Surah 8. Al-Anfal

THEY WILL ASK thee about the spoils of war. Say: "All spoils of war belong to God and the Apostle."¹ Remain, then, conscious of God, and keep alive the bonds of brotherhood among yourselves,² and pay heed unto God and His Apostle, if you are [truly] believers!

  - Mohammad Asad

The term nafl (of which anfal is the plural) denotes, in its purely linguistic sense, "an accretion or addition received beyond one's due" or "something given in excess of one's obligation" (from which latter meaning the term salat an-nafl - i.e., a "supererogatory prayer" - is derived). In its plural form anfal, which occurs in the Qur'an only in the above verse, this word signifies "spoils of war", inasmuch as such spoils are an incidental accession above and beyond anything that a mujahid ("a fighter in God's cause") is entitled to expect. The statement that "all spoils of war belong to God and the Apostle" implies that no individual warrior has a claim to any war booty: it is public property, to be utilized or distributed by the government of an Islamic state in accordance with the principles laid down in the Qur'an and the teachings of the Prophet. For further details relating to the division of spoils of war, see verse {41} of this surah. - The immediate occasion of this revelation was the question of the booty acquired by the Muslims in the battle of Badr (an account of which is given in the introductory note to this surah); but the principle enunciated above is valid for all times and circumstances.

Lit., "set to rights the relationship between yourselves" - i e., "remain conscious of your brotherhood in faith and banish all discord among yourselves".

They ask you about booty (spoils of war). Tell them: "The Booty belongs to Allah and His Rasool: so fear Allah, end your disputes, and correct the relations between yourselves: obey Allah and His Rasool if you are true believers."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They ask thee (O Muhammad) of the spoils of war. Say: The spoils of war belong to Allah and the messenger, so keep your duty to Allah, and adjust the matter of your difference, and obey Allah and His messenger, if ye are (true) believers.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Believers are only they whose hearts tremble with awe whenever God is mentioned, and whose faith is strengthened whenever His messages are conveyed unto them,³ and who in their Sustainer place their trust -

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "and whenever His messages are conveyed to them, they increase them in faith".

The true believers are those whose hearts tremble with fear, when the name of Allah is mentioned, and whose faith grows stronger as they listen to His revelations and they put their trust in their Rabb,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They only are the (true) believers whose hearts feel fear when Allah is mentioned, and when the revelations of Allah are recited unto them they increase their faith, and who trust in their Lord;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

those who are constant in prayer and spend on others out of what We provide for them as sustenance:⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

See surah {2}, note [4].

who establish Salah and spend in charity out of the sustenance which We have given them.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Who establish worship and spend of that We have bestowed on them.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

it is they, they who are truly believers! Theirs shall be great dignity in their Sustainer's sight, and forgiveness of sins, and a most excellent sustenance.⁵

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., in paradise. According to Razi, however, the "most excellent sustenance" is a metonym for "the spiritual raptures arising from the knowledge of God, the love of Him, and the self-immersion (istighraq) in worshipping Him". In Razi's interpretation, this expression refers to the spiritual reward of faith in this world. Some commentators (cf. Manar IX, 597) regard the above definition of true believers as the most important passage of this surah. - The phrase rendered by me as "theirs shall be great dignity" reads, literally, "they shall have degrees", namely, of excellence and dignity.

They are the ones who are the true believers; they will have exalted ranks with their Rabb, forgiveness for their sins, and honorable sustenance.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Those are they who are in truth believers. For them are grades (of honor) with their Lord, and pardon, and a bountiful provision.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

EVEN AS thy Sustainer brought thee forth from thy home [to fight] in the cause of the truth, although some of the believers were averse to it,

  - Mohammad Asad

Your Rabb ordered you to leave your home to fight for justice, but some of the believers were reluctant.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Even as thy Lord caused thee (Muhammad) to go forth from thy home with the Truth, and lo! a party of the believers were averse (to it),

  - Marmaduke Pickthall