Al-Anfal 15: Oh you believers! Do not turn your back (and run away) when you face the infidels in large numbers (in battle).

A. Metin Saruhan · 18 September 2017 · Al-Anfal

Translation

Oh you believers! Do not turn your back (and run away) when you face the infidels in large numbers (in battle).

Tafsir

O you who believe! Muslims who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, when you meet the kuffar in battle, do not let their multitude deter you. Do not turn your backs and flee in fear of them. Allah is with Islam, as long as you trust and rely on Allah. The people who practiced Islam were able to subdue people who outnumbered them by the grace of Allah. Today, if Islam is being defeated by the kuffar, it is because they are not following the path of Allah and His Messenger. It is because they compromise on the Deen of Islam in pursuit of nafsani feelings. Allah (swt) is the owner of justice. The Kuffar worked and became superior in terms of weaponry, while the Muslim slept and slept, emulating the Kuffar in his behavior and actions, going so far in filth and immoral behavior that they emulated them, and then he asked Allah for help in his time of need, and since Allah is the owner of justice, He will surely give the right to the one who works in the realm of property, even if he is a Kuffar.

If a person remembers Allah in times of plenty, Allah will come to the rescue of His servant in times of scarcity. So, if you want happiness in this world and the Hereafter, obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not envy them by believing in any religion other than the religion of Islam. For Allah says, "He who seeks a religion other than Islam will never benefit from it.

In difficult situations, some form of retreat in the face of the enemy is permitted. You can retreat either for the sake of strengthening by defecting to another unit or for the purpose of regrouping. To retreat out of fear is to taste defeat in advance and to be enslaved by the enemy. Just as every human being is born free from his mother, so is the Muslim. It is not under the bondage of anyone.

The Muslim is responsible only to Allah (swt). If a person retreats out of fear, he surrenders his freedom to the enemy in advance. The loss of freedom means compromising the Deen of Islam. Instead of compromising one's religion, if a person reaches Allah with the rank of martyrdom, it elevates that person and he wins the Hereafter because he acts in accordance with the purpose Allah created. He will also be welcomed with a smiling face in the Hereafter with Allah's mercy.

It is because of this verse that Mehmet Akif Ersoy wrote in our National Anthem:

I have lived free since time immemorial, I will live free.

What madman would put chains on me? I would be surprised.

I am like a roaring flood, I will overcome my limit.

I tear the mountains, I overflow the vastness.

By saying this, he has expressed in such a beautiful language that Islam cannot be in captivity.

What is said in the video

Surah Al-Anfal, verse 15: O you who believe! When you meet the disbelievers in massed ranks, do not turn your backs to them, do not flee in fear, He says.

O you who believe! Muslims who have believed in Allah and His Messenger! When you meet the disbelievers in battle, let their great numbers not daunt you. Do not turn your backs and flee out of fear of them. Allah is with Islam. Just trust in Allah and rely on Him. Trust in Allah and rely on Him.

So what if you are martyred there? Assume that you are not. Compared to the hereafter, you will live a few more minutes in this world.

Is it worth these few minutes of life? To be subjected to Allah's punishment. Yes.

People who live Islam, whose hearts are whole, have brought people far outnumbering them to their knees by Allah's grace. Today, if Islam is being defeated by the disbelievers, it is because they do not follow the way of Allah and His Messenger. It is because they run after carnal feelings and compromise the religion of Islam. Allah Almighty is just. The disbelievers worked and became superior in weapons, while the Muslim slept and lay idle. And in his behaviour he imitated the disbelievers, to the point of outdoing them, going far in filthy and immoral acts. And then in his time of need he asked Allah for help.

Since Allah is just, surely, even if it is a disbeliever, in the material world He will give the one who works his due. What does He say? My mercy is for everyone in the universe. Yes. Allah is just. He will judge with His justice.

If a person remembers Allah at this time of his, at this time of his, yes, Allah too comes to His servant's aid in his time of need. So if you want happiness in this world and the hereafter, obey Allah and His Messenger. Fulfil the noble Sunnah. Abide by Allah's commands. Yes. We will abide by Allah's commands.

Do not envy them by believing in a religion other than Islam. Because Allah: to one who seeks a religion other than Islam, (?) will never bring benefit, He declares. In difficult situations, a certain kind of withdrawal before the enemy has been permitted. In a difficult situation. And that is not for fleeing. Let 'difficult situation' not be misunderstood. For us, in difficult situations one gives his life there; he does not withdraw, does not leave. Difficult situations have two cases. For two cases you may withdraw. First, to be able to gain strength, joining another unit and becoming stronger.

Joining another unit. Gaining strength. The second kind of withdrawal is to regroup and attack again. Never to turn your back. In these two ways you can withdraw from where you are. And that does not even count as retreat.

That does not count as retreat. Yes. But there is no other language. We say it this way.

Do not envy them by believing in a religion other than the religion of Islam. Because Allah: to one who seeks a religion other than Islam, (?) will never bring benefit, He declares. In difficult situations, a certain kind of withdrawal before the enemy has been permitted. It is either strengthening by joining another unit, or being able to withdraw with the aim of regrouping. Retreating in fear means tasting defeat after it and falling into the enemy's captivity.

Just as every person is born free from his mother, the Muslim is likewise free. The Muslim does not come under anyone's captivity. Throughout history Muslims have not lived as captives.

The Muslim is responsible only to Allah Almighty. If a person retreats in fear, he has handed his freedom to his enemy in advance.

Losing freedom means compromising the religion of Islam. Rather than compromising his religion, man's reaching Allah with the rank of martyrdom — this (?) a person, and because he acts in accordance with the (?) Allah created, he wins the hereafter. Moreover, by Allah's mercy he is welcomed with a smiling face in the hereafter.

It is from this verse that Mehmet Akif Ersoy, in our National Anthem — what does he say? I have lived free since eternity, and free I shall live. What madman would put chains on me? I would be amazed. I am like a roaring flood; I trample my dam and overflow. I tear through mountains, I do not fit the expanses, I overflow. And that beautiful Islam does not go into captivity — with this verse how beautifully he explains it to people. (?). May Allah be pleased with him. May Allah grant him abundant mercy. Yes.