Surah Al-Anfal 8:45

Manners of War

Allah instructs His faithful servants in the manners of fighting and methods of courage when meeting the enemy in battle,

يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا لَقِيتُمْ فِئَةً فَاثْبُتُواْ

(O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them) In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that `Abdullah bin Abi Awfa said that during one battle, Allah's Messenger ﷺ waited until the sun declined, then stood among the people and said,

«يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ لَا تَتَمَنَّوْا لِقَاءَ الْعَدُوِّ، واسْأَلُوا اللهَ الْعَافِيَةَ فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ فَاصْبِرُوا وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ تَحْتَ ظِلَالِ السُّيُوف»

(O people! Do not wish to face the enemy (in a battle) and ask Allah to save you (from calamities). But if you should face the enemy, then be patient and let it be known to you that Paradise is under the shadows of the swords.)

He then stood and said,

«اللَّهُمَّ مُنْزِلَ الْكِتَابِ، وَمُجْرِي السَّحَابِ، وَهَازِمَ الْأَحْزَابِ، اهْزِمْهُمْ وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَيْهِم»

(O Allah! Revealer of the (Holy) Book, Mover of the clouds, and Defeater of the Confederates, defeat them and grant us victory over them.)

The Command for Endurance when the Enemy Engaging

Allah commands endurance upon meeting the enemy in battle and ordains patience while fighting them. Muslims are not allowed to run or shy away, or show cowardice in battle. They are commanded to remember Allah while in that condition and never neglect His remembrance. They should rather invoke Him for support, trust in Him and seek victory over their enemies from Him. They are required to obey Allah and His Messenger in such circumstances adhering to what He commanded them, and abstaining from what He forbade them. They are required to avoid disputing with each other, for this might lead to their defeat and failure,

وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ

(lest your strength departs), so that your strength, endurance and courage do not depart from you,

وَاصْبِرُواْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّـبِرِينَ

(and be patient. Surely, Allah is with the patients.)

In their courage, and obedience to Allah and His Messenger, the Companions reached a level never seen before by any nation or generation before them, or any nation that will ever come. Through the blessing of the Messenger ﷺ and their obedience to what he commanded, the Companions were able to open the hearts, as well as, the various eastern and western parts of the world in a rather short time. This occurred even though they were few, compared to the armies of the various nations at that time. For example, the Romans, Persians, Turks, Slavs, Berbers, Ethiopians, Sudanese tribes, the Copts and the rest of the Children of Adam. They defeated all of these nations, until Allah's Word became the highest and His religion became dominant above all religions. The Islamic state spread over the eastern and western parts of the world in less than thirty years. May Allah grant them His pleasure, as well as, be pleased with them all, and may He gather us among them, for He is the Most Generous, and Giving.

Dalam ayat ini Allah memerintahkan kepada kaum Muslimin, bila mereka menjumpai pasukan musuh agar meneguhkan hati dan selalu mengingat Allah dengan banyak berzikir, agar mereka memperoleh keteguhan hati dalam pertempuran, sehingga tidak lari dari musuh. Hal ini merupakan kekuatan yang menyebabkan kemenangan dalam setiap perjuangan, baik sebagai perorangan maupun sebagai tentara. Diibaratkan dalam arena tinju atau gulat, kedua orang petinju atau pegulat itu setelah bergumul beberapa lama, tentu akan merasa letih dan lemah dan masing-masing menantikan satu saat atau kesempatan dapat merobohkan lawannya. Akan tetapi kadang-kadang terlintas pula dalam hatinya bahwa lawannya itu akan dihinggapi ketakutan, sehingga ia bertahan memelihara ketabahan hati hingga pada saat ronde terakhir dinyatakan sebagai pemenang walaupun hanya dengan angka. Demikian pula dalam setiap pertempuran antara pasukan dengan pasukan, yang menyebabkan keunggulan dan kemenangan itu, ialah ketabahan hati dari tentaranya dan tidak putus asa. Ketabahan hati itu sangat berguna dalam setiap perjuangan.

Allah memerintahkan kepada kaum Muslimin untuk memperbanyak zikir kepada Allah dalam menghadapi peperangan dengan selalu mengingat kekuasaan dan janji-Nya akan memberi pertolongan kepada Rasul-Nya dan kaum Muslimin. Dalam setiap pejuangan, kaum Muslimin harus yakin bahwa kemenangan berada di tangan Allah dan Allah akan memberikan kepada siapa yang dikehendaki-Nya. Berzikir ialah dengan membaca takbir "Allahu Akbar" atau memanjatkan doa dengan ikhlas serta meyakini bahwa Allah Mahakuasa dapat memberi kemenangan. Ketabahan hati dan banyak zikir kepada Allah adalah dua hal yang sangat penting untuk mencapai tujuan.