of Nekounam, May His Secret Be Sanctified (Session 993)
The Holy Qurn, like a pristine spring, serves as humanitys guide on the path to salvation. The verses of Surah An-Nis, particularly verses 90 and 91, shine as gems within this ocean of knowledge, delineating the principles of peace-seeking, legitimate defence, and religious rationality. This treatise endeavours, through profound reflection and analysis of these verses, to elucidate the divine messages in a clear and coherent manner for seekers of truth. Like a tree rooted in the soil of faith with branches stretching towards the heavens of wisdom, this interpretation strives to facilitate a deeper understanding of the verses by connecting Qurnic meanings with rational contemplation.
Surah An-Nis, 4:90
Except for those who join a people between you and whom there is a treaty or who come to you with hearts restraining them from fighting against you or fighting against their own people. And if Allah had willed, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So if they withdraw from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not made for you a way against them.
This verse, like a clear mirror, reflects divine justice and mercy. God, by forbidding aggression against those who seek peace, emphasises that Islam is a religion that views war not as an objective but as a defensive necessity. This message, akin to a refreshing breeze, directs the hearts of believers towards tranquility and peaceful coexistence. Those who take steps towards peace, whether by joining a people bound by a covenant with the believers or by abstaining from fighting due to inner reluctance, are safeguarded from any aggression. In the contemporary era, this principle serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting the rights of non-combatants and avoiding unnecessary violence in conflicts.
Key Point: The Holy Qurn, by stressing the prohibition of warfare against peace-seekers, introduces Islam as a peace-oriented religion that permits violence solely under conditions of defensive necessity.
Islam, like a bubbling spring of wisdom, guides humanity towards faith and renunciation of disbelief and polytheism, illuminating the path to felicity. The Noble Prophet, akin to a knowledgeable gardener, sows the seeds of benevolence in hearts through promulgation of divine ordinances. This invitation advances not by the sword but by logic and argumentation. Should conflict arise on this path, believers rise to defence solely out of necessity and quell war through submission of the adversary. This approach, resembling a star in the sky of guidance, testifies to the peace-loving nature of Islam and highlights the significance of dialogue and rational presentation of religious beliefs in the contemporary world.
God, like a wise Creator, grants power to believers yet reminds them that He could have bestowed such power upon their enemies. This statement acts as a wake-up call, inviting believers towards humility and reliance upon God. Victory stems not from arrogance but from faith and rationality. This principle serves as a bridge transporting believers from the abyss of pride to the shore of modesty, and in contemporary times it reminds us of the necessity to avoid self-superiority in face of human achievements.
Verse 90 of Surah An-Nis, like a torch in the darkness, illuminates the path of peace and justice. By emphasising the prohibition of aggression against peace-seekers, it testifies to the mercy and rationality of Islam. The Islamic invitation, rooted in benevolence, abstains from initiating war and calls believers to legitimate defence against threats. These principles, in todays turbulent world, serve as guiding lights stressing the necessity of peaceful coexistence and respect for the rights of others.
Surah An-Nis, 4:91
You will find others who desire to be secure from you and to be secure from their own people. Whenever they are returned to sedition, they fall into it. So if they do not withdraw from you and do not offer you peace and restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them. And those We have given you authority over them and Allah is over all things competent.
This group, sometimes abstaining from war due to incapacity and sometimes due to rationality, seeks peaceful coexistence with both parties. Their conduct, like a delicate dance on the edge of a blade, reveals a lack of full commitment to either side. In the contemporary world, this principle calls for vigilance against opportunists in social and political relations. Those who pursue self-interest through duplicity cannot be fully trusted unless their peace-seeking is genuine.
Key Point: Verse 91, by introducing a two-faced group pursuing mutual security, emphasises the necessity of vigilance against seditious elements and the preservation of sincere peace.
The Qurn, by employing the term "ur'kis" (they fall), issues a profound warning concerning the seditious inevitable descent into perdition. The term suggests a stones plunge into the depths of a well, symbolising reversal and destruction. God, as a just arbiter, leaves the seditious to their fate as a consequence of their deeds. This principle reflects human responsibility for their actions and in contemporary times encourages avoidance of destructive behaviour and acceptance of the consequences of ones choices.
Verse 91 explicitly defines the conditions for confronting enemies. Should a group refuse to withdraw, decline peace, and refrain from ceasing hostility, believers are commanded to face them decisively. This directive functions as a sharp sword designed to protect the security of the faithful community. The capture and killing of seditious individuals is permitted only if hostility persists. This principle, in the modern context, underscores the necessity of legitimate defence strictly limited to threats and demonstrates that Islam permits violence solely within the framework of necessity.
God, as a wise Creator, grants believers clear authority over the seditious. This dominion is a ripe fruit of faith, intellect, and superior means. Nevertheless, perpetual victory is not guaranteed, for the world, like a natural arena, operates under uniform laws for all. This principle, like a refreshing breeze, invites believers to preparedness, endeavour, and reliance upon God, reminding them that victory is the outcome of harmony between faith and action.
Verse 91 of Surah An-Nis, as a wise guide, elucidates the principles for confronting seditious individuals. By stressing vigilance against duplicity and decisiveness in the face of threats, it insists on safeguarding the security of the faithful community. Concurrently, by recalling divine justice and believers dominion, it paves the way for victory through faith and reason. These lessons, in todays challenging world, highlight the importance of legitimate defence, cautious social relations, and reliance upon God.
Islam, like a profound ocean, is a religion founded upon logic and rationality. It shines as a bright torch, avoiding unwarranted war and violence, inviting believers to self-restraint and rational conduct. Initiatory violence, like a burning fire, signals psychological weakness and misguidance. A believer, like a steadfast tree, must eschew violence and tread the path of guidance through logic and wisdom. This principle, in contemporary society, stresses the necessity of moral cultivation and anger management within communities.
Key Point: Islam, by emphasising rationality and avoidance of unnecessary violence, calls believers to self-control and prudent behaviour.
