07-27-2012, 09:12 PM
The Eighth Taraaweeh
This Taraaweeh begins from the last quarter of the ninth para (beginning of
Surah Anfaal) and concludes at the end of the tenth para (verse 93 of Surah
Taubah).
Allaah opens the Surah by discussing the distribution of the spoils
of war. Allaah says, “The spoils of war are for Allaah and His
messenger.” (i.e. Rasululllaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam)
would distribute one-fifth of the booty amongst those who were
deserving). Thereafter Allaah invokes man saying, “So fear
Allaah, correct your mutual relations and obey Allaah and
His messenger if you are believers.” [verse 1].
Allaah then described the true Mu'mineen when He says, “The
believers are those whose hearts tremble when Allaah is
mentioned, whose faith (Imaan) increases when His verses
are recited to them and they trust only in their Rabb. They
are those who establish salaah and spend from what We
have provided for them. These are the true believers! For
them shall be ranks by their Rabb, forgiveness and
bountiful sustenance.” [verses 2, 3, 4]
Allaah makes mention of the assistance that He rendered to the
Muslims during the Battle of Badr when He sent thousands of
angels to fight with them. Allaah also cast fear into the hearts of
the kuffaar despite their overwhelming numbers. Allaah then
declares that there awaits a severe punishment for those who
oppose Allaah and His Prophet (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam).
Thereafter, Allaah exhorts the Mu'mineen to fight in jihaad with
fervour. Allaah says, “Oh you who believe, when you meet
the disbelievers in battle, do not turn your backs to them.”
[verse 15] Allaah says that the person who flees from the
battlefield because of cowardice shall draw Allaah’s wrath upon
himself. Towards the end of the para Allaah says, “Fight them
till no anarchy (kufr) exists and all religion is for Allaah. So
if they desist (from kufr and shirk), then indeed Allaah is
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Watchful over what they do. If they turn away then know
that Allaah is your Protecting Friend. What a terrific Friend
and what a terrific Helper!” (verses 39 and 40)
END OF 9TH PARA – START OF 10TH PARA.
The tenth para commences with mention of booty. Allaah
declares, “Know that from whatever spoils of war that you
acquire, a fifth thereof shall be for Allaah, His messenger,
the relatives, the poor, the orphans and the travellers.”
[verse 41] The remaining four-fifths will be distributed amongst
the Mujaahideen (the Muslim soldiers who fought in the battle).
Allaah then discusses certain details about the Battle of Badr. In
this discussion Allaah addresses the Mu'mineen saying, “Obey
Allaah and His messenger and do not fall into dispute with
each other, for then you will become cowardly and your
strength will be lost. Be patient, for verily Allaah is with
the patient ones.” [verse 46]
Allaah commands the Muslims further: “Prepare against them
whatever forces of strength you can muster…” [verse 60] In
addition to amassing weapons and battle provisions, Muslims
must always have conviction in Allaah’s assistance. Allaah then
assures the Muslims: “Whatever you may spend in Allaah’s
way will be given to you in full and you will not be
oppressed.” [verse 60]
Addressing Rasululllaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam), Allaah
says, “Oh Prophet (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam), exhort
the believers to fight.” [verse 65]. Allaah informs the Muslims
that if they are righteous, resolute and trust firmly in Allaah, they
will be able to vanquish an army larger than themselves.
Prisoners of war should not be captured merely with the intention
of earning ransom money. Towards the end of the Surah, Muslims
are urged to keep religious objectives in mind when migrating or
when waging jihaad. Earning the booty must never be the
objective. Allaah outlines a principle in inheritance at the end of
Surah Anfaal when He says, “Those who are relatives are
closer to each other in Allaah’s Book.” [verse 75] he next Surah is called Surah Taubah because it contains
mention of the Taubah that Allaah accepted from those who failed
to participate in the Battle of Tabook. It is also called Surah
Baraa’ah because Allaah exonerates Himself and Rasululllaah
(sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) from the kuffaar (The Arabic word
“Baraa’ah” means exoneration).
This Surah makes mention of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah which
the Mushrikeen of Makkah eventually broke. Allaah declares,
“Allaah and His messenger have exonerated themselves
from those Mushrikeen with whom you have made a
treaty.” Consequently, “The proclamation from Allaah and
His messenger (was made) on the day of the greater hajj
that verily Allaah and His messenger are exonerated from
the Mushrikeen.” [verses 1 and 3]
After this declaration, all Mushrikeen were banned from entering
the Haram and from making Tawaaf naked. The Muslims are
urged not to take even their closest relatives as friends if they are
kuffaar. Allaah also advises Rasululllaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wasallam)
not to accept the lame excuses of the Munafiqeen
(hypocrites) when they are reluctant to fight in jihaad. Their
excuses are all concocted and the oaths that they take along with
the excuses are all false. Allaah assures Rasululllaah (sallAllaahualayhi-
wa-sallam) that the oaths of the sinners and Munafiqeen
are hollow and should be ignored because these people were
never Muslims. Allaah warns Rasululllaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wasallam)
that the Munafiqeen will desert him as soon as they get
the opportunity. Allaah’s curse is on the Munafiqeen men and
women because they are all birds of a feather. Allaah also
forbade Rasululllaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) from
performing the Janaazah (funeral) salaah for the Munafiqeen.
This Surah also details the recipients of zakaah as:
1. The poor.
2. Slaves who are buying their freedom.
3. The destitute.
4. Those in debt.
5. The collectors of zakaah.
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6. Those in “Allaah’s path”.
7. Those who need to be inclined to Islam.
8. Travellers.
In brief, Surah Taubah contains the following subject matter:
1. Certain battles and related incidents.
2. The treaties with the Mushrikeen and the declaration of
exoneration from all kuffaar and Mushrikeen.
3. Prohibition of fighting during the days of Hajj.
4. Restriction of entry into the Haram for non-Muslims.
5. The command for the Ahlul Kitaab to either accept Islam or
pay the Jizya.
6. Reproaching those who were negligent in participating in
jihaad.
7. Specifying the recipients of zakaah.
8. Identifying the Munafiqeen and the Mu'mineen.
May Allaah grant us all the Taufeeq to practise upon the
injunctions detailed in this Surah. Aameen.