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yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū qātilū lladhīna yalūnakum mina l-kuffāri wa-l-yajidū fīkum ghilẓatan wa-ʿlamū ʾanna llāha maʿa l-muttaqīna
O you who have faith! Fight the faithless who are in your vicinity, and let them find severity in you, and know that Allah is with the Godwary.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah At-Tawbah – Verse 123
123 . “O’ you who have Faith! Fight those of the infidels who are near to you, and let them find severity in you, and know that Allah is with the pious ones.”
In the life of the Prophet of Islam, the Muslims had many enemies. Some of those enemies lived in a long distance from the Muslims, like the Romans who were in Syria, Palestine, and Tabūk. But, some of other enemies of the Muslims were not so far from the center of Islam. For, example, the tribes of Hawāzin and Thaqif were in a little distance from the Muslims and they were a danger in ambush. It was necessary that at first the near enemies should be crushed, and then the far distanced enemies might be dealt with, because their danger was greater and they could be aware of the secrets and martial abilities of the Muslims.
In this holy verse, the Qur’ān notifies to the Muslims of this very matter. It says:
To show violence of action in front of an enemy the strivers may make him both frightened and disappointed. He understands that the Muslims are not penetrable, and they may not be deceived by some mere promises, nor that they can get the martial secrets from them. A believer should have the ultimate humility and modesty in front of his religious brethren, but he must be severe, firm and violent in front of enemies, as the Qur’ān says: