ANFAL is plural of nafl which means something additional to what is obligatory or what one is entitled by right. When it is from a servant it means additional service over and above his duty which he willingly put for his master for example voluntary prayer. When it is from the master that would mean additional reward which he bestows to his servant over and above what he is entitled by right. Here Anfal is used for the spoils of war which Muslims seized in the battle of Badr. These have been called Anfal to impress upon the Muslims that these are not the fruits of their efforts and struggle but are bounties from Allah which He has bestowed on them.
The main theme of this Surah relates to the Battle of Badr ‘Ghazwa e Badr’. All the rules of war are also mentioned. The second theme is related to the belief in Allah through the act of sacrifice to gain martyrdom. As regards the military virtues which are the type of virtuous throughout the life we are shown by the analysis of incidents of Badr, how against the greater odds Allah’s help will give the victory if men are fighting not for themselves but for the sacred cause of Allah. And the directions are given for the treatment of prisoners and for maintaining the solidarity of the Muslim Ummah.
In this battle the Muslims gained victory. This battle proved to be of great benefit for the Muslims as in it virtually all the remaining people who survived accepted Islam. Muslims lost 14 people, whereas in case of non Muslims, 70 were killed and 70 were taken as captives who were treated very kindly. The message in the Surah clearly demarcated that all events leading to success are dependent on the personal behaviour and ethics of the players, even if it may be one sided i.e. only the Muslims have the ethics and the other party does not. The booty taken in battle should never be the aim in war. It is only an adventitious circumstance, a sort of windfall. A righteous war is a community affair and any accession resulting from it belongs to Allah or the community or cause. There should be no dispute as they interfere with internal discipline and harmony.
Key points to learn. The righteous person should never fear the wrong person. The true believers are only those whose hearts tremble at the remembrance of Allah, whose faith increases when Allah’s revelations are recited to them, and who put their trust in Allah. They establish prayer and donate from what Allah has provided to them. Allah will elevate ranks, forgiveness, of such people. We should not be like those who say that they have listened to Allah’s instructions as per Quran but in fact they were not listening. Indeed, the worst are those who remain wilfully deaf and dumb, who don’t understand. Had Allah known any goodness in them would certainly have made them hear. But even if He had made them hear, they would have surely turned away heedlessly. Allah doesn’t guide those who are not interested for guidance. Allah punishes wrongdoers in this world and then they will suffer the torment of the Fire. Allah stands between a person and their heart.
One must train oneself in everyday life like the soldiers of Badr were instructed to train themselves. For life is a war on the Nafs or the selfish part within us that prevents us from submitting to Allah. Sometimes we’re hit by calamities that we’re not prepared for. We show resistance, we complain and are unwilling to change. But after sometime when the calamity is over and things have changed, we thank Allah for that test. We should trust Allah in trials. Allah knows His plans for us. Know that all success and failure comes from Allah. Important to understand that the battles whether of war or personal battles are not fought for personal gains. All struggles must be for the glorification of Allah, and not to hide a personal reason behind a facade of fighting in the name of Allah or to glorify the name of Allah.
Learn the etiquette and emotions of the moment when one is faced with adversity. Also to stand by the covenants that one has forged with another and if the other party has broken the covenant to announce publicly that we are no longer bound by it and it has been broken. To be successful – Obey Allah and His Messenger and do not dispute with one another, or you would be discouraged and weakened. Persevere as Allah surely is with those who persevere. What prevents us from striving in the path of Allah- the love of this world, our desires, nafs & Satan. When you talk about Allah, be conscious of your words. Don’t say you fear Allah when you don’t mean it. It’s a satanic trait. Allah wants to give his servants blessings, but when we’re arrogant then Allah snatches the blessings.
To look and prepare for each detail in war and in a project or struggle that we are about to undertake even if odds are against us. To unite, cooperate and stand steadfast in the struggle of Islam. To mitigate from all disobedience of Allah. To leave them behind one land that disallows the practice of Islam for one that allows it. The ties of the Muslim Ummah are more significant than blood ties, even though the respect and consideration is recommended for blood ties. Ask questions to yourself: a] how much do I spend on myself, family & entertainment & how much I give in the way of Allah’s b] whatever we spend in. Allah’s way will be returned multiplied. Best sadaqah is the one given to support & spread Deen of Allah
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in US, Texas.
Email: [email protected]
Article 4
A strategic liability?
Dr Shoaib Baloch
THE rising tide of terrorism in Pakistan has faded the euphoria of Afghan Taliban’s triumph in Afghanistan. It was believed that the Taliban’s ascent to the helm of power would provide strategic leverage to Pakistan and reduce the role of India in Afghanistan. However, it has further complicated the regional security environment by creating new security challenges for the country. Growing incidents of terrorist activities in the country have raised the apprehension of the government and security apparatus that the anti-Pakistan militant outfits operating inside Afghanistan pose serious national security threats to the country.
Recently, Pakistan is grappling with multiple non-traditional security threats—economic insecurity, climate change, societal polarization, resource scarcity, natural disasters, refugee crisis and so on. These challenges have convinced the policy-makers in the country that only geopolitical engagement may not help achieve broader national interests in a shifting geopolitical climate. Against this backdrop, Pakistan opted for geo-economic statecraft to detach itself from crisis-based relations and pivot economic diplomacy, regional connectivity, commercial intercourse and foreign direct investment in its external engagement.
Therefore, peaceful Afghanistan seemed to be paramount. Pakistan thus played an instrumental role in convincing the US that there would be no military solution to Afghan quicksand. It resulted in the Doha deal between the US and the Taliban. In fact, the US policy priority also shifted from fighting global terrorism to managing great powers that contributed in the withdrawal of the US. Just after the withdrawal of coalition forces, the Taliban increased its offensive against the US-backed regime that resulted in the demise of central government in Afghanistan.
Interestingly, the rise of Taliban and the collapse of ‘India-friendly’ regime in Afghanistan sparked a wave of euphoria among strategic thinkers that Pakistan could achieve geopolitical leverage against India in the region. It will deepen Pakistan’s regional economic engagement as the Taliban regime may facilitate the country in expanding the CPEC to the Central Asian Republics—thereby zipping the Eurasian belt by connecting the entire Central Asia with the South Asian and the Indian Ocean region. Indeed, compressing space for India in Afghanistan was a strategic imperative, but the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan provided a fertile ground to the anti-Pakistan militant outfits.
Many scholars warned that the rise of Taliban would further complicate Pakistan’s security challenges. I have also deliberated upon this in my column “Chaotic Afghanistan: Why Pakistan needs to be cautious” that” the trepidation is that the Taliban’s victory may inspire other radical militant outfits, causing spillover radicalism. The Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is not free from concerns for Pakistan.” Apparently, the new wave of terrorism in the country has dimmed the prospects of the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The TTP and its affiliates have established their networks there and continue to carry out terrorist activities across Pakistan. According to Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, terror attacks have increased by 73 percent in Pakistan since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan.
In a major rift, Pakistan is ramping up its pressure on the Taliban. It has started expelling 1.7 million Afghan refugee and reconsidering its advocacy to the case ofthe Taliban-led government for formal recognition at international level. Pakistan blames the Taliban for providing a safe haven and other forms of material assistance to the TTP and its affiliates. It is also debated that Pakistan should exert economic pressure on the Taliban that may coerce the interim government to review its support for the TTP because Pakistan is the main artery of transit trade, 50 percent export destination, and 40 percent custom revenue for Afghanistan. Even some endorse other escalatory steps like ‘hot pursuit’ against militant groups, ‘cross-border military action’ to strike the leaders and camps of the TTP or even to support the opposition to the Taliban in Afghanistan that may force the regime to end its support to the TTP and extradite the leaders of militant groups to Pakistan. But it may create more risk of the Taliban’s support to the TTP.
In fact, eliminating the TTP and its affiliates needs a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy, intelligence sharing and the whole-of-government approach. Kinetic means need to be employed in order to wipe out the physical infrastructure of the militant outfits. Ensuring effective border security and management is essential for preventing and countering the flow of terrorist groups like the TTP and its affiliates, but comprehensive military deployment across the porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is indeed an uphill task. Yet, the use of non-kinetic strategies like multi-track diplomacy, direct talks with the Taliban government to shun its support for the TTP, and religious as well as cultural engagement may facilitate the country to compress the space for the TTP in Afghanistan.
Similarly, it is also imperative to seek international support for controlling the trans-boundary terrorism challenges from Afghanistan. Recently, Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen Asim Munir visited the US and met with the top US officials. Counter-terrorism cooperation and defence collaboration seem to have remained at the centre of Army Chief’s maiden visit to the US. The US agreed to support Pakistan in countering terrorism that can facilitate the country in wiping out the militant groups. As the US and Pakistan have long worked jointly in countering terrorism and intelligence sharing, renewed commitments will assist in tracking down the militant groups and eradicating their networks in the region.
What’s more, regional security mechanism for countering terrorism can also be convenient. China and Russia are the major countries sharing the same security concerns in the region. Counter-terrorism cooperation with regional countries can enhance the capacity to combat the TTP effectively. Yet, for long-term solution, there is a dire need of education reform to ensure religious tolerance, respect for diverse cultures, and social cohesion in society that can help in getting rid of extremism, sectarianism, radicalism, separatism and terrorism in the country.
—The writer is a strategic affairs and foreign policy analyst, based in Islamabad.
Email: [email protected]
views expressed are writer’s own.
