The Madinan Period, Part 3: The Covenant, the Qiblah, and the Meaning of Jihad
Section 26 of 26 · The Life of the Prophet Muhammad: The Madinan Period
The Seventh Objective: Defence Against Aggression
The seventh objective: it is a defence against the aggression of the enemies of Allah who planned to transgress against the ummah. So Allah (swt) says:
فَقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ إِلَّا نَفْسَكَ ۚ وَحَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْسًا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلًا
“So, fight in the way of Allah. You are not responsible but for yourself, and persuade the believers (to fight in Allah’s way). It is likely that Allah will prevent the mischief of those who disbelieve. Allah is the strongest in power and the mightiest in punishing.” (4:84)
So fight, O Muḥammad, in the cause of Allah; you are not held responsible except for yourself. And encourage the believers to join you, that perhaps Allah will restrain the military might of those who disbelieve; and Allah is greater in might and stronger in punishment. Allah (swt) did not say that daʿwah will restrain the military might of those who disbelieve. He did not say that engaging in dialogue or discourse will weaken the military might of those who disbelieve. Allah (swt) said that the way to weaken the military might of those who disbelieve is to fight.
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* Kept as said. The wording is an English paraphrase; Ibn Kathīr's tafsīr of 2:143 explains wasaṭ as the best and most just, and the witnessing as being over the other nations on the Day of Resurrection, who will acknowledge this community's virtue.
** Kept as said. The figure of 114,000 is the number reported from Abū Zurʿah al-Rāzī of the Companions who saw and heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) at the time of his death.