Relent not in Pursuit of the Hostile People

 

Don't falter in the pursuit of the enemy (L-592)

وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ فِى ٱبْتِغَآءِ ٱلْقَوْمِ إِن تَكُونُوا۟ تَأْلَمُونَ فَإِنَّهُمْ يَأْلَمُونَ كَمَا تَأْلَمُونَ وَتَرْجُونَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَرْجُونَ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا.  104

104.  Wa  laa  tahinuu  fib-tigaaa-‘il-qawm.  ‘In  takuunuu  ta’-la-muuna  fa-‘innahum  ya’-lamuu-na  kamaa  ta’-lamuun.  Wa  tar-juuna  minAllaahi  maa  laa  yar-juun.  Wa  kaanAllaahu  ‘Aliiman  Hakiimaa.  (Section 15/12)

104.  And do not falter in the pursuit of the enemy. If you are aching, they are aching as you are aching, but you expect from God what they cannot expect. God is Knowledgeable and Wise.

Laa  tahinuu – (Do not relent), it is from wahan, which means ‘to relent, to lose spirit or courage, to be inactive, to become loose’.

Ta’-la-muuna – (You suffer), this word is made from ‘alam, which means suffering, distress, ache. Origin of ta’-la-muuna and ya’-lamuu-na is the same. One’s tense is second person plural and the other is of third person plural.

Tar-juuna – (You hope), it has been derived from rajaaa’ which means ‘thought, hope, reliance’. Tar-juuna is from the tense of second person plural, and yar-juun is third person plural.

In the beginning, the Muslims were not allowed to strive and fight. But they were ordered, “You are prevented from fighting the Makkan people whether they tease you as much as they wish, and you should establish worship and pay the poor-due”. But when transgression of the infidels of Makkah overstepped bounds, even that the Muslims had to leave their families and homes, and they emigrated to Madinah. The Messenger of God (ﷺ) had also to take shelter there. Notwithstanding the people of Makkah continued molesting them. Then helpless Muslims were commanded that they should fight and strive. When the order regarding strife and fight was given once, then later on, rules and regulations about it were explained and they were guided.

In this chapter, mention of fighting has been running with effect from very earlier. It has been guided in this verse, “While the quarrelsome people have already begun fighting and you have to fight, then these mischievous should be punished severely and fully, so that you may get freedom from their sedition and disturbance. It has surely been proved from their previous deeds that till the time they would not be punished properly, neither would they themselves remain in peace, nor would they let others to sit comfortably. So you should fight them with full force. No laziness and pity should be from your side. Which distress, trouble and ache you suffer due to war, they suffer also even as you suffer. Don’t care for them; on the contrary, you should make up your minds to finish this quarrel forever.

In the distress, pain and restlessness, you and your enemy (both) are equal. Even then, there is a difference among you and them like the distance among the earth and the sky. Anyhow, you have such hopes from your Lord, which they do not have. If you won the war, you are hero, and if you are slain, then you are martyrs. In both conditions there is a strong promise of rest and comfort in the Hereafter for you, in which there is no doubt. And remember it also that only some days’ advantages of the world have been exciting them for war, which do not have any base, while you are fighting by the command of God”. https://youtu.be/PHrN4CIGil0