انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَاهِدُوا
بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
(March
forth, whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being
ill, old and poor), strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of
Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew.)
Sufyan Ath Thawri narrated from his father from Abu-Duha,
Muslim bin Subayh, who said, “This Ayah,
انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا
(March forth, whether you are light or
heavy)
was the first part to be revealed from “Surah Bara’ah” (At-Tabari 14:270)
Mu’tamir bin Sulayman narrated that his father said, “Hadrami claimed that he
was told that some people used to declare that they will not gain sin (if they
lag behind the forces of Jihad) because they are ill and old. This Ayah
was revealed.
انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا
(March forth, whether you are light or
heavy)
Allah commanded mass mobilization together with the
Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) for the battle of Tabuk, to
fight the disbelieving, People of the Book, the Romans, Allah’s enemies. Allah
ordained that the believes all march forth with the Messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم)
regardless whether they felt active, lazy, at ease or had difficult
circumstances, (At Tabari 14:266)
انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا
(March forth, whether you are light or
heavy)
Ali bin Zayd narrated that Anas said that Abu Talhah
commented (on this Ayah), “Whether you are old or young, Allah did not leave an
excuse for anyone.” Abu Talhah marched to Ash-Sham and fought until he was
killed. In another narration, Abu Talhah recited Surah Bara’ah until he reached
this Ayah,
انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَاهِدُوا
بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
(March forth, whether you are light (being
healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor), strive hard
with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allah. This is better for you,
if you but knew.)
He then said. “I see that Allah had called us to mobilize
whether we are old or young. O my children! Prepare my supplies.” His children
said, “May Allah grant you His mercy! You conducted Jihad along with the
Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) until he died, then with
Abu Bakr until he died, then with Umar until he died. Let us perform Jihad in
your place.” Abu Talhah refused and he went to the sea [under the command of
Mu’awiyah] where he died. They could not find an island to bury him on until
nine days later, during which his body did not deteriorate or change and they
buried him on the island.
(Ibn Abi Hatim 6:1802.)
As-Suddi said,
انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا
(March
forth, whether you are light or heavy), whether you are rich,
poor, strong, or weak. A man came forward, and he was fat, complained, and
asked for permission to stay behind (from Jihad) but the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم)
refused. Then this Ayah,
انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا
(March
forth, whether you are light or heavy) was revealed, and it
became hard on the people. So Allah abrogated it with this Ayah,
لَيْسَ عَلَى الضُّعَفَاءِ وَلَا عَلَى
الْمَرْضَىٰ وَلَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنْفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُوا
لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ
(There is no blame on those who are weak or
ill or who find no resources to spend [in holy fighting (Jihad)], if they are
sincere and true (in duty) to Allah and His Messenger.) (9:91)
Ibn Jabir said that Hibban bin Zayd Ash-Shar’abi narrated to
him; “We mobilized our forces with Safwan bin ‘Amr, who was the governor of
Hims towards the city of Ephsos appointed to the Jerajima Christian expatriates
(in Syria). I saw among the army an old, yet active man, whose eyebrows had
sunk over his eyes (from old age), from the residents of Damascus, riding on
his animal. I said to him, ‘O uncle! Allah has given you an excuse (to lag
behind).’ He said, ‘O my nephew! Allah has mobilized us whether we are light or
heavy. Verily, those whom Allah loves, He tests them. Then to Allah is their
return and eternal dwelling. Allah tests from His servants whoever thanks (Him)
and observes patience and remembrance of Him, all the while worshipping Allah,
the Exalted and Most Honored, and worshipping none else.’” (At-Tabari 14:264)
Next, Allah encourages spending in His cause and striving
with one’s life in His pleasure and the pleasure of His Messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم),
وَجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ
فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
(And strive hard with your wealth and your
lives in the Cause of Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew.)
Allah says, this is better for you
in this life and the Hereafter. You might spend small amounts, but Allah will
reward you the property of your enemy in this life, as well as, the honor that
He will keep for you in the Hereafter. The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said,
«تَكَفَّلَ اللهُ لِلْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِهِ إِنْ تَوَفَّاهُ
أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ، أَوْ يَرُدَّهُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ بِمَا نَالَ مِنْ
أَجْرٍ أَوْ غَنِيمَة»
(Allah
promised the Mujahid in His cause that if He brings death to him, He will enter
him into Paradise. Or, He will return him to his house with whatever reward and
war spoils he earns.) [Muslim 4:1496]
So Allah said;
كُتِبَ
عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ
خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ
يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
(Jihad is ordained for you
(Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which
is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but
you do not know.) [2:216]
Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas said that the
Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said to a man,
«أَسْلِم»
(Embrace
Islam,) but the man said, "I dislike doing so.'' The Messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said,
«أَسْلِمْ
وَإِنْ كُنْتَ كَارِهًا»
(Embrace
Islam even if you dislike it).'' [Ahmad 3:109]
لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا
قَاصِدًا لَاتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَٰكِنْ بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ
بِاللَّهِ لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ
يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ
Had it been a near gain (booty in front of them) and an easy
journey, they would have followed you, but the distance (Tabuk expedition) was
long for them, and they would swear by Allah, "If we only could, we would
certainly have come forth with you." They destroy their ownselves, and
Allah knows that they are liars. [9:42].
Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol 4) P: 432 to 435, Jihad is Required in all Conditions
