpowering His creation Mighty Invincible in terms of His dominion and power;

The philosophy behind Jihad and war against the infidels

وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّـهِ النَّاسَ (And had Allah not repelled some people by means of some others... - 22:40) Had Allah not repelled some people by means of some others, the monasteries, the churches, the synagogues and the mosques where the name of Allah is recited abundantly would have been demolished. The command to take up arms against the unbelievers is nothing new, because the earlier prophets and their followers had received similar orders from Allah Ta’ ala and the philosophy behind this command was that without armed resistance no religion would have felt safe and their places of worship would have been destroyed by the infidels.

There have been many religions which were founded on the worship of one God and built up by means of Wahy (Divine revelations). In course of time their basics were changed and so many alterations were introduced in them that they turned into unbelief and polytheism. But before these things happened, they were true religions and it was the duty of their followers to respect and defend their places of worship. This verse refers to such places of worship only and does not include the sacred places of those religions which were not founded on prophethood and revelation (such as the fire-worshiping Magians, or the idol-worshiping Hindus) because they were at no time considered places deserving of respect.

In this verse صَوَامِعُ is the plural of صَوَمِعُہ ، which means a monastery which is a place of worship meant for Christian monks and hermits بِيَعٌ is the plural of بِیعَۃ ، which means a Christian church, and صَلَوَاتٌ is the plural of صلُوت ، which means a Jewish synagogue. And of course مَسَاجِدُ is the place of worship of the Muslims.

The meaning of this verse is that if at different times the believers had not been permitted to fight the infidels, no true religion would have felt secure and at different times during the periods of Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) ، Sayyidna ` Isa (علیہ السلام) and the Holy Prophet ﷺ the places of worship of their respective religions would have been destroyed. (Qurtubi)