Baada ya kuanzisha qibla ya kudumu na ya ulimwengu wote kwa Uislamu, na baada ya kueleza sifa kuu za jumuiya ya Waislamu ya "kati", inayotofautishwa na Uislamu na kwa nafasi yake ya ulezi juu ya wanadamu wengine, Qur’ani inawapa Waislamu maagizo mahususi ya kuvumilia dhiki kwa subira na kuidumisha swala zao. Haya ndiyo msaada bora walio nao katika kutekeleza wajibu wao mkubwa unaohitaji dhabihu kubwa.

Having established a permanent and universal qiblah for Islam, and having outlined the general features of the ‘middle’ Muslim community, distinguished by Islam and by its role of guardianship over the rest of mankind, the Qur’ān gives Muslims specific instructions to endure adversity with patience and to observe their prayers. These are the best help they may have in the fulfilment of their great role that requires great sacrifice.

Hizi ndizo sharti mbili muhimu kabisa ambazo ummah wa Kiislamu ulihitaji ili kuweza kustahimili mateso na mitihani iliyokuwa mbele yake, na kutekeleza nafasi yake ya kimataifa na ya kihistoria duniani. Ilibidi kutolewe dhabihu za maisha; umaskini, kifo, njaa na ukosefu wa usalama vilipaswa kukabiliwa kwa ujasiri na nguvu, ili ummah uweze kuanzisha na kulinda mpangilio wa dunia wa Kimungu, kuufanya uwe halisi katika jamii ya binadamu hapa duniani, na kuthibitisha mamlaka ya Mungu isiyo na mshindani juu ya mambo yake yote.

These are the two most essential requisites for the Muslim ummah to be able to withstand the hardships and trials that were to come, and to fulfil its universal and historic role in this world. Lives would have to be sacrificed; poverty, death, famine and insecurity would have to be faced with courage and strength, for the ummah to establish and defend the Divine world order, make it a reality in human society on this earth, and assert God’s unrivalled sovereignty over all its affairs.

Kwa malipo hayo, jamii ya Waislamu itapokea baraka, rehema na uongofu wa Mungu, jambo ambalo ni biashara yenye faida kubwa kweli, lau tu Waislamu wangelithamini.

In return, the Muslim community shall receive God’s blessings, mercy and guidance, making it a most profitable bargain indeed, if only the Muslims would appreciate it.

"Enyi mlioamini, tafuteni nguvu kwa subira na sala. Hakika Mungu yuko pamoja na wenye subira." (Aya ya 153) Subira imetajwa mara nyingi katika Qur'ani. Mungu anajua kwamba subira ni jambo la msingi katika kudumisha mwendo thabiti na wa usawa mbele ya magumu na majaribu yasiyoepukika ya maisha. Ni sharti kuu kwa jamii ya Waislamu katika wajibu wake wa kimataifa wa kuanzisha mpangilio wa Mungu duniani.

“Believers, seek strength in patience and prayer. God is with those who are patient.” (Verse 153) Patience is mentioned frequently in the Qur’ān. God is aware that patience is an essential element in maintaining a steady and balanced pace in the face of the inevitable hardships and adversities of life. It is a prime requirement for the Muslim community in its universal responsibility for establishing God’s order on earth.

Subira inahitajika katika ngazi ya binafsi kwa ajili ya kutekeleza wajibu wa kidini, kwa ajili ya kupinga majaribu, msiba, umaskini, dhulma na ukosefu wa haki, na kwa ajili ya kutekeleza majukumu ya mtu katika kuanzisha mfumo wa maisha wa Kiislamu katika jamii. Subira na uvumilivu vinahitajika ili kubaki daima macho, tayari kutoa dhabihu yoyote inayohitajika. Pale ambapo wale wanaopinga shauku ya Mwenyezi Mungu wanaonekana kuwa na madaraka, pale ambapo uongo unaonekana kuwa na nguvu mno, pale ambapo msaada unaonekana kucheleweshwa bila mwisho na lengo likionekana kuwa mbali sana, subira na uvumilivu ndivyo sifa muhimu zaidi za kuwa nazo. Pia vinahitajika kukabiliana na wale walio potovu, wakosaji, wakali na wanaoendelea kupinga ukweli kwa ukaidi.

Patience is required on the personal level for observing one’s religious duties, for resisting temptation, misfortune, poverty, oppression and injustice, and for carrying out one’s responsibilities towards the establishment of the Islamic way of life in society. Patience and perseverance are required to remain always on the alert, ready to give whatever sacrifice may be needed. When those who are hostile to God’s cause seem to wield power, when falsehood seems too strong, when help seems to be endlessly delayed and the destination too far away patience and perseverance are the most important qualities to have. They are also needed to face those who are deviant, erring, harsh and persistent in their opposition to the truth.

Wakati ushindi unaonekana mbali na mambo yanapokuwa magumu sana, watu huwa na tabia ya kukata tamaa na kuacha kujaribu. Ili kujiepusha na hali hiyo ya kukata tamaa, Mungu huunganisha subira na sala, kama chanzo kisichokwisha cha nguvu na nishati. Vitu hivyo viwili vinapoungana huijaza moyo kujiamini bila kikomo na ustahimilivu, na humpa muumini utulivu kamili, furaha na amani ya ndani.

When victory seems far away and the going gets really tough, people tend to lose heart and give up. To avoid that state of despair, God links patience with prayer, as an inexhaustible source of strength and energy. The two combine to infuse the heart with boundless confidence and fortitude and to impart to the believer total tranquillity, happiness and inner peace.

Qur’ani inaendelea na uhamasishaji wake wa kiroho wa jumuiya ya kwanza ya Waislamu wa Madina, huku jumuiya hiyo ikijiandaa kwa kazi muhimu na ya kihistoria ya kuwaongoza wanadamu kurudi kwa Mungu. Inaeleza madai makuu na matokeo ya mapambano yake magumu na ya muda mrefu, yaani jihadi, pamoja na dhabihu zinazoambatana nayo. Inabainisha vigezo sahihi na vya haki vya kupima na kutathmini matokeo yake: “Msiseme kuhusu wale waliouawa katika njia ya Mungu kwamba ‘wamekufa.’ Bali wao ni hai, lakini ninyi hamtambui.” (Aya ya 154)

The Qur’ān continues with its spiritual mobilization of the pioneering Muslim community of Madinah, as the latter braces itself for the crucial and momentous task of leading mankind back to God. It outlines the major demands and consequences of its hard and long struggle, or jihād, with its attendant sacrifices. It identifies the proper and correct criteria for the evaluation and appraisal of its outcome: “Do not say of those who are killed in God’s cause ‘They are dead.’ They are alive, although you do not perceive that.” (Verse 154)

Sūra hii inawaambia Waislamu kwamba, katika kupigania kuimarisha ukweli wa ulimwengu wote wa Mungu, maisha yatalazimika kutolewa dhabihu. Wale wanaohatarisha maisha yao na kwenda kupigana, na wako tayari kutoa maisha yao kwa ajili ya kazi ya Mungu, ni watu wenye heshima, safi wa moyo na wenye baraka za roho. Lakini mshangao mkubwa ni kwamba wale miongoni mwao watakaouawa katika mapambano hawapaswi kuchukuliwa au kuelezwa kuwa wamekufa. Wanaendelea kuishi, kama Mungu Mwenyewe anavyosema waziwazi.

The sūrah tells the Muslims that, in the fight to uphold God’s universal truth, lives will have to be sacrificed. Those who risk their lives and go out to fight, and who are prepared to lay down their lives for the cause of God are honourable people, pure of heart and blessed of soul. But the great surprise is that those among them who are killed in the struggle must not be considered or described as dead. They continue to live, as God Himself clearly states.

Kwa kila maana, watu hao wanaweza kuonekana kama wamekufa, lakini uhai na kifo havipimwi kwa vigezo vya kimwili vya juu juu tu. Uhai hasa unatambulishwa na shughuli, ukuaji na kuendelea kuwepo, wakati kifo ni hali ya kupoteza kabisa kazi, kutokuwa na mwendo kabisa na kukosa uhai. Lakini kifo cha wale wanaouawa kwa ajili ya dini ya Mwenyezi Mungu huongeza msukumo kwa sababu hiyo, ambayo huendelea kustawi kwa damu yao. Athari yao kwa wale walioachwa nyuma nayo inakua na kuenea. Hivyo, baada ya kufa kwao wanabaki kuwa nguvu hai inayounda maisha ya jamii yao na kuyapa mwelekeo. Ni kwa maana hii kwamba watu kama hao, waliotoa maisha yao kwa ajili ya Mwenyezi Mungu, wanaendelea kuwa na uwepo hai katika maisha ya kila siku. Pengine, kwa upande mwingine, wako hai katika kiwango au hali nyingine ya kuwepo ambayo sisi hapa hatuwezi kuiona wala kuifikiria.