Chapter XXXI is one of the oldest of the Meccan Suras, having been
revealed between the sixth and tenth year of the Prophet's mission. The
admonition relates to a man's behaviour to his parents. He is enjoined
to treat them with kindness, but not to obey them if they lead him to
polytheism.

Here "_Jahada_" means "if they two (parents) task or toil thee, or make
efforts and endeavour (that thou shouldst associate any god with God),"
and none of the translators and commentators take the word to mean the
making of war or hostilities or fighting.

[Sidenote: (2) Furkan, XXV, 53, 54.]

14. "Moreover had We pleasured We had certainly raised up a warner
in every city."

"Do not then obey the unbelievers, but by means of this (_Jahid_)
exert with them with a (_Jihadan kabira_) strenuous exertion (or
labour with great labour)."

This evidently relates to the Koran, or the warning mentioned in the
preceding verse, and it is wrong to translate "_Jihad_" as meaning to
fight strenuously with them, or as inciting to strenuous fighting as
translated by Henry Palmer (Vol. II, p. 88). Mr. Sale and the Rev. Mr.
Rodwell do not translate it fighting, and so Mohammadan commentators.
Fakhr-ud-din Razi (died 606 A.H.), the Imam, in his great commentary
says:

"Some say _Jahid hoom bihi Jihadan Kabira_ means to make efforts in
preaching, but some say it meant fighting, and others say it meant
both; but the former is nearer the truth, as the chapter was
revealed at Mecca, and the command for fighting was issued after
the Flight, some time afterwards" (Vol. VI, p. 490).

[Sidenote: (3) The Pilgrimage,[329] XXII, 76, 78.]

15. "Believers! bow down with worship your Lord and work
righteousness, haply ye may prosper."

"And ('_Jahidoo_') make efforts in God, as (_Jihadehi_) your making
efforts is His due, He hath elected you, and hath not laid on you
any hardship in religion, the Faith of your father Abraham. He hath
named you the Muslims."

Messrs. Sale and Palmer translate the word here as meaning fighting,
which is wrong, as it is unclassical and not literal. Rodwell translates
it "do valiantly," and Sir William Muir says it is used in the more
general sense (Vol. III, p. 32).

This verse is a brief and concise version of the great maxim in Deut.
VI. 5; Mark XII. 30; and Luke X. 27,--

"Thou shalt love thy God with all thy heart, and with all