Surah Al-Anfal, Ayah 61-75 — Word by Word
الأنفال
The Spoils of War
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
wa-in janaḥū lilssalmi fa-ij'naḥ lahā watawakkal ʿalā l-lahi innahu huwa l-samīʿu l-ʿalīmu
And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allāh. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.
wa-in yurīdū an yakhdaʿūka fa-inna ḥasbaka l-lahu huwa alladhī ayyadaka binaṣrihi wabil-mu'minīna
But if they intend to deceive you - then sufficient for you is Allāh. It is He who supported you with His help and with the believers
wa-allafa bayna qulūbihim law anfaqta mā fī l-arḍi jamīʿan mā allafta bayna qulūbihim walākinna l-laha allafa baynahum innahu ʿazīzun ḥakīmun
And brought together their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together; but Allāh brought them together. Indeed, He is Exalted in Might and Wise.
yāayyuhā l-nabiyu ḥasbuka l-lahu wamani ittabaʿaka mina l-mu'minīna
O Prophet, sufficient for you is Allāh and for whoever follows you of the believers.
yāayyuhā l-nabiyu ḥarriḍi l-mu'minīna ʿalā l-qitāli in yakun minkum ʿish'rūna ṣābirūna yaghlibū mi-atayni wa-in yakun minkum mi-atun yaghlibū alfan mina alladhīna kafarū bi-annahum qawmun lā yafqahūna
O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are steadfast], they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.
al-āna khaffafa l-lahu ʿankum waʿalima anna fīkum ḍaʿfan fa-in yakun minkum mi-atun ṣābiratun yaghlibū mi-atayni wa-in yakun minkum alfun yaghlibū alfayni bi-idh'ni l-lahi wal-lahu maʿa l-ṣābirīna
Now, Allāh has lightened [the hardship] for you, and He knows that among you is weakness. So if there are from you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you a thousand, they will overcome two thousand by permission of Allāh. And Allāh is with the steadfast.
mā kāna linabiyyin an yakūna lahu asrā ḥattā yuth'khina fī l-arḍi turīdūna ʿaraḍa l-dun'yā wal-lahu yurīdu l-ākhirata wal-lahu ʿazīzun ḥakīmun
It is not for a prophet to have captives [of war] until he inflicts a massacre [upon Allāh's enemies] in the land. You [i.e., some Muslims] desire the commodities of this world, but Allāh desires [for you] the Hereafter. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
lawlā kitābun mina l-lahi sabaqa lamassakum fīmā akhadhtum ʿadhābun ʿaẓīmun
If not for a decree from Allāh that preceded, you would have been touched for what you took by a great punishment.
fakulū mimmā ghanim'tum ḥalālan ṭayyiban wa-ittaqū l-laha inna l-laha ghafūrun raḥīmun
So consume what you have taken of war booty [as being] lawful and good, and fear Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
yāayyuhā l-nabiyu qul liman fī aydīkum mina l-asrā in yaʿlami l-lahu fī qulūbikum khayran yu'tikum khayran mimmā ukhidha minkum wayaghfir lakum wal-lahu ghafūrun raḥīmun
O Prophet, say to whoever is in your hands of the captives, "If Allāh knows [any] good in your hearts, He will give you [something] better than what was taken from you, and He will forgive you; and Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful."
wa-in yurīdū khiyānataka faqad khānū l-laha min qablu fa-amkana min'hum wal-lahu ʿalīmun ḥakīmun
But if they intend to betray you - then they have already betrayed Allāh before, and He empowered [you] over them. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
inna alladhīna āmanū wahājarū wajāhadū bi-amwālihim wa-anfusihim fī sabīli l-lahi wa-alladhīna āwaw wanaṣarū ulāika baʿḍuhum awliyāu baʿḍin wa-alladhīna āmanū walam yuhājirū mā lakum min walāyatihim min shayin ḥattā yuhājirū wa-ini is'tanṣarūkum fī l-dīni faʿalaykumu l-naṣru illā ʿalā qawmin baynakum wabaynahum mīthāqun wal-lahu bimā taʿmalūna baṣīrun
Indeed, those who have believed and emigrated and fought with their wealth and lives in the cause of Allāh and those who gave shelter and aided - they are allies of one another. But those who believed and did not emigrate - for you there is no support of them until they emigrate. And if they seek help of you for the religion, then you must help, except against a people between yourselves and whom is a treaty. And Allāh is Seeing of what you do.
wa-alladhīna kafarū baʿḍuhum awliyāu baʿḍin illā tafʿalūhu takun fit'natun fī l-arḍi wafasādun kabīrun
And those who disbelieved are allies of one another. If you do not do so [i.e., ally yourselves with other believers], there will be fitnah [i.e., disbelief and oppression] on earth and great corruption.
wa-alladhīna āmanū wahājarū wajāhadū fī sabīli l-lahi wa-alladhīna āwaw wanaṣarū ulāika humu l-mu'minūna ḥaqqan lahum maghfiratun wariz'qun karīmun
But those who have believed and emigrated and fought in the cause of Allāh and those who gave shelter and aided - it is they who are the believers, truly. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.
wa-alladhīna āmanū min baʿdu wahājarū wajāhadū maʿakum fa-ulāika minkum wa-ulū l-arḥāmi baʿḍuhum awlā bibaʿḍin fī kitābi l-lahi inna l-laha bikulli shayin ʿalīmun
And those who believed after [the initial emigration] and emigrated and fought with you - they are of you. But those of [blood] relationship are more entitled [to inheritance] in the decree of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing of all things.