SURAH AL- ANFAL

The Spoils of War

(Madnie, Surah # 8, Verses 75 )

MALAY GHANIMAT (SPOIL)

8:1. They ask you (O Muhammad ) about the spoils (Malay Ghanimat) of war. Say: “The spoils distribution is decided by Allah and His Messenger.” So fear Allah and adjust all matters of difference among you, and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you are believers.

TRUE BELIEVERS

8:2. The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses are recited unto them, they increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord.

8:3. Who perform As-Salat and spend out of that We have provided them.

8:4. It is they who are the true believers. They will have elevated ranks, forgiveness, and an honorable provision from their Lord.

BADR

8:5. As your Lord brought you (O Muhammad ) out of your home for a just cause, and verily, a party among the believers disliked it;

8:6. 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.

8:7. And (remember) when Allah promised you (Muslims) one of the two parties that it should be yours, you wished that the one not armed should be yours, but Allah willed to justify the truth by His Words and to cut off the roots of the disbelievers.

8:8. to firmly establish the truth and wipe out falsehood, even though the Mujrimun hate it.

8:9. (Remember) when you cried out to your Lord for help and He answered you (saying): “I will help you with a thousand of the angels-followed by many others

8:10.And Allah made this a sign of victory and reassurance to your hearts. Victory comes only from Allah. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. 

8:11. ˹Remember˺ when He caused drowsiness to overcome you, giving you security. And He sent down rain from the sky to purify you, free you from Shaitan’s whispers, strengthen your hearts, and make ˹your˺ steps firm.

8:12. (Remember) when your Lord revealed to the angels, “Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and strike their fingertips.”

8:13. This is because they defied and disobeyed Allah and His Messenger. And whoever defies and disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.

8:14. This is the torment, so taste it, and surely for the disbelievers is the torment of the Fire.

8:15. O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve, in a battle-field, never turn your backs to them.

8:16. Whoever turns his back that day to them, unless withdrawing to fight again or removing to join another host– will earn the displeasure of Allah, and their home will be Hell. What an evil destination!

8:17. It was not you ˹believers˺ who killed them, but it was Allah Who did so. Nor was it you ˹O Prophet˺ who threw ˹a handful of sand at the disbelievers˺, but it was Allah Who did so, that He might test the believers by a fair trial from Him. Verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

8:18. This (is the fact) and surely, Allah weakens the plots of the disbelievers

8:19. (O disbelievers) if you ask for a judgment, now has the judgment come unto you and if you cease (to do wrong), it will be better for you, and if you return (to the attack), so shall We return, and your forces will be of no avail to you, however numerous it be, and verily, Allah is with the believers.

8:20. O you who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger, and turn not away from him while you are hearing.

8:21. And be not like those who say: “We have heard,” but they hear not.

8:22. Verily! The worst of  living creatures with Allah are the deaf and the dumb, those who understand not (i.e. the disbelievers).

8:23. Had Allah known of any good in them, He would indeed have made them listen, and even if He had made them listen, they would have surely turned away heedlessly.

8:24. O believers! Respond to Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah stands between a person and their heart, and that to Him you will all be gathered.

8:25. And beware of a trial which affects not in particular those of you who do wrong (but it may afflict all the good and the bad people), and know that Allah is Severe in punishment.

8:26. Remember when you had been vastly outnumbered and oppressed in the land, constantly in fear of attacks by your enemy, then He sheltered you, strengthened you with His help, and provided you with good things so perhaps you would be thankful.

8:27. O you who believe! Betray not Allah and His Messenger, nor betray knowingly your Amanat (things entrusted to you, and all the duties which Allah has ordained for you).

WEALTH AND YOUR CHILDREN ARE TRIAL

8:28. And know that your wealth and your children are but a trial and that surely with Allah is a mighty reward.

8:29. O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion [(to judge between right and wrong), and absolve for you your sins, and forgive you, and Allah is the Owner of the Great Bounty.

8:30. And (remember) when the disbelievers plotted against you (O Muhammad ) to imprison you, or to kill you, or to get you out (from your home, i.e. Makkah); they were plotting and Allah too was planning, and Allah is the Best of the planners.

8:31. And when Our Verses (of the Qur’an) are recited to them, they say: “We have heard this (the Qur’an); If we wanted, we could have easily produced something similar. This is nothing but the tales of the ancients.”

8:32. And (remember) when they said: “O Allah! If this (the Qur’an) is indeed the truth from You, then rain down stones on us from the sky or bring on us a painful torment.”

8:33. And Allah would not punish them while you (Muhammad ) are amongst them, nor will He punish them while they seek (Allah’s) Forgiveness.

8:34. And why should not Allah punish them while they stop (men) from entering Al-Masjid-al-Haram, and they are not its guardians? None can be its guardian except Al-Muttaqun, but most of them know not.

8:35. Their Salat at the House (of Allah, i.e. the Ka’bah at Makkah) was nothing but whistling and clapping of hands. Therefore taste the punishment because you used to disbelieve.

8:36. Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to turn away (men) from the Path of Allah, and so they will continue to spend but it will become a source of regret for them and they will be defeated (because of their evil plans). The disbelievers will be gathered all together in Hell. 

8:37. Allah will separate the wicked from the pure and will pile the wicked ones on top of one another to be cast into hell. They are indeed lost.

8:38. Muhammad, tell the unbelievers, if you give up your evil behavior, God will forgive whatever you have done in the past. But if you transgras again, your fate will be the same as that of those (unbelievers) who lived before you.

8:39. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone. But if they cease (worshiping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what they do.

8:40. And if they turn away, then know that Allah is your protector (what) an Excellent protector, and (what) an Excellent Helper!

8:41. And Know that whatever property you may gain, one fifth belongs to Allah, and to the Messenger, and to the near relatives, (and also) the orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor) and those who need money while on a journey. (This is the law) if you have believed in Allah and in that which We sent down to Our slave (Muhammad ) on the Day of criterion (between right and wrong), the Day when the two forces met (the battle of Badr) – And Allah is Able to do all things.

8:42. [Remember] when you were on the near side of the valley, and they were on the farther side, and the caravan was lower [in position] than you. If you had made an appointment [to meet], you would have missed the appointment. But [it was] so that Allah might accomplish a matter already destined - that those who perished [through disbelief] would perish upon evidence and those who lived [in faith] would live upon evidence; and indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

8:43. [Remember, O Muhammad], when Allah showed them to you in your dream as few; and if He had shown them to you as many, you [believers] would have lost courage and would have disputed in the matter [of whether to fight], but Allah saved [you from that]. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.

8:44. Then when your armies met, He showed them to you as few in your eyes and He made you appear as few in their eyes, so that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained (in His Knowledge), and to Allah return all matters (for decision).

8:45. O believers! When you face an enemy, stand firm and remember Allah often so that you may be successful.

8:46. Obey Allah and His Messenger and do not dispute with one another, or you would be discouraged and weakened.and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.

8:47. Do not be like those ˹pagans˺ who left their homes arrogantly, only to be seen by people and to hinder others from Allah’s Path. And Allah is Fully Aware of what they do.

8:48. And [remember] when Shaitan made their deeds pleasing to them and said, "No one can overcome you today from among the people, and indeed, I am your protector." But when the two armies sighted each other, he turned on his heels and said, "Indeed, I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I see what you do not see; Verily! I fear Allah for Allah is Severe in punishment.”

8:49. When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was a disease (of disbelief) said: “These people (Muslims) are deceived by their religion.” But whoever puts his trust in Allah, then surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

8:50. And if you could see when the angels take away the souls of those who disbelieve (at death), they beat their faces and their backs, (saying): “Taste the punishment of the blazing Fire.”

8:51. “This is because of that which your hands had forwarded. And verily, Allah is not unjust to His slaves.”

8:52. Similar to the behavior of the people of Fir’aun (Pharaoh), and of those before them; they rejected the Ayat of Allah, so Allah punished them for their sins. Verily, Allah is All-Strong, Severe in punishment.

8:53. That is because Allah would not change a favor which He had bestowed upon a people until they change what is within themselves. And verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

8:54. That was the case with Pharaoh’s people and those before them—they all rejected the signs of their Lord, so We destroyed them for their sins and drowned Pharaoh’s people. They were all wrongdoers.

8:55. Verily, The worst of moving (living) creatures before Allah are those who disbelieve , – so they will not ever believe.

8:56. They are those with whom you made a treaty, but they break their pledge every time and they do not fear Allah.

8:57. When you capture the (unbelievers) during a fight, teach them a lesson so that they thereafter will always be aware of the threat of your power.

8:58. And if you ˹O Prophet˺ see signs of betrayal by a people, respond by openly terminating your treaty with them. Surely Allah does not like those who betray.

8:59. And let not those who disbelieve think they will escape.Verily, they will never be able to save themselves (from Allah’s Punishment).

8:60. And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war1 by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allah knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.

8:61. But if they incline to peace, you also incline to it, and (put your) trust in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

8:62. But if their intention is only to deceive you, then Allah is certainly sufficient for you. He is the One Who has supported you with His help and with the believers.

8:63. And He has united their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah has united them. Certainly He is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

8:64. O Prophet! Allah is Sufficient for you and for the believers who follow you.

8:65. O Prophet! Urge(motivate) the believers to fight. If there are twenty steadfast people amongst you, they will overcome two hundred, and if there are a hundred steadfast persons they will overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are people who do not understand.

8:66. Now Allah has lightened your burden, for He knows that there is weakness in you. So if there are a hundred steadfast among you, they will overcome two hundred. And if there be one thousand, they will overcome two thousand, by Allah’s Will. And Allah is with As-Sabirin.

8:67. It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war (and free them with ransom) until he had made a great slaughter (among his enemies) in the land. You desire the good of this world (money of ransom), but Allah desires (for you) the Hereafter. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

8:68. Were it not a previous ordainment from Allah, a severe torment would have touched you for what you took.

69. Now enjoy what you have taken, for it is lawful and good. And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

70. O Prophet! Tell the captives in your custody, “If Allah finds goodness in your hearts, He will give you better than what has been taken from you, and forgive you. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

8:71. But if they intend to betray you (O Muhammad ), they have already betrayed Allah before. So He gave (you) power over them. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.

8:72. Those who believed, emigrated, and strived with their wealth and lives in the cause of Allah, as well as those who gave them shelter and help—they are truly guardians of one another. As for those who believed but did not emigrate, you have no obligations to them until they emigrate. But if they seek your help ˹against persecution˺ in faith, it is your obligation to help them, except against people bound with you in a treaty. Allah is All-Seeing of what you do.

8:73. And those who disbelieve are allies(friends) to one another, (and) if you (Muslims) do not do so there will be Fitnah and oppression on earth, and a great mischief and corruption.

8:74.  Those who believed, migrated, and struggled in the cause of Allah, and those who gave ˹them˺ shelter and help, they are the true believers, for them is forgiveness and Rizqun Karim.

75. And those who later believed, migrated, and struggled alongside you, they are also with you. But only blood relatives are now entitled to inherit from one another, as ordained by Allah. Surely Allah has ˹full˺ knowledge of everything.

Online Sources: Citations

https://quran.com/1

https://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=1&verse=1

https://noblequran.com/