8-59 And let not those who disbelieve think that they can outstrip (Us). Surely they cannot escape.a
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَبَقُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ لَا يُعْجِزُونَ (۵۹)
8-59a: Disbelief cannot defeat Islam: The object of يُعْجِزُونَ (escape) is not mentioned but the text of the next verse, where the Muslims are addressed and commanded to be ready to confront the enemy, shows that the object here is that the enemy will not be able to overcome the Muslims. Today, the Muslims are disappointed with the world around them because it appears that disbelief is dominating the world. This verse can bring hope to despondent hearts. It is a pity that Muslims have forsaken the Quran and let their hearts sink into despondency. If they keep in mind these promises of the Quran which proved true once before in even more dire circumstances, then true belief would make them perform such stupendous sacrifices and actions that would transform their condition in days. The promise of God creates that same certainty in us today. Accordingly, it was revealed to the Mujaddid of the fourteenth century hijra, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad: بخرام کہ وقتِ تو نزدیک رسید و پاۓ محمدیاں بر منارِ بلند تر محکم افتاد (Rejoice; your time has come near, and the feet of Muslims are planted firmly on a high minaret). Disappointment is not a trait that befits Muslims, and neither is defeat fated for Islam. Whenever conditions arose in the past in which people thought Islam was overcome, it came about that that was the time for its hegemony.
8-60 And make ready for them whatever force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them, whom you know not — Allah knows them. And whatever you spend in Allah’s way, it will be paid back to you fully and you will not be wronged.a
وَأَعِدُّوا۟ لَهُم مَّا ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍۢ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ ٱلْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِۦ عَدُوَّ ٱللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَءَاخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِن شَىْءٍۢ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ (۶۰)
8-60a: قُوَّةٍۢ – قُوَّةٍۢ is a thing that is a source of strength, as for example armament in a war as stated by Ibn Abbas, or forts as opined by Akramah, or رمی (arrows) (or guns and canons) as in a hadith narration. The description of رمی is given in a hadith, along with a command to become proficient in its use.
رِّبَاطِ ٱلْخَيْلِ – ربط means to tie, and رِبَاطِ and مُرابَطة is to maintain an armed presence on the frontier of the enemy with the soldiers and their mounts ready for action, The words are also used to mean safeguard or protect. Accordingly, a hadith states: انتطار الصلوٰۃ بعد الصلوٰۃ (Waiting for the next prayer after a prayer is also رِبَاطِ ) (R). So just as the word رِبَاطِ is used in the sense of being steadfast in jihad and to remain prepared, it is also used to mean remaining pure and steadfast in prayers. The use of the word رِبَاطِ with خیل further testifies to the importance of preparedness.
اخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ – It means that besides the enemies that the Muslims were contending with, there are other enemies that they were not aware of. Who were these enemies? Some have said the Jew tribe of Banu Quraiza, some have said hypocrites and yet others have said Persians. There is also an opinion that what is meant are jinn. In my opinion, the last stated opinion is more correct than the others in a manner of speaking because jinn are beings who are hidden from the eyes, that is those enemies who are not yet apparent and whose attack is like that of the jinn by whispering and planting doubt in the hearts. This is an apt description of the Christian missionaries of this age. Their attack on Islam is not frontal but like the jinn they attack in a surreptitious manner and raise doubts by raising different kinds of objections. It appears the reference here is to them.
In this verse, Muslims are commanded to do two things against their enemies. One is about force, that is to take measures to defend against the enemy, and that includes armaments, forts, ammunition, and expertise in warfare, and acquiring knowledge for the jihad of ideas with which to counter the objections of the enemy. The second is to remain prepared, which is here called رِّبَاطِ ٱلْخَيْلِ . The meaning is that the enemy should not be given an opportunity to breach the frontier and should be confronted on the border of the country for which the Muslims should remain prepared. The apparent reason for the destruction of Muslim kingdoms was their negligence of رِّبَاطِ ٱلْخَيْلِ. It is not just that the Muslims were not prepared on the frontier but they themselves gave their enemies permission to enter their country and the enemies cut their roots from within.
Muslims are similarly remiss in preparing for Jihad with the pen: The enemy is attacking Islam with a variety of resources which include magazines, journals, books, lectures, speeches, and by establishing missions. In the face of this, the Muslims are in a state of blissful slumber. They have neither the means nor the preparedness to counter this onslaught. The benefit of preparedness is explained in this verse that the opponent would be overawed and will not pick up the courage to attack. In fact, he will feel inclined to peace, and that is why in the next verse there is a mention of peace. Some uninformed people even object to preaching Islam in Europe because the condition of Muslims in their own homes is such that the less said the better. The truth is that both advantages can be obtained using a single resource. Sounding the slogan of the Unity of Allah in Europe, the home of Trinity, is رِّبَاطِ ٱلْخَيْلِ which will over awe the enemy. They consider Muslims as their prey, but if the Muslims pick up the courage to show them that they consider the Christians to be their prey, half the enemy strength would be sapped.
8-61 And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Surely He is the Hearer, the Knower.a
وَإِن جَنَحُوا۟ لِلسَّلْمِ فَٱجْنَحْ لَهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ (۶۱)
8-61a: Islam gives priority to peace: Can this be the teaching of a religion which advocates conversion by force. After mentioning the extreme hostility of the enemy, and after mentioning their treachery and after giving instructions to remain prepared, it is stated that the real purpose is not to wage war and if the enemy inclines to peace, then the Muslims should make peace. In fact, in the next verse it is stated that even if in the enemy’s inclination to peace there is a concealed intention of treachery, the Muslims should still accept peace. If the enemy resorts to treachery, Allah will save them from the consequences of their treachery. Muslim rulers of today should always keep this golden rule in view. On the one hand, they should strengthen their forces and show full preparedness, and on the other try to keep out of wars as far as possible.
8-62 And if they intend to deceive thee, then surely Allah is sufficient for thee. He it is Who strengthened thee with His help and with the believers,
وَإِن يُرِيدُوٓا۟ أَن يَخْدَعُوكَ فَإِنَّ حَسْبَكَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِۦ وَبِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ (۶۲)
8-63 And He has united their hearts. If thou hadst spent all that is in the earth, thou couldst not have united their hearts, but Allah united them. Surely He is Mighty, Wise.a
وَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًۭا مَّآ أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌۭ (۶۳)
8-63a: Mention is made of the great assistance provided to the Holy Prophet by creating mutual love among the Muslim community. Without a doubt, the establishment of mutual love and affection is the biggest factor in their success. If there is love in the heart, then there is mutual trust between one and another, and each one values what the other is doing and personal interests do not come in between. Unfortunately, the Muslim situation today is contrary to this. Personal grievances, malice, envy, and disparaging one another is the order of the day and this is the reason why there is no blessing in any work.
It is conveyed in لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ that this was a country in which every nation and every tribe was day and night ready to make war, and whose fire of enmity was close to consuming them. Elsewhere, it is stated in the Quran كُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلنَّار (you were on the brink of a pit of fire) (3:103) and that fire was the fire of mutual enmity. It was not possible even with all the treasures of the world to unite these tribes whose enmity spanned centuries into one nation. So, the faith that created such mutual affection in warring nations can even today create love within enemy nations. One wishes that the Muslim nations had exhibited an example of mutual love to the rest of the world, then they would have seen that other nations of the world would have been attracted to Islam like a moth is attracted to light.
8-64 O Prophet, Allah is sufficient for thee and those who follow thee of the believers.a
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ حَسْبُكَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ (۶۴)
8-64a: After mentioning the need for physical resources and the need to prepare adequately to confront the enemy, it is stated not to depend on resources. Full preparations must be made, but the trust must always be in Allah. Just as the Holy Prophet was given this monotheistic teaching of relying on Allah and not on resources, the same has been passed on to his believing disciples. The good news given to the Holy Prophet that if the enemy is strong, then your Guardian is even stronger, applies equally to us provided we follow his teaching. This is the concept of Islamic trust which unfortunately has been interpreted as do nothing and trust in Allah even though it is only after emphasizing the need to make full preparations to counter the enemy that it is stated to trust Allah.
Bayan-ul-Quran 