Allah commands the believers to fight the disbelievers, the closest in area
to the Islamic state, then the farthest. This is why the Messenger of Allah
started fighting the idolators in the Arabian Peninsula. When he finished with
them and Allah gave him control over Makkah, Al-Madinah, At-Ta'if, Yemen,
Yamamah, Hajr, Khaybar, Hadramawt and other Arab provinces, and the various Arab
tribes entered Islam in large crowds, he then started fighting the People of the
Scriptures. He began preparations to fight the Romans who were the closest in
area to the Arabian Peninsula, and as such, had the most right to be called to
Islam, especially since they were from the People of the Scriptures. The Prophet
marched until he reached Tabuk and went back because of the extreme hardship,
little rain and little supplies. This battle occurred on the ninth year after
his Hijrah. In the tenth year, the Messenger of Allah was busy with the Farewell
Hajj. The Messenger died eighty-one days after he returned from that Hajj, Allah
chose him for what He had prepared for him [in Paradise]. After his death, his
executor, friend, and Khalifah, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with
him, became the leader. At that time, the religion came under attack and would
have been defeated, if it had not been for the fact that Allah gave the religion
firmness through Abu Bakr, who established its basis and made its foundations
firm. He brought those who strayed from the religion back to it, and made those
who reverted from Islam return. He took the Zakah from the evil people who did
not want to pay it, and explained the truth to those who were unaware of it. On
behalf of the Prophet , Abu Bakr delivered what he was entrusted with. Then, he
started preparing the Islamic armies to fight the Roman cross worshippers, and
the Persian fire worshippers. By the blessing of his mission, Allah opened the
lands for him and brought down Caesar and Kisra and those who obeyed them among
the servants. Abu Bakr spent their treasures in the cause of Allah, just as the
Messenger of Allah had foretold would happen. This mission continued after Abu
Bakr at the hands of he whom Abu Bakr chose to be his successor, Al-Faruq, the
Martyr of the Mihrab, Abu Hafs, `Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with
him. With `Umar, Allah humiliated the disbelievers, suppressed the tyrants and
hypocrites, and opened the eastern and western parts of the world. The treasures
of various countries were brought to `Umar from near and far provinces, and he
divided them according to the legitimate and accepted method. `Umar then died as
a martyr after he lived a praise worthy life. Then, the Companions among the
Muhajirin and Ansar agreed to chose after `Umar, `Uthman bin `Affan, Leader of
the faithful and Martyr of the House, may Allah be pleased with him. During
`Uthman's reign, Islam wore its widest garment and Allah's unequivocal proof was
established in various parts of the world over the necks of the servants. Islam
appeared in the eastern and western parts of the world and Allah's Word was
elevated and His religion apparent. The pure religion reached its deepest aims
against Allah's enemies, and whenever Muslims overcame an Ummah, they moved to
the next one, and then the next one, crushing the tyranical evil doers. They did
this in reverence to Allah's statement,
[يَأَيُّهَا
الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ قَاتِلُواْ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَكُمْ مِّنَ الْكُفَّارِ]
(O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you,)
Allah said next,
[وَلِيَجِدُواْ
فِيكُمْ غِلْظَةً]
(and let them find harshness in you), meaning, let the disbelievers find
harshness in you against them in battle. The complete believer is he who is kind
to his believing brother, and harsh with his disbelieving enemy. Allah said in
other Ayah,
[فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِى
اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى الْكَـفِرِينَ]
(Allah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble
towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers...)[5:54],
[مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ
اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ
بَيْنَهُمْ]
(Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. And those who are with him are severe
against the disbelievers, and merciful among themselves.)[48:29], and,
[يَأَيُّهَا
النَّبِىُّ جَـهِدِ الْكُفَّـرَ وَالْمُنَـفِقِينَ وَاغْلُظْ عَلَيْهِمْ]
(O Prophet! Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be
harsh against them.)[9:73] Allah said,
[وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ
اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ]
(And know that Allah is with those who have Taqwa), meaning, fight the
disbelievers and trust in Allah knowing that Allah is with you if you fear and
obey Him. This was the case in the first three blessed generations of Islam, the
best members of this Ummah. Since they were firm on the religion and reached an
unsurpassed level of obedience to Allah, they consistently prevailed over their
enemies. During that era, victories were abundant, and enemies were ever more in
a state of utter loss and degradation. However, after the turmoil began, desires
and divisions became prevalent between various Muslim kings, the enemies were
eager to attack the outposts of Islam and marched into its territory without
much opposition. Then, the Muslim kings were too busy with their enmity for each
other. The disbelievers then marched to the capital cities of the Islamic
states, after gaining control over many of its areas, in addition to entire
Islamic lands. Verily, ownership of all affairs is with Allah in the beginning
and in the end. Whenever a just Muslim king stood up and obeyed Allah's orders,
all the while trusting in Allah, Allah helped him regain control over some
Muslim lands and took back from the enemy what was compatible to his obedience
and support to Allah. We ask Allah to help the Muslims gain control over the
forelocks of His disbeliever enemies and to raise high the word of Muslims over
all lands. Verily, Allah is Most Generous, Most Giving.
[وَإِذَا مَآ
أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُمْ مَّن يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمْ زَادَتْهُ هَـذِهِ إِيمَـناً
فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ ءامَنُواْ فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـناً وَهُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَتْهُمْ رِجْسًا إِلَى رِجْسِهِمْ
وَمَاتُواْ وَهُمْ كَـفِرُونَ]
(124. And whenever there comes down a Surah, some of them (hypocrites) say:
"Which of you has had his faith increased by it'' As for those who believe, it
has increased their faith, and they rejoice.) (125. But as for those in whose
hearts is a disease, it will add Rijs (doubt) to their Rijs (doubt); and they
die while they are disbelievers.)
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