JIHAD CHAPTER · 106 – RETURNING ON A DAY OF WAR
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the verse, “If there were twenty among you with perseverance, they could overcome two hundred,” (of Surah al-Anfal, 65) was revealed. When it became obligatory for a believer not to flee from ten people, this number proved burdensome for the believers, and then the following verse was revealed: "Now Allah has lightened [the burden] for you." Abu Taha recited up to the verse, “Now if there were one hundred persevering ones among you, they could overcome two hundred,” (Surah al-Anfal, 66). Then Allah Most High eased their numbers, and lessened from their perseverance by as much as He eased [the burden] upon them.
Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
I was in a raiding party of the Prophet’s ﷺ expeditions. The soldiers attempted to flee, and I was among those who attempted to flee. We said, “How shall we do when we have separated? Indeed, we have fled from war. We returned fearing Allah's wrath.” We said to ourselves, "Let us enter Medina, remain there, and then go back to fighting, so that no one sees us."
He (Abdullah ibn Umar) said: "We entered Medina and decided to present ourselves to the Prophet ﷺ. If our repentance is not accepted, we will return."
He (Abdullah ibn Umar) said: “We sat down awaiting the Prophet ﷺ before the Fajr prayer, and when he emerged, we stood before him. We said, ‘We are those who fled from war.’”
The Prophet ﷺ turned to us and said, "No, perhaps you are those who return to fighting."
He (Abdullah ibn Umar) said: “We approached the Prophet ﷺ, kissed his hand, and he said, 'I too am part of the Muslim community.'" [449]
COMMENTARY
*Hassa:* To attempt to flee, to deviate from the path.
*Akkarun:* Is returning to war after having turned back from it.
Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
It was said that the verse, "And whoever turns back on that day – then indeed, Shaytan has made him astray," (Surah Al-Anfal, verse 16) was revealed on the Day of Badr.