Another example is what is said of Bilāl and others like him: “They were among those tortured for Allah’s sake.” It is also said that Abū Bakr bought seven of those tortured for Allah’s sake. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Travel is a kind of torment.”

Since this is so, consider the statement of the Most High:

“Say, ‘He is able to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to divide you into factions and make you taste one another’s violence.’”

Together with this is the report established in the two Sahīh collections from Jābir concerning the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“When the words, ‘Say, “He is able to send punishment upon you from above you,”’ were revealed, he said, ‘I seek refuge in Your Face.’ At the words, ‘or from beneath your feet,’ he said, ‘I seek refuge in Your Face.’ At the words, ‘or to divide you into factions and make you taste one another’s violence,’ he said, ‘These two are less severe.’”

This implies that our being divided into factions and made to taste one another’s violence is among the punishments averted by seeking forgiveness. As He says:

“Beware of a trial that will not afflict only the wrongdoers among you.”

Such trials are averted only by seeking forgiveness for sins and doing righteous deeds. As for the statement of the Most High:

“If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment and replace you with another people,”

the punishment may come from Him, or it may come at the hands of people. When people abandon jihad in Allah’s cause, He may try them by sowing enmity among them until strife breaks out between them, as indeed happens. For when people occupy themselves with jihad in Allah’s cause, Allah unites their hearts, brings them together, and directs their might against Allah’s enemy and theirs.