Why Is Jihad Valuable in Quran?
Mohammad Ali Ansari, an Iranian Quran researcher, explains the meaning of jihad when interpreting the first verses of Surah Al-Adiyat. What follows is a summary of his remarks.
Important issues such as Hajj and jihad have been mentioned in this chapter. We have no aggressive war in Islam as expanding one’s territory is prohibited in Islam. The philosophy of Islam is defending one’s land.
Prophet declined to attack enemies at night
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) would not attack enemies at night, setting early morning for the time of attack so that enemies could defend themselves.
We read in the first 5 verses of the chapter: “(I swear) by the snorting chargers (of the warriors), whose hoofs strike against the rocks and produce sparks while running during a raid at dawn, and leave behind a cloud of dust which engulfs the enemy.”
Here God Almighty actually wears to the warriors who are riding these horses. This means that God swears to Mujahideen or fighters. These horses that are being used by fighters find a high position so that God swears to them. This demonstrates the lofty status of jihad in Islam. As said before, this jihad is sacred only when is meant for defense.
Why Does God Swear?
Surah Al-Adiyat begins with God’s swears. Allah does not need to swear. Therefore, when He does so, the aim is to attract the attention of the audience.
