(أَلَا…)  (Would you not): This Arabic article is an incitement tool.

(أَلَا تُقَاتِلُونَ قَوْمًا نَّكَثُوا أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَهَمُّوا بِإِخْرَاجِ الرَّسُولِ…) (Would you not fight a people who broke their oaths and was determined to expel the Messenger): Quraysh violated all the treaties and expelled the Prophet Muhammad (saws) from Mecca. Similarly, the Jews committed the same act, broke their oaths and attempted to expel the Prophet (saws). from al-Medina Al-Munawwarah. So, it applies to the Arab polytheists from among the Quraysh and also to the Jews.

 (…وَهُم بَدَءُوكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ…)  (and they had begun [the attack upon] you the first time): The Divine instructions did not command to initiate wars or fighting with anyone. The Prophet Muhammad (saws) and the believers were in a state of self-defense against the aggression of others. The Quraysh expelled the Prophet (saws) from Mecca initially, and for the second time, they sought to expel him from the Medina Al-Munawwarah. Thus, when Allah (swt) wanted to motivate the believers to fight and confront the polytheists in the Battle of Badr, He said to them:

 (أَلَا تُقَاتِلُونَ قَوْمًا نَّكَثُوا أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَهَمُّوا بِإِخْرَاجِ الرَّسُولِ وَهُم بَدَءُوكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ) (Would you not fight a people who broke their oaths and was determined to expel the Messenger and they had begun [the attack upon] you the first time?): This is a clear evidence to all people that there was no aggression from the Muslims in any case, nor at any time.

(…أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ…) (Do you fear them?): This is an interrogative expression of disapproval, asking, “Is it reasonable that you should fear them?”

(…فَاللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَوْهُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ…) (But Allah has more right that you should fear Him, if you are [truly] believers): The believer in Allah (swt) should know that Allah (swt) dominates over his affairs, and Allah is the Omnipotent over everything. The person can neither harm nor benefit, give nor withhold, lower nor raise, except by the will of Allah (swt). What we observe in this world of manifestations are the causes and effects created by Allah (swt). Therefore, the Prophet (saws). said to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) in the Hadith:

” O boy! I will instruct you in some matters. Be watchful of Allah (Commandments of Allah), He will preserve you. Safeguard His Rights, He will be ever with you. If you beg, beg of Him Alone; and if you need assistance, supplicate to Allah Alone for help. And remember that if all the people gather to benefit you, they will not be able to benefit you except that which Allah had foreordained (for you); and if all of them gather to do harm to you, they will not be able to afflict you with anything other than that which Allah had pre-destined against you. The pens had been lifted and the ink had dried up”.”[1]

Indeed, this is the true meaning of the genuine faith; that two fears do not coexist in the heart of a servant: either fear of Allah (swt), or the fear of the creation of Allah (swt). The is the standard of, hence the interrogative and disapproving question comes:

 (…أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ…) (Do you fear them?)

[1] Sunan Tirmizi: The Book of the Description of the Hereafter, The Raqaiq and Wara’ from The Messenger of Allah (saws), Hadith no. 2516