The Monumental Struggle Of Good Versus Evil
The Monumental Struggle Of Good Versus Evil
Translated excerpts from a book by Dr Sheikh Abdul-Kareem Zaydan, Lecturer at the University of Baghdad,
"This will be a monumental struggle of good versus evil, but good will prevail." [President George W. Bush, 12 September 2001]
"The terrorist act is the action of some American group. I have nothing to do with it. The United States had invited Allah's wrath because it is trying to control the entire world by force." [Usama bin Ladin, 11 September 2001]
Contents
The Definitions of the Terms:‘The Truth’ and ‘Falsehood’
The Struggle Between the Truth and Falsehood is the Struggle Between Their Followers
The Inevitability of the Struggle Between the Truth and Falsehood
Falsehood Possesses Power that Causes it to Transgress
The Sunnah of Allaah Concerning the Struggle Between the Truth and Falsehood
The Sunnah of Allaah Concerning His Granting of Victory to the Believers Does Not Change
Excerpts from the Quraan Regarding the Sunnah of Allaah Concerning His Granting of Victory to the Believers
The Victory of the Believers Could be Delayed for a Greater Victory
The Believers Could Sustain Injuries and Enemy Domination Before Their Victory
The Definitions of the Terms:‘The Truth’ and ‘Falsehood’
The scholars of Fiqh have not specifically defined the term ‘The Truth’, for it is as if they have sufficed with its linguistical meaning. They have used it upon this foundation and applied it in their research of Fiqh concerning everything that is established and obligatory according to the rulings of the Sharee’ah. Hence, 'Falsehood' is something that is not correct and does not entail the requisites of that which is established and correct according to the Sharee’ah.
The Struggle Between the Truth and Falsehood is the Struggle Between Their Followers
The struggle between the Truth and Falsehood is in reality between the followers of the Truth and the followers of Falsehood, that is to say, between the believers and those other than them. This is because it is these followers who are the ones who carry the tenets of Truth or Falsehood and it is them who strive to promote these beliefs in the world. They attempt to establish the affairs of life upon their respective foundations and hence disagreement and competition occurs. Struggle arises between the two parties, the followers of the Truth, the believers and the followers of Falsehood, those others besides the believers.
The Inevitability of the Struggle Between the Truth and Falsehood
Struggle between the Truth and Falsehood, that is to say between their followers, is a matter that must arise and is inevitable because they are opposites and opposites do not gather together. This is because the implementation of one necessitates rivalry with the other, its expulsion, eradication and extermination or at the least, causes it to become weak and prevent it from having an affect in current life. Hence it cannot be conceived that the Truth and Falsehood can survive together in peace without one of them overcoming the other, except due to a reason, such as a weakness of their followers or their ignorance concerning the tenets of Truth and Falsehood and the essentials of these beliefs or due to their weak conviction in them.
Falsehood Possesses Power that Causes it to Transgress
We have mentioned that the meaning of the word fighting linguistically is, to eliminate using force. The fight between the Truth and Falsehood, that is the fight between their followers, is enacted with force. The followers of Truth and Falsehood each struggle to crush the other from its position and strive to defeat it. The followers of Falsehood do not suffice themselves with their mere existence upon their Falsehood rather they endeavour to eliminate the Truth, its followers and obstruct the people from it by using strength. They attempt this by spending wealth, using violence and by every means they see fit, which contains potential and potency to realize their goal.
This is the stance of Falsehood and the power that it possesses. This power drives it into transgression against the Truth in an attempt to eradicate it and its followers.
The Most High has said:
"Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth in order to hinder from the path of Allaah, and so they will continue to spend it but in the end it will develop into regret for them. Then they will be defeated…" [Quran 8:36]
The Most High has also said:
"…and they will never cease fighting you until they turn you back from your religion if they can…" [Quran 2:217]
The violence displayed by the disbelievers towards the believers is a war they endure in order to give victory to their Falsehood, hence it is in the cause of Taaghoot ,
The Most High has said:
"Those who believe, fight in the cause of Allaah and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of Taaghoot…" [Quran 4:76]
The Sunnah1 of Allaah Concerning the Struggle Between the Truth and Falsehood
The Sunnah of Allaah, The Most High, has decreed that in the struggle between the Truth and Falsehood the eventual victory is for the Truth and its followers and that decline and annihilation is the share of Falsehood and its followers.
The Most High has said:
"…and Allaah wipes out falsehood and establishes the truth with His word…" [Quran 42:24]
Zamakhshari states in his Tafseer of this verse, '…and from the practice of Allaah is that He erases Falsehood and establishes the Truth with His Word, that is to say with His Revelation and Decree, such as in His saying:
"Nay we hurl the truth against falsehood so it destroys it and behold it vanishes." [Quran 21:18]'2
It is mentioned in the in the Tafseer of Raazi concerning this verse: 'That is to say, it is from the custom of Allaah to abolish Falsehood and affirm the Truth.' 3
The Most High has said:
"Verily, Allaah does not amend the work of those who cause corruption." [Quran 10:81]
Rasheed Ridhaa states in his Tafseer of this verse, 'This is a general principle that clarifies the Sunnah of Allaah concerning the conflict between the Truth and Falsehood and between amendment and corruption. This includes the magic practiced by the magicians of Pharaoh, for indeed it was falsehood and corruption. That is to say, Allaah does not make the actions of those who cause corruption to be upright.'4
Zamakhshari also cites in his Tafseer of this verse, 'He does not establish it nor does He prolong it, rather he authorizes its destruction.'5
Furthermore Aaloosi mentions in his Tafseer of it, 'What is intended by Him not amending this is Him not strengthening it with His assistance. That is to say, He, Glory be to Him, does not substantiate the works of those who cause corruption nor does He cause their works to prolong in existence. Rather He eliminates and eradicates them and does not strengthen or aid them. He makes their falsity apparent and causes them to become extinct.'6
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1 - The word Sunnah in the Arabic language means, line of conduct, way or course, whether this be good or bad. It is noted that the connotations of the word Sunnah revolve around the meaning, the followed course. Hence the meaning of the phrase ‘The Sunnah of Allaah’ is, the course that Allaah follows in his treatment of mankind based upon their behaviour, actions and attitudes towards His Sharee’ah and Prophets, including the incurred consequences of this in this world and in the next.
2 - Tafseer az-Zamakhshari: 4/222
3 - Tafseer ar-Raazi: 27/168
4 - Tafseer al-Manaar: 11/468
5 - Tafseer az-Zamakhshari: 2/263-264
6 - Tafseer al-Aaloosi: 11/168
The Sunnah of Allaah Concerning His Granting of Victory to the Believers Does Not Change
The Sunnah of Allaah, concerning His granting of victory to the believers, does not ever vary because He, Himself, The Most High, has informed of it and Allaah is the most true of those who make declarations. In what is to follow I will recall some excerpts from the Quraan indicating towards this.
Excerpts from the Quraan Regarding the Sunnah of Allaah Concerning His Granting of Victory to the Believers
A- The Most High has said:
"And if those who disbelieve were to fight against you they certainly would have turned their backs, then they would have found neither protector nor helper. That has been the Sunnah of Allaah, which has elapsed before, and you will not find change in the Sunnah of Allaah." [Quran 48:22-23]
Qurtubi states concerning His saying, "...that has been the Sunnah of Allaah, which has elapsed before…":
'This means the way of Allaah and His practice that has passed, is His granting of victory to the believers over their enemies.'7
Ibn Katheer cites in his Tafseer of this verse, 'That is to say, this is the Sunnah of Allaah, The Most High, and His practice concerning His creation. Disbelief and belief do not meet in the battlefield except that Allaah gives victory to belief over disbelief and He raises the Truth and lowers Falsehood, just as He, The Most High, did on the day of the Battle of Badr.'8
B -The Most High has said:
"Verily, Messengers were denied before you, but with patience they bore the denial, and they were hurt, until Our Victory reached them, and none can alter the words of Allaah…" [Quran 6:34]
It has been mentioned in the Tafseer of His words, "…and none can alter the words of Allaah…":
'That is to say, those that He has written concerning the victory of His believing slaves in this world and in the next, as He,
The Most High has said,
"And Verily, Our word has gone forth of old concerning Our slaves, the Messengers, that they verily would be made the triumphant ones and that Our soldiers they indeed would be the victors." [Quran 37:171-173]'9
C- The Most High has said:
"And Verily, Our word has gone forth of old concerning Our slaves, the Messengers, that they verily would be made the triumphant ones and that Our soldiers they indeed would be the victors." [Quran 37:171-173]
Zamakhshari has mentioned in his Tafseer concerning this verse, 'The word is His saying,
The Most High says, "…that they verily would be made the triumphant ones and that Our soldiers they indeed would be the victors."
…it is a promise regarding their dominance over their enemies in the battlefields and the front lines of fighting in this world and their supremacy over them in the next.'10
D- The Most High has said:
"Allaah has decreed: Certainly, it is I who shall conquer, and My Messengers. Verily, Allaah is All Powerful and All Mighty." [Quran 58:21]
Ibn Katheer states in his Tafseer of this verse, 'That is to say, Allaah has ordained and written in His first Book11, His decree, which is not contradicted nor is it barred or altered, that victory is for Him, His Messengers and His believing slaves in this world and the next.'12
E- The Most High has said:
"Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this worldly life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth." [Quran 40:51]
Ibn Katheer states concerning this verse,
'This is the Sunnah of Allaah, The Most High, amongst His creations, as old as time itself and its beginning, that is Allaah grants victory to his believing slaves in this world and soothes their eyes from those who harm them. The scholar Sudy states: "Allaah, The Most Honourable and Majestic, has not raised a Prophet amongst a people except that they have fought him. Or there have not been a believing people who invite towards the truth except that there are others who fight them. Hence they are dispersed, until Allaah, The Most Blessed and Most High, raises those who grant victory to them and seek justice for their spilt blood from those who transgressed against them in this world." Sudy further states: "Hence the Prophets and believers are fought in this world and they are given victory in it."'13
The meaning of this being; the believers, they are the followers of the Truth and they are the victors even if the followers of Falsehood apparently defeat them. For the final conquest is for the believers even if it is delayed for a while. For there will arise those who will punish the followers of Falsehood and slaughter them as a recompense for that which they committed against the followers of the Truth. Hence this is a sign of decline for the followers of Falsehood and their defeat by the followers of the Truth.
F- The Most High has said:
"…it is incumbent upon us to grant victory to the believers." [Quran 30:47]
Aaloosi states in his Tafseer of this verse, 'This verse contains a further bestowal of honour and dignity upon the believers for they are those who deserve Allaah’s assistance and it is indicated here that vengeance is taken for their sake. The apparent meaning of this verse signifies that this victory is in this world and that it is general, encompassing all believers, thus it includes those coming after these Prophets of future nations.'14
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7 - Tafseer al-Qurtobi: 16/280
8 - Tafseer Ibn Katheer: 4/192
9 - Tafseer Ibn Katheer: 2/130
10 - Tafseer az-Zamakhshari: 4/67
11 - Meaning Al-Lowh Al-Mah-foodth, the Book that is with Allaah, in which everything is written
12 - Tafseer Ibn Katheer: 4/229
13 - Tafseer Ibn Katheer: 4/83-84
14 - Tafseer al-Aaloosi: 21/52
