First Qur’ānic Verse Regarding Jihād

Historians write that the very first Qur’ānic verse regarding Jihād by the sword was revealed to the Holy Prophet(sa) on 12 Ṣafar 2 A.H.1, or 15 August 623 A.D.2, when a period of approximately one year had elapsed since the arrival of the Holy Prophet(sa) to Madīnah. That verse is as follows:

“Permission to fight is granted to the Muslims against whom the disbelievers have taken up the sword because they (i.e., the Muslims) have been wronged - And Allāh indeed has power to help them - Those who have been driven out of their homes unjustly, only because they said, ‘Our Lord is Allāh’ - And if Allāh the Exalted did not repel some men by means of others (by granting permission for defensive war), there would surely have been pulled down cloisters belonging to monks and Christian churches and Jewish synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of God is oft-commemorated. And Allāh the Exalted will surely help one who helps Him. Undoubtedly, Allāh the Exalted is Powerful, Mighty.”3

The clarity and lucidity with which these verses of the Holy Qur’ān exhibit the fundamental purpose of the initial Islāmic wars and the state of the Muslims at the time requires no explanation. If one contemplates, four things are evident from this verse. Firstly, in this war, it was the disbelievers who took the first step as is evident from the word . Secondly, that the disbelievers severely wronged the Muslims, and it was these very cruelties which were the cause of war, as has been mentioned in the words, . Thirdly, the purpose of the Quraish was to annihilate the religion of Islām as indicated in the word . Fourthly, the purpose of the Muslims announcing war was self-defense and protection, as indicated in the words Therefore, this verse of the Holy Qur’ān, which is the very first verse on Jihād by the sword, states with extreme clarity that it was the disbelievers who had initiated these wars, and they desired to expunge Islām by force. It was the Muslims who had been wronged, and it was only in self-defense and protection that they took up the sword. I believe this sole verse to be a sufficient response to all those allegations which have been levelled by the opponents of Islām, in relation to Jihād by the sword. If only one choses to understand.