Tafsir of Surah Al Baqarah

"The Prophet was asked, `O Allah's Messenger! A man fights out of bravery, and another fights to show off, which of them fights in the cause of Allah?'

The Prophet said:

مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيا فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ الله

He who fights so that Allah's Word is superior, then he fights in Allah's cause.

In addition, it is reported in the Two Sahihs:

أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لَا إِلهَ إلاَّ اللهُ فَإِذَا قَالُوهَا عَصَمُوا مِنِّي دِمَاءَهُم وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إلاَّ بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى الله

I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight the people until they proclaim, `None has the right to be worshipped but Allah'. Whoever said it, then he will save his life and property from me, except for cases of the law, and their account will be with Allah.

Allah's statement:

فَإِنِ انتَهَواْ فَلَ عُدْوَانَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ

But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against the wrongdoers.

indicates that, `If they stop their Shirk and fighting the believers, then cease warfare against them. Whoever fights them afterwards will be committing an injustice. Verily aggression can only be started against the unjust.'

This is the meaning of Mujahid's statement that only combatants should be fought.

Or, the meaning of the Ayah indicates that,

`If they abandon their injustice, which is Shirk in this case, then do not start aggression against them afterwards.'

The aggression here means retaliating and fighting them, just as Allah said:

فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُواْ عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ

Then whoever transgresses against you, you transgress likewise against him. (2:194)

Similarly, Allah said:

وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّيَةٍ سَيِّيَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا

The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof. (42:40)

and,

وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُمْ بِهِ

And if you punish them, then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. (16:126)

Ikrimah and Qatadah stated,

"The unjust person is he who refuses to proclaim, `There is no God worthy of worship except Allah'."

Under Allah's statement:

وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ

(And fight them until there is no more Fitnah, Al-Bukhari recorded that Nafi said that;

two men came to Ibn Umar during the conflict of Ibn Az-Zubayr and said to him, "The people have fallen into shortcomings and you are the son of Umar and the Prophet's Companion. Hence, what prevents you from going out?"

He said, "What prevents me is that Allah has for bidden shedding the blood of my (Muslim) brother."

They said, "Did not Allah say:

وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ

(And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah)!"

He said, "We did fight until there was no more Fitnah and the religion became for Allah Alone. You want to fight until there is Fitnah and the religion becomes for other than Allah!"

Uthman bin Salih added that;

a man came to Ibn Umar and asked him, "O Abu Abdur-Rahman! What made you perform Hajj one year and Umrah another year and abandon Jihad in the cause of Allah, although you know how much He has encouraged performing it!"

He said, "O my nephew! Islam is built on five (pillars):

believing in Allah and His Messenger,

the five daily prayers,

fasting Ramadan,

paying the Zakah and

performing Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House."

They said, "O Abu Abdur-Rahman! Did you not hear what Allah said in His Book:

وَإِن طَأيِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُواْ فَأَصْلِحُواْ بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِن بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الاُخْرَى فَقَـتِلُواْ الَّتِى تَبْغِى حَتَّى تَفِىءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ

And if two parties (or groups) among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both. But if one of them outrages against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which outrages till it complies with the command of Allah. (49:9)

and,

وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ

(And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief).

He said, "That we did during the time of Allah's Messenger when Islam was still weak and (the Muslim) man used to face trials in his religion, such as killing or torture. When Islam became stronger (and apparent), there was no more Fitnah."

He asked, "What do you say about Ali and Uthman?"

He said, "As for Uthman, Allah has forgiven him. However, you hated the fact that Allah had forgiven him!

As for Ali, he is the cousin of Allah's Messenger and his son-in-law."

He then pointed with his hand, saying, "This is where his house is located (meaning, `so close to the Prophet's house just as Ali was so close to the Prophet himself'.