Surah An Nisa Tafseer

Encouraging Jihad to Defend the Oppressed

Allah say;

وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاء وَالْوِلْدَانِ

And what is wrong with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah, and for those weak, ill-treated and oppressed among men, women, and children,

Allah encouraged His believing servants to perform Jihad in His cause and to strive hard to save the oppressed Muslims in Makkah, men, women and children who were restless because of having to remain there.

This is why Allah said,

الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَـذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ

whose cry is:"Our Lord! Rescue us from this town,

referring to Makkah.

In a similar Ayah, Allah said,

وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ هِىَ أَشَدُّ قُوَّةً مِّن قَرْيَتِكَ الَّتِى أَخْرَجَتْكَ

And many a town, stronger than your town which has driven you out. (47:13)

Allah then describes this town,

الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ نَصِيرًا

whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You one who will protect, and raise for us from You one who will help.

meaning, send protectors and helpers for us.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn Abbas said,

"I and my mother were from the oppressed (in Makkah)."

Allah then said