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Surah 8. Al-Anfal

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8:11
إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ ٱلنُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةً مِّنْهُ وَيُنَزِّلُ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً لِّيُطَهِّرَكُم بِهِۦ وَيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمْ رِجْزَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ وَلِيَرْبِطَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتَ بِهِ ٱلْأَقْدَامَ I th yughashsheekumu a l nnuAA a sa amanatan minhu wayunazzilu AAalaykum mina a l ssam a i m a an liyu t ahhirakum bihi wayu th hiba AAankum rijza a l shshay ta ni waliyarbi t a AAal a quloobikum wayuthabbita bihi alaqd a m a
[Remember how it was] when He caused inner calm to enfold you,11 as an assurance from Him, and sent down upon you water from the skies, so that He might purify you thereby and free you from Satan's unclean whisperings12 and strengthen your hearts and thus make firm your steps.
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., before the battle of Badr. Regarding the interpretation of nu'as as "inner calm", see surah {3}, note [112]. Here it refers to the spiritual quiet and self-confidence of the believers in the face of overwhelming odds.

Lit., "take away from you the pollution of Satan". Immediately before the beginning of the battle, the Meccan army infested the wells of Badr, thus depriving the Muslims of water; and, under the influence of thirst, some of the latter fell prey to utter despair (here symbolized by "Satan's unclean whisperings") - when, suddenly, abundant rain fell and enabled them to satisfy their thirst (Tabari, on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas).

Remember (before the battle of Badr) when He caused drowsiness to overcome you as an assurance from Himself, and sent down water from the sky to cleanse you and to remove from you the uncleanliness caused by Shaitan, to strengthen your hearts and to steady your feet therewith.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'Remember' when He caused drowsiness to overcome you, giving you serenity.1 And He sent down rain from the sky to purify you, free you from Satan's whispers, strengthen your hearts, and make 'your' steps firm.
  - Mustafa Khattab

 This happened the night before the battle.

When he made the slumber fall upon you as a reassurance from Him and sent down water from the sky upon you, that thereby He might purify you, and remove from you the fear of Satan, and make strong your hearts and firm (your) feet thereby.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Remember He covered you with a sort of drowsiness to give you calm as from Himself and He caused rain to descend on you from heaven to clean you therewith to remove from you the stain of satan to strengthen your hearts and to plant your feet firmly therewith. 1186 1187 1188
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. iii. 154 for Uhud. Calm (presence of mind) is essential in battle and in 'ill posts of danger. If the mind is too much in a state of excitement, it cannot carry out a well-considered or well-concerted plan. This spirit of calm confidence on the part of the Muslims won against the blustering violence of the Quraish.

The rain was welcome for many reasons. (1) Water was scarce both for drinking and ablutions; (2) the muslim band, without baggage or equipment or comforts, found that their thirst aggravated their fatigue; (3) the sand was loose, and the rain consolidated it and enabled them "to plant their feet firmly."

"Stain of Satan". Dirt is physically a symbol of evil, and the Muslims were particular about ablutions before prayer. But the rain also refreshed their spirits and removed any lurking doubts in their minds (suggestions of the Evil) that victory might be impossible in such adverse circumstances.

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8:12
إِذْ يُوحِى رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ أَنِّى مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۚ سَأُلْقِى فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلرُّعْبَ فَٱضْرِبُوا۟ فَوْقَ ٱلْأَعْنَاقِ وَٱضْرِبُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ I th yoo h ee rabbuka il a almal a ikati annee maAAakum fathabbitoo alla th eena a manoo saolqee fee quloobi alla th eena kafaroo a l rruAAba fa i d riboo fawqa alaAAn a qi wa i d riboo minhum kulla ban a n in
Lo! Thy Sustainer inspired the angels [to convey this His message to the believers]: "I am with you!"13 [And He commanded the angels:] "And give firmness unto those who have attained to faith [with these words from Me]:14 'I shall cast terror into the hearts of those who are bent on denying the truth; strike, then, their necks, [O believers,] and strike off every one of their finger-tips!'"15
  - Mohammad Asad

The phrase "I am with you" is addressed (through the angels) to the believers - "for, the purport of these words was the removal of fear, since it was the Muslims, and not the angels, who feared the deniers of the truth" (Razi).

The following is, again, addressed to the believers (Razi). {Verse 10} of this surah makes it clear that the aid of the angels was purely spiritual in nature; and there is no evidence anywhere in the Qur'an that they did, or were meant to, participate in the battle in a physical sense. In his commentary on the above verse, Razi stresses this point repeatedly; among modern commentators, Rashid Rida' emphatically rejects the legendary notion that angels actually fought in this or any other of the Prophet's battles (see Manar IX, 612 ff.). It is mainly on the basis of Razi's interpretation of this passage that I have interpolated, in several places, explanatory clauses between brackets.

I.e., "destroy them utterly".

Then your Rabb revealed His will to the angels: "I am with you, give courage to the believers. I will cast panic into the hearts of the unbelievers, therefore, smite their necks and beat every joint of their bodies."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'Remember, O Prophet,' when your Lord revealed to the angels, 'I am with you. So make the believers stand firm. I will cast horror into the hearts of the disbelievers. So strike their necks and strike their fingertips.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying:) I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them." 1189
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The vulnerable parts of an armed man are above the neck. A blow on the neck, face or head, finishes him off. If he has armour it is difficult to get at his heart. But if his hands are put out of action, he is unable to wield his sword or lance or other weapon, and easily becomes a prisoner.

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8:13
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ شَآقُّوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ ۚ وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ Tha lika biannahum sh a qqoo All a ha warasoolahu waman yush a qiqi All a ha warasoolahu fainna All a ha shadeedu alAAiq a b i
This, because they have cut themselves off from16 God and His Apostle: and as for him who cuts himself off from God and His Apostle - verily, God is severe in retribution.
  - Mohammad Asad

Or: "contended against" (Baghawi). However, since the primary meaning of shaqqahu ("he separated himself from him" or "cut himself off from him") comprises the concepts of both estrangement and opposition (Tabari, Zamakhshari, Razi), the rendering adopted by me seems to be the most suitable in this context.

This is because they defied Allah and His Rasool. Whoever defies Allah and His Rasool should know that Allah is strict in retribution,
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
This is because they defied Allah and His Messenger. And whoever defies Allah and His Messenger, then 'know that' Allah is surely severe in punishment.
  - Mustafa Khattab
That is because they opposed Allah and His messenger. Whoso opposeth Allah and His messenger, (for him) lo! Allah is severe in punishment.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
This because they contended against Allah and His apostle: if any contend against Allah and His apostle Allah is strict in punishment.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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8:14
ذَٰلِكُمْ فَذُوقُوهُ وَأَنَّ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ Tha likum fa th ooqoohu waanna lilk a fireena AAa tha ba a l nn a r i
This [for you, O enemies of God]! Taste it, then, [and know] that suffering through fire awaits those who deny the truth!
  - Mohammad Asad
that it is the reality, so taste it, and there will also be the torture of hellfire for the unbelievers.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
That 'worldly punishment' is yours, so taste it! Then the disbelievers will suffer the torment of the Fire.
  - Mustafa Khattab
That (is the award), so taste it, and (know) that for disbelievers is the torment of the Fire.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Thus (will it be said): "Taste ye then of the (punishment): for those who resist Allah is the penalty of the fire."
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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8:15
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ زَحْفًا فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ ٱلْأَدْبَارَ Y a ayyuh a alla th eena a manoo i tha laqeetumu alla th eena kafaroo za h fan fal a tuwalloohumu aladb a r a
O YOU who have attained to faith! When you meet in battle those who are bent on denying the truth, advancing in great force, do not turn your backs on them:17
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., in flight: the implication being that in view of God's promise of victory no retreat is permissible. Since this verse (like the whole of this surah) relates predominantly to the battle of Badr, it may well be presumed that the above admonition forms part of the message of encouragement beginning with the words, "I am with you" (verse {12}), which God commanded the angels to convey to the believers before the battle. In accordance with the didactic method of the Qur'an, however, the moral lesson contained in this verse is not confined to the historical occasion to which it refers, but has the validity of a permanent law.

O believers! When you encounter the unbelievers in a battle, never turn your backs to them,
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
O believers! When you face the disbelievers in battle, never turn your backs to them.
  - Mustafa Khattab
O ye who believe, When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
O ye who believe! when ye meet the unbelievers in hostile array never turn your backs to them. 1190
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The laws of Jihad are exactly similar to those enforced by military virtue and discipline. Meet your enemy fairly and squarely, not rashly, but after due preparation. Zahfan in the text (meeting in hostile array) implies a slow and well-planned proceeding towards a hostile army. When once in combat, carry it through: there is no room for second thoughts. Death or victory should be the motto of every soldier: it may be death for himself individually, but if he has faith, there is triumph in either case for his cause. Two exceptions are recognised: (1) reculer pour mieux sauter, to go back in order to jump forward; or to deceive the enemy by a feint; (2) if an individual or body is, by the chances of battle, isolated from his own force, he can fall back on his force in order to fight the battle. There is no virtue in mere single-handedness. Each individual must use his life and his resources to the best advantage for the common cause.

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8:16
وَمَن يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُۥٓ إِلَّا مُتَحَرِّفًا لِّقِتَالٍ أَوْ مُتَحَيِّزًا إِلَىٰ فِئَةٍ فَقَدْ بَآءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ Waman yuwallihim yawmai th in duburahu ill a muta h arrifan liqit a lin aw muta h ayyizan il a fiatin faqad b a a bigha d abin mina All a hi wamaw a hu jahannamu wabisa alma s eer u
for, whoever on that day turns his back on them - unless it be in a battle manoeuvre or in an endeavour to join another troop [of the believers] - shall indeed have earned the burden of God's condemnation, and his goal shall be hell: and how vile a journey's end!
  - Mohammad Asad
and whoever turns his back to them on such an occasion - unless it be a strategy of war, or to join towards a detachment - shall incur the wrath of Allah and his abode shall be hell, and how awful shall be that dwelling!
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And whoever does so on such an occasion- unless it is a manoeuvre or to join their own troops- will earn the displeasure of Allah, and their home will be Hell. What an evil destination!
  - Mustafa Khattab
Whoso on that day turneth his back to them, unless maneuvering for battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless journey's end.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
If any do turn his back to them on such a day unless it be in a stratagem of war or to retreat to a troop (of his own) He draws on himself the wrath of Allah and his abode is Hell and evil refuge (indeed)!
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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8:17
فَلَمْ تَقْتُلُوهُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَمَىٰ ۚ وَلِيُبْلِىَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْهُ بَلَآءً حَسَنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ Falam taqtuloohum wal a kinna All a ha qatalahum wam a ramayta i th ramayta wal a kinna All a ha ram a waliyubliya almumineena minhu bal a an h asanan inna All a ha sameeAAun AAaleem un
And yet, [O believers,] it was not you who slew the enemy,18 but it was God who slew them; and it was not thou who cast [terror into them, O Prophet], when thou didst cast it, but it was God who cast it:19 and [He did all this] in order that He might test the believers by a goodly test of His Own ordaining.20 Verily, God is all-hearing, all-knowing!
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "you did not slay them" - i.e., in the battle of Badr, which ended with a complete victory of the Muslims.

According to several Traditions, the Prophet cast, at the beginning of the battle, a handful of pebbles or dust in the direction of the enemy, thus symbolically indicating their approaching defeat. However, none of these accounts attains to the standard of authenticity described as sahih (i.e., "reliable") by the great exponents of the science of Tradition ('ilm al-hadith), and cannot, therefore, satisfactorily explain the above Qur'anic passage (see Ibn Kathir's commentary on this verse, as well as Manar IX, 620 f.). Since the verb rama (lit., "he cast" or "flung") applies also to the act of "shooting an arrow" or "flinging a spear", it might be explained here as a reference to the Prophet's active participation in the battle. Alternatively, it may denote his "casting terror", i.e., into the hearts of his enemies, by his and his followers' extreme valour. Whichever explanation is adopted, the above verse implies that the victory of the Muslims over the much more numerous and much better equipped army of the Quraysh was due to God's grace alone: and, thus, it is a reminder to the faithful, of all times, not to indulge in undue pride in any of their achievements (which is the meaning of the "test" mentioned in the next sentence).

Lit., "from Himself".

In fact, it was not you who killed them, but it was Allah Who killed them; it was not you who threw the handful of sand, but it was Allah Who threw it so that He might pass the believers successfully through this excellent trial; surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
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',1 but it was Allah Who did so, rendering the believers a great favour. Surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
  - Mustafa Khattab

 Before the battle, the Prophet (ﷺ) threw a handful of sand at the disbelievers and prayed for their defeat.

Ye (Muslims) slew them not, but Allah slew them. And thou (Muhammad) threwest not when thou didst throw, but Allah threw, that He might test the believers by a fair test from Him. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
It is not ye who slew them; it was Allah: when thou threwest (a handful of dust) it was not thy act but Allah's: in order that He might test the believers by a gracious trial from Himself: for Allah is He who heareth and knoweth (all things). 1191 1192
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When the battle began, the Holy Prophet prayed, and threw a handful of dust or sand at the enemy, which, as described in traditions, struck the eyes of the enemy. This had a great psychological effect,

Numerically the odds against the Muslims were three to one. In other ways they were at a disadvantage: of arms and equipment they had but little, while the enemy were well-found: they were inexperienced, while the Quraish had brought their foremost warriors. In all this there was a test, but the test was accompanied by gracious favours of countless value: their Commander was one in whom they had perfect faith, and for whom they were ready to lay down their lives; the rain refreshed them; their spirit was unshaken; and they were fighting in Allah's cause. Thus the trial or test became itself a blessing.

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8:18
ذَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُوهِنُ كَيْدِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ Tha likum waanna All a ha moohinu kaydi alk a fireen a
This [was God's purpose] - and also [to show] that God renders vain the artful schemes of those who deny the truth.
  - Mohammad Asad
This is His dealing with you: as for the unbelievers, Allah will surely frustrate their evil plots.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
As such, Allah frustrates the evil plans of the disbelievers.
  - Mustafa Khattab
That (is the case); and (know) that Allah (it is) who maketh weak the plan of disbelievers.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
That and also because Allah is He who makes feeble the plans and stratagems of the unbelievers.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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8:19
إِن تَسْتَفْتِحُوا۟ فَقَدْ جَآءَكُمُ ٱلْفَتْحُ ۖ وَإِن تَنتَهُوا۟ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تَعُودُوا۟ نَعُدْ وَلَن تُغْنِىَ عَنكُمْ فِئَتُكُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَلَوْ كَثُرَتْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ In tastafti h oo faqad j a akumu alfat h u wain tantahoo fahuwa khayrun lakum wain taAAoodoo naAAud walan tughniya AAankum fiatukum shayan walaw kathurat waanna All a ha maAAa almumineen a
If you have been praying for victory, [O believers] - victory has now indeed come unto you. And if you abstain [from sinning], it will be for your own good; but if you revert to it, We shall revoke [Our promise of aid] - and never will your community be of any avail to you, however great its numbers: for, behold, God is [only] with those who believe!21
  - Mohammad Asad

There is no unanimity among the commentators as to whether this verse is addressed to the believers or to their opponents at Badr, that is, the pagan Quraysh. While some of the commentators (e.g., Razi) are of the opinion that it is an admonition to the believers and understand it in the sense rendered by me above, others maintain that it is a warning addressed to the Quraysh. In order to justify this view, they give to the word fath (lit., "opening") occurring in the first sentence the meaning of "judgment" or "decision" (which is undoubtedly permissible from the linguistic point of view), and arrive at the following rendering: "If you have been seeking a decision [O unbelievers] - a decision has now indeed come unto you. And if you abstain [from making war on God and His Apostle], it will be for your own good; but if you revert to it, We shall revert [to defeating you] - and never will your army be of any avail to you, however great its numbers: for, behold, God is with the believers!" As can be seen from this alternative rendering, the difference in interpretation pivots on the tropical meaning which one gives to the words fath ("decision" or "victory") and fi'ah ("army" or "community"). As regards the latter, it is to be borne in mind that its primary significance is "a group" or "a congregated body of men" - more or less synonymous with ta'ifah or jama'ah; it can, therefore, be used to denote "an army" as well as "a community". Similarly, the expression na'ud can be understood in either of two ways: namely, as meaning "We shall revert [to defeating you]" - or, as in my rendering, "We shall revoke [Our promise of aid]" - addressed, in the one instance to the unbelievers, and in the other, to the believers. (For the use of the verb 'ada in the sense of "he revoked", see Taj al-'Arus; also Lane V, 2189.) But while both interpretations of the above verse are linguistically justified, the one adopted by me (and supported, according to Ibn Kathir, by Ubayy ibn Ka'b) is in greater harmony with the context, inasmuch as both the preceding and subsequent passages are unmistakably addressed to the believers. Thus, the verse must be understood as a reminder to the Muslims that God will be with them only so long as they remain firm in faith and righteous in action, and that, however large their community may be in the future, they will be powerless unless they are true believers.

O unbelievers! You wanted a decision; lo! The decision, in shape of the believers' victory, has come to you. Now if you desist, it will be better for you, and if you repeat your act of war against the believers, so shall We repeat the act of providing them assistance, and your forces, however large in number they may be, shall avail you nothing, for verily Allah is with the believers.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
If you 'Meccans' sought judgment, now it has come to you. And if you cease, it will be for your own good. But if you persist, We will persist. And your forces- no matter how numerous they might be- will not benefit you whatsoever. For Allah is certainly with the believers.
  - Mustafa Khattab
(O Qureysh!) If ye sought a judgment, now hath the judgment come unto you. And if ye cease (from persecuting the believers) it will be better for you, but if ye return (to the attack) We also shall return. And your host will avail you naught, however numerous it be, and (know) that Allah is with the believers (in His guidance).
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
(O unbelievers!) if ye prayed for victory and judgment now hath the judgment come to you: if ye desist (from wrong) it will be best for you: if ye return (to the attack) so shall We. Not the least good will your forces be to you even if they were multiplied: for verily Allah is with those who believe. 1193
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Fath = victory, decision, judgment. The Quraish in Makkah had prayed for victory: they were confident that their superior numbers, equipment, and experience would be decisive. With a play on the word, they are told that the decision had come, and the victory-but not in the sense they had hoped for!

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8:20
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَوَلَّوْا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَنتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ Y a ayyuh a alla th eena a manoo a t eeAAoo All a ha warasoolahu wal a tawallaw AAanhu waantum tasmaAAoon a
[Hence,] O you who have attained to faith, pay heed unto God and His Apostle, and do not turn away from Him now that you hear [His message];
  - Mohammad Asad
O believers! Obey Allah and his Rasool and do not turn your back to him, now that you have heard all.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
O believers! Obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn away from him while you hear 'his call'.
  - Mustafa Khattab
O ye who believe! Obey Allah and His messenger, and turn not away from him when ye hear (him speak).
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
O ye who believe! obey Allah and his apostle and turn not away from him when ye hear (him speak).
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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8:21
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ Wal a takoonoo ka a lla th eena q a loo samiAAn a wahum l a yasmaAAoon a
and be not like those who say, "We have heard", the while they do not hearken.22
  - Mohammad Asad

See 2:93 and 4:46 , and the corresponding notes. While in the above-mentioned two instances the Jews are alluded to, the present allusion is more general, and relates to all people who have come to know and understand the message of the Qur'an, but pay no heed to it.

Do not be like those who say: "We hear," but give no heed to what they hear.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Do not be like those who say, 'We hear,' but in fact they are not listening.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Be not as those who say, We hear, and they hear not.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Nor be like those who say "we hear" but listen not: 1194
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. ii. 93.

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8:22
إِنَّ شَرَّ ٱلدَّوَآبِّ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلصُّمُّ ٱلْبُكْمُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ Inna sharra a l ddaw a bbi AAinda All a hi a l ss ummu albukmu alla th eena l a yaAAqiloon a
Verily, the vilest of all creatures23 in the sight of God are those deaf, those dumb ones who do not use their reason.
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "animals that walk or crawl" (dawab, sing. dabbah), including man as well.

For the worst animals in the sight of Allah are those deaf and dumb people who do not use common sense.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Indeed, the worst of all beings in the sight of Allah are the 'wilfully' deaf and dumb, who do not understand.1
  - Mustafa Khattab

 This refers metaphorically to the disbelievers who fail to see and hear the truth.

Lo! the worst of beasts in Allah's sight are the deaf, the dumb, who have no sense.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are the deaf and the dumb those who understand not. 1195
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. ii. 18.

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8:23
وَلَوْ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا لَّأَسْمَعَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ أَسْمَعَهُمْ لَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ Walaw AAalima All a hu feehim khayran laasmaAAahum walaw asmaAAahum latawallaw wahum muAAri d oon a
For, if God had seen any good in them, He would certainly have made them hear: but [as it is,] even if He had made them hear, they would surely have turned away in their obstinacy.
  - Mohammad Asad
Had Allah perceived any virtue in them He would have indeed endowed them with hearing. Had he made them (those without virtue) hear, they would have turned away and refused to listen.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Had Allah known any goodness in them, He would have certainly made them hear. 'But' even if He had made them hear, they would have surely turned away heedlessly.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Had Allah Known of any good in them He would have made them hear, but had He made them hear they would have turned away, averse.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
If Allah had found in them any good He would indeed have made them listen; (as it is) if He had made them listen they would but have turned back and declined (faith).
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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8:24
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ ٱلْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِۦ وَأَنَّهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ Y a ayyuh a alla th eena a manoo istajeeboo lill a hi wali l rrasooli i tha daAA a kum lim a yu h yeekum wa i AAlamoo anna All a ha ya h oolu bayna almari waqalbihi waannahu ilayhi tu h sharoon a
0 you who have attained to faith! Respond to the call of God and the Apostle whenever he calls you unto that which will give you life; and know that God intervenes between man and [the desires of] his heart,24 and that unto Him you shall be gathered.
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., between a man's desires and the outward action that may result from those desires: indicating that God can turn man away from what his heart urges him to do (Raghib). In other words, it is God-consciousness alone that can prevent man from being misled by wrong desires and, thus, from becoming like "those deaf, those dumb ones who do not use their reason" (verse {22} above); and it is God-consciousness alone that can enable man to follow the call "unto that which gives life" - that is, spiritual awareness of right and wrong and the will to act accordingly.

O believers! Respond to the call of Allah and His Rasool, when He calls you to that which gives you life; and know that Allah stands between man and his heart, and that it is He in Whose presence you shall all be assembled.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
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.
  - Mustafa Khattab
O ye who believe; Obey Allah, and the messenger when He calleth you to that which quickeneth you, and know that Allah cometh in between the man and his own heart, and that He it is unto Whom ye will be gathered.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His apostle when He calleth you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart and that it is He to whom Ye shall (all) be gathered. 1196 1197
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There are two points to note. (1) Note that after Allah and His Messenger are mentioned, the pronoun and verb in the next clause are singular: everything that Allah's Messenger put forward as an injunction came by inspiration from Allah: the Messenger made his will coincide completely with Allah's will. (2) We are asked actively to give our response in deed and life to the call of duty and conscience, for that call leads to real life, the life eternal, even though it may apparently mean in this world the loss of things that make life dear or the loss of life itself. If we refer this to Jihad, i.e., fighting in and for the Cause, both literally and metaphorically, the meaning becomes quite clear.

If the human heart is refractory and refuses to obey the call of Allah, that is not the end of the matter. Allah has to be reckoned with. The refusal may be because there was some pet human scheme which the heart of man was not willing to give up for Allah's Cause. Will that scheme come to fruition by refusing to serve the higher Cause? By no means. Man proposes, but God disposes. If the scheme or motive was perfectly secret from men, it was not secret from Allah. The heart is the innermost seat of man's affections and desires: but Allah intervenes between man and his heart.

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8:25
وَٱتَّقُوا۟ فِتْنَةً لَّا تُصِيبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنكُمْ خَآصَّةً ۖ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ Wa i ttaqoo fitnatan l a tu s eebanna alla th eena th alamoo minkum kh ass atan wa i AAlamoo anna All a ha shadeedu alAAiq a b i
And beware of that temptation to evil which does not befall only those among you who are bent on denying the truth, to the exclusion of others;25 and know that God is severe in retribution.
  - Mohammad Asad

The term fitnah - here rendered as "temptation to evil" - comprises a wide range of concepts, e.g., "seduction" or "trial" or "test" or "an affliction whereby one is tried"; hence also "confusion" (as in 3:7 and 6:23 ), "discord" or "dissension" (because it constitutes a "trial" of human groupments), as well as "persecution" and "oppression" (because it is an affliction which may cause man to go astray and to lose his faith in spiritual values - a meaning in which the word fitnah is used in 2:191 and {193}); and, finally, "sedition" and "civil war" (because it leads whole communities astray). Since the expression "temptation to evil" is applicable to all these meanings, it appears to be the most suitable in the above context: the idea being that it is not merely the deliberate deniers of spiritual truths who are exposed to such a temptation, but that also people who are otherwise righteous may fall prey to it unless they remain always, and consciously, on their guard against anything that might lead them astray from the right course.

Guard yourselves against temptation. The wrongdoers among you are not the only ones who will be tempted; and know that Allah is strict in retribution.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Beware of a trial that will not only affect the wrongdoers among you. And know that Allah is severe in punishment.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And guard yourselves against a chastisement which cannot fall exclusively on those of you who are wrong-doers, and know that Allah is severe in punishment.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And fear tumult or oppression which affecteth not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong and know that Allah is strict in punishment. 1198
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Fitna has many meanings: (1) the root meaning is trial or temptation, as in ii. 102 and viii. 28; (2) an analogous meaning is trial or punishment, as in v. 71; (3) tumult or oppression, as in ii. 193, and here: and in viii. 39 (4) there is here (viii. 25) the further shade of meaning suggested, discord, sedition, civil war. This warning against internal discord or tumult was very necessary in the Civil Wars of early Islam, and was never more necessary than it is now. For it affects innocent and guilty alike.

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