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wa-lā tahinū fī btighāʾi l-qawmi ʾin takūnū taʾlamūna fa-ʾinnahum yaʾlamūna ka-mā taʾlamūna wa-tarjūna mina llāhi mā lā yarjūna wa-kāna llāhu ʿalīman ḥakīman
Do not slacken in the pursuit of these people. If you are suffering, they are also suffering like you, but you expect from Allah what they do not expect, and Allah is all-knowing, all-wise.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah An-Nisa', Verse 104
104. "And do not flag in pursuit of the enemy. If you suffer pain, then they also suffer, in as you suffer. But you hope from Allah what they do not hope. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. "
The Occasion of Revelation
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas that after the painful events of the Battle of 'Uhud, the holy Prophet (S) stood upon Mount Uhud when Abu Sufyan shouted with a victorious tone; "O' Muhammad! One day we won, but another day!" That is, this very victory that we have is instead of that defeat we suffered in the Battle of Badr." The Prophet (S) told the Muslims to answer him immediately, and they said:
Abusufyan shouted: "We have Al-'Uzza, but you have not it." The Prophet (S) told Muslims to reply that slogan by saying:
Abusufyan, who felt himself weak before that lively Islamic motto, left out the idol 'Uzza and attached the idol called Hubal. He cried: "High be Hubal!" The Prophet (S) commanded Muslims to condemn the motto of the Age of Ignorance with a stronger and better motto. They would say:
"Allah is the Higher and the Exalted."
Abusufyan, who made no gain from his own different mottoes, cried: "Our trysting-place is the region of Badr-i-Suqra." Muslims returned from the battle-field while they were seriously annoyed of the painful events in 'Uhud. At that time the verse was revealed and warned them not to flag in pursuit of the pagans, and not to be annoyed of those painful events. This occasion of revelation teaches us that Muslims should not be neglectful of none of the enemy's styles. They should apply some stronger logics before the logic of the enemies, and some better weapons against their weapons, else, the circumstances may change for the benefit of the enemy.
Therefore, in any time, like our time, instead of regret for the painful events and terrible corruptions that have surrounded Muslims from every side, they should actively set forth and produce some sound and useful books and publications in front of the enemies' evil books and publications. They should utilize the best and modern propaganda means of the time against the enemy's equipped means of propaganda. To stand against the designs, philosophies, and doctrines that different political, economical and social schools introduce, Muslims must offer the inclusive Islamic designs to all human kind. It is only by this method that they can protect their being and live as a progressive group in the world.
Following the verses concerning the Holy struggle and migration, to stir the spirit of self-sacrifice in Muslims, this verse says:
This statement is a hint to the fact that to stand against the arrogant enemy, you should preserve the spirit of attack in yourselves, because, psychologically it has an extraordinary effect in knocking down the spirit of the enemy. Then, it states a clear and living reasoning for this commandment, and says why you may linger while:
And, at the end of the verse, the Qur'an emphasizes more and implies that all these annoyances, injuries, efforts and endeavours, and, perhaps, indulgences and negligence are not hidden from the knowledge of Allah. It says:
Thus, you will see the result of all of them.