[ Ruby’s note – Clearly indicating here is that fighting when driven out from one’s own home or land (a fundamental right) is God’s cause.]
2. Surah al-Baqara, Medina 87
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَلَمْ
تَرَ إِلَى
الْمَلإِ مِن
بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
مِن بَعْدِ
مُوسَى ...
2: 246. Hast thou not turned thy vision to the chiefs of the children of Israel after (the time of) Moses?
C277. The next generation after Moses and Aaron was ruled by Joshua, who crossed the Jordan and settled the tribes in Palestine. His rule lasted for 25 years, after which there was a period of 320 years when the Israelites had a chequered history. They were not united among themselves, and suffered many reverses at the hands of the Midianites, Amalekites and other tribes of Palestine.
They frequently lapsed into idolatry and deserted the worship of the true Allah. From time to time a leader appeared among them who assumed dictatorial powers. Acting under a sort of theocratic commission from Allah, he pointed out their backsliding, re-united them under His banner, and restored, from time to time and place to place, the power of Israel.
These dictators are called Judges in the English translation of the Old Testament. The last of their line was Samuel, who marks the transition towards the line of Kings on the one hand and of the later Prophets on the other. He may be dated approximately about the 11th century B.C.
... إِذْ قَالُواْ لِنَبِيٍّ لَّهُمُ ابْعَثْ لَنَا مَلِكًا نُّقَاتِلْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ...
They said to a Prophet (that was) among them: "Appoint for us a king, that we may fight in the Cause of Allah."
C278. This was Samuel. In his time Israel had suffered from much corruption within and many reverses without. The Philistines had made a great attack and defeated Israel with great slaughter.
The Israelites, instead of relying on Faith and their own valour and cohesion, brought out their most sacred possession, the Ark of the Covenant, to help them in the fight. But the enemy captured it, carried it away, and retained it for seven months.
The Israelites forgot that wickedness cannot screen itself behind a sacred relic. Nor can a sacred relic help the enemies of faith. The enemy found that the Ark brought nothing but misfortune for themselves, and were glad to abandon it.
It apparently remained twenty years in the village (qarya) of Yaarim (Kirjath-jeafim): I. Samuel, 7:2.
Meanwhile the people pressed Samuel to appoint them a king. They thought that a king would cure all their ills, whereas what was wanting was a spirit of union and discipline and a readiness on their part to fight in the cause of Allah.
... قَالَ هَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِن كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ أَلاَّ تُقَاتِلُواْ...
He said: "Is it not possible if ye were commanded to fight, that ye will not fight?"
C279. Samuel knew as a Prophet that the people were fickle and only wanted to cover their own want of union and true spirit by asking for a king.
They replied with spirit in words, but when it came to action, they failed. They hid themselves in caves and rocks, or ran away, and even those who remained "followed him trembling": I. Samuel, 13:6-7.
... قَالُواْ وَمَا لَنَا أَلاَّ نُقَاتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَقَدْ أُخْرِجْنَا مِن دِيَارِنَا وَأَبْنَآئِنَا...
They said: "How could we refuse to fight in the Cause of Allah, seeing that we were turned out of our homes and our families?"
... فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقِتَالُ تَوَلَّوْاْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً مِّنْهُمْ ...
But when they were commanded to fight, they turned back, except a small band among them.
... وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٢٤٦﴾
But Allah has full knowledge of those who do wrong.
2: 246
Asad Art thou not aware of those elders of the children of Israel, after the time of Moses, how they said unto a prophet of theirs, “Raise up a king for us, [and] we shall fight in God’s cause”?
Said he: “Would you, perchance, refrain from fighting if fighting is ordained for you?
They answered: “And why should we not fight in God’s cause when we and our children have been driven from our homelands?”
Pickthall Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a Prophet whom they had: Set up for us a King and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is Aware of evil-doers.
Transliteration Wa qa_la lahum nabiyyuhum innalla_ha qad ba'asa lakum talu_ta malika_(n), qa_lu_ anna_ yaku_nu lahul mulku 'alaina_ wa nahnu ahaqqu bil mulki minhu wa lam yu'ta sa'atam minal ma_l(i), qa_la innalla_has tafa_hu 'alaikum waza_dahu_ bastatan fil 'ilmi wal jism(i), walla_hu yu'ti mulkahu_ may yasya_'(u), walla_hu wa_si'un 'alim(un).