وَلاَتُلْقُوا بِاَيْد۪يكُمْ اِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِۚ "…And make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction…'' How should we understand the verse above?

Dear Brother / Sister,

وَلاَتُلْقُوا بِاَيْد۪يكُمْ اِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِۚ "…And make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction…" (al-Baqara, 195)

The following is narrated about the verse above: During the caliphate of Muawiya, the Islamic army reached Istanbul. During a battle, a Muhajir attacked the enemy ranks alone. Some people regarded this act to be contrary to the verse above. Thereupon, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari stated the following:

"We know this verse better because it was sent down about us. We (Ansar) lived together with the Messenger of Allah. We encountered many things with him. We helped him. Finally, Islam became victorious. The people of Ansar came together. We said, ‘Allah enabled us to become the Companions of His Messenger. Islam has become dominant now. The number of the Muslims has increased. We preferred the Prophet to our families and property. Since the war is over now, let us return to our houses and families, and live with them.’ This verse was sent down at that time.” (Ibn Kathir, I, 331; Abu Dawud, Jihad, 22; Tirmidhi, Tafsir, 2/19)

It is understood that destruction (danger) is not in attacking but in retreating. That the following is stated at the beginning of the verse indicates the economic aspect of jihad in the way of Allah: "And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah". If those who are well-off do not spend their wealth to spread the religion of Allah, they will contribute to their own destruction. 

The following points are also highlighted in the interpretation of the verse above: 

- To try to oppose one hundred people on one’s own,
- To despair of the mercy of Allah,
- Not to spend in the way of Allah,
- To give charity from the low-quality goods,
- To give all of one’s wealth away and then to beg… (Badruddin Zarkashi, al-Burhan fi Ulumil-Qur’an, Darul-Marifa, Beirut 1972. II, 150)

That such different meanings are highlighted is a wealth that should not be ignored in understanding and evaluating the verse.

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