197. The responsibility to strengthen military power rests with the state.

Verse (8:60) of the Quran talks about strengthening state’s military power.Mobilization of military power is a mandatory duty of the rulers of Muslim countries. This verse should not be misconstrued as a decree for minorities to mobilize their forces.

Muslims did not mobilize forces when they were in Makkah or when they took refuge in Abyssinia. They initiated it only on assuming ruling powers in Madina, a feasible act of the time.

Strengthening any country’s military power on assuming powers cannot be found fault with. It needs to be taken note this verse was revealed only after Prophet Muhammad installed a government at Madina and not when he underwent untold miseries while in Makkah.

To know more about war, terrorism, Jihad, please refer to explanation points 53, 54, 55, 76, 89, 198, 199, 203, 359