The Verse of Preparation

"And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war" (Qur'an 8:60). This divine command establishes the obligation upon the Muslim community to prepare all forms of military strength and deterrent capability to confront enemies and protect the religion and its people.

The Prophetic Emphasis on Archery

The Messenger of Allah's (ﷺ) triple repetition of "surely strength is in shooting" indicates the utmost importance and emphasis placed on this specific military skill. In the classical understanding, this refers to proficiency with ranged weapons, which in our time extends to all modern ranged weaponry and missile technology.

This repetition serves to firmly establish this form of military preparation in the hearts of the believers and to remove any doubt about its obligatory nature for community defense.

Contemporary Application

The classical scholars explain that "steeds of war" in the verse encompasses all means of transportation and warfare relevant to each era. In our time, this includes tanks, aircraft, naval vessels, and all advanced military technology.

Likewise, "shooting" extends beyond traditional archery to include marksmanship with firearms, artillery, missile systems, and all projectile-based weapon systems that serve as deterrents against aggression.

The Objective of Preparation

This preparation is not for aggression but to deter enemies from attacking Muslim lands and to demonstrate the strength of the Muslim community. As the verse continues: "to threaten the enemies of Allah and your enemies." The purpose is defensive deterrence and the preservation of peace and security.