8:42 Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)

‏{‏إِذْ أَنْتُمْ بِالْعُدْوَةِ الدُّنْيَا‏}‏ أي‏:‏ بعدوة الوادي القريبة من المدينة، وهم بعدوته أي‏:‏ جانبه البعيدة من المدينة، فقد جمعكم واد واحد‏.‏ ‏{‏وَالرَّكْبُ‏}‏ الذي خرجتم لطلبه، وأراد اللّه غيره ‏{‏أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ‏}‏ مما يلي ساحل البحر‏.‏ ‏{‏وَلَوْ تَوَاعَدْتُمْ‏}‏ أنتم وإياهم على هذا الوصف وبهذه الحال ‏{‏لَاخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِي الْمِيعَادِ‏}‏ أي‏:‏ لا بد من تقدم أو تأخر أو اختيار منزل، أو غير ذلك، مما يعرض لكم أو لهم، يصدفكم عن ميعادكم ‏{‏وَلَكِنْ‏}‏ اللّه جمعكم على هذه الحال ‏{‏لِيَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا‏}‏ أي‏:‏ مقدرا في الأزل، لا بد من وقوعه‏.‏ ‏{‏لِيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ‏}‏ أي‏:‏ ليكون حجة وبينة للمعاند، فيختار الكفر على بصيرة وجزم ببطلانه، فلا يبقى له عذر عند اللّه‏.‏ ‏{‏وَيَحْيَا مَنْ حَيَّ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ‏}‏ أي‏:‏ يزداد المؤمن بصيرة ويقينا، بما أرى اللّه الطائفتين من أدلة الحق وبراهينه، ما هو تذكرة لأولي الألباب‏.‏ ‏{‏وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ‏}‏ سميع لجميع الأصوات، باختلاف اللغات، على تفنن الحاجات، عليم بالظواهر والضمائر والسرائر، والغيب والشهادة‏.‏

يقول تعالى مخبرا عن يوم الفرقان "إذ أنتم بالعدوة الدنيا" أي إذ أنتم نزول بعدوة الوادي الدنيا القريبة إلى المدينة "وهم" أي المشركون نزول "بالعدوة القصوى" أي البعيدة من المدينة إلى ناحية مكة" والركب أي العير الذي فيه أبو سفيان بما معه من التجارة "أسفل منكم" أي مما يلي سيف البحر "ولو تواعدتم أي أنتم والمشركون إلى مكان لاختلفتم في الميعاد" قال محمد بن إسحق وحدثني يحيى بن عباد بن عبدالله بن الزبير عن أبيه في هذه الآية قال ولو كان ذلك عن ميعاد منكم ومنهم ثم بلغكم كثرة عددهم وقلة عددكم ما لقيتموهم "ولكن ليقضي الله أمرا كان مفعولا" أي ليقضي الله ما أراد بقدرته من إعزاز الإسلام وأهله وإذلال الشرك وأهله من غير ملأ منكم ففعل ما أراد من ذلك بلطفه وفي حديث كعب بن مالك قال إنما خـرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم والمسلمون يريدون عير قريش حتى جمع الله بينهم وبين عدوهم على غير ميعاد وقال ابن جرير حدثني يعقوب حدثني بن علية عن ابن عون عن عمير بن إسحق قال: أقبل أبو سفيان في الركب من الشام وخرج أبو جهل ليمنعه من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه فالتقوا ببدر ولا يشعر هؤلاء بهؤلاء ولا هؤلاء بهؤلاء حتى التقى السقاة ونهد الناس بعضهم لبعض وقال محمد بن إسحق في السيرة: ومضى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على وجهه ذلك حتى إذا كان قريبا من الصفراء بعث بسبس بن عمرو وعدي بن أبي الزغباء الجهنين يلتمسان الخبر عن أبي سفيان فانطلقا حتى إذا وردا بدرا فأناخا بعيريهما إلى تل من البطحاء فاستقيا في شن لهما من الماء فسمعا جاريتين يختصمان تقول إحداهما لصاحبتها اقضيني حقي وتقول الأخرى إنما تأتي العير غدا أو بعد غد فأقضيك حقك فخلص بينهما مجدي بن عمرو وقال صدقت فسمع بذلك بسبس وعدي فجلسا على بعيريهما حتى أتيا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فأخبراه الخبر وأقبل أبو سفيان حين وليا وقد حذر فتقدم أمام عيره وقال لمجدي بن عمرو هل أحسست على هذا الماء من أحد تنكره؟ فقال لا والله إلا أني قد رأيت راكبين أناخا إلى هذا التل فاستقيا من شن لهما ثم انطلقا فجاء أبو سفيان إلى مناخ بعيريهما فأخذ من أبعارهما ففته فإذا فيه النوى فقال هذه والله علائف يثرب ثم رجع سريعا فضرب وجه عيره فانطلق بها فساحل حتى إذا رأى أنه قد أحرز عيره إلى قريش فقال: إن الله قد نجى عيركم وأموالكم ورجالكم فارجعوا فقال أبو جهل والله لا نرجع حتى نأتي بدرا. وكانت بدر سوقا من أسواق العرب. فنقيم بها ثلاثا فنطعم بها الطعام وننحر بها الجزر ونسقي بها الخمر وتعزف علينا القيان وتسمع بنا العرب وبمسيرنا فلا يزالون يهابوننا بعدها أبدا. فقال الأخنس بن شريق: يا معشر بني زهرة إن الله قد أنجى أموالكم ونجى صاحبكم فارجعوا فرجعت بنو زهرة فلم يشهدوها ولا بنو عدي. قال محمد بن إسحق وحدثني يزيد بن رومان عن عروة بن الزبير قال: وبعث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حين دنا من بدر علي بن أبي طالب وسعد بن أبي وقاص والزبير بن العوام في نفر من أصحابه يتجسسون له الخبر فأصابوا سقاة لقريش غلاما لبني سعيد بن العاص وغلاما لبني الحجاج فأتوا بهما رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم فوجدوه يصلي فجعل أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يسألونهما لمن أنتما؟ فيقولان نحن سقاة لقريش بعثونا نسقيهم من الماء فكره القوم خبرهما ورجوا أن يكونا لأبي سفيان فضربوهما فلما أزلقوهما قالا نحن لأبي سفيان فتركوهما وركع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وسجد سجدتين ثم سلم وقال "إذا صدقاكم ضربتموهما وإذا كذباكم تركتموهما صدقا والله إنهما لقريش أخبراني عن قريش "قالا هم وراء هذا الكثيب الذي ترى بالعدوة القصوى والكثيب العقنقل فقال لهما رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "كم القوم؟" قالا كثير قال "ما عدتهم؟ " قالا ما ندري قال "كم ينحرون كل يوم؟ " قالا يوما تسعا ويوما عشرا قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "القوم ما بين التسعمائة إلى الألف" ثم قال لهما "فمن فيهم من أشراف قريش؟ " قالا عتبة بن ربيعة وشيبة بن ربيعة وأبو البختري بن هشام وحكيم بن حزام ونوفل بن خويلد والحارث بن عامر بن نوفل وطعيمة بن عدي بن نوفل والنضر بن الحارث وزمعة بن الأسود وأبو جهل بن هشام وأمية بن خلف ونبيه ومنبه ابنا الحجاج وسهيل بن عمرو وعمرو بن عبد ود فأقبل رسول الله صلى الله تعالى عليه وآله وسلم على الناس فقال "هذه مكة قد ألقت إليكم أفلاذ كبدها" قال محمد بن إسحق رحمه الله تعالى وحدثني عبدالله بن أبي بكر بن حزم أن سعد بن معاذ قال لرسول الله صلى الله تعالى عليه وآله وسلم لما التقى الناس يوم بدر يا رسول الله ألا نبني لك عريشا تكون فيه وننيخ إليك ركائبك ونلقى عدونا فإن أظفرنا الله عليهم وأعزنا فذاك ما نحن وإن تكن الأخـرى فتجلس على ركائبك وتلحق بمن وراءنا من قومنا فقد والله تخلف عنك أقوام ما نحن بأشد لك حبا منهم لو علموا أنك تلقى حربا ما تخلفوا عنك ويؤازرونك وينصرونك. فأثنى عليه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم خيرا ودعا له به فبنى له عريش فكان فيه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأبو بكر ما معهما غيرهما. قال ابن إسحق وارتحلت قريش حين أصبحت فلما أقبلت ورآها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم تصوب من العقنقل وهو الكثيب الذي جاءوا منه إلى الوادي فقال "اللهم هذه قريش قد أقبلت بخيلائها وفخرها تحادك وتكذب رسولك اللهم أحنهم الغداة" وقوله "ليهلك من هلك عن بينة ويحيى من حي عن بينة" قال محمد بن إسحق أي ليكفر من كفر بعد الحجة لما رأى من الآية والعبرة ويؤمن من آمن على مثل ذلك وهذا تفسير جيد. وبسط ذلك أنه تعالى يقول إنما جمعكم مع عدوكم في مكان واحد على غير ميعاد لينصركم عليهم ويرفع كلمة الحق على الباطل ليصير الأمر ظاهرا والحجة قاطعة والبراهين ساطعة ولا يبقى لأحد حجة ولا شبهة فحينئذ يهلك من هلك أي يستمر في الكفر من استمر فيه على بصيرة من أمره إنه مبطل لقيام الحجة عليه "ويحيى من حي" أي يؤمن من آمن "عن بينة" أي حجة وبصيرة والإيمان هو حياة القلوب قال الله تعالى "أو من كان ميتا فأحييناه وجعلنا له نورا يمشي به في الناس" وقالت عائشة في قصة الأفك فهلك في من هلك أي قال فيها ما قال من البهتان والإفك وقوله "وإن الله لسميع" أي لدعائكم وتضرعكم واستغاثتكم به "عليم" أي بكم وأنكم تستحقون النصر على أعدائكم الكفرة المعاندين.

Some Details of the Battle of Badr

Allah describes Yawm Al-Furqan, (i.e. the day of Badr),

إِذْ أَنتُم بِالْعُدْوَةِ الدُّنْيَا

((And remember) when you (the Muslim army) were on the near side of the valley,) camping in the closest entrance of the valley towards Al-Madinah,

وَهُمْ

(and they), the idolators, who were camped,

بِالْعُدْوَةِ الْقُصْوَى

(on the farther side), from Al-Madinah, towards Makkah.

وَالرَّكْبُ

(and the caravan), that was under the command of Abu Sufyan, with the wealth that it contained,

أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ

(on the ground lower than you), closer to the sea,

وَلَوْ تَوَاعَدتُّمْ

(even if you had made a mutual appointment to meet,) you and the idolators,

لاَخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِي الْمِيعَـدِ

(you would certainly have failed in the appointment)

Muhammad bin Ishaq said, "Yahya bin `Abbad bin `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr narrated to me from his father about this Ayah "Had there been an appointed meeting set between you and them and you came to know of their superior numbers and your few forces, you would not have met them,

وَلَـكِن لِّيَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ أَمْراً كَانَ مَفْعُولاً

(but (you met) that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained,) Allah had decreed that He would bring glory to Islam and its people, while disgracing Shirk and its people. You the companions had no knowledge this would happen, but it was out of Allah's compassion that He did that." In a Hadith, Ka`b bin Malik said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Muslims marched to intercept the Quraysh caravan, but Allah made them meet their (armed) enemy without appointment." Muhammad bin Ishaq said that Yazid bin Ruwman narrated to him that `Urwah bin Az-Zubayr said, "Upon approaching Badr, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent `Ali bin Abi Talib, Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas, Az-Zubayr bin Al-`Awwam and several other Companions to spy the pagans. They captured two boys, a servant of Bani Sa`id bin Al-`As and a servant of Bani Al-Hajjaj, while they were bringing water for Quraysh. So they brought them to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, but found him praying. The Companions started interrogating the boys, asking them to whom they belonged. Both of them said that they were employees bringing water for Quraysh (army). The Componions were upset with that answer, since they thought that the boys belonged to Abu Sufyan (who was commanding the caravan). So they beat the two boys vehemently, who said finally that they belonged to Abu Sufyan. Thereupon companions left them alone. When the Prophet ended the prayer, he said,

«إَذَا صَدَّقَاكُمْ ضَرَبْتُمُوهُمَا، وَإِذَا كَذَّبَاكُمْ تَرَكْتُمُوهُمَا، صَدَقَا وَاللهِ إِنَّهُمَا لِقُرَيْشٍ ، أَخْبِرَانِي عَنْ قُرَيْش»

(When they tell you the truth you beat them, but when they lie you let them go They have said the truth, by Allah! They belong to the Quraysh. (addressing to the boys He said:) Tell me the news about Quraysh.)

The two boys said, `They are behind this hill that you see, on the far side of the valley.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked,

«كَمِ الْقَوْمُ؟»

(How many are they)

They said, `They are many.' He asked,

«مَاعُدَّتُهُمْ؟»

(How many) They said, `We do not know the precise number.' He asked,

«كَمْ يَنْحَرُونَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ؟»

(How many camels do they slaughter every day)

They said, `Nine or ten a day.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«الْقَوْمُ مَا بَيْنَ التِّسْعمِائَةِ إِلَى الْأَلْف»

(They are between nine-hundred and a thousand.) He asked again,

«فَمَنْ فِيهِمْ مِنْ أَشْرَافِ قُرَيْشٍ؟»

(Which chiefs of Quraysh are accompanying the army) They said, `Utbah bin Rabi`ah, Shaybah bin Rabi`ah, Abu Al-Bakhtari bin Hisham, Hakim bin Hizam, Nawfal bin Khuwaylid, Al-Harith bin `Amir bin Nawfal, Tu`aymah bin Adi bin Nawfal, An-Nadr bin Al-Harith, Zam`ah bin Al-Aswad, Abu Jahl bin Hisham, Umayyah bin Khalaf, Nabih and Munabbih sons of Al-Hajjaj, Suhayl bin `Amr and `Amr bin `Abd Wadd.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to the people,

«هَذِهِ مَكَّةُ قَدْ أَلْقَتْ إِلَيْكُمْ أَفَلَاذَ كَبِدِهَا»

(This is Makkah! She has brought you her most precious sons (its chiefs)!)"

Allah said,

لِّيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَن بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَى مَنْ حَىَّ عَن بَيِّنَةٍ

(So that those who were to be destroyed might be destroyed after a clear evidence.) 8:42

Muhammad bin Ishaq commented, "So that those who disbelieve do so after witnessing clear evidence, proof and lessons, and those who believe do so after witnessing the same." This is a sound explanation. Allah says, He made you meet your enemy in one area without appointment, so that He gives you victory over them.' This way, `He will raise the word of truth above falsehood, so that the matter is made clear, the proof unequivocal and the evidence plain. Then there will be no more plea or doubt for anyone. Then, those destined to destruction by persisting in disbelief do so with evidence, aware that they are misguided and that proof has been established against them,

وَيَحْيَى مَنْ حَىَّ

(and those who were to live might live), those who wish to believe do so,

عَن بَيِّنَةٍ

(after a clear evidence), and proof. Verily, faith is the life of the heart, as Allah said,

أَوَمَن كَانَ مَيْتًا فَأَحْيَيْنَـهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُ نُورًا يَمْشِي بِهِ فِى النَّاسِ كَمَن

(Is he who was dead (without faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and faith) and set for him a light (of belief) whereby he can walk among men ...) 6:122.

Allah said next,

وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَسَمِيعٌ

(And surely, Allah is All-Hearer), of your invocation, humility and requests for His help,

عَلِيمٌ

(All-Knower) meaning; about you, and you deserve victory over your rebellious, disbelieving enemies.

When idh substitutes for yawma ‘the day’ you were on the nearer bank the one nearer to Medina read ‘udwa or ‘idwa meaning ‘the side of a valley’ and they were on the yonder bank the one further from it and the cavalcade the caravan was in a place below you the coastal side; and had you and the enemy band agreed to meet for battle you would have surely failed to keep meeting; but He brought you together at a different time that God might conclude a matter that was to be done through His knowledge — namely the victory of Islam and the obliteration of unbelief — He did this so that he who perished might perish might be a disbeliever even after a clear proof that is after a manifest proof has been established against him namely the triumph of the believers despite their small number over the larger enemy army; and that he who survived might live might believe after a clear proof; surely God is Hearing Knowing.

Commentary

The battle of Badr was the first confrontation of Kufr and Islam which registered a practical proof of the superiority and veracity of Islam, even visibly and materially. Therefore, the Holy Qur'an has taken special steps to describe its details which appear in the verses cited above. Besides the many considerations of wisdom behind these details, one such consideration is to assert that there was just no possibility, either visibly or technically, that Muslims will win and that the disbelievers of Makkah will be defeated. But, the unseen power of Allah Ta` ala overturned all superiority of men and materials as well as its obvious causes. To give a clear picture of this event, the Holy Qur'an has virtually outlined in these verses a whole map of the battlefront at Badr. Now, before we explain these verses, let us glance over the lexical explanation of some words.

The word: عُدْوَةِ ('udwah) refers to a side and the word: دُنیَا (dunya) is derived from: اَدنٰی (adna) which means nearer. When compared to the Hereafter, this world of ours is also called: دُنیَا (dunya) because, as related to the universe of the Hereafter, it is closer at hand for human beings. And the word: قُصْوَىٰ (quswa) is a derivation from: اَقصٰی (aqsa) which means farther.

In verse 42, death has been mentioned against life. The Arabic words used here do not carry the outward sense of death and life. Instead, meant here is spiritual death and life, or destruction and salvation. Spiritual life is Islam (belief in Allah and the Messenger) and 'Iman (faith), and spiritual death is Shirk (polytheism) and Kufr (disbelief). The Holy Qur'an has used these words at several places in this very sense. For instance, earlier in Surah al-Anfal, it was said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّـهِ وَلِلرَّ‌سُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ

O those who believe, respond to Allah and the Messenger when He calls you to what gives you life. (8:24).

The life mentioned here is the real and eternal life which one is blessed with in return for 'Iman and Islam. Now, we can move to a detailed explanation of the cited verses.

Opening with almost a cartographic view of the war front at Badr, verse 42 tells us that Muslims were on the nearest cliff (عُدْوَةِ الدُّنْيَا) and the disbelievers were on the farthest one (عُدْوَةِ الْقُصْوَىٰ ). The spot occupied by Muslims was on the side of the terrain closer to Madinah, while the disbelievers had taken the other side of the terrain which was farther from Madinah. As for the trade caravan of Abu Sufyan, the main cause of waging this Jihad, that too was closer to the army of disbelievers which had come from Makkah but was out of the range of attack by Muslims and moving by the sea shore at a distance of three miles. The purpose of focusing on this battle plan is to say that Muslims were located at a spot totally unsuitable and wrong strategically, a spot from where they had no chance of overpowering the enemy, in fact, no chance of even saving their own lives - because, the 'side of the terrain which was closer to Madinah happened to be a big sandy patch walking through which was hard and heavy. Then, they had no access to water around the spot they were in, while the side farther from Madinah where the disbelievers had set up their camps was smooth terrain with a supply of water close by.

Then, by pointing out to the two edges of the sides occupied by the two armies, it was made much too clear that the two forces were standing face to face, under which condition, it was not possible to conceal the strength or weakness of one party from the other. In addition to that, it was also indicated that the army of the disbelievers of Makkah was already at peace with the realization that their trade caravan had moved away from the attacking range of Muslims. Now, if they needed them at some stage, they too could come out to help them. As compared to them, Muslims were in trouble in terms of their location where they had no probability of getting support of men and materials from anywhere. Then, it is already settled, and known to every educated Muslim, that the total count of Muslim 'army' was three hundred and thirteen, while that of the disbelievers was one thousand. Muslims did not have sufficient number of mounts, nor did they have enough weapons. Against that, the army of the disbelievers was laced with everything.

Besides, Muslims simply had not embarked on this Jihad as some armed force ready to fight a war. Being an emergency measure to block the passage of a trade caravan and to lower the morale of the enemy, only three hundred and thirteen Muslims had started off ill-prepared, ill-equipped. It was only all of a sudden that there they stood having to confront a thousand-strong force of armed men.

This verse of the Qur'an tells us that this event, though it came to pass accidentally, with no intention behind it, but the truth. is that all that happens in this world, accidentally and involuntarily - though, it looks like some plain accident in terms of its level and form - is, in the sight of the Creator of the universe, nothing but the well-set chain of a formidable system. There is nothing in this system which can Be called abrupt or out of place. It will take the whole system to unravel itself to man, only then, man could find out the full range of wisdom hidden behind what was, supposedly, an accidental happening.

Take this event of the battle of Badr as a test case. That it came to pass in an accidental and involuntary manner had its own wise considerations as stated in: وَلَوْ تَوَاعَدتُّمْ لَاخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِي الْمِيعَادِ (And had you rearranged it with each other, you would have deviated from the appointment - 42). It means that, had this battle also been fought like common battles around the world, fought with all possible survey of available options, mutual arguments and crisis resolutions, then, given the dictates of circumstances, this battle would have never been fought. In fact, differences would have crept in one way or the other - either, Muslims themselves would have started thinking otherwise because of their being few and weak against adversaries who were many and strong; or that both parties, the disbelievers and the Muslims, might have not shown up on the battle ground as appointed mutually. As for Muslims, they would have not had the courage to initiate action in view of their being few and weak - and the disbelievers, in whose hearts Allah Ta` ala had already put the awe of Muslims, would have been scared to come out against them despite their superiority in number and strength.

Therefore, that formidable Divine system created such conditions on both sides as. would not allow them time and occasion to think and understand. The people of Makkah were so overwhelmed by the disturbing plaint from the trade caravan of Abu Sufyan that they were ready to march out without much deliberation. The Muslims were prompted by the thought that they were going to take care of an ordinary trade caravan and not a formal armed force arrayed against them. But, Allah, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, so willed that a war starts between them so that the consequences of the victory of Islam which are to emerge from behind this war become visibly manifest. Therefore, it was said: وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَقْضِيَ اللَّـهُ أَمْرً‌ا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا (But [ it happened like this ] so that Allah might accomplish what was destined to be done - 42). It means that, despite conditions being what they were, the war had to be fought so that Allah might accomplish what was destined to be done. And destined to be done was that arrayed against an army of armed and equipped young men a thousand-strong, a motley group of three hundred and thirteen ill-equipped and hunger-stricken Muslims - and that too out of place in terms of the demanding war front – rams itself against what was a virtual mountain for them, then, the unbelievable happens. The mountain turns into smithereens. This insignificant group of men wins. This is nothing but an all too visible demonstration of the fact that some big power was operating behind them, something that thousand-strong army missed. Then, it is also evident that Muslims were supported because of Islam and the disbelievers remained deprived because of their disbelief, something which gave every sensible human a criterion to distinguish truth from evil and genuine from the fake. Therefore, at the end of the verse, it was said: لِّيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَن بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَىٰ مَنْ حَيَّ عَن بَيِّنَةٍ (so that whoever is going to die may die knowingly, and whoever is going to live may live knowingly - 42). It means that the loud and clear veracity of Islam vis-a-vis the falsity and horror of Kufr and Shirk was exposed for ever so that anyone who opts for destruction should do so while fully realizing the consequences of his or her action, and anyone who goes on to live should also live with full realization of the choice so made. The caveat is: Let nothing be done unknowingly and mistakenly, so be on guard.

The word: هَلَاكَت (halakah: death, destruction) in this verse means Kufr or disbelief while حَیَات (hayat : life) denotes Islam. In other words, once the truth has come out in the open, the probability and excuse of misunderstanding stand eliminated. Now, whoever takes to disbelief as his or her life style is going towards destruction with open eyes. And whoever takes to Islam takes to eternal life knowingly, consciously and deliberately. Then, it was said: وَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ (And Allah is indeed All-Hearing, All-Knowing - 42) that is, He knows the secrets in everyone's heart, even the nature of everyone's belief and disbelief, as well as the due reward and punishment for it.