Quran chapter: Chapter 8: The Spoils of War (Al-Anfal)

He caused peaceful slumber to overtake you and pacify you, and He sent down water from the sky to clean you therewith. He protected you from the devil’s curse, reassured your hearts and strengthened your foothold.

إِذ يُغَشّيكُمُ النُّعاسَ أَمَنَةً مِنهُ وَيُنَزِّلُ عَلَيكُم مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً لِيُطَهِّرَكُم بِهِ وَيُذهِبَ عَنكُم رِجزَ الشَّيطٰنِ وَلِيَربِطَ عَلىٰ قُلوبِكُم وَيُثَبِّتَ بِهِ الأَقدامَ

iz yughashsheekumun nu’assa amanatam minhu wa yunazzilu ‘alaikum minas samaaa’i maaa’al liyutah hirakum bihee wa yuzhiba ‘ankum rijzash Shaitaani wa liyarbita ‘ala quloobikum wa yusabbita bihil aqdaam

(Lessons from History*)

Recall that your Lord inspired the angels: “I am with you; so support those who believed. I will throw terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved. You may strike them above the necks, and you may strike even every finger.”

إِذ يوحى رَبُّكَ إِلَى المَلٰئِكَةِ أَنّى مَعَكُم فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا سَأُلقى فى قُلوبِ الَّذينَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعبَ فَاضرِبوا فَوقَ الأَعناقِ وَاضرِبوا مِنهُم كُلَّ بَنانٍ

iz yoohee Rabbuka ilal malaaa’ikati annee ma’akum fasabbitul lazeena aamanoo; sa ulqee fee quloobil lazeena kafarur ru’ba fadriboo fawqal a’naaqi wadriboo minhum kulla banaan

*8:12-16 All wars are governed by the basic rule in 60:8-9.

This is what they have justly incurred by fighting God and His messenger. For those who fight against God and His messenger, God’s retribution is severe.

ذٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُم شاقُّوا اللَّهَ وَرَسولَهُ وَمَن يُشاقِقِ اللَّهَ وَرَسولَهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَديدُ العِقابِ

zaalika bi annahum shaaaqqul laaha wa Rasoolah; wa mai yushaqiqil laaha wa Rasoolahoo fa innal laaha shadeedul ‘iqaab

This is to punish the disbelievers; they have incurred the retribution of Hell.

ذٰلِكُم فَذوقوهُ وَأَنَّ لِلكٰفِرينَ عَذابَ النّارِ

zaalikum fazooqoohu wa anna lilkaafireena ‘azaaban Naar

O you who believe, if you encounter the disbelievers who have mobilized against you, do not turn back and flee.

يٰأَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا إِذا لَقيتُمُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا زَحفًا فَلا تُوَلّوهُمُ الأَدبارَ

yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanoo izaa laqeetumul lazeena kafaroo zahfan falaa tuwalloohumul adbaar

Anyone who turns back on that day, except to carry out a battle plan, or to join his group, has incurred wrath from God, and his abode is Hell; what a miserable destiny!

وَمَن يُوَلِّهِم يَومَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُ إِلّا مُتَحَرِّفًا لِقِتالٍ أَو مُتَحَيِّزًا إِلىٰ فِئَةٍ فَقَد باءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَأوىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئسَ المَصيرُ

wa mai yuwallihim yawma’izin duburahooo illaa mutaharrifal liqitaalin aw mutahaiyizan ilaa fi’atin faqad baaa’a bighadabim minal laahi wa ma’waahu Jahannamu wa bi’sal maseer

(God Is Doing Everything*)

It was not you who killed them; God is the One who killed them. It was not you who threw when you threw; God is the One who threw. But He thus gives the believers a chance to earn a lot of credit. God is Hearer, Omniscient.

فَلَم تَقتُلوهُم وَلٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ قَتَلَهُم وَما رَمَيتَ إِذ رَمَيتَ وَلٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ رَمىٰ وَلِيُبلِىَ المُؤمِنينَ مِنهُ بَلاءً حَسَنًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَميعٌ عَليمٌ

falam taqtuloohum wa laakinnal laaha qatalahum; wa maa ramaita iz ramaita wa laakinnal laaha ramaa; wa liyubliyal mu’mineena minhu balaaa’an hasanaa; innal laaha Samee’un Aleem

*8:17 Believing in God necessitates believing in His qualities, one of which is that He is doing everything. Without knowing God, there is no belief (23:84-90). Bad things are incurred by us, and executed by Satan, in accordance with God’s laws (4:78-79, 42:30).

Additionally, God thus nullifies the schemes of the disbelievers.

ذٰلِكُم وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ موهِنُ كَيدِ الكٰفِرينَ

zaalikum wa annal laaha moohinu kaidil kaafireen

You sought victory (O disbelievers), and victory did come; it belonged to the believers. If you refrain (from aggression) it would be better for you, but if you return, so will we. Your armies will never help you, no matter how great. For God is on the side of the believers.

إِن تَستَفتِحوا فَقَد جاءَكُمُ الفَتحُ وَإِن تَنتَهوا فَهُوَ خَيرٌ لَكُم وَإِن تَعودوا نَعُد وَلَن تُغنِىَ عَنكُم فِئَتُكُم شَيـًٔا وَلَو كَثُرَت وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ المُؤمِنينَ

in tastaftihoo faqad jaaa’akumul fathu wa in tantahoo fahuwa khairul lakum wa in ta’oodoo na’ud wa lan tughniya ‘ankum fi’atukum shai’anw wa law kasurat wa annal laaha ma’al mu’mineen

O you who believe, obey God and His messenger, and do not disregard him while you hear.

يٰأَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا أَطيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسولَهُ وَلا تَوَلَّوا عَنهُ وَأَنتُم تَسمَعونَ

yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanoo atee’ul laaha wa Rasoolahoo wa laa tawallaw ‘anhu wa antum tasma’oon