Surah 8. Al-Anfal

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

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.

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

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!

[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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

And remember the time when you were few [and] helpless on earth, fearful lest people do away with you²⁶ - whereupon He sheltered you, and strengthened you with His succour, and provided for you sustenance out of the good things of life, so that you might have cause to be grateful.

  - Mohammad Asad

A reference to the weakness of the believers in the early days of Islam, before their exodus from Mecca to Medina. In its wider meaning, it is a reminder to every community of true believers, at all times, of their initial weakness and numerical insignificance and their subsequent growth in numbers and influence.

Call to mind how He gave you shelter when you were a few in number and were oppressed in the land, ever fearing lest the enemy would kidnap you. He made you strong with His help and provided you a safe asylum and gave you pure things for sustenance so that you may give thanks.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Remember when you had been vastly outnumbered and oppressed in the land,¹ 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.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., Mecca.

And remember, when ye were few and reckoned feeble in the land, and were in fear lest men should extirpate you, how He gave you refuge, and strengthened you with His help, and made provision of good things for you, that haply ye might be thankful.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Call to mind when ye were a small (band) despised through the land and afraid that men might despoil and kidnap you; but He provided a safe asylum for you strengthened you with his aid and gave you good things for sustenance: that ye might be grateful. ¹¹⁹⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

On the immediate occasion the Muslims were reminded that they were a small band in Makkah despised and rejected; living in a state of insecurity for their persons, their lives, their property, and those of their dependents, persecuted and exiled and how by the grace of Allah they found a safe asylum in Madinah how they found friends and helpers, how their many needs were cared for, and how at length they gathered strength and numbers enough to defeat the forces of godlessness, injustice, and oppression.

[Hence,] O you who have attained to faith, do not be false to God and the Apostle, and do not knowingly be false to the trust that has been reposed in you;²⁷

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "do not be false to your trusts, the while you know". Regarding the deeper meaning of amanah ("trust"), see note [87] on 33:72 .

O believers! Do not betray the trust of Allah and His Rasool, nor violate your trusts knowingly.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

O believers! Do not betray Allah and the Messenger, nor betray your trusts knowingly.

  - Mustafa Khattab

O ye who believe! Betray not Allah and His messenger, nor knowingly betray your trusts.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

O ye that believe! betray not the trust of Allah and the apostle nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you. ¹²⁰⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Trusts may be of various kinds: (1) property, goods, credit, etc.; (2) plans, confidences, secrets, etc.; (3) knowledge, talents, opportunities, etc., which we are expected to use for our fellowmen. Men may betray the trust of Allah and His Prophet by misusing property, or abusing the confidence reposed in them, or the knowledge or talents given to them. On that special occasion, when the plans for the protection of Allah's worshippers against annihilation were of special importance, the Prophet's trust and confidence had to be guarded with special care. Occasions for scrupulously respecting the trust and confidence of our fellow-men occur every day in our life, and few of us can claim perfection in this respect. Hence the special distinction of the Prophet of Allah, who earned the title of Al-Amin, the one who was true to every trust reposed in him.

and know that your worldly goods and your children are but a trial and a temptation, and that with God there is a tremendous reward.²⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

Inasmuch as love of worldly goods and a desire to protect one's family may lead a person to transgression (and, thus, to a betrayal of the moral values postulated in God's message), they are described as fitnah - which, in this context, is best rendered by the two words "trial and temptation". This reminder connects with verse {25} above, "beware of that temptation to evil which does not befall only those who are bent on denying the truth," since it is acquisitiveness and a desire to confer benefits on one's own family which often tempt an otherwise good person to offend against the rights of his fellow-men. It is to be borne in mind that, contrary to the New Testament, the Our'an does not postulate a contempt for worldly attachments as a pre-requisite of righteousness: it only demands of man that he should not allow these attachments to deflect him from the pursuit of moral verities.

You should know that your wealth and your children are, in fact, a test for you, and that Allah is He with Whom is your mighty reward.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And know that your wealth and your children are only a test and that with Allah is a great reward.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And know that your possessions and your children are a test, and that with Allah is immense reward.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And know ye that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial; and that it is Allah with whom lies your highest reward. ¹²⁰¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

A big family-many sons-was considered a source of power and strength: iii. 10, 116. So in English, a man with many children is said to have his "quiver full": Cf. Psalms, cxxvii. 4-5: "As arrows are in the hands of a mighty man, so are the children of thy youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." So with property and possessions: they add to a man's dignity, power, and influence. But both possessions and a large family are a temptation and a trial. They may turn out to be a source of spiritual downfall, if they are mishandled, or if the love of them excludes the love of Allah.

O you who have attained to faith! If you remain conscious of God, He will endow you with a standard by which to discern the true from the false,²⁹ and will efface your bad deeds, and will forgive you your sins: for God is limitless in His great bounty.

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., the faculty of moral valuation (Manar IX, 648). See also surah {2}, note [38].

O believers! If you fear Allah He will grant you a criterion (to judge between right and wrong), do away with your sins and forgive you. Allah is the Lord of Mighty Grace.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

O believers! If you are mindful of Allah, He will grant you a standard 'to distinguish between right and wrong', absolve you of your sins, and forgive you. And Allah is the Lord of infinite bounty.

  - Mustafa Khattab

O ye who believe! If ye keep your duty to Allah, He will give you discrimination (between right and wrong) and will rid you of your evil thoughts and deeds, and will forgive you. Allah is of infinite bounty.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

O ye who believe! if ye fear Allah He will grant you a criterion (to judge between right and wrong) remove from you (all) evil (that may afflict) you and forgive you: for Allah is the Lord of grace unbounded. ¹²⁰²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. ii. 53 and ii. 185. The battle of Badr is called the Furqan in Muslim theology, because it was the first trial of strength by battle, in Islam, between the powers of good and evil. Evil was defeated, and those who had real faith were tested and sorted out from those who had not faith enough to follow the banner of Faith. See also viii. 41 and n. 1210.

AND [remember, O Prophet,] how those who were bent on denying the truth were scheming against thee, in order to restrain thee [from preaching], or to slay thee, or to drive thee away: thus have they [always] schemed:³⁰ but God brought their scheming to nought - for God is above all schemers.

  - Mohammad Asad

While the first sentence of this verse is a reference to the persecution to which the Prophet and his followers had been exposed in Mecca before their exodus to Medina, this concluding passage points to the ever-recurring fact of man's religious history that those who deny the truth of divine revelation are always intent on rendering its preachers powerless or destroying them, either physically or, figuratively, through ridicule.

Remember how the unbelievers plotted against you. They sought to take you captive or kill you or exile you. They planned - and Allah also planned - Allah is the best planner of all.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And 'remember, O Prophet,' when the disbelievers conspired to capture, kill, or exile you. They planned, but Allah also planned. And Allah is the best of planners.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And when those who disbelieve plot against thee (O Muhammad) to wound thee fatally, or to kill thee or to drive thee forth; they plot, but Allah (also) plotteth; and Allah is the best of plotters.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Remember how the unbelievers plotted against thee to keep thee in bonds or slay thee or get thee out (of thy home). They plot and plan and Allah too plans but the best of planners is Allah. ¹²⁰³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The plots against Al-Mustafa in Makkah aimed at three things. They were not only foiled, but Allah's wonderful working turned the tables, and brought good out of evil in each case. (1) They tried to hold the Prophet in subjection in Makkah by putting pressure on his uncles, relatives, and friends. But the more they persecuted, the more the little Muslim community grew in faith and numbers. (2) They tried to injure or slay him. But the wonderful example of his humility, perseverance, and fearlessness furthered the cause of Islam. (3) They tried to get him and his followers out of their homes. But they found a new home in Madinah from which they eventually reconquered not only Makkah but Arabia and the world. A) Cf. iii. 54.