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qul ʾin kāna ʾābāʾukum wa-ʾabnāʾukum wa-ʾikhwānukum wa-ʾazwājukum wa-ʿashīratukum wa-ʾamwālun-i qtaraftumūhā wa-tijāratun takhshawna kasādahā wa-masākinu tarḍawnahā ʾaḥabba ʾilaykum mina llāhi wa-rasūlihī wa-jihādin fī sabīlihī fa-tarabbaṣū ḥattā yaʾtiya llāhu bi-ʾamrihī wa-llāhu lā yahdī l-qawma l-fāsiqīna
Say, ‘If your fathers and your sons, your brethren, your spouses, and your kinsfolk, the possessions that you have acquired, the business you fear may suffer, and the dwellings you are fond of, are dearer to you than Allah and His Apostle and to waging jihad in His way, then wait until Allah issues His edict, and Allah does not guide the transgressing lot.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah At-Tawbah – Verse 24
24 . “Say: ‘If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your clan, your possessions that you have gained, commerce you fear may slacken, dwellings you are fond of, are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way, then wait till Allah brings about His command; and Allah does not guide the transgressing people.”
In this verse, for the extraordinary importance of the subject, the matter under discussion has been stated with a more explanation, emphasis, and threat. It addresses the Prophet (S) and says:
Since the preference of these things to the good pleasure of Allah and Holy Struggle is a kind of disobedience and a manifest transgression, and also having the love of the dazzling glare of the material life is not eligible for the Divine guidance, then, at the end of the verse, the Qur’ān adds:
Whatever is cited in these verses does not mean cutting off the strings of love and friendship with relatives, neglecting the economical properties and abilities, and going toward the abandance of humane affections. But, the objective meaning is that when it is difficult for a person to decide, the love of wife, child, wealth, rank, home and family should not hinder the execution of Allah’s command and tending toward Holy Struggle, so that it detains him from his sacred aim.
Therefore, if the person can decide and choose the way, it is necessary for him to observe both of them. However, these verses should be taught as a motto to all the Muslims’ children, in order that the spirit of self-sacrifice, devotion and Faith servive in them, and they can guard the religion of Allah and their own heritages. Thus, Holy Struggle is one of the pillars of Islam which is enjoined beside Unity and prophethood.
Everything should be devoted in the path of the love for Allah and Holy Struggle in His way. And, detestation of wife and children or the appearance of the disturbance in the circumstances of life, can not be taken as a hinder for the fulfilment of the duty of Holy Struggle.