Surah Al-Fath 48:18-26 - Quran Translation Commentary

18. Allah was pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance to you beneath the tree.³⁵ HE knew what was in their hearts.³⁶ Hence HE sent down tranquility on them,³⁷ and rewarded them an early victory.³⁸

19. And many items of spoils that they will acquire.³⁹ Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.⁴⁰

20. Allah has promised you much spoils that you will capture ⁴¹ And HE gave you this (victory) quickly and restrained the hands of men from you.⁴² and did so to make it a sign for the believers ⁴³ and HE may guide you to a straight path.⁴⁴

21. And also other spoils over which you have no power yet. But Allah has encompassed them.⁴⁵ Allah is Able to do all things.

22. Had these disbelievers fought against you, they would have certainly turned their backs. Then they would not have found any guardian or any helper.⁴⁶

23. This is the practice (law) of Allah which is in force from the past ⁴⁷ and you will never find any change in the law of Allah.

24. HE it is Who with held their hands from you and your hands from them in the valley of Makkah, after giving you victory over them. ⁴⁸ And HE was seeing whatever you were doing.

25. It was these who disbelieved and debarred you from reaching the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid-ul-Haram), and also detained the animals from reaching their destination (place of sacrifice)⁴⁹ And had there not been (in Makkah) believing men and believing women whom you would not know and regarding whom had there not been an apprehension that you would crush them unknowingly thereby rendering you susceptible to allegation (the war would not have been restrained. It was restrained) so that Allah may admit whom HE may wish in His mercy.⁵⁰ Had they been apart WE would have given painful punishment to those (among Makkans) who disbelieved.⁵¹

26. When the disbelievers developed heat of excitement in their hearts-the excited in heat of ignorance (paganism) ⁵² Allah sent down HIS tranquility upon His messenger and believers ⁵³ and kept them bound to the word of selfrestraint and they were worthy and entitled of it.⁵⁴ And Allah know everything.

Commentary

35. The holy prophet took this oath from his holy companions in Hudaibiyah when an anxiety was created as Uthman, who was sent to the Quraish with a message informing them that they (Muslims) had not come for fighting but for performing Umrah, did not return. They (Muslims) thought then that they would have to confront the disbelievers for performing Umrah and that too in such a condition that they were in the Ihram uniform and did not have any arms for war. They had only swords for self-defence which normally all travelers possess. In such critical situation the holy prophet took an oath under a tree and made them swear that they would not run away and would sacrifice their lives for the fulfillment of their aim. The holy companions, who were fourteen hundred in number, had sworn likewise most willingly and enthusiastically. The Quraish were awed by this swearing and the offered peace. Prior to it Uthman had also returned. Allah was very much pleased by this oath which was taken at a critical juncture for staking lives in the company of the holy prophet. Since the oath-takers have been informed in this ayah that Allah was pleased with them, his swearing is called the swearing of pleasure of Allah (Baiyat-e- Rizwan). As Uthman had not, till then, returned, the Holy Prophet swore on his behalf. Thus Uthman also became fortunate to participate in it. The swearing of the prophet on behalf of Uthman is a proof of the fact that the holy prophet did not believe in the news that Uthman was killed in Makkah. Nor the oath was taken on the basis of the aforesaid rumour. He had taken the oath due to the apprehension of a confrontation with the disbelievers of Makkah. This ayah offers a testimonial of Allah’s pleasure to all those companions who were partners to that oath. Yet there is a group of Muslims who, excepting a few persons, brands all the companions delusive and taunts and curses them. Just see their temerity, they express their hatred for those with whom Allah has declared His pleasure. Would that, they rise above factionalism and amend their attitude in the light of the Quran!

36. The selflessness of their hearts and their faithfulness became clear.

37. They obtained peace of mind and heart by which they were so much encouraged that their morale remained high and they got ready to face any war.

38. That is: the conquest of Makkah which came shortly after the treaty of Hudaibiyah. Makkah was conquered in Muharram 7 H.E. This victory was a reward from Allah which was granted to the oath-takers in the Baiyat-e- Ridwan. “Early victory” indicated a destined thing hence it has been described in the past tense.

39. It points toward the war booty which was to be available in the wars of Khaibar etc. The booty which Muslims got according to this foretelling in Khaibar included treasure of gold and silver, one thousand lances, four hundred swords, five hundred bows as well as new war arms like minjaneeq (catapult) and Dabbabah (a kind of cannon) and also fields and oasis having forty thousand date trees. These fields and date trees were left in the possession of the Jews on condition that they would give half of their produce to the Muslims.Thus it turned out to be a big source of income for the Muslims of Madinah. (Gazvatul Khaibar, Muhammad Ahmad Bashmil, P. 270-271). Soon after Khaibar, Fadak and Wadiyul Qura were also conquered which also was a fertile area near Khaibar. It was decided with the Jews of this area also that they too would give half of the produce to Muslims. (Ibid. p.297).

40. Allah is overpowering and hence this plan of Him will certainly be fulfilled. Similarly He is Wise, so every decision of His is full of wisdom.

41. That is: besides Khaiber you would get many more booties too. Accordingly soon after that the Muslims got a lot of booty in the war of Hunain.

42. The immediate reward of the Baiat-e- Ridwan which you got was that you won Allah’s help and the disbelievers were so much awed by you that they could not raise their hand against you and became ready for peace.

43. That is: in such a situation when, due to Muslims’ being in the uniform of Haj (Ihram), were not in a position to fight and had entered the enemy territory, the Makkan disbelievers’ inaction against Muslims and readiness for peace was clearly a sign of Allah’s help in favour of the Muslims. Dawatul Quran 489 S. 48

44. May Allah guide you at each and every step.

45. This is a pointer to those big victories which Muslims were to achieve in future, especially the conquests of Persia and Rome, whereby the Muslims obtained treasures of war booty.

46. That is: if Muslims had to fight for entering Makkah they would have won the war and the disbelievers of Makkah would certainly have faced defeat. It would have been so because though the Muslims did not possess arms, yet when they got ready to sacrifice their lives in the Path of Allah, HIS help too had become a certainty for them. Disbelievers have to face defeat when confronted with Allah’s help, as had happened in the wars of Badr etc.

47. Allah’s tradition, that is: His way and rule has always been such that when the holy prophet had to enter the Warfield personally that war becomes a decisive war between the truth and falsehood. In such circumstances Allah’s help invariably reaches the prophet and his followers. It is mentioned in Surah Room :- “(Verily We sent before you messengers to their own people. They brought them clear signs. Then We punished them who were guilty, and it was incumbent upon Us to help believers.)” (Al-Room:47)

48. That is: your position had become fairly strong after the “Pledge of Ridwan” (Baiyate Rizwan)and Makkan disbelievers had become demoralized. Yet the war had become almost unavoidable for both the parties. Still the strategy of Allah required that there should be no war. Hence HE restrained both from confrontation and made them ready for treaty. One of the circumstances calling for restraint was also that a group of the disbelievers numbering eighty had poured down from the hillock of Taneem at the time of early morning prayer with an intention to kill the prophet. The holy companions caught them and brought them before the holy prophet. Since the prophet wanted to avoid war he released them.(Please see Tirmizi Tafseer Surah Fat’h).

HE it is Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the true religion so that HE may cause it to prevail over all religions And Allah suffices as a witness.(Al-Quran

49. It was sheer obstinacy on the part of the disbelievers that they barred the entry (into the place of sacrifice) of the sacrificial animals also which were respectable even in their eyes also.

50 . Here tha t exped ience ha s been mentioned in view of which Allah did not allow the war to occur and which resulted in the treaty of Hudaibiyah. In Makkah there were Muslim men and women whom the holy companions did not know. Therefore there was an apprehension of their being hit during the war. Allah Almighty showered His mercy upon them due to their faith and did not allow war. If they were to be destroyed by the hands of Muslims, the Muslims would ha ve regretted it very much a nd the disbelievers would have got an opportunity to say that Muslims massacred Muslims even in such a war which was fought under the command of their prophet. It can be derived from this that if it becomes necessary to attack a locality of disbelievers, every effort should be made to save the Muslims residing in that area. But if war is unavoidable then it cannot be deferred only to sa ve those Muslims, otherwise the disbelievers will get an opportunity to subdue the Muslims. In Hudaibiyah war was avoided through Allah’s prudence, otherwise the ‘Baiyat-e- Rizwaan’ was arranged only to ensure that Muslims would not turn back in case the war occurred. Allah Almighty revealed this prudence of the Hudaibiyah treaty afterwards but the holy companions had already obeyed the relevant order of the Holy prophet before the disclosure of its wisdom though they were having a dislike for that treaty. The wisdom was disclosed to them only to remove their prick and many glad tidings were given to them. It becomes clear from this that the obedience of order does not depend on the understanding of its wisdom. Command of Allah and His messenger is enough in itself f or being obeyed notwithsta nd ing the knowledge or ignorance of its wisdom. The holy companions were acting in such a way a nd theref ore they got guid a nce a f ter guidance and won Allah’s pleasure. Today’s Muslim insists on knowing the wisdom first and prepares for obedience only thereafter. He even disobeys. This is a very wrong way of thinking. It is contrary to obedience.

51 . Ha d the Ma kka n Muslims been residing apart from the residential locality of the disbelievers, Allah would have planned a forced entry into Makkah and crushing of disbelievers with Muslims’ hands.

52. The Makkan disbelievers knew it well that the holy prophet had arrived with his companions only for performing Umrah which was purely a religious affair for which they themselves had respect. But the feelings of ignorance overpowered them to such an extent that their prejudice rose high and they considered it shameful to allow a group of Muslims in their city. Therefore, they wanted to stop Muslims just to satisfy their arrogance and later on, when the treaty of Hudaibiyah was planned they insisted that Muslims should not perform Umrah that year but in the following year. Moreover they objected to the beginning of the text of the treaty with the words “Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem”(In the name of Allah, Rehman and Raheem) saying they did not know who was Rahman a nd a sked to write only “ B ismika Allahumma” (In thy name, O Allah). This prejudice of ignorance has been described in this ayah.

53. That is: such a state of peace of mind and satisfaction that they were not affected even by very unfavorable circumstances.

54. “Bound to the word of self-restraint” means that even in these critical moments they got such a guidance that they did not do anything contrary to self-restraint” The way they made “Baiyat-e- Rizwaan” and obeyed the order of the holy prophet despite their dislike for the treaty of Hudaibiyah is a clear proof of it. Moreover, when they had to return without performing Umrah from Hudaibiyah, they neither termed the prophet’s vision false nor objected to it. Whatever they asked was just a clarification. Thus only word of self-restraint came out of their mouths. They got such Dawatul Quran 493 S. 48 guidance because they were entitled to it on the ground of their self-less faith and also because by offering sacrifices in the path of Allah they had proved themselves worthy of “Taqwa” or God-fearingness. A tradition of Tirmizi says “Kalimatut Taqwa” means ‘La Ilaha Illallah” (There is no god but Allah).” But Tirmizi himself has clarified that this hadith is ‘Garib’(does not attain the standard of authenticity).” Still this narration is correct from the viewpoint that the basis of Taqwa is ‘‘La Ilaha Illallah Therefore” Kalimatut Taqwa” is really ‘“La Ilaha Illallah.’