Darsul Quran. Al Nisa [The Women]: 101 (2) - 107

101. Whosoever emigrates from his country for the sake of Allah will find in the earth an abundant place of refuge and provisions aplenty. Whoso goes forth from his home emigrating for the sake of Allah and His Messenger and death overtakes him his reward is destined with Allah. For Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful.

102. When you travel in the land there shall be no blame on you to shorten the Prayer, if you fear that those who disbelieve may give you trouble. Verily the disbelievers are your sworn enemies.

103. If thou art among them and leadest them in Prayer let a group of them stand with thee along with their arms. Then when they have performed their prostrations let them position to guard your rear, and let another group who have not yet prayed come forward and pray with thee armed with their precautionary defences. The disbelievers wish that you be heedless of your arms and your baggage that they may fall upon you suddenly. But there shall be no blame upon you if you are inconvenienced on account of rain or if you are sick and you lay aside your arms. But be on your guard. Surely Allah has prepared an humiliating chastisement for the disbelievers.

104. When you have finished the Prayer then remember Allah while standing and sitting and reclining. When you feel secure then keep up Prayer; verily Prayer is enjoined on the believers at prescribed times.

105. Slacken not in pursuing these people. If you suffer in the process they too suffer even as you suffer. But you hope from Allah what they hope not. Allah is All-Knowing, Wise.

106. Surely We have sent down to thee the Scripture comprising the truth that thou mayest judge between men according to what Allah has shown thee. And do not plead the cause of those who betray the trust.

107. Ask forgiveness of Allah. Surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful.


Verse number 101 states that whoever emigrates for the cause of Allah will receive 'in the earth an abundant place of refuge and provisions aplenty'. This verse can be applied to the different meanings of مُرَاغَمًا ['provisions']. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) has said: If someone emigrates because of religious prosecution in the cause of God they will be granted religious eminence. So it should be remembered that when one desires to leave the country it should only be in a situation in which obeisance to one's religion is made difficult. One has to strive strenuously after emigrating from one's own country as it is not something that is left easily. When I migrated the Clerics posited the same issue before General Ziaul Haq that because he had allowed me to leave the country, I was now carrying out wonderful works on a grand scale so this is an excellent portrayal of 'provisions aplenty’. Almighty God has granted so many blessings that apart from the religious triumph the financial blessings cannot be imagined. The Promised Messiah says that illnesses are cured as a result of [religious] emigration.* There are many who come to the Jalsa [Annual Ahmadiyya Convention] and their health improves. This is a wonderful point mentioned by the Promised Messiah. All these themes are included within 'provisions aplenty'.

The fundamental issue in verse number 102 is that the Holy Prophet never made any decision contrary to the purposes of the revelation. Shortening the prayer during a journey is permitted and the Holy Prophetﷺ himself acted accordingly. The Prayer during a journey and the Prayer of Fear are different issues. What is clear that when on a journey the Holy Prophetﷺ would shorten the Prayer, recite short Surahs and combine the Prayers. This issue is clarified through the various opinions of the scholars about Praying on a Journey.

It is stated in verse number 103 'If thou art among them and leadest them in Prayer'. This is not a commandment for every Imam but is exclusive to the Holy Prophet. The Prayer of Fear is distinct from the Prayer of a Journey. The Prayer of a Journey can be halved as well. The Quranic injunction regarding the Prayer of Fear reveals that actually the Holy Prophet's Prayer of Fear would be very long and the wisdom behind it was that the real protection came about as a result of the prayer. 'Surely Allah has prepared a humiliating chastisement for the disbelievers' is a prophecy in itself of the defeat and humiliation of the disbelievers. Much can be said at length about 'prescribed times'. There are many examples that have been given about the wisdom behind the timings of the five [daily] prayers.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. 22 January 1903. 'Malfuzat: iv'. 158.


30 December 1998. © The Tahir Archive, 2012.