Surah Al-Anfal 8:65-69 - Quran Translation Commentary

(8:65) O Prophet! Urge on the believers to fight.¹¹⁹ If there be twenty of you - steadfast - they will overcome two hundred. And if there be a hundred of you, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved¹²⁰ - because they are a people who do not understand.¹²¹

(8:66) (However) Allah has now lightened it for you¹²² knowing that there is weakness in you. So, if there be a hundred of you - steadfast - they will overcome two hundred. And if there be a thousand of you, they will overcome two thousand by the leave of Allah.¹²³ And Allah is with the steadfast.

(8:67) It is not for any Prophet that he should have captives¹²⁴ before he has inflicted massacre in the land.¹²⁵ You desire the chance goods of the world, but Allah desires the Hereafter.¹²⁶ And Allah is All-mighty, All-wise.

(8:68) If not for a writing of Allah preceding, surely, a mighty chastisement would have touched you for what you took.¹²⁷

(8:69) So eat now (freely),¹²⁸ of what you have secured of the spoils: lawful, goodly,¹²⁹ and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-forgiving, All-kind.

Commentary

119. Accordingly, we find that whenever the forces lined up, the Prophet urged the believers to fight for Paradise. For instance, at Badr he addressed them in words,

قُومُوا إِلَى جَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ. قَالَ يَقُولُ عُمَيْرُ بْنُ الْحُمَامِ الأَنْصَارِىُّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ جَنَّةٌ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ قَالَ « نَعَمْ ». قَالَ بَخٍ بَخٍ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « مَا يَحْمِلُكَ عَلَى قَوْلِكَ بَخٍ بَخٍ ». قَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ رَجَاءَةَ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا. قَالَ « فَإِنَّكَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا ». فَأَخْرَجَ تَمَرَاتٍ مِنْ قَرْنِهِ فَجَعَلَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُنَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَئِنْ أَنَا حَيِيتُ حَتَّى آكُلَ تَمَرَاتِى هَذِهِ إِنَّهَا لَحَيَاةٌ طَوِيلَةٌ - قَالَ - فَرَمَى بِمَا كَانَ مَعَهُ مِنَ التَّمْرِ. ثُمَّ قَاتَلَهُمْ حَتَّى قُتِلَ.

"Rise up for a Paradise whose expanse is the heavens and the earth." At that `Umayr b. al-Humam asked, "The expanse of the heavens and the earth?!" The Prophet replied, "Yes." He said, "Bravo. Bravo." The Prophet asked, "What made you say that?" He replied, "Hoping to be one of its inhabitants." The Prophet said, "You are one of its inhabitants." The man advanced, broke the sheathe of his sword, and bringing out some dates began to chew. Then he threw them away, muttering, "If I am to stay alive until I have finished them, that would be a long life." Then he advanced into the enemy lines until he was martyred (Ibn Kathir).

120. It has been reported that when it was said by the Qur'an that Muslims were not to retreat against a force ten times their size, they felt it hard to do that and so Allah granted them concession. Now they are not to be disheartened confronting a force twice their size (Ibn Jarir).

A report to this effect is in Bukhari (Ibn Kathir).

Thus, the second alternative does not abrogate the first (Qurtubi).

121. To combine and summarize what Ibn Jarir has to report of the opinions of the first generation scholars is as follows: The implication of the words, "that is because they are a people who do not understand," is that the unbelievers have no understanding of the truth or falsehood, and therefore, cannot justify, in their hearts, what they are fighting for. This lack of conviction about the causes leads them to an inner weakness and consequently to defeat.

Sayyid Qutb elaborates: "What's the connection between victory and understanding? Apparently, there seems to be none. But there is an underlying powerful connection. The Muslim-group stands out because it knows its path and understands its direction. It knows the purpose of its own existence and is cognizant of its ultimate goal. It knows the truth of Divinity and the truth of submission. It has the understanding that the Divinity has to have an over-arching position and that submission has to be for Him alone and none else. The Muslim Ummah knows that it has to be guided by Allah's guidance, that it has to move forward by the leave of Allah for the release of the people from the slavery of their own kind, and to bind them to the slavery of Allah. It realizes that it happens to be Allah's vicegerent on the earth: enjoying its existence not for its own sake, rather to hold aloft Allah's Word by way of its own utmost struggle, in order that the earth may be inhabited by right and the judgment among the people be by right, and, in order that Allah's kingdom be established on the earth. Realizations of this sort fill the heart of the Muslim-group with light, trust, power, and faith. These inner forces urge the group onward to jihad with confidence in the future adding to its power. In contrast, its adversaries are a people who "do not understand." Their hearts are locked up, eyes are blind, and strength weak - whatever the apparent material strength - for the power they possess has been severed off its source."

122. This part of the verse makes it clear that the earlier part was a commandment and not the statement of a fact. That is, twenty Muslims were required to fight 200 unbelievers (Razi).

123. When a few face a difficult task, everybody puts in his best efforts knowing that his slackness can lead to failure of the group. But when they are in a large number, then the individual takes the efforts of the others for granted, and assumes that his own slackness will not have a serious effect. This could be the reason why Allah lightened and ordered that if the Muslims are a thousand, they should not flee against two thousand (Thanwi).

124. Asad points out what some Qur’anic readers miss to note: ‘As almost always in the Qur'an, an injunction addressed to the Prophet is, by implication, binding on his followers as well. Consequently, the above verse lays down that no person may be taken, or for any time retained, in captivity unless he was taken prisoner in jihad - that is, a holy war in defence of the Faith or of freedom - and, therefore, the acquisition of a slave by "peaceful" means, and the keeping of a slave thus acquired, is entirely prohibited: which to all practical purposes, amounts to a prohibition of slavery as a "social institution".'

125. Yusuf Ali comments: ‘Destruction and slaughter, however repugnant to a gentle soul like that of Muhammad, were inevitable where evil tried to suppress the good. Even Jesus, whose mission was more limited, had to say: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace but a sword." (Matt, x. 34).'

Majid explains Jihad and quotes from older Scriptures. He writes: "The object of the Islamic jihad being the extirpation of the forces of paganism and the restoration of the kingdom of God, there was no sense in the warrior-prophet sheathing his sword until the culprits had got their desert and their capacity for mischief utterly smashed. Cf. the far more rigid military law of the OT:- ‘And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thine hands thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword' (Dt. 20: 13). ‘And this is the thing that ye shall do. Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man' (Ju. 21: 11). Among the Jews, ‘if a city resisted their summons, the males without distinction, were put to the sword; the seven nations of Canaan were dashed to destruction; and neither repentance nor conversion could shield them from the inevitable doom, that no creature within their precincts should be left alive' (GRE. V. p. 359)."

126. The following has come down as the context of revelation. It is reported by `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud that when seventy of the Quraysh were taken captive, the Prophet sought counsel of the Companions as to what should be done with them. Abu Bakr suggested, "Messenger of Allah. They are your kinsfolk and tribesmen. So, hold on for a while. Maybe Allah will turn to them in mercy." `Umar said, "They are a people who cried lies to you and banished you. So, behead them all." Another companion, `Abdullah ibn Rawaha suggested, "Look for a wooded valley. Shut them up therein and set the whole place on fire." At that `Abbas said to him, "Man. You have severed blood-ties." The Prophet himself said nothing. So the opinion of the people got divided between the opinions of Abu Bakr, `Umar and `Abdullah ibn Rawaha. Finally, he came out to them and said, "There are people whose hearts are as soft as milk. There are others whose heart is as hard as stones. Your example, O Abu Bakr is similar to that of Ibrahim who said,

فَمَنْ تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ [إبراهيم : 36]

‘Whoever followed me, is of me. As for him who disobeyed me, then, You are, (our Lord,) All-forgiving, All-Kind.' And, your example, O Abu Bakr, is similar to that of Jesus who said,

وَإِنْ تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ [المائدة : 118]

‘If you forgive them (today), then, (after all) they are Your slaves.' And your example, O `Umar, is similar to that of Nuh who said,

رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ دَيَّارًا [نوح : 26]

‘My Lord. Do not leave of the unbelievers any dwelling in the land.' And your example, O Abu Rawaha is that of Musa who said,

رَبَّنَا اطْمِسْ عَلَى أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاشْدُدْ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى يَرَوُا الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ [يونس : 88]

‘O Allah, destroy their wealth and harden their hearts so that they do not believe until they have experienced a severe chastisement.' Then the Prophet added, "Today you are in poor economic circumstances. Therefore, do not release any of them without a ransom, or behead him." At that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud interjected, "Save for Suhayl ibn Bayda' for he used to indulge in disinformation against Islam." The Prophet stayed quiet for a while and `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud says he was so fearful during those moments as never before in his life. He feared that a stone from the heaven would crash on his head, until the Prophet said, "Except for Suhayl b. Bayda'." Then came down the verse,

مَا كَانَ لِنَبِيٍّ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ أَسْرَى حَتَّى يُثْخِنَ فِي الْأَرْضِ [الأنفال : 67]

"And it is not for any Prophet that he should have captives (of war) before he has inflicted a massacre in the land."

(The hadith is also in Hakim's Mustadrak and, in his opinion, of trustworthy narrators: Ibn Kathir).

That said, the report about the Prophet’s words, viz., “Today you are in poor economic circumstances” has been declared weak by Shu`ayb al-Arna’ut (Au.).

According to other reports, when `Umar was consulted on that occasion, he said: "I do not agree with Abu Bakr's opinion. I believe you should hand over to each of us, his kin taken captive, so that he can behead him. So, let `Ali kill (his brother) `Aqil, Hamza kill (his brother) `Abbas and let me kill so and so (who was related to `Umar on his wife's side)." Later, `Umar happened to chance upon the two - the Prophet and Abu Bakr - and found them weeping. He asked, "Tell me, what is it about that you weep so that I could also weep, or at least make an effort." The Prophet replied, "I weep because of what my Companions were exposed to because of their acceptance of ransom (from the captives)." Then, pointing to a tree nearby he added, "Your chastisement was shown to me nearer than this tree." Some other reports, e.g., one in Ibn Is-haq, say that had the chastisement come down none would have escaped (of the Companions) but `Umar and Sa`d b. Mu`adh. That is because, while the Companions were collecting booty, Sa`d’s face betrayed displeasure. He was then guarding the Prophet. He remarked: "It looks like you do not approve of what the people are doing." Sa`d replied: "Yes. This is the first occasion and I believe a thorough massacre was the right thing to attempt" (Zamakhshari, Razi, Qurtubi, Ibn Kathir and others).

Sayyid adds: "There was another meaning that was meant to be impressed on the minds. It was best paraphrased by `Umar when he said: ‘(The massacre should have been carried on) in order that Allah knows that there is no soft corner for the pagans in our hearts.'"

Ibn `Abbas, Dahhak and others have said, however, that this rule (of a good measure of massacre before prisoners are taken) applied only to Badr, because Muslims were then weak, and few in numbers. (They ought to have aimed at eliminating their enemy, especially the chiefs of the Quraysh: Au.). Subsequently, Allah revealed (47: 4):

فَإِمَّا مَنًّا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَاءً [محمد : 4]

"Then, after that, either confer favor (upon them) or (impose) ransom."

With the revelation of this verse Muslims were free to either slaughter their enemies in the battle-field or take them prisoners. Thereafter, they were free to release them without ransom, or, alternatively, demand ransom (Ibn Jarir).

There is another report in Hakim's Mustadrak which says that `Abbas was taken prisoner by an Ansari. The Ansar threatened him that they would kill him. The report reached the Prophet. He said, "I did not sleep last night, worried over my uncle `Abbas who has been threatened with death by the Ansar." `Umar asked, "Shall I go to them?" He replied, "Yes." So `Umar went to the Ansar and demanded that `Abbas be released. They refused. `Umar asked, "Even if we have the Prophet's approval?" They said, "If you have the Prophet's approval, then you can take him with you." Having secured his release `Umar told `Abbas, "`Abbas, I wish you would accept Islam. By Allah, your conversion to Islam is dearer to me than that of (my father) Khattab. And that is because I believe the Prophet would be pleased if you embraced Islam" (Ibn Kathir).

Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir also report under the following verses that the Prophet could not sleep the night after Badr-battle. When somebody inquired, he said that he could hear the sound of `Abbas' chains. So they unbound him and the Prophet slept thereafter. Bukhari also reports that the Ansar wished to free him without ransom. But the Prophet opposed the idea saying, "Do not forgive anything." Other reports say that when ransom was demanded of `Abbas, he appealed to the Prophet saying, "Messenger of Allah, you know that I was a Muslim (all along)." The Prophet told him, "Allah knows best about your Islam. If you are true, Allah will recompense you. As for us, apparently, you were with the unbelievers. Therefore, you ought to not only release yourself on ransom but pay up for your nephews Nawfal b. Harith and `Aqil b. Abi Talib too, as well as for your ally `Utbah b. `Amr." `Abbas protested, "Where am I going to get all the money from?" The Prophet asked, "What about the treasure you and your wife Umm al-Fadl secretly buried? You told her, ‘If I am struck, then this money is for you, for Fadl's children `Abdullah and Quthum.'" `Abbas said, "By Allah, O Allah’s Apostle, you are surely a Messenger of Allah. (According to another narration: "I was in some doubt about it, but today I feel very sure"). No one knew about this except me and Umm al-Fadl. In any case, if you have to take ransom from me then treat the 20 Awqiyah that I had on me when I was captured as part of the sum (It had been confiscated of him)." The Prophet told him, "That will not do. That was Allah's bounty that He bestowed on us." So, `Abbas released himself and the others and Allah revealed:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِمَنْ فِي أَيْدِيكُمْ مِنَ الْأَسْرَى إِنْ يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ خَيْرًا يُؤْتِكُمْ خَيْرًا مِمَّا أُخِذَ مِنْكُمْ [الأنفال : 70]

"O Prophet! Say to the prisoners in your hand, ‘If Allah knows of goodness in your hearts, He will grant you better than what has been taken from you.'"

Qurtubi adds: Some reports suggest that it was on that day that `Abbas embraced Islam. It is also said that `Abbas was a huge man, while his captor was a puny Ansari. The Prophet told the Ansari: "An angel helped you in capturing him."

Rashid quotes from Hafiz ibn Hajr's "Isabah" that although `Abbas embraced Islam that day, he returned to Makkah to remain a Muslim in secrecy. He used to write to the Prophet the movements of the Quraysh. He migrated just before the fall of Makkah. He accompanied the Prophet in his Makkan campaign and fought with him at Hunayn.

Another incident of note is that one of those taken prisoners was Abu al-`Aas al-Harbi. He was Zaynab's husband, the Prophet's daughter - still in Makkah. Zaynab sent a necklace to release him. When the Prophet saw the necklace, he recalled that originally it belonged to Khadijah. He could not suppress his feelings. He pleaded to the Ansar: "If you could release this man without a ransom?!" They agreed and let Abu al-`Aas go free. Once in Makkah, Abu al-`Aas allowed Zaynab to go away to her father. But, as she was leaving with her brother-in-law, they were caught up by a few Makkans who had got wind of her departure. They came out in hot pursuit. A man called Habbar b. al-Aswad threatened her with a spear. Zaynab suffered a miscarriage. Her brother-in-law vowed to fight on. But Abu Sufyan happened to turn up. He told her not to hurt the Quraysh's feelings more by traveling to her father so openly. She could delay the journey for a few days and then go away secretly. Accordingly, a few days later she left secretly at night. From the other side, the Prophet learnt of her departure and sent two men to escort her from a point off Makkah. She arrived safely and Abu al-Aas joined her later as a Muslim.

Ibn Jarir notes that the ransom on that occasion was 100 Awqiyah. Each Awqiyah was 40 Dirham or about 6 Dinar.

That was for those that could pay. Alternatively, those who were literate, they were required to teach the art of reading and writing to ten Muslims to regain freedom (Au.).

127. Ibn `Abbas, Abu Hurayrah, Hasan al-Busri and A`mash have said that the reference is to taking of prisoners at Badr and then releasing them on ransom. And by the words, "If not for a writing of Allah preceding," the allusion is to the spoils of war, which would have been in any case made lawful to the Muslims, after they had remained unlawful in earlier times - because that was how it was decreed. But they invited the reproach by taking the spoils of war and the ransom before the release of a specific commandment from Allah.

However, a few others, such as Sa`id, Mujahid, Qatadah and Hasan have said that by the words, "If not for a writing of Allah preceding," the allusion is to the fact that Allah had written it that He will not punish those who participated in the battle of Badr. A third opinion is that of Mujahid and Muhammad, who said that the allusion is to the rule set by Allah that He does not punish before He has sent the prohibiting commandment. Further, there are reports that the Prophet had warned his Companions that if they released their prisoners on ransom, they would have to pay a similar price in consequence, when they would lose seventy of their own men (Ibn Jarir, Qurtubi).

Reports as referred to by Ibn Jarir in his last lines above are in Tirmidhi, Nasa'i and Ibn Hibban. However, it is a gharib report (Ibn Kathir). Gharib is a hadith which is difficult to explain and to reconcile with other reports on the same topic. Nonetheless, a hadith close in meaning, is in Ahmad also. And, Shu`ayb al-Arna'ut has said in his notes on Ibn Hibban (vol. 11, p. 119) that the hadith, although difficult to explain, is classified Sahih by Hakim with Dhahabi agreeing with him that it meets with the criterion of Bukhari and Muslim (Au.).

Mufti Shafi` further explains the situation: Tirmidhi, Nasa'i and Ibn Hibban have preserved a report by `Ali which says that Jibril came down to say that the Prophet and his Companions had a choice between killing the captives and destroying the enemy strength forever, or, alternatively, accept ransom from them. But, in the latter case they would lose equal number of their men next year. Now, although the Companions had a choice, the inclusion of the condition gave indication that Allah preferred them to opt for the first option. Some of the Companions however thought that if they released the captives on ransom, there was a chance they would embrace Islam. The idea that the money coming in would also release them from worrisome economic woes and, in fact, help prepare for future battles, was also at the back of their minds and which evoked Allah's displeasure. (The disapproval of the love of this world was known, anyway, through earlier revelations: Thanwi). As for equal numbers to be martyred in return, they did not think much of that: ‘was it not, after all, a great thing to be martyred?’ So, the censure was both for going for booty in haste, as well as for acceptance of ransom, since, in the true sense, money got out of ransom was also a kind of booty.

A fiqh principle, continues Shafi`, might also be borne in mind. If today, someone makes a deal which accrues profit, but learns later that the deal was disallowed, then, the profits thus accrued are illegal, although the deal itself is forgivable. One should not be misled by the above verse to believe that the profits are also as forgivable as the collection of booty or taking of ransom was to the Companions - although promulgation about it came later.

To some it might sound strange that a people should be given a choice and then should be reproached as it happened with the Companions. They were given a choice between killing and accepting ransom. But when they chose they were censured! The answer given by Shabbir is as follows: The choice was by way of test and was of the same nature as presented to the wives of the Prophet when they were told to choose between the riches of the world and the Prophet as their husband, or, when the Prophet was presented with milk and wine during the Mi`raj journey and then, upon choosing milk being told by Jibril that if he had chosen wine his Ummah would have gone astray. Further, it is likely that the Companions, although given a choice, did not exert their best efforts on making the choice. Being in the high-ranking position as they were, it amounted to a serious failure. Another example can be cited. During a campaign, a man wounded in the head experienced a wet dream. He asked the other Companions whether he was necessarily required to take a full bath. They told him yes. He washed himself head to foot and died. When the Prophet came to know, he remarked: "They killed him, may Allah kill them." That is, they had not exerted their best efforts before ruling that the man should take a full bath in that condition. Finally, by bringing the punishment as close as ‘the tree yonder there,’ was by way of vision of the punishment (and not to threaten him); as, for example, once when in Prayers, the Prophet was shown Heaven and Hell as close as the wall in front of him.

Thanwi cautions: If a Prophet, who is saved from (grave) errors, can make an erroneous judgment, then, what about ordinary mortals? How correct are those then who, when they are handed down a wrong opinion by a Sheikh, insist that since it has come from the Sheikh, surely there must be a good thing hidden in it?

Rashid Rida discusses in some detail Ibn al-Qayyim's opinion expressed in his Zad al-Ma`ad to the effect that Abu Bakr's opinion - with reference to the captives of Badr - was the preferred opinion with Allah and not that of `Umar ibn al-Khattab. Rashid Rida demonstrates that, with all respect to the great scholar, it can be definitely said that Ibn al-Qayyim committed an error here. The Qur'anic verses 67 and 68 are pretty clear about what should have been preferably done with the captives of Badr: "It is not for a ..."

128. It is said that when the previous verse was revealed the Companions held themselves back from expending out of the booty and the ransom until Allah revealed this verse (Razi, Alusi).

129. With reference to the textual words "halalan tayyiban" Sabuni points out that they are explained by a hadith (in Bukhari: Au.) which says:

جُعِلَ رِزْقِي تَحْتَ ظِلِّ رُمْحِي

"My sustenance has been placed under the shade of my lance."