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- Welcome to "Let the Quran Speak."

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We are looking at misunderstood Quranic verses.

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With me is Dr. Shabir Ally.

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Dr. Shabir, welcome to "Let the Quran Speak."

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- Pleasure to be on.

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- Dr. Shabir, the verse we are looking at

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is chapter eight verse 60.

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And it goes like this in English.

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And prepare for them what you can of strength of arms

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and horses tethered for battle,

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frightening thereby the enemy of God and your enemy,

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and others besides them whom you know not.

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God knows them.

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Whatsoever you spend in the way of God

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shall be paid unto you in full.

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And you shall not be wronged.

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So what's so misunderstood, Dr. Shabir, about this verse?

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- Well, a couple of things.

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First, the idea of preparing power.

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The verse is, (speaks Arabic),

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so prepare whatever power you can muster,

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and then it adds, (speaks Arabic), and war horses,

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and then it says, (speaks Arabic),

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by which to frighten the enemy of God and your enemy.

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So a couple of things are misunderstood here.

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One is that the first phrase says,

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prepare whatever power you can muster.

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Now in the classical commentaries of the Quran,

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naturally they talked about whatever seemed to them

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like to be the tools and equipment for war.

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So they talked about having good arrows, for example.

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Now, in our modern times,

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we wouldn't just talk about the weapons of war,

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but we would talk about the whole infrastructure.

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We talk about economic power,

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technological advancement as a source of power

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in vis-a-vis, your enemies.

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So the power should not be limited

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to only military equipment and definitely shouldn't be

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just the kinds of military equipment

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that were envisioned by the scholars of the past.

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So we need, in looking at these verses,

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to get over the common cliche

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that we just have to understand the Quran

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as it was understood by the people a long time ago.

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You know, they say, "as the salaf understood it"-

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- 'Cause that's a common thing that people say. Right?

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- Yes. It's (indistinct) about so much.

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You would think that's the Quran statement-

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- Like they know what the Quran actually means

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and we should follow them

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and their interpretation. - Yes.

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So what I was going to say, Safiyyah, is that,

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yeah, we start there.

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I mean, we have to start there.

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We have to see how they understood it,

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but we cannot stop there.

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That's where we begin our education,

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but we have to advance beyond that.

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And so yeah, they understood it and they explained it

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the way it appeared to them at the time.

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But we have to advance in our learning

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and our expectation of the first-

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- And then don't take the first literally too, right?

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Because, like it says horses,

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but it could mean a lot more than that.

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- Yes. When it said, (speaks Arabic),

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so this was the means, by which you're going

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to move about swiftly within, you know, the battle.

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But nowadays you might move with tanks

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and (indistinct), tanks, which others are using.

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So we have to be advanced in this sort of technology.

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Now, the last thing that needs to be mentioned here is

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where it says to frighten the enemy of God and your enemy.

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Now, some who are, you know,

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as furthering a terrorist agenda will say,

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"Oh, you see, the verse says we should frighten them."

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And of course, one of the key aspects

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of a definition of terrorism is that it is a way

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of sowing fear among the- - Terrorizes.

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- By targeting civilians, you sow fear

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in order to advance a political agenda.

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So they say, "See, we are sowing the fear,

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because that's the what the Quran said."

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But what they're missing is

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that when the Quran spoke about this,

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the Quran was not encouraging Muslims

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to go and attack civilians

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or to attack anyone to begin with.

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What the Quran is saying here is simply is

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that if you amass the kinds of power

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that the Quran is encouraging you to amass,

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well then the enemy will not dare to attack you.

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They will be afraid to attack you.

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It's not that you should steer-

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- Proactively go out and attack-

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- Attacking them. - Yes.

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- And it's unfortunate as Dr. Elsayed Amin points out

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in his book, "Reclaiming Jihad:

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A Qur'anic Critique of Terrorism,"

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in modern times a word had to be coined in Arabic

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to reflect the English war terrorism.

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And the word that was coined is irhab.

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Now, irhab is related to this word, (speaks Arabic),

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the verb that is used in this verse, right,

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eight verse number 60.

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But he remarks that this is unfortunate,

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because this word in the Quran, like the root,

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when it's used widely in the Quran,

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it often has a positive connotation as in the fear of God.

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And from this root, we get ruhban, which means a monk.

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And the idea seems to be that a monk is, you know,

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one who fears God, and Rahbaniyah is monasticism

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as mentioned in the 57th chapter of the Quran.

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And again, we have the idea of monasticism being, you know,

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referring to that attitude of being close to God

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and fearing God

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and of course being in love with God as well.

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But the aspect of fear is there.

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So that word generally has a positive connotation.

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Now, there's another word in Arabic, (speaks Arabic)

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which means terror.

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And one could have coined the term (speaks Arabic),

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which would've mean terrorism, but that's not what they did.

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But even that word in the Quran usually means

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that when the Muslims confront the others in battle,

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God will sow fear into the hearts of the opponents,

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and at the same time fortify the hearts of the Muslims,

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so that the Muslims would have the winning edge in battle.

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Now again, that is not saying that Muslims should go

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and attack civilians or go and attack others.

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It's just talking about what happens

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within the moments of battle.

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In short, this verse has been misunderstood

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and we need to reclaim it

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as a first of the Quran with a positive meaning.

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- Alright, we'll leave it at that. Thank you, Dr. Shabir.

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- You're welcome.

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- Assalamualaikum.

Understanding Chapter 8 Verse 60 of the Quran: A Misunderstood Message on Power

In this article, we dive into the widely misunderstood Chapter 8, Verse 60 of the Quran, emphasizing its themes of power and self-defense. With insights from Dr. Shabir Ally, we explore how the historical context and modern interpretations of this verse can shed light on its true meaning. By broadening our understanding of "power," we can better grasp the intention behind this verse, countering misinterpretations that align it with violence and terrorism.

The Context of Chapter 8 Verse 60

To begin our exploration, it's crucial to understand the context in which Chapter 8, Verse 60 of the Quran was revealed. This verse states: “And prepare for them what you can of strength of arms and horses tethered for battle, frightening thereby the enemy of God and your enemy, and others besides them whom you know not. God knows them.” At first glance, the verse may seem to advocate for a militaristic approach, but a deeper analysis reveals a more nuanced message about preparation and power.

Preparing Power: A Broader Perspective

Dr. Shabir Ally highlights a significant point often overlooked in traditional interpretations: the term "prepare whatever power you can muster." Historically, commentators have focused narrowly on military weaponry, such as arrows and horses. However, in our contemporary context, "power" encompasses much more than just military might.

Expanding the Definition of Power

In today’s world, we must consider factors like economic strength, technological innovation, and social cohesion as forms of power. The message of the Quran is not limited to arms and combat; it advocates for a comprehensive approach to building strength to secure peace and protection for the community.

The Misinterpretation of “Frightening the Enemy”

Another phrase that has been warped in the narrative is the encouragement to "frighten the enemy." This has been taken out of context by extremist groups to justify acts of violence and terrorism. However, Dr. Shabir emphasizes that the Quran is not suggesting Muslims should instill fear through acts of aggression. Instead, the verse conveys that a strong, prepared community will naturally deter aggression from potential enemies.

The Role of Fear in Self-Defense

It’s essential to recognize that the fear discussed here is one of deterrence, not aggression. The intent is to prevent conflict through strength, ensuring that adversaries reconsider attacking a well-prepared community. Misinterpreting this as a directive for offensive actions compromises the verse’s true objective.

The Positive Connotation of Fear in the Quran

Dr. Shabir brings to light the distinction between the Arabic terms associated with fear in the Quran. The root of the word related to fear, as seen in the context of this verse, often has a positive connotation. For instance, it aligns with the fear of God, a foundational aspect of spiritual life in Islam, denoting reverence rather than terror.

Fear as a Protective Element

The fear that is described is akin to the fear experienced during conflicts, where God helps fortify believers' hearts, giving them confidence. This protective element is vital; it solidifies the believers in their faith during trying times. While some people may misuse the verses for personal agendas, the essence of this discourse points towards respect, self-defense, and the integrity of one’s values.

Conclusion: Reclaiming the Message

In recapping Verse 60 of Chapter 8, we are reminded of the misunderstandings that often cloud interpretations of the Quran. Dr. Shabir Ally urges us to look beyond historical contexts and embrace a more evolved understanding of such verses. Recognizing that power encompasses various forms encourages a holistic approach to community defense and unity.

As we navigate these thought-provoking interpretations, it becomes our collective responsibility to spread the message of peace and understanding anchored in the Quran. The call to prepare, while steeped in historical context, persists as a relevant reminder to both seek strength and foster environments of safety and security, predicated on respect for all.

So, let us delve deeper into these teachings and work towards a genuine understanding, breaking barriers and misconceptions that have clouded the true message of Islam.