فَقَٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ إِلَّا نَفْسَكَ ۚ وَحَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْسًۭا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلًۭا
Maka berperanglah kamu pada jalan Allah, tidaklah kamu dibebani melainkan dengan kewajiban kamu sendiri. Kobarkanlah semangat para mukmin (untuk berperang). Mudah-mudahan Allah menolak serangan orang-orang yang kafir itu. Allah amat besar kekuatan dan amat keras siksaan(Nya).
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
Allah Commands His Messenger to Perform Jihad
Allah commands His servant and Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ, to himself fight in Jihad and not to be concerned about those who do not join Jihad. Hence Allah's statement,
لاَ تُكَلَّفُ إِلاَّ نَفْسَكَ
(you are not tasked (held responsible except for yourself,) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Ishaq said, "I asked Al-Bara bin `Azib about a man who meets a hundred enemies and still fights them, would he be one of those referred to in Allah's statement,
وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ
(And do not throw yourselves into destruction (by not spending your wealth in the cause of Allah)) He said, `Allah said to His Prophet,
فَقَاتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لاَ تُكَلَّفُ إِلاَّ نَفْسَكَ وَحَرِّضِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
(Then fight in the cause of Allah, you are not tasked (held responsible) except for yourself, and incite the believers (to fight along with you))." Imam Ahmad recorded Sulayman bin Dawud saying that Abu Bakr bin `Ayyash said that Abu Ishaq said, "I asked Al-Bara', `If a man attacks the lines of the idolators, would he be throwing himself to destruction' He said, `No because Allah has sent His Messenger and commanded him,
فَقَاتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لاَ تُكَلَّفُ إِلاَّ نَفْسَكَ
(Then fight in the cause of Allah, you are not tasked (held responsible) except for yourself,) That Ayah is about spending in Allah's cause."
Inciting the Believers to Fight
Allah said,
وَحَرِّضِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
(and incite the believers) to fight, by encouraging them and strengthening their resolve in this regard. For instance, the Prophet said to the believers at the battle of Badr, while organizing their lines,
«قُومُوا إِلى جَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّموَاتُ وَالْأَرْض»
(Stand up and march forth to a Paradise, as wide as the heavens and Earth.) There are many Hadiths that encourage Jihad. Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ، وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ، وَصَامَ رَمَضَانَ، كَانَ حَقًّا عَلَى اللهِ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّـةَ، هَاجَرَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ أَوْ جَلَسَ فِي أَرْضِهِ الَّتِي وُلِدَ فِيهَا»
(Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger, offers prayer, pays the Zakah and fasts the month of Ramadan, will rightfully be granted Paradise by Allah, no matter whether he migrates in Allah's cause or remains in the land where he is born.) The people said, `O Allah's Messenger! Shall we acquaint the people with this good news' He said,
«إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّـةِ مِائَةَ دَرَجَةٍ أَعَدَّهَا اللهُ لِلْمُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ، بَيْنَ كُلِّ دَرَجَتَيْنِ كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ، فَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُ اللهَ فَاسْأَلُوهُ الْفِرْدَوْسَ، فَإِنَّهُ وَسَطُ الْجَنَّةِ، وَأَعْلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَفَوْقَهُ عَرْشُ الرَّحْمنِ، وَمِنْهُ تَفَجَّرُ أَنْهَارُ الْجَنَّة»
(Paradise has one hundred grades which Allah has reserved for the Mujahidin who fight in His cause, the distance between each two grades is like the distance between the heaven and the Earth. So, when you ask Allah, ask for Al-Firdaws, which is the best and highest part of Paradise, above it is the Throne of the Most Beneficent (Allah) and from it originate the rivers of Paradise.) There are various narrations for this Hadith from `Ubadah, Mu`adh, and Abu Ad-Darda'. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«يَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ مَنْ رَضِيَ بِاللهِ رَبًّا، وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا، وَبِمُحَمَّدٍصلى الله عليه وسلّم نَبِيًّا، وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّـة»
(O Abu Sa`id! Whoever accepts Allah as his Lord, Islam as his religion and Muhammad as the Prophet, then he would rightfully acquire Paradise.) Abu Sa`id liked these words and said, "O Allah's Messenger! Repeat them for me." The Prophet repeated his words, then said,
«وَأُخْرَى يَرْفَعُ اللهُ الْعَبْدَبِهَا مِائَةَ دَرَجَةٍ فِي الْجَنَّـةِ، مَا بَيْنَ كُلِّ دَرَجَتَيْنِ كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْض»
(And (there is) another deed for which Allah raises the servant a hundred grades in Paradise, between each two grades is the distance between heaven and Earth.) Abu Sa`id said, "What is it, O Allah's Messenger " He said,
«الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ الله»
(Jihad in Allah's cause.) This Hadith was collected by Muslim. Allah's statement,
عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ
(it may be that Allah will restrain the evil might of the disbelievers. ) means, by your encouraging them to fight, their resolve will be strengthened to meet the enemy in battle, to defend Islam and its people and to endure and be patient against the enemy. Allah's statement,
وَاللَّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْساً وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلاً
(And Allah is Stronger in might and Stronger in punishing.) means, He is able over them in this life and the Hereafter, just as He said in another Ayah,
ذَلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَآءُ اللَّهُ لاَنْتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَـكِن لِّيَبْلُوَ بَعْضَكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ
(But if it had been Allah's will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight) in order to test some of you with others) (47:4).
Interceding for a Good or an Evil Cause
Allah said,
مَّن يَشْفَعْ شَفَـعَةً حَسَنَةً يَكُنْ لَّهُ نَصِيبٌ مِّنْهَا
(Whosoever intercedes for a good cause, will have the reward thereof;) meaning, whoever intercedes in a matter that produces good results, will acquire a share in that good.
وَمَن يَشْفَعْ شَفَـعَةً سَيِّئَةً يَكُنْ لَّهُ كِفْلٌ مَّنْهَا
(And whosoever intercedes for an evil cause, will have a share in its burden.) meaning, he will carry a burden due to what resulted from his intercession and intention. For instance, it is recorded in the Sahih that the Prophet said,
«اشْفَعُوا تُؤْجَرُوا، وَيَقْضِي اللهُ عَلى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ مَا شَاء»
(Intercede and you will gain a reward of it. Yet, Allah shall decide whatever He wills by the words of His Prophet.) Mujahid bin Jabr said, "This Ayah was revealed about the intercession of people on behalf of each other." Allah then said,
وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّقِيتاً
(And Allah is Ever Muqit over everything.) Ibn `Abbas, `Ata', `Atiyah, Qatadah and Matar Al-Warraq said that,
مُّقِيتاً
(Muqit) means, "Watcher." Mujahid said that Muqit means, `Witness', and in another narration, `Able to do.'
Returning the Salam, With a Better Salam
Allah said,
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّواْ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَآ أَوْ رُدُّوهَآ
(When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally.) meaning, if the Muslim greets you with the Salam, then return the greeting with a better Salam, or at least equal to the Salam that was given. Therefore, the better Salam is recommended, while returning it equally is an obligation. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Raja' Al-`Utaridi said that `Imran bin Husayn said that a man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "As-Salamu `Alaykum". The Prophet returned the greeting, and after the man sat down he said, "Ten." Another man came and said, "As-Salamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatullah, O Allah's Messenger." The Prophet returned the greeting, and after the man sat down he said, "Twenty." Then another man came and said, "As-Salamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh." The Prophet returned the greeting, and after the man sat down he said, "Thirty." This is the narration recorded by Abu Dawud. At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Al-Bazzar also recorded it. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Gharib". There are several other Hadiths on this subject from Abu Sa`id, `Ali, and Sahl bin Hanif. When the Muslim is greeted with the full form of Salam, he is obliged to return the greeting equally. As for Ahl Adh-Dhimmah the Salam should not be initiated nor should the greeting be added to when returning their greeting. Rather, as recorded in the Two Sahihs their greeting is returned to them equally. Ibn `Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«إِذَا سَلَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَهُودُ، فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ أَحَدُهُمْ: السَّامُ عَلَيْكَ، فَقُلْ: وَعَلَيْك»
(When the Jews greet you, one of them would say, `As-Samu `Alayka (death be unto you).' Therefore, say, `Wa `Alayka (and the same to you).') In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَا تَبْدَأُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى بِالسَّلَامِ، وَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ فِي طَرِيقٍ فَاضْطَرُّوهُمْ إِلى أَضْيَقِه»
(Do not initiate greeting the Jews and Christians with the Salam, and when you pass by them on a road, force them to its narrowest path.) Abu Dawud recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَا تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّـةَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا، وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى تَحَابُّوا، أَفَلَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى أَمْرٍ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمُوهُ تَحَابَبْتُمْ؟ أَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ بَيْنَكُم»
(By He in Whose Hand is my soul! You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love each other. Should I direct you to an action that would direct you to love each other Spread the Salam among yourselves.) Allah said,
اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ
(Allah! none has the right to be worshipped but He) informing that He is singled out as the sole God of all creation. Allah then said,
لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَـمَةِ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ
(Surely, He will gather you together on the Day of Resurrection about which there is no doubt.) swearing that He will gather the earlier and latter generations in one area, rewarding or punishing each person according to his or her actions. Allah said,
وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَدِيثاً
(And who is truer in statement than Allah) meaning, no one utters more truthful statements than Allah, in His promise, warning, stories of the past and information of what is to come; there is no deity worthy of worship nor Lord except Him.
Hadits Terkait
Telah bercerita kepada kami [Abu Al Yaman] telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Syu'aib] dari [Az Zuhriy] berkata telah bercerita kepadaku ['Urwah bin Az Zubair] bahwa [Az Zubair] pernah bercerita bahwa dia pernah bersengketa dengan seseorang dari kaum Anshor yang pernah ikut dalam perang Badar kepada Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam tentang masalah saluran air di Al Harrah dimana keduanya sama-sama saling menyiram (kebun mereka darinya) Maka Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda kepada Az Zubair: "Siramlah (kebunmu darinya) wahai Zubair lalu alirkanlah ke tetanggamu". Maka orang Anshor itu marah seraya berkata: "Wahai Rasulullah, Tuan bela dia karena dia anak dari bibi Tuan". Maka wajah Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam berubah kemudian Beliau berkata: "Siramlah (kebunmu) darinya kemudian tahanlah air itu hingga memenuhi kebun". Maka Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam saat itu memutuskan untuk mememnuhi hak Zubair padahal sebelumnya Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam memberi isyarat kepada Zubair agar memberi kelapangan bagi orang Anshor itu. Ketika orang Anshor itu tidak menerima maka Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam mengembalikan hak Zubair sepenuhnya sesuai hukum yang semestiya. 'Urwah berkata; Az Zubair berkata: "Demi Allah, tidaklah aku menduga ayat ini turun melainkan dalam perkara ini: ("Maka demi Tuhanmu, mereka (pada hakekatnya) tidak beriman hingga mereka menjadikan kamu hakim terhadap perkara yang mereka perselisihkan….) Ayat 65 dari surah an-Nisaa
Telah bercerita kepada kami ['Ubaidullah bin Isma'il] telah bercerita kepada kami [Abu Usamah] dari [Hisyam] dari [bapaknya] dari ['Aisyah radliallahu 'anha] tentang firman Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala dalam QS an-Nisaa' ayat; 6, yang artinya ("Dan barang siapa (di antara pemelihara itu) mampu, maka hendaklah ia menahan diri (dari memakan harta anak yatim itu) dan barang siapa yang miskin, maka bolehlah ia makan harta itu menurut yang patut"), dia berkata: "Ayat ini turun berkenaan dengan seorang yang memelihara anak yatim lalu ingin mengambil harta anak yatim tersebut apabila membutuhkannya sesuai dengan jumlah hartanya secara ma'ruf (yang patut)
Telah bercerita kepada kami [Abu Al Walid] telah bercerita kepada kami [Syu'bah] dari [Abu Ishaq] berkata aku mendengar [Al Bara' radliallahu 'anhu] berkata; Ketika turun ayat 97 Surah an-Nisaa' yang artinya ("Tidaklah sama orang-orang yang duduk-duduk saja (tidak ikut berperang) dari kalangan Kaum Mu'minin…"), Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam memanggil Zaid, maka dia datang dengan membawa papan tulis lalu dia menulis ayat itu. Kemudian Ummu Maktum datang mengadukan alasannya, maka turunlah ayat ini ("Tidaklah sama orang-orang yang duduk-duduk saja (tidak ikut berperang) dari kalangan Kaum Mu'minin tanpa memiliki alasan…
Telah bercerita kepada kami ['Abdul 'Aziz bin 'Abdullah] telah bercerita kepada kami [Ibrahim bin Sa'ad Az Zuhriy] berkata telah bercerita kepadaku [Shalih bin Kaisan] dari [Ibnu Syihab] dari [Sahal bin Sa'ad As-Sa'idiy] bahwa dia berkata: "Aku melihat [Marwan bin Al Hakam] sedang duduk di masjid lalu aku menemuinya hingga aku duduk di sampingnya lalu dia mengabarkan kepada kami bahwa [Zaid bin Tsabit] mengabarkan kepadanya bahwa Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam membacakan ayat 97 Surah an-Nisaa' kepadanya yang artinya ("Tidaklah sama orang-orang yang duduk-duduk saja (tidak ikut berperang) dari kalangan Kaum Mu'minin dengan orang-orang yang berjihad fii sabilillah…"), maka datang Ibnu Ummu Maktum kepada Beliau padahal Beliau sedang membacakan ayat itu kepadaku dengan berkata: "Wahai Rasulullah, seandainya aku mampu berjihad pasti aku akan berjihad". Dia adalah seorang yang buta. Maka Allah Tabaaraka Wa Ta'ala menurunkan ayat kepada Rosul-Nya pada saat paha Beliau sedang berada diatas pahaku dan aku merasa berat dengan paha Beliau tersebut (karena beratnya wahyu yang Beliau terima) hingga aku khawatir pahaku retak. Kemudian Beliau tenang kembali. Maka Allah 'AZZA WAJALLA menurunkan firman-Nya (kelanjutan ayat tersebut) yang artinya: ("Yang tanpa memiliki alasan…)
Telah bercerita kepada kami [Ishaq] telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Ya'qub binIbrahim] telah bercerita kepada kami [bapakku] dari [Shalih] dari [Ibnu Syihab] bahwa [Sa'id bin Al Musayyab] mendengar [Abu Hurairah radliallahu 'anhu] berkata; Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam besabda: "Demi Dzat yang jiwaku berada di tangan-Nya, diprediksikan segera turun kepada kalian 'Isa bin Maryam sebagai hakim yang adil, dia akan menghancurkan salib, membunuh babi, membebaskan jizyah dan harta benda akan banyak tersebar sehingga tidak ada seorangpun yag mau menerima (shadaqah) hingga pada masa itu satu kali sujud lebih baik daripada dunia dan isinya". Kemudian Abu Hurairah radliallahu 'anhu berkata; "Bacalah firman Allah jika kamu mau; ("Dan tidak ada satu pun dari Ahli Kitab kecuali pasti akan beriman kepadanya ('Isa 'alahis salam) sebelum kematiannya dan pada hari qiyamat nanti 'Isa akan menjadi saksi bagi mereka"). (QS an-Nisaa ayat)