Al-Anfal

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

1. Your Companions ask you O Messenger about the gains of war and how to distribute it, and who it should be for. Say to them: 'The gains of war are for Allah and His Messenger to distribute, and it is only incumbent on you to accept and comply in the matter, so be mindful of Allah, following what He instructed and staying away from what He had prohibited, correct disagreements between yourselves and mend bad relations, and develop good terms with each other through treating each other in a good way and forgiving each other.…

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

ld have come back to us, so do not claim it as yours exclusively.’ Thus the following was revealed: [8:1] ‘They question you, O Muhammad (s), concerning the spoils of war — the booty — to whom do they belong? Say, to them: ‘The spoils of war belong to God, Who places them where He will, and the Messenger, who divides them according to God’s command. The Prophet (s) divided these [spoils] between them equally, as reported by al-Hakim in his al-Muftadrak.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

2. The true believers are those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel awe of Him in their hearts, which make them do good actions. When the verses of Allah are read to them they reflect on them and it increases their faith, and they rely on Allah alone to bring them what is in their interests and to protect them from what is bad for them.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

and the refraining from quarrelling; and obey God and His Messenger, if you are, truly, believers’. [8:2] The believers, those whose faith is complete, are only those who, when God is mentioned, that is, when His threat of punishment [is mentioned], their hearts tremble, fear, and when His verses are recited to them, they increase their faith, their acceptance of the truth, and who rely upon their Lord, [who] put their truff in Him [alone], and not in any other. [8:3] Those who observe the prayers, performing them as they ought to be [performed], and who ex¬ pend, in obedience to God, fr…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

3. Those who regularly establish the prayer, as it should be established, and in its set times, and who spend from what Allah has provided-on what is obligatory as well as what is recommended.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

4. Such people are true believers, combining the qualities of inner faith and outer surrender. Their reward is in having a high rank with their Lord, forgiveness for their disobedience, and a generous provision, which is the bliss that Allah has prepared for them.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

be [performed], and who ex¬ pend, in obedience to God, from that with which We have provided them. [8:4] Those, described in the way mentioned, are the true, the real, believers, without doubt. For them are ranks, stations in Paradise, with their Lord, and forgiveness, and generous provision, in Paradise.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

5. Just as Allah took away the decision about the division of the gains of war from the Companions after their disagreement about how to distribute it, and made the decision for Himself and His Messenger (peace be upon him), He also instructed the Messenger (peace be upon him), through inspiration, to go out from Medina to meet the idol worshippers, although a group of the believers disliked this.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

ranks, stations in Paradise, with their Lord, and forgiveness, and generous provision, in Paradise. [8:5] As your Lord brought you forth from your home with the truth ( bi’l-haqq is semantically con¬ nected to akhraja, ‘He brought forth’), and indeed a party of the believers were averse, to going forth (the [laff] sentence is a circumstantial qualifier referring to the [suffixed pronoun] kaf in akhrajaka, ‘He brought you forth’; kama, ‘as’, is the predicate of an omitted subject, in other words: their aversion to this State [of affairs of the booty being God’s and the Prophet’s] is similar…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

6. This group of the believers argued with the Messenger about fighting the idolaters, after it had been made clear to them that it had to happen, as if they were being driven to death, looking at it with open eyes. Their reaction was due to their strong dislike of going out to fight, because they were not prepared or ready for it.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

re averse to this, complaining, ‘We have not come prepared for this!’, as God, exalted be He, says: [8:6] They dispute with you concerning the truth, [the order] to fight, after it had become clear, [after it had] become evident to them, as though they were being driven to death while they looked, at it [death] with their very eyes, utterly averse to it.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

7. Allah reminds the believers who were arguing about when Allah promised them success over one of the groups of the idolaters: either the caravan with its sizeable wealth, so that they could take its bounty, or a group of fighters whom they would encounter and achieve victory over them; but they had wanted it to be the caravan, as this would be easy to take without having to fight. Yet Allah willed for the truth to be established through commanding them to fight, to kill the leaders of the idolaters, and to capture many of them so that the strength of Islam would become clear.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

being driven to death while they looked, at it [death] with their very eyes, utterly averse to it. [8:7] And, remember, when God promised you one of the two parties, either the caravan or the band [of Meccan fighters], that it should be yours, and you longed, you were wishing, that other than the armed one, that is, [other than] the fighting one with the weapons, in other words, [you longed that] the caravan, should be yours, because it had fewer men and less reinforcements than the band [of Mecca fighters]; but God willed that the truth be realised, [He willed] to manifest it, by His, pr…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

8. This occurred so that Allah may establish the truth by making Islam and its people victorious, and for Him to make clear the error of falsehood, even if the idolaters disliked this.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

vers, to the very laff man, by extirpating them, and so He commanded you to fight against the band. [8:8] And that He might cause the truth to be realised and annul, efface, falsehood, disbelief, however much the sinners, the idolaters, were averse, to that. [8:9] When you sought help from your Lord, asking Him to help you by granting you victory over them, and He answered you [saying]: ‘I shall reinforce you, I shall assist you, with a thousand angels, rank upon rank’, one rank following after the next: God promised them this [number] at firft, but it then became three thousand, and the…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

9. Remember the day of Badr, when the Muslims asked for help from Allah for victory over their enemies, and Allah responded to them, reinforcing and helping them with a thousand angels, following one after another.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

10. Allah made the reinforcement of the Muslims with angels a form of good news for them: that He was helping them against their enemies, reassuring their hearts that they would have victory over them. Victory does not come because of having great numbers of fighters, or having large amounts of weapons and preparations; rather, it comes only from Allah, Glory be to Him. Allah is Mighty in His power, no one has power over Him, and He is Wise in His law and His decree.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

ading [of alf ‘thousand’] has the plural aluf ‘thousands’, 1 similar [in pattern] to aflus, coins’). [8:10] And God appointed it, that is, the reinforcement, only as good tidings, and that your hearts might thereby be reassured. Victory comes only from God: surely God is Mighty, Wise.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

11. And remember O believers when Allah made you fall asleep on that occasion, giving you a feeling of safety and peace from the fear you had of your enemy. He sent down rain from the sky on you, to purify you, and to remove the evil suggestions of Satan from you and to make your hearts strong, so you would be patient when you met the enemy in battle. It also made your feet firm, by making the sandy ground hard so that your feet would not sink and slip on it.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

at your hearts might thereby be reassured. Victory comes only from God: surely God is Mighty, Wise. [8:11] Remember, when He caused slumber to overcome you as security, againSt the fear that had be¬ fallen you, from Him, from God, and sent down upon you water from the heaven, to purify you thereby, from minor and major ritual impurities; and to remove from you the evil of Satan, his whimperings to you that, had you been on the right path, you would not have been thirsty and impure, while the idolaters enjoyed [access to] water; and to Strengthen, to seal, your hearts, with certainty and e…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

12. Remember O Prophet when Allah inspired the angels, who He reinforced the believers with in the Battle of Badr, telling the angels: I am with you. aiding you with help and support, so strengthen the determination of the believers in fighting their enemy. I will cast great fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Strike then the necks of the disbelievers to kill them and hit their joints and limbs to hinder them from fighting.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

your hearts, with certainty and endurance; and to make firm your feet, left they sink in the sand. [8:12] When your Lord inspired the angels, with whom He reinforced the Muslims, [saying]: ‘I am with you, with assistance and victorious help, so make the believers Stand firm, by helping [them] and giving [them] good tidings.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

13. What happened to the disbelievers, when they were killed and their limbs were struck, was because they went against Allah and His Messenger. They did not follow what they were instructed to do, and did not stop doing what they were told not to do. Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, Allah is firm with the punishment for them in this world, with death and capture, and in the Afterlife, with the fire of Hell.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

pebbles againSt them and every single idolater was Struck in his eye, and thus they were defeated. [8:13] That, chastisement befalling them is, because they had contended with, they had opposed, God and His Messenger: whoever contends with God and with His Messenger, surely God is severe in retri¬ bution, againSt him. [8:14] That, chastisement, is for you, so taSte it, O disbelievers, in this world; and [know] that for the disbelievers, in the Hereafter, is the chastisement of the Fire. [8:15] O you who believe, when you encounter the disbelievers inching forward, that is, amassed, ad¬…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

14. That is the punishment for you, O you who oppose Allah and His Messenger, so taste it, for it has been hastened to you in the life of this world. In the Afterlife, you will have the punishment of the fire of Hell if you die stubbornly denying the truth.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

15. O you who believe in Allah and who follow His Messenger, if you meet the idolaters approaching them in battle, then do not turn your backs to them and run away; but be patient when facing them, and firm when you meet, because Allah is with you with His help and support.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

16. And whoever turns their back running away- unless they are withdrawing as a strategy with the intention of turning back to fight, or doing it to join a group of Muslims in order to help them-then certainly, he will earn the anger of Allah, and his place in the Hereafter will be Hell; what a miserable destination and final destiny!

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

ssed, ad¬ vancing slowly because of their large numbers, 2 do not turn your backs to them, fleeing. [8:16] Whoever turns his back to them on that day, the day of the encounter with them, unless manoeu¬ vring, turning around, for battle — by pretending to be in flight, as a trick, while actually intending to relaunch an attack — or joining another detachment, a company of Muslims, calling on it for assistance, he has truly incurred the wrath of God, and his abode will be Hell — an evil journey’s end!, [an evil] return it is.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

17. For you did not O believers, kill the idolaters on the day of Badr because of your power and might, but rather Allah supported you in that. And you O Prophet did not throw sand at the idolaters, rather it was Allah, Who made what you throw reach them. Allah tested the believers by blessing them with victory over their enemies, despite their small numbers of fighters and weapons, so that they might be thankful to Him. Indeed Allah listens to your prayers and what you say, and He knows what you do, and what is best for you.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

eat] applies so long as the [numbers of] disbelievers do not surpass twice [that of the believers]. [8:17] You did not slay them, at Badr by your own might, but God slew them, by giving you assistance, and you threw not, O Muhammad (s), [againSt] the eyes of the [unbelieving] folk, when you threw, the pebbles, for a handful of pebbles thrown by a human being cannot Strike the eyes of [every person in] a large troop, but God threw, by making that [throw] reach them.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

18. The killing of the idolaters, your throwing, so that they were defeated, as well as Allah’s kindness to the believers giving them victory over their enemy, was all from Allah. Allah makes weak the plans of those who disbelieve and who plot against Islam.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

. [8:18] That is, the true gift, for you, and [know] that God weakens the plan of the disbelievers. [8:19] If you have sought a judgement, O disbelievers, if you have sought a decisive conclusion [of this battle] — Abu Jahl had said, ‘O God! Whoever among [the two of] us is the one who has severed the ties of kinship and brought us what we had never known, destroy them today!’ — the judgement, the decisive conclusion, has now come to you, by the facft that the one so described has [already] perished: this was Abu Jahl and those killed with him, and not the Prophet (s) and the believers; a…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

19. If you ask O idolaters, for the punishment and might of Allah to fall upon the wrongdoers who overstep the limits, then Allah has already made what you asked afflict you, sending down on you what was a lesson for you and for the mindful. If you stop asking for this it would be better for you, so that He might give you time, not giving you what you deserve immediately. But if you return to asking for a judgement and fighting the believers, Allah would also return by afflicting you with punishment and helping the believers.…

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

the true gift, for you, and [know] that God weakens the plan of the disbelievers. [8:19] If you have sought a judgement, O disbelievers, if you have sought a decisive conclusion [of this battle] — Abu Jahl had said, ‘O God! Whoever among [the two of] us is the one who has severed the ties of kinship and brought us what we had never known, destroy them today!’ — the judgement, the decisive conclusion, has now come to you, by the facft that the one so described has [already] perished: this was Abu Jahl and those killed with him, and not the Prophet (s) and the believers; and if you desiSl,…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

20. O you who believe in Allah and follow His Messenger, obey Allah and His Messenger, following what He instructs and staying away from what He has prohibited, not turning away from Him or going against His laws, and doing what He has forbidden especially whilst you are listening to the verses of Allah being recited to you.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

ad anna, with an implicit lam [li-anna'Llaha maa’l-mu’minin, ‘because God is with the believers’]). [8:20] Oyou who believe, obey God and His Messenger, and do not turn away from Him, by contraven¬ ing His command, while you are listening, to the Qur’an and the admonitions. [8:21] And do not be as those who say, ‘We hear,’ and they hear not, in such a way as to reflecft and heed admonition — these are either the hypocrites or the idolaters. [8:22] Surely the worst of beasts in God’s sight are those who are deaf, to hearing the truth, and dumb, [unable] to utter it, those who do not under…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

21. And do not be O you believers, like the hypocrites and idolators who when the verses of Allah are recited to them, say that they have heard the Qur’ān that has been recited to them, when they have not listened in a reflective way, learning from it so that they would benefit from what they heard.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

22. The worst of creatures on the face of the earth in the sight of Allah are those who are deaf to the truth, not listening to it and accepting it; and dumb, not acknowledging the truth or calling to it, because they do not understand what Allah instructs or forbids.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

23. If Allah knew that there was good in these idolaters who reject the truth, He would have made them listen in a way that was beneficial to them, so that they would understand the proof and evidence; but He knows that there is no good in them, and that if He made them hear, they would still turn away stubbornly, rejecting what they heard.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

se who are deaf, to hearing the truth, and dumb, [unable] to utter it, those who do not understand. [8:23] For had God known of any good in them, any righteousness, were they to listen to the truth, He would have made them hear, in such a way as to understand; and had He made them hear — hypotheti¬ cally Sneaking — already knowing that there is no good in them, they would have turned away, from it, averse, to accepting it, out of obstinacy and in denial.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

24. O you who have faith in Allah and follow His Messenger, respond to Allah and His Messenger, being dedicated to the instructions and staying away from what is prohibited, since their is life for you in that. And be aware that Allah has power over everything, and He has power over you; so He is able to hinder you from following the truth after you had rejected it. So you should hurry to comply without delay, and be mindful that you will be gathered to Allah alone on the Day of Judgement, and will be rewarded for the actions that you did in this world.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

hem, they would have turned away, from it, averse, to accepting it, out of obstinacy and in denial. [8:24] Oyou who believe, respond to God and the Messenger, with obedience, when He calls you to that which will give you life, in the matter of religion, for it will be the source of everlasting life [for you]; and know that God comes in between a man and his heart, so that he cannot believe or disbelieve except by His will; and that it is to Him that you shall be gathered, and He will requite you for your deeds.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

25. Beware of suffering that does not only reach those who do wrong among you, but reaches you and others as well. This is when disobedience becomes widespread and is not prevented. Be sure that Allah is strong with the punishment for those who go against Him, so beware of opposing Him.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

His will; and that it is to Him that you shall be gathered, and He will requite you for your deeds. [8:25] And be afraid of a trial which, if it were to fall upon you, would certainly not fall exclusively upon the evildoers among you, but would encompass them and others, and the way to guard againSt it is to repudiate that evil which necessarily results in [precipitating] it; and know that God is severe in retribu¬ tion, againSt those who oppose Him.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

26. Remember when the believers were in Makkah, and they were few, and the people of Makkah considered them to be weak and overpowered them. They were scared that their enemies would capture them; but Allah brought them together to a safe place, which was Medina, and made them strong, helping them against their enemies on the battlefields, for example at Badr, and giving them good things, among them the war gains they got from their enemies.…

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

in [precipitating] it; and know that God is severe in retribu¬ tion, againSt those who oppose Him. [8:26] And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, the land of Mecca, and were fearful leSt men should snatch you away, [leSt] the disbelievers should seize you swiftly; how He gave you ref¬ uge, in Medina, and reinforced you. Strengthened you, with His help, on the day of Badr, with the angels, and provided you with the good things, the Spoils, that you might be thankful, for His graces.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

27. O you who believe in Allah and follow His Messenger, do not betray Allah and His Messenger by disobeying the commands and failing to stay away from the prohibitions. You must not knowingly betray your trusts, such as debts and so on.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

els, and provided you with the good things, the Spoils, that you might be thankful, for His graces. [8:27] The following was revealed regarding Abu Lubaba Marwan b. ‘Abd al-Mundhir: 3 the Prophet (s) had dispatched him to the Banu Qurayza so that they would submit to his [the Prophet’s] authority. But they [Banu Qurayza] consulted with him [as to whether they should cede], and he pointed out to them that a slaughter would ensue — for members of his family and his property were among them: O you who believe, do not betray God and the Messenger, and, do not, betray your trusts, that which h…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

28. Be aware O believers that your wealth and children are a test for you, and your conduct with them may prevent you from performing good actions for your Afterlife, or lead to betraying your trusts. Know that with Allah is a great reward, so be careful not to lose this reward because of becoming engrossed with them, and you cheating the people because of them.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

[8:28] And know that your wealth and your children are a trial, for you, impeding you from the con- 3 Abu Lubaba Rifa'a (or Bashir, or Raff) b. ‘Abd al-Mundhir al-Ansari (d. between 36/656 and 4t/66i). Despite uncertainty over his firCt name, ‘Marwan’ is not one of the names given by the prosopographical dictionaries as possible alternatives; however, his patronymic, Abu Lubaba, is said to be the title mostly used to identify him.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

29. O you who believe in Allah and His messengers, know that if you are Mindful, following what He instructs and staying away from what He has prohibited, He will give you the ability to discriminate between truth and falsehood, so you will not be confused as regards to them, and He will erase from you the evil you have committed, and forgive your sins. To Allah belongs immense bounty, and from His great bounty is His Paradise which He has prepared for those who are Mindful among His creation.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

30. Remember, O Messenger, when the idolaters joined forces against you, plotting to kill or imprison you, or to drive you out of your homeland to another place. They plotted, and Allah turned their plot upon themselves, and Allah plans, and He is the best of planners.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

d, and absolve you of your evil deeds, and forgive you, your sins; and God is of tremendous bounty. [8:30] And, remember, O Muhammad (s), when the disbelievers — who had gathered to discuss your affair at the council assembly 5 — were plotting against you, to confine you, to chain you up and imprison you, or slay you — all of them [ading as] assassins of one man — or to expel you, from Mecca, and they were plotting, agains't you, and God was plotting, again.d them, by devising a way [out] for you, when He revealed to you what they had devised and commanded you to leave [Mecca]; and God is…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

31. If Allah’s words are recited to them, they say – stubborn against the truth, considering themselves above it, and disbelieving – that they have heard something similar before, and that if they wanted to say something similar to the Qur’ān they could, saying that the Qur’ān is just the fables of earlier peoples.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

o leave [Mecca]; and God is the be it of those who plot, the mod knowledgeable among them about it. [8:31] And when Our verses, namely, the Qur’an, were being recited to them, they said, ‘We have al¬ ready heard! If we wish we can Speak the like of this — al-Nadr b. al-Harith 6 said this, for he used to travel on trading business to al-Hira, where he would buy books containing the tales of the Persians, and would recount these to the Meccans; this, Qur’an, is nothing but the fables, the lies, of the ancients’.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

32. Remember when the idolaters said to Allah that if what Muhammad brought was true, then He should rain rocks down from the sky to destroy them, or bring them a painful punishment. They said this going to extremes in their denial and rejection.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

d recount these to the Meccans; this, Qur’an, is nothing but the fables, the lies, of the ancients’. [8:32] And when they said, ‘O God! If this, that Muhammad (s) recites, be indeed the truth, revealed, from You, then rain down Clones upon us from the heaven, or bring on us a painful chastisement’, in return for [our] denial of it: this was said by al-Nadr and others, in mockery and in delusion that he had some insight and certainty about it [the Qur’an] being false.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

33. But Allah would not punish your nation O Muhammad, with a punishment that destroyed them while you are living among them, for you living among them keeps them safe from this punishment. And Allah would not punish them as long as they asked Him for forgiveness for their sins.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

n mockery and in delusion that he had some insight and certainty about it [the Qur’an] being false. [8:33] God then says: But God was not about to chaSlise them, for what they requested, while you were among them, for when chastisement is sent down it is all-encompassing, and no community was ever chastised except after its prophet and the believers had departed from it; nor was God about to chaSlise them while they sought forgiveness, crying, as they performed the circumambulations: ‘Your forgive¬ ness! Your forgiveness!’; it is also said that this [lad clause] refers to those oppressed…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

34. What prevents them being punished when they have unjustly stopped people from performing both the circling (ţawāf) and the prayer in the Sacred Mosque – actions deserving of punishment? The idolaters are not Allah’s allies. The allies of Allah are only those who are mindful of Him by fulfilling His instructions and avoiding His prohibitions. Most of the idolaters do not know this, as they claim they are Allah’s allies when they are not.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

erily We would have chastised the dis¬ believers among them with a painful chastisement [Q. 48:25]. [8:34] But what [plea] have they now, that God should not chaSlise them, with the sword, after your departure and that of the oppressed [believers] — if this [verse] is underdood in accordance with the fird opinion [that it refers to the idolaters asking forgiveness], then it abrogates the previous one, for God had chadised them at Badr and in other indances — when they bar, prevent the Prophet (s) and the Muslims,/rom the Sacred Mosque, [from] performing circumambulations there, though the…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

35. The prayer of the idolaters at the Sacred Mosque was nothing but whistling and clapping. So taste, O idolaters, the punishment of being killed or taken prisoner on the day of Badr because of your disbelief in Allah and rejection of His Messenger.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

e the God-fearing, but moSt of them do not know, that they have no [rightful] cudodianship over it. [8:35] And their prayer at the [Sacred] House is nothing but whistling and hand-clapping: in other words they do this in place of the prayer which they were ordered to perform — therefore taSte now, at Badr, the chastisement for your unbelief! [8:36] T he disbelievers expend their wealth, in waging war againd the Prophet (s), in order to bar from

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

36. Disbelievers in Allah spend their wealth to prevent people from Allah’s religion, but they will not achieve their goal. The end result of their spending of wealth in this way will be sadness, because they will lose their wealth and fail in their goal; and then they will be defeated by the believers. Disbelievers in Allah will be driven to Hell on the Day of Judgement and will enter it to live there eternally.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

37. Disbelievers who spend their wealth to prevent people from the path of Allah will be driven to the fire of Hell, so that Allah may isolate the wicked group of disbelievers from the pure group of believers, and so that He may place bad people, actions and wealth on top of one another in a pile and place them in the fire of Hell. They are the losers, because they will lose their souls and their families on the Day of Judgement.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

38. Say, O Messenger, to those of your people who disbelieve in Allah and His Messenger that if they stop disbelieving in Allah and His Messenger and preventing the believers from Allah’s path, then Allah will forgive their past sins, because Islam wipes out what is before it; but if they return to their disbelief, then Allah’s way of dealing with earlier people has already come as a warning: when they rejected and continued in their disbelief, He swiftly punished them.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

d one upon another, and heap them up all together and put them in Hell: those, they are the losers. [8:38] Say to the disbelievers, such as Abu Sufyan and his companions, that if they desist, from un¬ belief and from waging war against the Prophet (s), that which ispaSt, of their deeds, will be forgiven them; but if they return, to waging war against him, the way of [dealing with] the ancients has al¬ ready gone before!, that is.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

39. O believers, fight your disbelieving enemies until there is no more idolatry or Muslims being stopped from Allah’s religion, when religion and obedience is for Allah alone without any partner being put alongside Him. If the disbelievers stop their idolatry and preventing Muslims from Allah’s religion, then leave them, because Allah sees what they do and nothing is hidden from Him.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

40. If they turn away from the order to leave disbelief and preventing others from Allah’s religion, then be certain, O believers, that Allah will help you against them. What an excellent protector He is for the one He protects, and what an excellent helper He is for the one He helps! Whoever He protects will be successful and whoever He helps will be victorious.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

ed; then if they desiSl, from unbelief, surely God sees what they do, and will requite them for it. [8:40] But if they turn away, from belief, know that God is your Protestor, your Helper and the One Who takes charge of your affairs — an excellent Protestor, is He, and an excellent Helper!, [He is] for you.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

41. Know, O believers, that whatever you take by force from the disbelievers when striving in Allah’s path shall be divided into five. Four-fifths shall be distributed to those who strove in Allah’s path and the remaining fifth shall be further divided into five portions and distributed equally between the following: Allah and His Messenger, to be spent on the general expenses of the Muslims; the relatives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) from the Children of Hāshim and the Children of Al-Muţţalib; orphans; the poor and destitute; and travellers who are stranded.…

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

s charge of your affairs — an excellent Protestor, is He, and an excellent Helper!, [He is] for you. [8:41] And know that whatever Spoils you have taken, [you have] seized from the disbelievers by force, the fifth of it is for God, to have it dispensed as He will, and for the Messenger and for the kinsmen, the kinsmen of the Prophet (s) from among the Banu Hashim and the Banu [‘Abd] al-Muttalib, and the orphans, children of Muslims, those whose fathers have passed away and are in poverty, and the needy, those Muslims in [dire] need, and the traveller, those Muslims cut off during travel —…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

42. Remember, O believers, when you were on the near side of the valley that was facing Medina, the idolaters were on the far side that was facing Makkah and the caravan was at a spot lower than you facing the Red Sea. If you and the idolaters made an appointment with each other to meet at Badr, neither of you would have kept to it: your lack of numbers as compared to your enemy would have kept you back, and the fear of facing Allah’s Messenger would have kept them back.…

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

all things, including giving you victory deSJhte your being few and their being greater in number. [8:42] When ( idh substitutes for yawma, ‘the day’) you were on the nearer bank, the one nearer to Me¬ dina (read ‘udwa or ‘idwa, meaning ‘the side of a valley’), and they were on the yonder bank, the one further from it, and the cavalcade, the caravan, was, in a place, below you, the coaStal side; and had you, and the [enemy] band, agreed to meet, for battle, you would have surely failed to keep meeting; but.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

43. Remember, O Messenger, Allah’s favour upon you, and upon the believers, when He showed you a dream in which the idolaters were few in number. You informed the believers about this and they took it as a good sign, and their determination to face the enemy in battle was strengthened. If Allah had shown the idolaters to you to be many, the determination of your Companions would have become weak and they would have become afraid of fighting. But Allah saved you all from that and protected them from losing courage.…

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

hat he who survived might live, might believe, after a clear proof; surely God is Hearing, Knowing. [8:43] Remember, when God showed them to you in your dream, in your sleep, as few, and so you in¬ formed your companions of this, and they were delighted, and had He shown them to you as many, you would have faltered, shrunk in cowardice, and quarrelled, fallen into disagreement, over the matter, the matter of fighting; but God saved, you, from faltering and quarrelling. He knows that which is in the breasts, that which is in the hearts.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

44. Remember, O believers, when Allah showed the idolaters to you, when you met them, as few and made you bravely go forward towards fighting them; and He made you seem few in their eyes, so that they came forward to fight you, without thinking of leaving. This was so that Allah could bring about a matter that was predetermined by taking retribution from the idolaters by them being killed or taken prisoners, and by favouring the believers with victory and defeat of their enemies.…

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

from faltering and quarrelling. He knows that which is in the breasts, that which is in the hearts. [8:44] And when God made you see them, O believers, when you met — in your eyes as few, as 70 or 100, when they were [in facft] 1000, so that you would advance againSt them; and He made you seem as few in their eyes, so that they would advance and not turn back from fighting you — this was before close combat had begun, but when it began, He made them [the disbelievers] see these [believers] as twice their number, as stated in surat Al ‘Imran [Q.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

45. O you who have faith in Allah and follow His Messenger, when you fight against a group of disbelievers be patient when you meet them and do not become cowardly. Remember Allah much and call on Him, because He is the One Who can help you against them; and pray to Him to grant you what you desire and protect you from what you fear.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

hat God might conclude a matter that was to be done; and to God all things are returned, reverting. [8:45] O you who believe, when you meet a hoft, a group of disbelievers, then ftandfirm, to fight them and do not [flee in] retreat, and remember God much, call upon Him for vicftory, that you may succeed, [that you may] triumph. [8:46] And obey God and His Messenger, and do not quarrel with one another, do [not] fall into dilute with one another, left you falter, become cowardly, and your ftrength, your power and dominion, fade; and be patient.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

46. Observe Allah’s obedience and the obedience of His Prophet in all of your statements, actions and circumstances. Do not argue with one another because dispute leads to weakness, cowardliness and the diminishing of your strength. Be patient when facing the enemy because Allah supports and assists the patient. Whoever Allah is with will definitely be victorious.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

47. Do not be like those idolaters who left Makkah full of pride, showing off to people, and who prevent people from Allah’s religion and stop them from entering into it. Allah is All-Aware of what they do. No action of theirs is hidden from Him and He will repay them for that.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

ominion, fade; and be patient. Surely God is with the patient, giving them vicftory and assistance. [8:47] And do not be like those who went forth from their dwellings, to defend their caravan and but did not return after it had passed safely, in recklessness and to show off to men — when they said, ‘We will not return until we have drunk wine, sacrificed the camels, and have been entertained by singers at Badr, and [until] people have heard about this — barring, people, from the way of God, while God encompasses, in knowledge, what they do (yamaluna, also read tamalima, ‘you do’), and wi…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

48. Remember, O believers, Allah’s favour on you when Satan made the actions of the idolaters seem good to them and encouraged them to face the Muslims in battle by saying to them, ‘No one can defeat you today because I am your supporter and I will protect you from your enemy’. When the two parties – the believers who had the angels as their support and the idolaters who had Satan who was going to desert them – met, Satan turned back fleeing and said to the idolaters: I have nothing to do with you.…

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

in knowledge, what they do (yamaluna, also read tamalima, ‘you do’), and will requite them for it. [8:48] And, mention, that Satan, Iblls, adorned their deeds for them, by encouraging them [to go] to meet the Muslims, when they had feared to set out on account of their enemy, the Banu Bakr, 7 and said, to them: ‘Today no person shall overcome you, for I shall be your protestor’, from among the [Banu] Kinana — he appeared to them in the form of Suraqa b. Malik, 8 the chieftain of that region.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

49. Remember when the hypocrites and those of weak faith were saying: The religion of these people – which promised them victory over their enemies despite their lack of numbers and preparation as compared to the huge number and the strength of their enemies – has deceived them. They have not understood that the person who places reliance upon Allah alone and who has faith in the victory that Allah has promised, Allah will assist such a person and will never desert them no matter how weak they may be. Allah is Mighty and no one can overcome Him. He is Wise in His decree and sacred laws.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

o not see, in the way of angels. I fear God, left He destroy me; and God is severe in retribution’. [8:49] When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a sickness, a weakness of faith, said, ‘Their religion has deluded them’, that is, the Muslims, for they had set out to fight a large army despite their small number, in the mistaken belief that they will be victorious because of this. God, exalted be He, says in response to them: but whoever relies on God, [whoever] puts his trus't in Him, he will triumph; for truly God is Mighty, His way will prevail. Wise, in His ad ions.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

50. If only you, O Messenger, could see those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers at the time when the angels remove their souls, striking their faces when they face towards them and striking their backs when they try to run away, and saying to them: Taste, O disbelievers, the burning punishment! If you had to see that, you would see a serious heart-wrenching sight.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

rus't in Him, he will triumph; for truly God is Mighty, His way will prevail. Wise, in His ad ions. [8:50] And if you could only see, O Muhammad (s), when the angels take (read either as yatawaffa or tatawaffa) the disbelievers, beating (yadribuna is a circumstantial qualifier) their faces and their backs, with hooked iron rods, and, they say to them: ‘Tafte the chaftisement of burning, that is, the Fire (the response to the [clause beginning with] law, ‘if’, would be la-ra’ayta amran ‘aziman, ‘you would truly have seen an terrible sight’).

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

51. The cause of that painful punishment at the time when your souls are taken out and the burning punishment in your graves and in the Afterlife is because of the evil actions you performed in the world. Allah does not wrong people, but passes judgement on them with fairness. He is not unjust to His slaves.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

with] law, ‘if’, would be la-ra’ayta amran ‘aziman, ‘you would truly have seen an terrible sight’). [8:51] That, chastisement, is for what your hands have sent before you — He refers to this [their adions] exclusively with these [hands], because moSt adions are accomplished with them — and [know] that God is never unjuft to His servants’, such that he would punish them for no sin.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

52. These disbelievers were not the only ones to be punished this way; rather, it is Allah’s way of dealing with disbelievers in every time and place. The people of Pharaoh and the communities before them were also punished like this when they disbelieved in Allah’s words. Allah punished them for their sins with His might and power. Allah is Strong and cannot be overpowered or defeated. His punishment for those who go against Him is severe.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

im of the notorious plague of ‘Amwas (Emmaus) in the year 17/638; see Ibn al-Athir, Usd, 1, 643-45. [8:52] The way of these people is, like the way of Pharaoh’s folk and those before them: they disbelieved in God’s signs and so God seized them, with chastisement, because of their sins (the sentence beginning with kafaru, ‘they disbelieved’, explains the previous one). Truly, God is flrong, in what He wills, severe in retribution.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

53. That severe punishment is because when Allah favours a people, He does not take it away from them until they change themselves from their pure state of faith, righteousness and gratitude to a bad state of disbelief in Allah, sin and ingratitude – Allah hears the statements of His servants and knows about their actions; nothing is hidden from Him.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

lieved’, explains the previous one). Truly, God is flrong, in what He wills, severe in retribution. [8:53] That, chastisement of the disbelievers, is because God would never change a grace that He had conferred on a people, substituting it with affliction, until they have changed that which is in them¬ selves, [until] they have exchanged the grace conferred upon them for unbelief, in the way that the Meccan disbelievers exchanged their being ‘fed againSt hunger’, their being made ‘safe from fear’ [cf. Q.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

54. The case of these disbelievers is like that of others who disbelieved in Allah, such as the people of Pharaoh and the communities who rejected Allah before them. They rejected the verses of their Lord so Allah destroyed them because of the sins they committed. Allah destroyed the people of Pharaoh by causing them to drown in the sea. The people of Pharaoh, as well as the communities before them, were all disobedient because of their disbelief in Allah and their association of partners with Him. They therefore deserved the punishment Allah imposed on them.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

barring againSt the way of God and [for] fighting Muslims; and [know] that God is Hearing, Knowing. [8:54] Like the way of Pharaoh’s folk and those before them: they denied the signs of their Lord, so We destroyed them for their sins, and We drowned the folk of Pharaoh, his people together with him, and all, disbelieving communities, were evildoers. [8:55] The following was revealed regarding [Banu] Qurayza: Surely the worft of beafts in God’s sight are the ungrateful who will not believe, [8:56] those of them with whom you have made a pad, not to support the idolaters, and then break th…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

55. The worst of those who walk on the earth are those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers, and who would not believe even if every sign was to come to them – they would still persist in disbelief. The means of guidance – such as intellect, hearing and sight – are of no use to these people.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

56. Some of these Jewish disbelievers agreed a treaty to not fight against you, O Messenger, nor support any one else in fighting against you. They, then, break this treaty every time you make it with them. They have no fear of Allah so they do not fulfil their oaths and do not honour the promises taken from them.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

57. If you, O Messenger, face in battle these people who break their pledges, then make a harsh example of them so that others hear about it, take a lesson from that and become afraid of fighting you and supporting your enemies against you.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

reak their pad every time, they conclude one, and they are not fearful, of God, in their treachery. [8:57] So if{fa-imma: here the letter nun of the conditional particle in, ‘if’, has been assimilated with the extra ma) you come upon them, [if] you find them, anywhere in the war, [deal with them so as to] cause those, fighters, behind them to scatter, to disperse, by making an example of them and punishing them, so that they, the ones behind them, might remember, [that they might] take heed from their example.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

58. If you, O Messenger, become afraid, due to a sign that becomes obvious to you, that a people with whom you entered into a treaty will betray you and break the treaty, then inform them that the treaty is cancelled, so that they are not unjustly disadvantaged. Do not attack them suddenly without informing them, because doing so will be treachery on your part and Allah does not love those who are treacherous. Instead, He detests such people, so be careful of treachery.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

so that they, the ones behind them, might remember, [that they might] take heed from their example. [8:58] And if you fear, from any folk, who have concluded a pad with you, some treachery, in a pad, through some indication that comes to you, then caft it back to them, dissolve their pad, with fairness (‘ala sawa is a circumstantial qualifier), that is to say, while you and they have equal knowledge that the pad has been broken, by your apprising them thereof, leSt they accuse you of treachery. Truly God does not love the treacherous.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

59. The disbelievers should not think that they have escaped from Allah’s punishment, because they cannot do so. Instead, it will surely fall upon them.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

apprising them thereof, leSt they accuse you of treachery. Truly God does not love the treacherous. [8:59] The following was revealed regarding those who escaped capture on the day of Badr: And do not, O Muhammad (s), let those who disbelieve suppose that they have outftripped, God, that is, [that] they have eluded Him: indeed they cannot escape, they cannot elude Him (a variant reading has wa-la yahsabanna, ‘and do not let them suppose’, so that the firSt dired objed is omitted, adually being [an implied] anfusahum, ‘themselves’ [sc.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

60. Prepare, O believers, whatever numbers and war equipment you are able to, including keeping trained horses to be used in Allah’s path, so you can frighten Allah’s enemies and your enemies from among the disbelievers who are eagerly waiting for you to be afflicted with a disaster. You can also frighten others whom you do not know of and whose hidden hatred you are not aware of. Allah alone knows them and He knows what they keep hidden inside themselves.…

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

t reading] anna is read [instead of inna] with an implicit lam [sc. ‘because they cannot escape’]). [8:60] Make ready for them, for fighting them, whatever force you can, the Prophet (s) said that this re¬ fers to ‘archers’, as reported by Muslim, and of horses tethered ( ribat is a verbal noun, meaning, ‘restrain¬ ing them [for use] in the way of God’) that thereby you may dismay, terrify, the enemy of God and your enemy, namely, the disbelievers of Mecca, and others besides them, that is, other than those — namely, the hypocrites or the Jews, whom you know not: God knows them.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

61. If they incline to a truce to give up fighting, then, O Messenger, do the same: enter into a truce with them and place your reliance and faith in Allah, because He will never desert you. He is the One Who hears your statements and knows your intentions and actions.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

repaid to you in full, and you will not be wronged, [you will not] be diminished anything thereof. [8:61] And if they incline to peace (read silm or salm, meaning, ‘settlement’), then incline to it, and conclude a pacft with them: Ibn ‘Abbas said, ‘This has been abrogated by the “sword verse” [Q. 9:5]’; Mujahid 10 said, ‘This [Stipulation] applies exclusively in the context of the People of the Scripture, for it was revealed regarding the Banu Qurayza; and rely on God, put your trust in Him; truly He is the Hearer, of words, the Knower, of actions. [8:62] And if they desire to trick you,…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

62. If, by inclining to a truce, their goal is to deceive you, O Messenger, so that they can prepare to fight you, then Allah is sufficient for you against their plot and deception. It is He Who strengthened you with His help and with those Emigrants and Helpers who have faith in you.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

63. He brought the hearts of the believers, with whom He assisted you, together after they were disunited. If you had spent all the wealth on earth to bring their disunited hearts together, you would not have been able to do so. But Allah alone brought them together. He is Mighty in His dominion and nothing can overpower Him. He is Wise in His decree, handling of affairs and sacred laws.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

then God is sufficient for you. He it is Who Strengthened you with His help and with the believers; [8:63] and reconciled, brought together, their hearts, after old feuds [had divided them]. Had you ex¬ pended all that is in the earth, you could not have reconciled their hearts, but God reconciled their hearts, through His power. Truly He is Mighty, His way prevailing, Wise, nothing being beyond [the scope of] His wisdom. [8:64] O Prophet, God suffices you, and the believers who follow you, suffice you.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

64. O Prophet, Allah is sufficient for you against the evil of your enemies and He is sufficient for the believers who are with you. So trust in Allah and rely on Him.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

of] His wisdom. [8:64] O Prophet, God suffices you, and the believers who follow you, suffice you. [8:65] O Prophet, urge on, exhort, the believers to fight, the disbelievers. If there be twenty of you, Stead¬ fast, they will overcome two hundred, of them. If there be (read as yakun or takun ) a hundred of you, they will overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, for they are a people who do not understand (this [sentence] is predicative, but functions as an imperative, in other words, let the twenty of you fight the two hundred [of them], and the hundred [of you], the thousand [of them…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

65. O Prophet, urge the believers on to fight and encourage them to do so with words that will strengthen their determination and lift their spirits. If there are among you, O believers, twenty who are patient in fighting against the disbelievers, they will overcome two hundred of the disbelievers. And if there are among you one hundred who are patient, they will overcome one thousand of the disbelievers. That is because the disbelievers are a people who do not understand Allah’s custom of aiding His friends and defeating His enemies.…

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

66. Now Allah has lightened the burden from you, O believers, since He knows your weakness. He has lightened your burden out of His grace and has made it a duty that one of you remains patient against two disbelievers instead of ten. So if there are one hundred among you who remain patient in fighting against the disbelievers, they will defeat two hundred. And if there are one thousand among you who remain patient, they will defeat two thousand of the disbelievers with Allah’s permission. Allah, with His support and assistance, is with those believers who remain patient.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

et them Stand firm againSt them; but when they became numerous this was abrogated by God’s saying): [8:66] Now God has lightened [the burden] for you, for He knows that there is weakness (read dufan or dafan ) in you, [making you unable] to fight ten times your number. So if there be (read as yakun or takun) a hundred of you, Steadfast, they will overcome two hundred, of them; and if there be a thousand of you, they will overcome two thousand by the leave of God, by His will (this is predicative, functioning as an imperative, in other words: fight twice your number and Stand firm againSt…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

67. It is not right for a prophet to take captives from the disbelievers who fight against him until he kills many of them, so that this makes other disbelievers fear fighting him. By taking captives from Badr, O believers, you want to receive ransom, but Allah wants the Afterlife for you, which is gained by making religion victorious and powerful. Allah is Mighty in His essence, His attributes and in His domination. Nothing can overcome Him. He is Wise in His decree and sacred laws.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

your number and Stand firm againSt them). And God is with the Steadfast, by His support [of them]. [8:67] The following was revealed when they ransomed those taken captive at Badr: It is not for any Prophet to have (read as an takuna lahu or an yakuna lahu ) prisoners until he has made slaughter in the land, going all the way in fighting disbelievers.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

68. Were it not for a decree from Allah – in which it had already been decided that He would make the gains of war lawful for you and permit you to ransom captives – a severe punishment from Allah would have afflicted you because of the gains of war and ransom you took from the captives at Badr before the coming of revelation from Allah that permitted it.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

was abrogated by His words [and set them free] afterward either with grace or by ransom [Q. 47:4]. [8:68] Had it not been for an ordinance from God which had preceded, making Spoils and the taking of captives lawful for you, an awful chastisement would have affiided you for what you took, as ransom. [8:69] Now eat of what you have plundered, as lawful and good, and fear God.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

69. So consume, O believers, of the gains of war that you take from the disbelievers because it is lawful for you. Be mindful of Allah by following His instructions and avoiding His prohibitions. Allah is Forgiving and Compassionate towards His believing servants.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

70. O Prophet, say to those idolater captives who have come into your hands after the Battle of Badr: If Allah knows of any good intentions in your hearts, He will give you something better than the ransom that was taken from you; so do not grieve over what was taken from you. Allah will also forgive your sins because He is Forgiving and Compassionate to those of His servants who repent to Him. This promise of Allah was fullfilled for ‘Abbās, the uncle of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and for others like him who accepted Islam after being captured.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

71. If their goal, O Muhammad, is to betray you by the words they utter, then they have betrayed Allah previously and Allah gave you victory over them when some of them were killed and others were taken captive. They should therefore wait for something similar to happen if they return to their evil. Allah knows about His creation and what is best for them, and He is Wise in His handling of affairs.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

72. Those who believed in Allah, accepted His Messenger, practised His sacred law, emigrated from the land of disbelief to the land of Islam, or to a place in which they can worship Allah safely, and strived in Allah’s path by spending their wealth and giving their lives to raise Allah’s Word, and those who hosted them in their homes and supported them – those emigrants and those locals who supported them are friends of one another in terms of providing support and assistance.…

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

e the like if they return [to betrayal]; and God is Knower, of His creatures. Wise, in His actions. [8:72] Truly those who believed and emigrated and Strove with their wealth and their lives in the way of God, these being the Emigrants, and those who provided refuge, for the Prophet (s), and assisted, these being the Helpers, those are allies of one another, in terms of [mutual] support and inheritance.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

73. The disbelievers are united in their disbelief and they therefore become friends of one another. A believer should not become friends with them. If you do not become friends with the believers and oppose the disbelievers, the believers will suffer weakness as a result of a lack of support and there will be great corruption on earth as people will be prevented from Allah’s path.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

hich case, do not assist them againsd these others and so break your pad; and God sees what you do. [8:73] And those who disbelieve are allies of one another, in terms of [mutual] support and inheritance, and so there is no inheriting between you and them. Unless you do this, [unless] you ally yourselves with the believers and sever relations with the disbelievers, there will be sedition in the land and great cor¬ ruption, with disbelief gaining power and Islam becoming weak. [8:74] And those who believed and emigrated and Strove for the way of God, and those who provided refuge and assi…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

74. Those who believed in Allah and emigrated in His path, and those who provided shelter and assistance to the emigrants in Allah’s path, they are the ones who can be truly described as having faith. They will receive Allah’s forgiveness for their sins and a generous reward: Paradise.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

75. Those who believed and accepted the faith amongst the earlier Emigrants and Helpers, who emigrated from the land of disbelief to the land of Islam, and strived in Allah’s path so that Allah’s Word may be the highest and the word of the disbelievers may be the lowest – they are part of you, O believers. They will have the same rights and obligations as you have. Under Allah’s final sacred laws of inheritance, family members are closer to one another than the previous Islamic system of inheritance based on faith and emigration. Allah knows everything. Nothing is hidden from Him.…

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

those are the true believers, and for them is forgiveness and a generous provi¬ sion, in Paradise. [8:75] And those who believed afterwards, that is, after the fird believers and emigrants, and emigrated and Strove with you — they are of you, O Muhajirun and Ansar; and those related by blood, kinsmen, are nearer to one another, in terms of inheritance, than [those who share] inheritance on account of [their common] faith and emigration mentioned in the previous verse, according to the Book of God, the Preserved Tablet ( al-lawh al-mahfuz).…