Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Surah al-Anfal, Chapter 8

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful

Verses 1 – 10

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَنْفَالِۖ قُلِ الْأَنْفَالُ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُوا ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْۖ وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ {1}

1. Oh Prophet, people ask you to grant them out1 of crown and deserted lands. Say, “Booty2 (without actual field) is for God and His Prophet, therefore, fear God and amend your behaviour, and if you are (truly) faithful, obey God and His Prophet,

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ {2}

2. truly faithful are none but those whose hearts tremble under Divine awe on reflection and when His commands are read out to them, their belief increases and those who trust in God.

الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ {3}

3. Oh, they pray regularly and disburse of what We have bestowed on them.

أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّاۚ لَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ {4}

4. They are only those who are really faithful; for them are grades near their God, forgiveness of sins and honourable provision.

كَمَا أَخْرَجَكَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ بَيْتِكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَكَارِهُونَ {5}

5. With completion of faith3 the faithful shall enter paradise with its increase, grades will be granted and with its deficiency, they will undergo punishment in hell. As God removed you from your home, on a great cause, which did not find favour with a group of the faithful.

يُجَادِلُونَكَ فِي الْحَقِّ بَعْدَمَا تَبَيَّنَ كَأَنَّمَا يُسَاقُونَ إِلَى الْمَوْتِ وَهُمْ يَنْظُرُونَ {6}

6. They are inquisitive about truth4 in spite of the fact it has been openly exposed to them, they are being driven to death seemingly.

وَإِذْ يَعِدُكُمُ اللَّهُ إِحْدَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ أَنَّهَا لَكُمْ وَتَوَدُّونَ أَنَّ غَيْرَ ذَاتِ الشَّوْكَةِ تَكُونُ لَكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُحِقَّ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَيَقْطَعَ دَابِرَ الْكَافِرِينَ {7}

7. Remember the time when God had promised you, that among two groups, one will be yours5 and you wanted the one of a lower strength and dignity falls prey to you ad God wanted to prove, “Truth with justice by His words and Divine Lights as true warriors and to cut off progeny of the disobedient.”

لِيُحِقَّ الْحَقَّ وَيُبْطِلَ الْبَاطِلَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُجْرِمُونَ {8}

8. So as to prove truth of Islam by vanquishing paganism, which though will grieve infidels (by loss of life and property).

إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّي مُمِدُّكُمْ بِأَلْفٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ {9}

9. Remember the time when you prayed to God6 and He replied He would help you with 1000 angels who would assist you being on your back.

وَمَا جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ بِهِ قُلُوبُكُمْۚ وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ {10}

10. God did not lend this support except to encourage your followers by tidings and consolation of their hearts although real help is from God alone. Of course, God is Almighty and Wise.

Moral

Conditions for acceptance of Daily Prayers which is a complete manifestation of Divine obligation in which not only the human heart is involved but all the organs physical of his are affected. If this obligation is defective there is no other obligation, which takes up with the heart. If this obligation is defective there is no other obligation which takes up with the heart, all physical organs in discharge of Divine obligation. Thus, then, failure to perform prayers as per requirement disqualifies a faithful to admission to paradise owing to defective faith.

First condition needed is purity of soul and body with this, half duty is discharged. Now realization of Divine Deity, as per His real Entity can only be realized by him, whom Divinity guides. This is, in the first instance, Prophet Mohammad and his Immaculate Family followed by all other Prophets and their successors from Adam downwards who were heaven born and Divine trained, termed as Divine Lights. Thus anyone who prays to God without their medium is an Associator and his prayers will not be deemed admissible.

Second condition is piety enforced by God who demands fulfilment of rights and those of the individual relating to self. With association, which disqualifies acceptance of prayers, are included, despondence, intrigue against Divine Lights or breach of fealty to them, disregard to Divine Commands, i.e. transgression, flight from crusade without justification, hypocrisy, pride, postponing without justification fasts and pilgrimage, misguiding others or preventing them from following Divine Path, disrespecting Holy sanctuary of Mecca. These can be rectified by due penance to God.

Regarding rights of men (faithful especially) unless latter forgive and punishment received on behalf of others (non-faithful) in this world, prayers are not accepted. In this are included tithe loans, backbite, murder, parents obligations and due obedience unto them, interest taking, swallowing rights of others, barring their rights, disaffection, sodomy, theft, deceit under-measure, tale-bearing, fornication and like transgressing. Rights of self are: drinking, eating the dead, bacon, gambling, lie extravagance, wasteful games, music, and cinema, illicit earning, hiding religious facts. These relating to soul are: delusion, love for power and self, self-estimation. All these render man faithless and incapable of getting his virtues accepted.

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1. Lands surrendered to the Prophet without actual march thereon fall under Divine Discretion to be partitioned as per His Prophet and legal successor’s desire, for Badr, the Prophet did not separate Khums, but there after he did so before distributing the booty in three sections.

2. True and faithful are qualified by7 trembling hearts on hearing Divine commands whereby they forsake unlawful8 which enhances their faith, they patiently trust entirely on God with contentment and piety. They are regular at prayers which perfect their faith. Participate in Divine Provision as sacrificing obligation. Who gets forgiveness of sins on penance and just action? And Paradise to boot as a reward in their fort. Their faith is thus based on: 1. Patience, 2. Certainty, 3. Justice, and 4. Self-sacrifice.

3. God helped the Prophet at Badr with 1,000 angels to encourage followers of His Prophet, else His help was enough. Was not angels’ coming as Divine help enough to convince the Prophet’s companions on his genuine claim to Prophetship?

4. Regarding word of God, see St. John 1:1, “In the beginning was the ‘word’ and the ‘word’ was with God. Again in 1:4, and the ‘word was made flesh and dwelt among “Us (and we beheld His glory) i.e. in that ‘word’ these “divine Lights” are known as sons of God (John, 1:12) not literally as it would not only be misnomer but infidelity taken as light or guidance is admissible as per the Glorious Qur’an.

Verses 11 – 19

إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ النُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةً مِنْهُ وَيُنَزِّلُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ بِهِ وَيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمْ رِجْزَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَلِيَرْبِطَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتَ بِهِ الْأَقْدَامَ {11}

11. And remember the time when God over-powered you with sleep to give you rest and sent rain from clouds to purify you and to remove the filth of the Devil (night discharge) from you and to strengthen your hearts, and make your steps steadfast.

إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواۚ سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُوا فَوْقَ الْأَعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُوا مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ {12}

12. Remember the time when your God was inspiring angels, under revelation, which He was with them. Therefore, they should encourage them to be steady who have faith in God. Soon He would infuse into hearts of infidels. His awe, therefore, should hit blows on necks and joints.

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ شَاقُّوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۚ وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ {13}

13. This is because they were against God and His Prophet.9 God is certainly Almighty at punishment.

ذَٰلِكُمْ فَذُوقُوهُ وَأَنَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابَ النَّارِ {14}

14. This is your punishment, therefore, you taste it and certainly for infidels is the punishment of Hell.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا زَحْفًا فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ الْأَدْبَارَ {15}

15. Oh believers do not turn away your backs while fighting with infidels.

وَمَنْ يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُ إِلَّا مُتَحَرِّفًا لِقِتَالٍ أَوْ مُتَحَيِّزًا إِلَىٰ فِئَةٍ فَقَدْ بَاءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَأْوَاهُ جَهَنَّمُۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ {16}

16. And on that day, if anybody turns his back, except to avoid stroke or reinforce his own party from the other side, certainly he will be under Divine wrath and hell is his destination and which is awful residence.

فَلَمْ تَقْتُلُوهُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمْۚ وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ رَمَىٰۚ وَلِيُبْلِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْهُ بَلَاءً حَسَنًاۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ {17}

17. Do not brag you killed them but God killed them by sending angels and asking the Prophet to stone them and “Oh Prophet! When you were throwing pebble towards them, you did not throw them, but in effect, God threw them.” So God may grant booty to the faithful. Of course, God is All-hearing and All-knowing.

ذَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مُوهِنُ كَيْدِ الْكَافِرِينَ {18}

18. This is the way God renders useless plans of infidels.

إِنْ تَسْتَفْتِحُوا فَقَدْ جَاءَكُمُ الْفَتْحُۖ وَإِنْ تَنْتَهُوا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْۖ وَإِنْ تَعُودُوا نَعُدْ وَلَنْ تُغْنِيَ عَنْكُمْ فِئَتُكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَوْ كَثُرَتْ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ {19}

19. If you desire victory, the victory has come to those entitled, i.e. who were faithful. It is better for you if you, “Oh infidels,” avoid enmity of the Prophet and give up infidelity in you in the future, and if you will repeat, We shall act likewise. When your group, howsoever large it may be, will not help you and God verily is with the faithful.

Moral

1. Note Divine Help in form of rain and storm whereby one party benefits and the opposite loses. Also, Divine fright infused by angels which causes faction in the faithful is Divine, provided steadfastness and trust are maintained in God. Obedience to God and the Prophet are in view.

2. Infidels suffer defeat in the world and get hell in eternity.

3. Running away from the crusade is infidelity, except with a view to rendering help to one’s own party. God decides on intentions in flight.

4. Success is from God alone, Who grants courage, strength and tactics to handle the enemy.

Verses 20 – 28

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَا تَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ وَأَنْتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ {20}

20. Oh believers, obey God and His Prophet, and do not disobey the Prophet, recrusade or in any condition while you hear

وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ {21}

21. his commands through the Glorious Qur’an. And do not be like those who said they heard though they did not hear anything.

إِنَّ شَرَّ الدَّوَابِّ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الصُّمُّ الْبُكْمُ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ {22}

22. Of course, they are the worst cattle near God who are deaf and dumb and who do not have any sense.

وَلَوْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا لَأَسْمَعَهُمْۖ وَلَوْ أَسْمَعَهُمْ لَتَوَلَّوْا وَهُمْ مُعْرِضُونَ {23}

23. If God knew any better thing among them He would have made them hear, and if He had let them hear, then really they would have turned their faces in opposition.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْۖ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ {24}

24. You Believers, “When God and Prophet call you on such an occasion in which safety of your life lies,10 obey the orders of God and His Prophet, and know it that God is between11 man and his heart, and further you will have to revert unto Him.

وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لَا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةًۖ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ {25}

25. And fear that trial which especially will not fall on those who are disobedient but will be common, and know it well in which God is Mighty at punishment.

وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ أَنْتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَنْ يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النَّاسُ فَآوَاكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُمْ بِنَصْرِهِ وَرَزَقَكُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ {26}

26. And remember the time when you were very few on Earth and were afraid of the enemy, God bestowed on you ground for residence and with His help He reinforced you and bestowed on you pure provision so you may be grateful.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَخُونُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا أَمَانَاتِكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ {27}

27. Oh Believers, do not be dishonest12 to God and Prophet, and do not be dishonest in what is deposited with you

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ {28}

28. and know your property and children are a test, and, of course, there is a great reward from God if you use and train them in serving the Divine Purpose.

Moral

1. Disobedience to God and Prophet is not permissible in any case.

2. Be not like the hypocrites who say they heard, whereas it is otherwise, hearts are sealed by God and they have no sense, being rendered deaf and dumb and thus they are worse than cattle.

3. Every man gets an opportunity to distinguish truth from otherwise and it is on his intentions which makes him guided on the right path or lose self in misguidance.

4. Ever keep in view the Divine Bounties to keep you obedient, grateful, and leading to increase of virtues and avoiding vices. Do not cause a split among yourself: united you stand, divided you fall.

5. Guard what is left with you as Divine deposit, and remember your property including and children are Divine deposit. Therefore, spend your property in Name of God and train your children to follow God’s commands in Rule of Islam.

Verses 29 – 37

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ {29}

29. Oh Believers, if you will fear God, He will grant you a test to differentiate between lawful and unlawful and He will wipe off your evils and will forgive you and God is great at granting Grace.

وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُۖ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ {30}

30. And oh Prophet, remember the time when infidels were intriguing with you either to arrest you or kill or drive you out of Mecca, they were using their plot and God was about to avenge them and God is Mighty in taking revenge.

وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُنَا قَالُوا قَدْ سَمِعْنَا لَوْ نَشَاءُ لَقُلْنَا مِثْلَ هَٰذَاۙ إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ {31}

31. And when Our couplets are read out to them say in joke that they have listened to them if we want we may tell as well these are the old funny stories.13

وَإِذْ قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ هَٰذَا هُوَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَوِ ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ {32}

32. And remember the time when they told, “Oh God, if it is a fact (about Ali’s succession after the Prophet) and it is from You, then pour hail stones from above or give any severe punishment.”

وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَأَنْتَ فِيهِمْۚ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ {33}

33. And it is neither the work of God to give them punishment in which condition you14 are among them, not to give it to them when they are repenting.

وَمَا لَهُمْ أَلَّا يُعَذِّبَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَمَا كَانُوا أَوْلِيَاءَهُۚ إِنْ أَوْلِيَاؤُهُ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقُونَ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ {34}

34. What is up with God, He does not punish them when they are stopping people from15 the Holy Mosque? They cannot be God’s friends, but most of them do not know it.

وَمَا كَانَ صَلَاتُهُمْ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَاءً وَتَصْدِيَةًۚ فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ {35}

35. And their prayers near God’s Holy sanctuary is nothing except whistling and clapping, therefore, better taste punishment due to your infidelity.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ لِيَصُدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِۚ فَسَيُنْفِقُونَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسْرَةً ثُمَّ يُغْلَبُونَۗ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ يُحْشَرُونَ {36}

36. Of course, those who are infidels spend their property with only to stop people from Divine path. Soon they will spend more, this will be a cause for grief and they will be subdued and those who became infidels will be driven towards Hell

لِيَمِيزَ اللَّهُ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ وَيَجْعَلَ الْخَبِيثَ بَعْضَهُ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فَيَرْكُمَهُ جَمِيعًا فَيَجْعَلَهُ فِي جَهَنَّمَۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ {37}

37. so God may separate the impure from the pure16 heap up upon the impure set their heaps and then drive to Hell when these infidels would be losers.

Moral

1. Divine Awe will enable you to distinguish right from wrong, remove your sins by leading to forgiveness.

2. God describes how He save the Prophet by making Ali sleep on his bed which led to his flight and avenged the Prophet’s enemies as a cause for the battle of Badr for plotting the life of the Prophet.

3. Do not laugh at Divine Couplets thinking old stories as infidels.

4. God reminds how the hypocrite Noaman Haris Fahri when he suspected Ali’s succession and prayed for Divine punishment, if it was true, and Noaman Haris Fahri was killed on that act (see Chapter Ma‘araj 70).

5. God does not punish so long as the Prophet is with them or latter are praying forgiveness on penance to fulfil transmission of Divine message.

6. Only the virtuous can claim affinity with God.

7. Those who spend their property to defy Divine designs shall ultimately repent in grief.

8. Those who claim affinity with Divine Lights have to prove it in the Crusade and to be distinguished for being entitled to intercession as 73 of Hussain’s adherents. See confirmation by Jesus footnote p. 155 on 37 (b).

Verses 38 – 44

قُلْ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ يَنْتَهُوا يُغْفَرْ لَهُمْ مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ وَإِنْ يَعُودُوا فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّتُ الْأَوَّلِينَ {38}

38. Tell the infidels that if they desist they will be forgiven for their past deeds and if they repeat the treatment of the predecessors shall be put into action.

وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ لِلَّهِۚ فَإِنِ انْتَهَوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ {39}

39. And fight with them so long as there remains no infidelity and religion wholly and purely is Islam of God, and then if they avoid infidelity, God watches their deeds.

وَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَوْلَاكُمْۚ نِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ {40}

40. If they turn back, you not verily, God is on your side and He is best as a support and best at helping.

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَأَنَّ لِلَّهِ خُمُسَهُ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ آمَنْتُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا يَوْمَ الْفُرْقَانِ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ {41}

41. And know it, when you get any sort of boot in your hands, then it is a fifth part is of God, of Prophet, of His relatives, orphans, and of poor and of travellers, on condition you have belief in God and belief on the day when two groups fought each other, that decisive day (when We sent to our Prophet an army of angels), and God is Omnipotent.

إِذْ أَنْتُمْ بِالْعُدْوَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ بِالْعُدْوَةِ الْقُصْوَىٰ وَالرَّكْبُ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْۚ وَلَوْ تَوَاعَدْتُمْ لَاخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِي الْمِيعَادِۙ وَلَٰكِنْ لِيَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا لِيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَىٰ مَنْ حَيَّ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍۗ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ {42}

42. Remember the time when your infantry were in the nearest of Medina valley on the upper side and the defiant party at the other extremity from Medina and country behind lower down and then, in spite of the promise of fighting against the enemy, you would have acted contrary to the promise, but God caused what was to happen so he who is to be destroyed may die on clear cause, and he who was to outlive may outlive on distinct reason and of course, God is Almighty and All-knowing.

إِذْ يُرِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي مَنَامِكَ قَلِيلًاۖ وَلَوْ أَرَاكَهُمْ كَثِيرًا لَفَشِلْتُمْ وَلَتَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ سَلَّمَۗ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ {43}

43. Recall when God showed them to you few in your dream, whereas, if He had shown them move, of course, you would have lost heart and you would have divided among yourselves in this affair, but God saved the situation. He knows the plight of the heart very well.

وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ الْتَقَيْتُمْ فِي أَعْيُنِكُمْ قَلِيلًا وَيُقَلِّلُكُمْ فِي أَعْيُنِهِمْ لِيَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًاۗ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الْأُمُورُ {44}

44. Recall when you fought against one another, He showed them to you few in your eyes, and showed you to them few in their eyes, so what God had to do might occur and all things shall revert to Him.

Moral

1. It is a warning to infidels to refrain from mischief, else Divine Punishment is inevitable, until God’s religion survives all other faiths, as God favours His Prophet.

2. Fifth of Booty goes to the Prophet who used to distribute as per Divine commands, amongst his deserving relations, orphans, poor, and needy to study religion during his lifetime for public guidance. If you have faith in God, whose miraculous ways of helping the Prophet you rave witnessed to prove He is Almighty every way controlling Natural Forces, and Human Hearts, to control their mischievous activities. His illegitimate successors disallowed this share of khums to the Hashimite deserving after the Prophet’s death. This is one of the gravest charges of contradicting Divine Commands adopted to follow their evil intentions by them.

Verses 45 – 48

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمْ فِئَةً فَاثْبُتُوا وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ {45}

45. Oh Believers, “If you face infidels, you keep stead and remember God excessively, so you get salvation.

وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْۖ وَاصْبِرُواۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ {46}

46. And obey God and His Prophet and do not fight among yourselves otherwise you will get nervous and you will weaken your strength, and be patient, of course God is with the patient.

وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ بَطَرًا وَرِئَاءَ النَّاسِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِۚ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ {47}

47. You do not be like those who came out strutting and displaying pomp from their houses and stopping people from going on the way to God, whereas what they are doing is under Divine control.

وَإِذْ زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ وَقَالَ لَا غَالِبَ لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَإِنِّي جَارٌ لَكُمْۖ فَلَمَّا تَرَاءَتِ الْفِئَتَانِ نَكَصَ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ وَقَالَ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِنْكُمْ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ مَا لَا تَرَوْنَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَۚ وَاللَّهُ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ {48}

48. And when the Devil eulogized their deeds in their eyes and said, “Nobody will overpower you today while I am helping you,” and when both groups faced each other, the Devil took to his heels and said, “I am away from you and what I am seeing you cannot see and I fear God, “And God is mighty at punishment.”

Moral

1. Face infidels with courage remembering God intensely to keep your acts on a straight path, to help you amidst trial and patience.

2. Avoid devil’s dupes and misgivings making your strut on your apparent strength and false promises, which all are under Divine Control.

Verses 49 – 58

إِذْ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ غَرَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ دِينُهُمْۗ وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ {49}

49. Remember the time when the hypocrites and those people who had a disease were telling in favour of the faithful in which their religion has deceived them, and, “If anybody will trust God, God is Almighty and Wise.”

وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذْ يَتَوَفَّى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواۙ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ وَذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ {50}

50. Alas! If you will see when death angels take out the souls of infidels, and be striking on their faces and backs, telling them to taste the punishment of partition of the soul.

ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ {51}

51. This reward is due to your deeds, done by your hands and God is not unjust to His creatures.

كَدَأْبِ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَۙ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْۚ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ {52}

52. Alike Pharaoh’s followers and those who preceded them, they falsified the proofs in miracles of God and God arrested them in lieu of their sins. Of course, God is mighty at punishment.

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَكُ مُغَيِّرًا نِعْمَةً أَنْعَمَهَا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْۙ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ {53}

53. It is for this in which God does not change His Bounties endowed on a community, until and unless, it may not change its character, (obedient) of course God is All-hearing and All-knowing.

كَدَأْبِ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَۙ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْۚ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَۚ وَكُلٌّ كَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ {54}

54. Alike Pharaoh’s followers and those who preceded them, they falsified their God’s couplets and We destroyed them for their sins, and drowned the followers of Pharaoh and they were all disobedient.

إِنَّ شَرَّ الدَّوَابِّ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ {55}

55. Of course, those men are the worst animals before God, who became infidels and do not put faith unto God.

الَّذِينَ عَاهَدْتَ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ يَنْقُضُونَ عَهْدَهُمْ فِي كُلِّ مَرَّةٍ وَهُمْ لَا يَتَّقُونَ {56}

56. Those who promised you and then breached their promise, every time, and do not fear God.

فَإِمَّا تَثْقَفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْحَرْبِ فَشَرِّدْ بِهِمْ مَنْ خَلْفَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ {57}

57. Therefore, if you overpower them in the fight you will disperse those who assist them so they may remember.

وَإِمَّا تَخَافَنَّ مِنْ قَوْمٍ خِيَانَةً فَانْبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَىٰ سَوَاءٍۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْخَائِنِينَ {58}

58. If you hesitate, the sect would breach the pact with you, you can, on similar lines treats them by breaching the pact. Of course, God does not like those who are not honest in maintaining a pact.

Moral

1. Trusting God involves patience to satisfy God. The faithful are capable of being assisted against their enemies’ hypocrites who will realize how patient faith brings an ultimate reward from God.

2. God never exchanges His Bounties on His creatures until and unless the latter for want of thanklessness or disobedience deserve to be deprived of them.

3. God considers those Creatures worst, who pretend to believe and go on making and breaking promises with regard to obeying His commands for which He suggests to His Prophets to set up a lesson by severe punishment.

Verses 59 – 64

وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا سَبَقُواۚ إِنَّهُمْ لَا يُعْجِزُونَ {59}

59. And those who became infidels must not think they surpassed Us and certainly they cannot render Us helpless.

وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَمِنْ رِبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَآخَرِينَ مِنْ دُونِهِمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْۚ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ {60}

60. And amass sinews of war and power, which you can provide with as much cavalry you can maintain. Keep them ready to face the infidels with which you can frighten God’s enemy, and your enemies and besides them, you can frighten other people and whom you do not know but God knows them better and whatever you are spending for the sake of God, you will be rewarded wholly and there will be no loss to you.

وَإِنْ جَنَحُوا لِلسَّلْمِ فَاجْنَحْ لَهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ {61}

61. If they will submit to the truce you also concede to it, and trust in God, of course, He is All-hearing and All-knowing.

وَإِنْ يُرِيدُوا أَنْ يَخْدَعُوكَ فَإِنَّ حَسْبَكَ اللَّهُۚ هُوَ الَّذِي أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِ وَبِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ {62}

62. If they would like to deceive you, God is enough for you, He is who helped you with support of angels and the faithful.

وَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْۚ لَوْ أَنْفَقْتَ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مَا أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْۚ إِنَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ {63}

63. And produced love in their hearts. If you had spent all of earth you could not have produced love in their hearts, of course He is Mighty and Wise.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ حَسْبُكَ اللَّهُ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ {64}

64. Oh Prophet, God is sufficient for you and among the faithful, those which follow you.

Moral

1. Chance given to infidels to rectify, must not lead them to believe they have defeated Divine Designs.

2. Maintenance of a standing army, duly financed is necessary to produce awe in enemy (although Divine Help is really active and effective) and all what you spend for the sake of God will not be voided.

3. Do not necessarily pursue fighting course. If they sue for peace you also give in, and if they play a game, trust in God who’s Help is real as you have seen in Badr. this for the Prophet as a Divine Light who alone in such time is empowered to make a crusade, and God has power to control human hearts, whereby without warning, he can subdue hearts of the enemies who cannot otherwise be won over. Islam is not a militant faith in the world of trial, though it has to fight in self-defence under sanction of Divine Light.

Verses 65 – 69

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ حَرِّضِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى الْقِتَالِۚ إِنْ يَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَابِرُونَ يَغْلِبُوا مِائَتَيْنِۚ وَإِنْ يَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ مِائَةٌ يَغْلِبُوا أَلْفًا مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ {65}

65. Oh Prophet, stir up the faithful to fight. If there will be 20 patients among you, they will overpower 200 infidels and if there will be 100 they will over 1000 infidels. It is why because infidels ware those who do not understand anything.

الْآنَ خَفَّفَ اللَّهُ عَنْكُمْ وَعَلِمَ أَنَّ فِيكُمْ ضَعْفًاۚ فَإِنْ يَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ مِائَةٌ صَابِرَةٌ يَغْلِبُوا مِائَتَيْنِۚ وَإِنْ يَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ أَلْفٌ يَغْلِبُوا أَلْفَيْنِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِۗ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ {66}

66. Now God has relaxed in your matter by reducing (the multiple factor to 20 percent) and know among you there are weak. Therefore, if there will be 100 patient among you they will over power 200 infidels and if there will be 1000 they will over power 2000 under Divine commands and God is with the patient.

مَا كَانَ لِنَبِيٍّ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ أَسْرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يُثْخِنَ فِي الْأَرْضِۚ تُرِيدُونَ عَرَضَ الدُّنْيَا وَاللَّهُ يُرِيدُ الْآخِرَةَۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ {67}

67. It is not right for the Prophet when he has infidel prisoners until he kills them, you are desirous of worldly gains and God wants Eternity for you, God is Might and Wise.

لَوْلَا كِتَابٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِيمَا أَخَذْتُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ {68}

68. If God had not written out in His record, i.e. legalized ransom being discretionary to the Prophet, verily you would have been punished severely for what you have advised the Prophet to prefer the ransom to killing captives.

فَكُلُوا مِمَّا غَنِمْتُمْ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًاۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ {69}

69. And now enjoy what you have taken in the ransom amount as lawful and pure and fear God and of course God is great at forgiveness and granting Mercy.

Moral

God commands the Prophet to stir up the faithful to face the infidels and promises success as 10:1 and finding some among them not steady relaxes the ration to 2:1 if they bear patiently, Prophet, as per Divine commands wipes off infidels by killing them when they are taken prisoners but the weak faithful want to liberate them on ransom, i.e. by accepting worldly profits out of them. Had it not been recorded with God legal acts of such weak faithful they would have been long before severally punished therefore, leaving it to the discretion of the Prophet. Abbas, the Prophet’s uncle, is released on ransom and embraces faith.

Verses 70 – 75

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِمَنْ فِي أَيْدِيكُمْ مِنَ الْأَسْرَىٰ إِنْ يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ خَيْرًا يُؤْتِكُمْ خَيْرًا مِمَّا أُخِذَ مِنْكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ {70}

70. Oh Prophet, tell those prisoners who are in your hands, if God will find any kind of virtue in their hearts, what is taken from them He will grant better than that, and will forgive their sins. Of course, God is Mighty at Forgiveness and granting Mercy.

وَإِنْ يُرِيدُوا خِيَانَتَكَ فَقَدْ خَانُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَأَمْكَنَ مِنْهُمْۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ {71}

71. If they are bent upon being dishonest to you as they did in the past to God and upon which He made you over power them, and God is All-knowing and Wise.

بَعْضٍۚ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يُهَاجِرُوا مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ وَلَايَتِهِمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ يُهَاجِرُواۚ وَإِنِ اسْتَنْصَرُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ فَعَلَيْكُمُ النَّصْرُ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ مِيثَاقٌۗ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ {72}

72. Those who are worthy of praise, who embraced, who fled with the Prophet from Mecca to Medina, and fought at a risk of their property and lives for the sake of God, and those gave shelter and helped emigrants are friends with one another, and those who embraced faith but did not flee, you have no responsibility to guard them until they fled and (left Mecca, their home for Medina) if they thus asked help from in religion (by fleeing) you will have to protect them, except against the sect with whom you have contracted a pact. God is All-seeing what you are doing.

وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍۚ إِلَّا تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُنْ فِتْنَةٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَفَسَادٌ كَبِيرٌ {73}

73. And those who became infidels, they are assistants of one another, and if you will not act according to Our Commandments, there will be a great revolution on Earth and lead to a world war.

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ آوَوْا وَنَصَرُوا أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّاۚ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ {74}

74. They are the true faithful who embraced faith who fled and participated in Crusade for the sake of God and who gave shelter and assisted them.

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْ بَعْدُ وَهَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا مَعَكُمْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مِنْكُمْۚ وَأُولُو الْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ {75}

75. And those who embraced faith later, and fled and in company with you, they fought against the infidels, are counted with you, and relatives, as heirs to the proper ties of one another, some are superior to others, by nearness according to the commands of God in text, of course, God is All-knowing.

Notes

1. Deserted and crown lands.

2. There was a dispute regarding distribution on booty which was left to the Prophet’s discretion and he did distribute among defenders, actual on field, and collectors of booty property and prisoners.

3. Prayers are the only obligatory functions in which requisites of faith are fully involved and justify admission to Paradise.

4. Crusade which has been made obligatory and success foretold in spite of which they are afraid of death being scanty.

5. One small in strength having little property to yield booty but hardy Quraish to be slain at the hands of Ali (Divine Word or Divine Light) and by Hamza (Prophet’s uncle).

6. On seeing o nly 313 followers of his the Prophet prayed to God to reinforce him with angels, when 1,000 were sent to the Prophet’s assistance.

7. Succession of Ali in Valley of Khum, etc.

8. Or compensated otherwise by interceding Divine Lights.

9. 1. The infidels are lost in sophistry.

2. Their litigation falsely hides truth unto them.

3. To their inverted hearts vices appear virtue and vice versa.

4. To their mischievous minds, righteousness deserts.

Similarly,

1. Hypocrites are lost in suspicion.

2. Diffidence ruins them through the Devil.

3. Fighting shy of facts will turn them away from the truth.

4. Submission for loss of world is ruin in world and Eternity is also lost therein.

10. Paradise also admission of rightful leadership of Islam (i.e. Divine Light be it Prophet or Imam).

11. God prevents the faithful by barring him from commission of sin through the angel seated in him and similarly the devil prevents the infidel from acting virtuously. Also, the truth manifests to man siding with it. It depends on man’s intentions according to which God directs or withdraws His guidance and the devil pursues.

12. On revelation of this couplet, the Prophet said, “He who shall tyrannize Ali, on the question of my succession is as though he denied not only my prophetship, but that of all of the rest of the Prophets previous.

13. This refers to the Prophet’s hiding in a cave of Sur, when the Quraish had decided to hill him.

14. This explains why the Prophet’s companions when they used to flee from the crusade were not instantly punished, as it would foil the object of guidance and few will stand the test.

15. During the treat of Hudebiya when certain faithful could not flee but kept it in Mecca.

16. St. John 17:8 – 9 to give you in sight into its secret.

For I have given them the words Thou givest me and they have received them. I pray for them, I pray not for the world, for they are thine, like iron filings capable of being magnetized and unlike dialectrics, incapable of being magnetized