Al-Anfal (, ; The Spoils of War, Earnings, Savings, Profits) is the
eighth chapter (
sūrah
A ''surah'' (; ; ) is an Arabic word meaning 'chapter' in the Quran. There are 114 ''suwar'' in the Quran, each divided into ayah, verses (). The ''suwar'' are of unequal length; the shortest ''surah'' (al-Kawthar) has only three verses, while ...
) of the
Quran
The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...
, with 75 verses (
āyāt). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation (''
asbāb al-nuzūl''), it is a "
Medinan surah", completed after the
Battle of Badr. It forms a pair with the next surah,
At-Tawba.
According to the eminent Muslim philosopher
Abul A'la Maududi, the chapter was probably
revealed in 2 A. H.
after the Battle of Badr, the first defensive clash between Meccans and Muslim people of Medina after they fled from persecution in Mecca. As it contains an extensive point-by-point survey of the Battle, it gives the idea that most presumably it was uncovered at very much the same time. Yet, it is additionally conceivable that a portion of the verse concerning the issues emerging because of this Battle may have been uncovered later and joined at the best possible spots to make it a consistent entirety.
Summary
*1 Spoils belong to God and his Apostle
*2-4 True believers and their future reward
*5-6 Muslims reproved for distrusting their Prophet
*7 God gives the Muslims either the
Quraish or their caravan
*8 The
victory of Badr a seal to Islam
*9
Angelic aid vouchsafed to Muhammad
*10-11 The Muslims refreshed and comforted before the battle
*12 The angels enjoined to comfort the faithful by destroying the infidel Quraish
*13-14 Infidels are doomed to punishment here and hereafter
*15-16 Muslims are never to turn their backs on the infidels on pain of hell-fire
*17-18 The victory of Badr a miracle
*19 The Quraish are warned against further warfare with the Muslims
*20-21 Muslims
exhorted to steadfastness in faith
*22-23 Infidels compared to deaf and dumb brutes
*24 Believers are to submit themselves to God and his Apostle
*25-28 They are warned against civil strife, deception, and treachery
*29 God's favour to true believers
*30 Plots against Muhammad frustrated by God
*31 The infidels liken the Quran to fables
*32-33 The Quraish were protected from deserved punishment by Muhammad's presence among them
*34-38 The idolaters of Mecca rebuked and threatened
*39 An amnesty offered to the Quraish
*40 Impenitent idolaters to be extirpated from the earth
*41 How the spoils of war are to be divided
*42-43 The Muslims were led by God to fight at Badr to attest the truth of Islam
*44 The Muslims encouraged, and the infidels lured to destruction, by each seeing the other to be few in number
*45-46 Believers exhorted to obedience
*47 Believers warned against impious vainglory
*48 The devil deserts the Quraish at Badr
*49-51 The fate of
hypocrites
*52-54 Their doom like that of
Pharaoh
Pharaoh (, ; Egyptian language, Egyptian: ''wikt:pr ꜥꜣ, pr ꜥꜣ''; Meroitic language, Meroitic: 𐦲𐦤𐦧, ; Biblical Hebrew: ''Parʿō'') was the title of the monarch of ancient Egypt from the First Dynasty of Egypt, First Dynasty ( ...
and his people
*55 The worst of beasts are the infidels
*56-58 Treachery to be met with its like
*59 God is against the infidels
*60 The Muslims excited to war against unbelievers
*61 Condition of peace with unbelievers
*62-64 The miracle of Arab union
*65-66 God with the Prophet and the Muslims in warring for the faith
*67-69 Muslims reproved for accepting ransom for the captives taken at Badr
*70-71 Captive Quraish
exhorted to accept Islam, and warned against deception
*72-73 The brotherhood of Muslims (and its obligatory related to it), fact that disbelievers are helpers of one another, and effect for Muslims if they don't help another.
*74 The brotherhood of the
Ansárs and
Muháj Jirín
*75 The hereditary rights of blood-relations re-established
Name
The Surah is named Al-Anfal (The Bounties) from the first ayat. The word utilized in the ayat i
الْأَنفَالِ The word ''أَنفَال'' alludes to what is given as an extra sum past what is required. A very subtle perspective is covered in employing this word: the reward of undertaking jihad for God is permanently saved with God. Other than this prize, the spoils of war that are picked up from the Unbelievers are an extra offer for such individuals; before the Day of Judgment, the Almighty awards these to the participants of the war.
Text narratives
This subject of this Surah can be considered to be the issue of
Jihad
''Jihad'' (; ) is an Arabic word that means "exerting", "striving", or "struggling", particularly with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it encompasses almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with God in Islam, God ...
.
Verse 8:12
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
Abu al-Fida Isma'il ibn Umar ibn Kathir al-Dimashqi (; ), known simply as Ibn Kathir, was an Arab Islamic Exegesis, exegete, historian and scholar. An expert on (Quranic exegesis), (history) and (Islamic jurisprudence), he is considered a lea ...
says this means, "you -- angels -- support the believers, strengthen their (battle) front against their enemies, thus, implementing My command to you. I will cast fear, disgrace and humiliation over those who defied My command and denied My Messenger".
Verse 8:17
Muhammad al-Baqir
Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir (; ) was a descendant of the prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad and the fifth of the Twelve Imams, twelve Shia imams, succeeding his father, Ali al-Sajjad, and succeeded by his son, Ja'far al-Sad ...
narrates in hadith that:
which refers to the relatives of the Messenger of Allah. "Al-Khums (one fifth) belongs to Allah, the Messenger and to us (his
Ahl al-Bayt)".
One source states that Ubay ibn Khalaf was ransomed after Badr, but was killed by Muslims with a spear in the
Battle of Uhud (625 CE). Verse was revealed in this occasion.
Umm `Umara Nasiba Bint Ka`B Al-Ans.Ariyya (Ra)
/ref>
Verses 8:42 and 8:47
The Battle of Badr is also the subject of this Surah, which details military conduct and operations. Though the Surah does not name Badr, it describes the battle several times:
These verses highlighted both the chance encounter of the battle (both sides had blundered into each other) as well as the underestimation of both the size of the Meccan army by the Muslims and the fierceness of the Muslim army by the Meccans. The Meccan army was described in the second verses, and "Satan" may be referring to Amr ibn Hishām, who was hated by the Muslims and allegedly pushed for the battle repeatedly.
Verses 8:75
According to Al-Suyuti
Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (; 1445–1505), or al-Suyuti, was an Egyptians, Egyptian Sunni Muslims, Muslim polymath of Persians, Persian descent. Considered the mujtahid and mujaddid of the Islamic 10th century, he was a leading Hadith studies, muh ...
, the aftermath of the battle of Uhud had several implication for the Companions of the Prophet
The Companions of the Prophet () were the Muslim disciples and followers of the Islamic prophet Muhammad who saw or met him during his lifetime. The companions played a major role in Muslim battles, society, hadith narration, and governance ...
as some of them though they can inherit the wealth of the fallen, due to the previous bonding between Muhajirun and Ansar in the event of Brotherhood among the Sahabah.
Appendix
Notes
References
Bibliography
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External links
Q8:48
50+ translations, islamawakened.com
{{Authority control
Anfal
Jihad
Battle of Badr