Subtleties and Allusions

1) Threatening the People of Discord with Severe Punishment

The Qur’an has addressed the issue of “discord” (shiqāq) in numerous instances and has threatened those who engage in discord. What is mentioned in this regard in the verse under discussion: “They are only in discord” (fa-innamā hum fī shiqāq) is the minor premise of a syllogism whose major premise is stated in other verses; such as “And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers_—We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination” (581). Whoever turns away from the truth, God will take hold of his reins and lead him to the edge of the abyss of Hell: “We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell” (nuwallihī mā tawallā wa-nuṣlihī jahannam), because whatever path a person chooses and whichever direction they go, even towards Hell, although they are the voluntary traveler, it is God who is the guide: “And for all people is a direction to which they turn, so race to [all that is] good”(582). This major premise, which threatens the people of discord with the nullification of their deeds, the punishment of Hell, and severe torment, is mentioned in other verses along with some of its minor premises: “That is because they opposed God and His Messenger. And whoever opposes God and His Messenger—indeed, God is severe in penalty”(583), “Indeed, those who disbelieved and averted [people] from the path of God and opposed the Messenger after guidance had become clear to them—never will they harm God at all, and He will render worthless their deeds”(584), “That is because they opposed God and His Messenger. And whoever opposes God—_then indeed, God is severe in penalty”(585). Some of these verses are about the polytheists; however, in the application of the aforementioned major premise to those who have separated their ranks from Islam and are in discord, there is no difference between the People of the Book and the polytheists.

2) Special Divine Sufficiencies

The progress of all prophets and divine religions was through unseen assistance, not the sword, although some effort and movement from this side is necessary. Divine sufficiency and unseen assistance sometimes have a material effect; such as stirring up a sandstorm to disrupt and destroy the enemy’s facilities and equipment, as happened in the Battle of the Confederates. And sometimes it has a spiritual effect; such as bringing peace to the hearts of the believers and strengthening their resolve, and casting fear and dread into the hearts of the disbelievers and polytheists, as the Glorious God said: “When your Lord inspired to the angels, ‘I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved’”(586).

In the Qur’an, numerous instances of special divine sufficiencies have been reported. Here, some of these instances are mentioned:

1. The Noble Prophet was initially commanded to call secretly to his mission, not openly. After he was ordered to make his call public, the Glorious God promised to keep the evil of the polytheists and mockers away from him and to suffice him:

“Then declare what you are commanded and turn away from the polytheists. Indeed, We are sufficient for you against the mockers”(587)

2. In the Battle of Badr, when victory was not feasible or possible for the Muslims through ordinary means, God sufficed them with angels, in such a way that they themselves did not realize how the victory was achieved: “And already had God given you victory at [the battle of] Badr while you were few in number. Then fear God; perhaps you will be grateful. [Remember] when you said to the believers, ‘Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down?’”(588)

3. In the Battle of the Confederates, God also sufficed the believers by intensifying the cold weather and sending a not-so-severe storm, and casting fear into the hearts of the disbelievers, in such a way that the polytheists fled without any fighting or military engagement: “And God repelled those who disbelieved, in their rage, not having obtained any good. And sufficient was God for the believers in battle”(589). The few fighters who had crossed the trench seeking combat before this, following the death of ʿAmr ibn ʿAbdwudd at the hands of the Commander of the Faithful, fled the battlefield in fear.