Surah 8. Al-Anfal

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Verses [Section]: 1-10[1], 11-19 [2], 20-28 [3], 29-37 [4], 38-44 [5], 45-48 [6], 49-58 [7], 59-64 [8], 65-69 [9], 70-75 [10]

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Quran Text of Verse 1-108. Al-Anfal Page 1778. Al-Anfalبِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِیَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَThey ask youعَنِaboutالْاَنْفَالِ ؕthe spoils of warقُلِSayالْاَنْفَالُThe spoils of warلِلّٰهِ(are) for Allahوَ الرَّسُوْلِ ۚand the MessengerفَاتَّقُواSo fearاللّٰهَAllahوَ اَصْلِحُوْاand set rightذَاتَthatبَیْنِكُمْ ۪(which is) between youوَ اَطِیْعُواand obeyاللّٰهَAllahوَ رَسُوْلَهٗۤand His Messengerاِنْifكُنْتُمْyou areمُّؤْمِنِیْنَ believers اِنَّمَاOnlyالْمُؤْمِنُوْنَthe believersالَّذِیْنَ(are) those whoاِذَاwhenذُكِرَis mentionedاللّٰهُAllahوَ جِلَتْfeel fearقُلُوْبُهُمْtheir heartsوَ اِذَاand whenتُلِیَتْare recitedعَلَیْهِمْto themاٰیٰتُهٗHis Versesزَادَتْهُمْthey increase themاِیْمَانًا(in) faithوَّ عَلٰیand uponرَبِّهِمْtheir Lordیَتَوَكَّلُوْنَۚۖthey put their trust الَّذِیْنَThose whoیُقِیْمُوْنَestablishالصَّلٰوةَthe prayerوَ مِمَّاand out of whatرَزَقْنٰهُمْWe have provided themیُنْفِقُوْنَؕthey spend اُولٰٓىِٕكَThoseهُمُthey areالْمُؤْمِنُوْنَthe believersحَقًّا ؕ(in) truthلَهُمْFor themدَرَجٰتٌ(are) ranksعِنْدَwithرَبِّهِمْtheir Lordوَ مَغْفِرَةٌand forgivenessوَّ رِزْقٌand a provisionكَرِیْمٌۚnoble كَمَاۤAsاَخْرَجَكَbrought you outرَبُّكَyour Lordمِنْۢfromبَیْتِكَyour homeبِالْحَقِّ ۪in truthوَ اِنَّwhile indeedفَرِیْقًاa partyمِّنَamongالْمُؤْمِنِیْنَthe believersلَكٰرِهُوْنَۙcertainly disliked یُجَادِلُوْنَكَThey dispute with youفِیconcerningالْحَقِّthe truthبَعْدَ مَاafter whatتَبَیَّنَwas made clearكَاَنَّمَاas ifیُسَاقُوْنَthey were drivenاِلَیtoالْمَوْتِ[the] deathوَ هُمْwhile theyیَنْظُرُوْنَؕ(were) looking وَ اِذْAnd whenیَعِدُكُمُpromised youاللّٰهُAllahاِحْدَیoneالطَّآىِٕفَتَیْنِ(of) the two groupsاَنَّهَاthat it (would be)لَكُمْfor youوَ تَوَدُّوْنَand you wishedاَنَّthatغَیْرَ(one) other thanذَاتِthatالشَّوْكَةِ(of) the armedتَكُوْنُwould beلَكُمْfor youوَ یُرِیْدُBut intendedاللّٰهُAllahاَنْtoیُّحِقَّjustifyالْحَقَّthe truthبِكَلِمٰتِهٖby His wordsوَ یَقْطَعَand cut offدَابِرَ(the) rootsالْكٰفِرِیْنَۙ(of) the disbelievers لِیُحِقَّThat He might justifyالْحَقَّthe truthوَ یُبْطِلَand prove falseالْبَاطِلَthe falsehoodوَ لَوْeven ifكَرِهَdisliked (it)الْمُجْرِمُوْنَۚthe criminals 8. Al-Anfal Page 178اِذْWhenتَسْتَغِیْثُوْنَyou were seeking helpرَبَّكُمْ(of) your Lordفَاسْتَجَابَand He answeredلَكُمْ[to] youاَنِّیْIndeed I amمُمِدُّكُمْgoing to reinforce youبِاَلْفٍwith a thousandمِّنَofالْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةِthe Angelsمُرْدِفِیْنَ one after another وَ مَاAnd notجَعَلَهُ(it was) madeاللّٰهُ(by) Allahاِلَّاbutبُشْرٰیgood tidingsوَ لِتَطْمَىِٕنَّand so that might be at restبِهٖwith itقُلُوْبُكُمْ ۚyour heartsوَ مَاAnd (there is) noالنَّصْرُ[the] victoryاِلَّاexceptمِنْfromعِنْدِ[of]اللّٰهِ ؕAllahاِنَّIndeedاللّٰهَAllahعَزِیْزٌ(is) All-Mightyحَكِیْمٌ۠All-Wise

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Surah Introduction

This sûrah was revealed in Medina to explain how the spoils of war should be distributed following the believers' victory over the Meccan pagans at Badr in 2 A.H./624 C.E. The sûrah urges the believers to be true to Allah and His Messenger, reminding them of how they were outnumbered but Allah sent down angels for their aid. It is made clear that although victory comes only from Allah, the believers should always be ready to defend themselves and be open for peace. The pagans are warned that their plots to hinder others from Allah's Way and oppose the truth will only end in failure-a theme emphasized in both the previous and the following sûrahs.

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Translation of Verse 1-101. In the Name of Allah-the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

1. They ask you ˹O Prophet˺ regarding the spoils of war. Say, "Their distribution is decided by Allah and His Messenger. So be mindful of Allah, settle your affairs, and obey Allah and His Messenger if you are ˹true˺ believers."

2. The ˹true˺ believers are only those whose hearts tremble at the remembrance of Allah, whose faith increases when His revelations are recited to them, and who put their trust in their Lord.

3. ˹They are˺ those who establish prayer and donate from what We have provided for them.

4. It is they who are the true believers. They will have elevated ranks, forgiveness, and an honourable provision from their Lord.

5. Similarly, when your Lord brought you ˹O Prophet˺ out of your home for a just cause, a group of believers was totally against it.

6. They disputed with you about the truth after it had been made clear, as if they were being driven to death with their eyes wide open.

7. ˹Remember, O believers,˺ when Allah promised ˹to give˺ you the upper hand over either target, you wished to capture the unarmed party. ³³⁹ But it was Allah's Will to establish the truth by His Words and uproot the disbelievers;

8. to firmly establish the truth and wipe out falsehood-even to the dismay of the wicked.

9. ˹Remember˺ when you cried out to your Lord for help, He answered, "I will reinforce you with a thousand angels-followed by many others." ³⁴⁰

10. And Allah made this a sign of victory and reassurance to your hearts. Victory comes only from Allah. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.

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Commentary

339. After many years of persecution in Mecca, the Prophet ( ﷺ ) and many of his early followers decided to emigrate secretly to Medina, about 250 miles to the north, leaving behind their homes and valuables, which were soon taken over by the pagans of Mecca. To avenge this financial loss, the Prophet ( ﷺ ) decided to capture an unarmed Meccan trade caravan headed by Abu Sufyân, a Meccan chief. Eventually, the caravan escaped, but the Meccans mobilized an army of over 1000 well-armed soldiers, more than three times the size of the Muslim force. Many Muslims had hoped to capture the caravan without having to meet the Meccan army in battle. Although the Muslims were vastly outnumbered and lightly- armed, they still won this decisive battle.

340. Five thousand angels in total, as mentioned in 3:125.