Friday, May 6, 2016

The political expediency

Lesson # 1023 from Noble Quran

The political expediency

Surah ‘ANFAAL (SPOILS OF WAR) – Chapter – 8)
Stage – 2, Verse – 67 of 75, Section – 9 of 10 (Part - 10)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim
In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

67.  It is not for any Prophet to have captives until he hath made slaughter in the land. Ye desire the lure of this word and Allah desireth (for you) the Hereafter. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.  
67.  Maa  kaana  li-Nabiyyin  ‘any-yakuuna  lahuuu  ‘asraa  hattaa  yus-khina  fil-‘arz.  Turiiduuna  ‘arazad-dunyaa,  wAllaahu  yuriidul-‘Aakhirah.  WAllaahu  ‘Aziizun  Hakiim.                  

Lesson

‘Asraa – (captives, prisoners), this word is plural of ‘asiir, which is a section of Adjectives, and it has been derived from ‘asrun. ‘Asrun means “to prison, to arrest, to capture”. ‘Asiir means “a captive, a prisoner”.

Yus-khina – (should tyrannize or make slaughter), this word is from ‘is-khaan, which is made from sakhan. Sakhan means “cruelty, strictness, severity and affliction”. ‘Iskhaan means “to tyrannize, to oppress”. Here it aims “after getting an opportunity, at first, one should inspire the enemy with fear, so that the quarrelsome and rebellious people cease violence and by taking it warning; they leave the stubborn”.

In the Battle of Badr, seventy grandeur chieftains of Qureish were killed by Muslims and their seventy great people were arrested by the Muslims. At that time, a decision was required that “how the captives must be treated? Whether they should be set free after taking wealth or be slaughtered?

In this connection; the Messenger of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) asked His Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) about their opinion. Majority of them said: The captive should be released after getting compensation. But Umar and Sa’-d bin Ma-‘aaz (may God be pleased with them) gave their opinion that these people have troubled the Muslims very much, if they are left alive, they will set up any temptation against the Muslims again. But mostly people of them did not consider it suitable that they must be slain, because, later on possibly some of them may embrace Islam. Some people gave their opinion; being kind naturally that they should be forgiven after receiving ransom money. Some of them thought that the Muslims need wealth and economic goods this time, it would be better if they are released after taking money.

Messenger of Allah Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) decided that everyone must be set free after taking compensation against life. Therefore, they acted upon this decision. But; because it was against the political expediency, so this verse was revealed and they were informed that such deed was not good.

Badr was first Battle of Muslims. It was demand of political prudence that such tormentor enemy must be punished more severely, due to which, no vicious person may interrupt in safety and peace of the world in future. And it was commanded that “taking possession of wealth may be useful a little and only for a few days, but consequence of setting the enemies free is not good. So, although some of them embraced Islam, but maximum of them attacked next year again and seventy Muslims were martyred (in the Battle of ‘Uhud). Allah Almighty saved the Muslims from manifest defeat with His Mercy, otherwise they had arranged for themselves complete destruction.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Pak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)



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