Al-Anfal  · Part One

Ta'awwudh · Seeking Refuge

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytani ar-rajim. I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

The Name · Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

✦

The Surah · Verses 1 to 40

﴾١﴿ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْأَنفَالِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلْأَنفَالُ لِلَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُوا۟ ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ ۖ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Yas'aloonaka 'anil anfaali qulil anfaalu lillaahi war Rasooli fattaqul laaha wa ahlihoo zaata bainikum wa atee'ul laaha wa Rasoolahooo in kuntum mu'mineen

They ask you about the spoils. Say, the spoils belong to Allah and the Messenger. So be conscious of Allah, and set right what is between you, and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you are believers.

﴾٢﴿ إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَٰتُهُۥ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَٰنًۭا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

Innamal mu'minoonal lazeena izaa zukiral laahu wajilat quloobuhum wa izaa tuliyat 'alaihim Aayaatuhoo zaadat hum eemaananw wa 'alaa Rabbihim yatawakkaloon

The believers are only those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, and when His verses are recited to them it increases them in belief, and upon their Lord they rely.

﴾٣﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

Allazeena yuqeemoonas Salaata wa mimmaa razaqnaahum yunfiqoon

Those who establish the prayer and spend from what We have provided them.

﴾٤﴿ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّۭا ۚ لَّهُمْ دَرَجَٰتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌۭ وَرِزْقٌۭ كَرِيمٌۭ

Ulaaa'ika humul mu'minoona haqqaa; lahum darajaatun 'inda Rabbihim wa magh firatunw wa rizqun kareem

Those are the believers in truth. For them are ranks with their Lord, and forgiveness, and generous provision.

﴾٥﴿ كَمَآ أَخْرَجَكَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ بَيْتِكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَكَٰرِهُونَ

Kaamaaa akhrajaka Rabbuka mim baitika bilhaqq; wa inna fareeqam minal mu'mineena lakaarihoon

As your Lord brought you out from your house with the truth, while a group of the believers disliked it.

﴾٦﴿ يُجَٰدِلُونَكَ فِى ٱلْحَقِّ بَعْدَمَا تَبَيَّنَ كَأَنَّمَا يُسَاقُونَ إِلَى ٱلْمَوْتِ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ

Yujaadiloonaka fil haqqi ba'da maa tabaiyana kaannamaa yasaaqoona ilal mawti wa hum uanzuroon

Arguing with you about the truth after it had become clear, as though they were being driven to death while they looked on.

﴾٧﴿ وَإِذْ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ إِحْدَى ٱلطَّآئِفَتَيْنِ أَنَّهَا لَكُمْ وَتَوَدُّونَ أَنَّ غَيْرَ ذَاتِ ٱلشَّوْكَةِ تَكُونُ لَكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُحِقَّ ٱلْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَٰتِهِۦ وَيَقْطَعَ دَابِرَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Wa iz ya'idukumul laahu ihdat taaa'ifataini annahaa lakum wa tawaddoona anna ghaira zaatish shawkati takoonu lakum wa yureedul laahu ai yuhiqqal haqqa bikalimaatihee wa taqta'a daabiral kaafireen

And when Allah promised you one of the two parties, that it would be yours, and you wished that the one without weapons would be yours. And Allah wanted to establish the truth by His words and cut off the last of the disbelievers.

﴾٨﴿ لِيُحِقَّ ٱلْحَقَّ وَيُبْطِلَ ٱلْبَٰطِلَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ

Liyuhiqqal haqqa wa tubtilal baatila wa law karihal mujrimoon

So that He would establish the truth and void the false, even if the criminals hated it.

﴾٩﴿ إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَٱسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّى مُمِدُّكُم بِأَلْفٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ

Iz tastagheesoona Rabbakum fastajaaba lakum annee mumiddukum bi alfim minal malaaa'ikati murdifeen

When you were calling on your Lord for help, and He answered you, that I am reinforcing you with a thousand of the angels, following one after another.

﴾١٠﴿ وَمَا جَعَلَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ بِهِۦ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۚ وَمَا ٱلنَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

Wa maa ja'alahul laahu illaa bushraa wa litatma'inna bihee quloobukum; wa man nasru illaa min 'indil laah; innal laaha Azeezun Hakeem

And Allah made it only as good news, and so that your hearts would be settled by it. And victory comes only from Allah. Allah is Mighty, Wise.

﴾١١﴿ إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ ٱلنُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةًۭ مِّنْهُ وَيُنَزِّلُ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ لِّيُطَهِّرَكُم بِهِۦ وَيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمْ رِجْزَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ وَلِيَرْبِطَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتَ بِهِ ٱلْأَقْدَامَ

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

When He covered you with drowsiness as security from Him, and sent down water on you from the sky to purify you with it, and to remove from you the disturbance of Satan, and to bind your hearts and make the feet firm with it.

﴾١٢﴿ إِذْ يُوحِى رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ أَنِّى مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۚ سَأُلْقِى فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلرُّعْبَ فَٱضْرِبُوا۟ فَوْقَ ٱلْأَعْنَاقِ وَٱضْرِبُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍۢ

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

When your Lord revealed to the angels, I am with you, so make firm those who believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved. So strike above the necks and strike from them every fingertip.

﴾١٣﴿ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ شَآقُّوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ ۚ وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ

Zaalika bi annahum shaaaqqul laaha wa Rasoolah; wa mai yushaqiqil laaha wa Rasoolahoo fa innal laaha shadeedul 'iqaab

That is because they opposed Allah and His Messenger. And whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger, Allah is severe in punishment.

﴾١٤﴿ ذَٰلِكُمْ فَذُوقُوهُ وَأَنَّ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ

Zaalikum fazooqoohu wa anna lilkaafireena 'azaaban Naar

That is for you, so taste it, and that for the disbelievers is the punishment of the Fire.

﴾١٥﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ زَحْفًۭا فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ ٱلْأَدْبَارَ

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

You who believe, when you meet those who disbelieved advancing in force, do not turn your backs to them.

﴾١٦﴿ وَمَن يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ دُبُرَهُۥٓ إِلَّا مُتَحَرِّفًۭا لِّقِتَالٍ أَوْ مُتَحَيِّزًا إِلَىٰ فِئَةٍۢ فَقَدْ بَآءَ بِغَضَبٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ

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

And whoever turns his back to them that day, unless as a manoeuvre for battle or to join another company, has returned with anger from Allah, and his shelter is Hell. And it is a wretched destination.

﴾١٧﴿ فَلَمْ تَقْتُلُوهُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَمَىٰ ۚ وَلِيُبْلِىَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْهُ بَلَآءً حَسَنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ

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

So you did not kill them, but Allah killed them. And you did not throw when you threw, but Allah threw. And so that He might test the believers with a good test from Him. Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

﴾١٨﴿ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُوهِنُ كَيْدِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Zaalikum wa annal laaha moohinu kaidil kaafireen

That is for you, and that Allah weakens the plan of the disbelievers.

﴾١٩﴿ إِن تَسْتَفْتِحُوا۟ فَقَدْ جَآءَكُمُ ٱلْفَتْحُ ۖ وَإِن تَنتَهُوا۟ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تَعُودُوا۟ نَعُدْ وَلَن تُغْنِىَ عَنكُمْ فِئَتُكُمْ شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَوْ كَثُرَتْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

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

If you sought a decision, the decision has come to you. And if you stop, it is better for you. And if you return, We will return. And your company will not help you in anything, however many it is. And Allah is with the believers.

﴾٢٠﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَوَلَّوْا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَنتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ

Yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanoo atee'ul laaha wa Rasoolahoo wa laa tawallaw 'anhu wa antum tasm'oon

You who believe, obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not turn away from him while you are hearing.

﴾٢١﴿ وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ

Wa laa takoonoo kallazeena qaaloo sami'naa wa hum laa yasma'oon

And do not be like those who said we heard, while they were not hearing.

﴾٢٢﴿ إِنَّ شَرَّ ٱلدَّوَآبِّ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلصُّمُّ ٱلْبُكْمُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ

Inna sharrad dawaaabbi 'indal laahis summul bukmul lazeena laa ya'qiloon

The worst of creatures with Allah are the deaf and the dumb who do not use their reason.

﴾٢٣﴿ وَلَوْ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًۭا لَّأَسْمَعَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ أَسْمَعَهُمْ لَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ

Wa law 'alimal laahu feehim khairal la asma'ahum; wa law asma'ahum latawallaw wa hum mu'ridoon

And if Allah had known any good in them, He would have made them hear. And if He had made them hear, they would have turned away, refusing.

﴾٢٤﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ ٱلْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِۦ وَأَنَّهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ

Yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanus tajeeboo lillaahi wa lir Rasooli izaa da'aakum limaa yuhyeekum wa'lamooo annal laaha yahoolu bainal mar'i wa qalbihee wa anahooo ilaihi tuhsharoon

You who believe, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to what gives you life. And know that Allah comes between a man and his heart, and that to Him you will be gathered.

﴾٢٥﴿ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ فِتْنَةًۭ لَّا تُصِيبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنكُمْ خَآصَّةًۭ ۖ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ

Wattaqoo fitnatal laa tuseebannal lazeena zalamoo minkum khaaaassatanw wa'lamooo annal laaha shadeedul 'iqaab

And guard yourselves against a trial that will not strike only those among you who did wrong. And know that Allah is severe in punishment.

﴾٢٦﴿ وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌۭ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَن يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ فَـَٔاوَىٰكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُم بِنَصْرِهِۦ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Wazkurooo iz antum qaleelum mustad 'afoona filardi takhaafoona ai yatakhat tafakumun naasu fa aawaakum wa aiyadakum binasrihee wa razaqakum minat taiyibaati la'allakum tashkuroon

And remember when you were few, weak in the land, afraid that people would snatch you away, and He sheltered you and strengthened you with His help and provided you from the good things, so that you might be grateful.

﴾٢٧﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَخُونُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوٓا۟ أَمَٰنَٰتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanoo laa takhoonal laaha war Rasoola wa takhoonooo amaanaatikum wa antum ta'lamoon

You who believe, do not betray Allah and the Messenger, and do not betray your trusts while you know.

﴾٢٨﴿ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌۭ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌۭ

Wa'lamooo annamaaa amwaalukum wa awlaadukum fitnatunw wa annal laaha 'indahooo ajrun azeem

And know that your wealth and your children are a trial, and that with Allah is a great reward.

﴾٢٩﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تَتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًۭا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

Yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanooo in tattaqul laaha yaj'al lakum furqaananw wa yukaffir 'ankum saiyi aatikum wa yaghfir lakum; wallaahu zul fadlil 'azeem

You who believe, if you are conscious of Allah He will give you a criterion, and remove your bad deeds from you, and forgive you. And Allah is the holder of great bounty.

﴾٣٠﴿ وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلْمَٰكِرِينَ

Wa iz yamkuru bikal lazeena kafaroo liyusbitooka aw yaqtulooka aw yukhrijook; wa yamkuroona wa yamkurul laahu wallaahu khairul maakireen

And when those who disbelieved were plotting against you, to hold you or to kill you or to drive you out. And they plot, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.

﴾٣١﴿ وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالُوا۟ قَدْ سَمِعْنَا لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَقُلْنَا مِثْلَ هَٰذَآ ۙ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Wa izaa tutlaa 'alaihim Aayaatunaa qaaloo qad sami'naa law nashaaa'u laqulnaa misla haazaaa in haazaaa illaaa asaateerul awwaleen

And when Our verses are recited to them they say, we have heard. If we wished we could say the like of this. This is nothing but the tales of the ancients.

﴾٣٢﴿ وَإِذْ قَالُوا۟ ٱللَّهُمَّ إِن كَانَ هَٰذَا هُوَ ٱلْحَقَّ مِنْ عِندِكَ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَوِ ٱئْتِنَا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍۢ

Wa iz qaalul laahumma in kaana haazaa huwal haqqa min 'indika fa amtir 'alainaa hijaaratam minas samaaa'i awi'tinaa bi 'azaabin alaeem

And when they said, Allah, if this is the truth from You, then rain stones on us from the sky or bring us a painful punishment.

﴾٣٣﴿ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَأَنتَ فِيهِمْ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ

Wa maa kanal laahu liyu'az zibahum wa anta feehim; wa maa kaanal laahu mu'az zibahum wa hum yastaghfiroon

And Allah was not going to punish them while you were among them. And Allah was not going to punish them while they were asking forgiveness.

﴾٣٤﴿ وَمَا لَهُمْ أَلَّا يُعَذِّبَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ عَنِ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَمَا كَانُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآءَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Wa maa lahum allaa yu'az zibahumul laahu wa hum yasuddoona 'anil Masjidil-Haraami wa maa kaanooo awliyaaa'ah; in awliyaaa' uhooo illal muttaqoona wa laakinna aksarahum laa ya'lamoon

And what is it for them that Allah should not punish them, while they turn people away from the Sacred Mosque, and they were not its guardians. Its guardians are only those conscious of Allah, but most of them do not know.

﴾٣٥﴿ وَمَا كَانَ صَلَاتُهُمْ عِندَ ٱلْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَآءًۭ وَتَصْدِيَةًۭ ۚ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ

Wa maa kaana Salaatuhum 'indal Baiti illa mukaaa anw-wa tasdiyah; fazooqul 'azaaba bimaa kuntum takfuroon

And their prayer at the House was nothing but whistling and clapping. So taste the punishment for your rejection.

﴾٣٦﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ لِيَصُدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَسَيُنفِقُونَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسْرَةًۭ ثُمَّ يُغْلَبُونَ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ يُحْشَرُونَ

Innal lazeena kafaroo yunfiqoona amwaalahum liyasuddoo 'an sabeelil laah; fasayunfiqoonahaa summa takoonu 'alaihim hasratan summa yughlaboon; wal lazeena kafarooo ilaa Jahannnama yuhsharoona

Those who disbelieved spend their wealth to turn people from the way of Allah. They will spend it, then it will be a regret for them, then they will be overcome. And those who disbelieved will be gathered to Hell.

﴾٣٧﴿ لِيَمِيزَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْخَبِيثَ مِنَ ٱلطَّيِّبِ وَيَجْعَلَ ٱلْخَبِيثَ بَعْضَهُۥ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ فَيَرْكُمَهُۥ جَمِيعًۭا فَيَجْعَلَهُۥ فِى جَهَنَّمَ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَٰسِرُونَ

Liyameezal laahul khabeesa minat taiyibi wa yaj'alal khabeesa ba'dahoo 'ala ba'din fayarkumahoo jamee'an fayaj'alahoo fee Jahannnam; ulaaa'ika humul khaasiroon

So that Allah may separate the bad from the good, and place the bad one piece upon another and pile it all together and put it in Hell. Those are the losers.

﴾٣٨﴿ قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِن يَنتَهُوا۟ يُغْفَرْ لَهُم مَّا قَدْ سَلَفَ وَإِن يَعُودُوا۟ فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّتُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Qul lillazeena kafarooo iny yantahoo yughfar lahum maa qad salafa wa iny ya'oodoo faqad madat sunnatul awwaleen

Say to those who disbelieved, if they stop, what has already passed will be forgiven them. And if they return, the way of the former people has already gone before.

﴾٣٩﴿ وَقَٰتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌۭ وَيَكُونَ ٱلدِّينُ كُلُّهُۥ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنِ ٱنتَهَوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ

Wa qaatiloohum hattaa laa takoona fitnatunw wa yakoonaddeenu kulluhoo lillaah; fainin tahaw fa innallaaha bimaa ya'maloona Baseer

And fight them until there is no persecution and the religion is entirely for Allah. And if they stop, Allah is Seeing of what they do.

﴾٤٠﴿ وَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ ٱلنَّصِيرُ

Wa in tawallaw fa'lamooo annal laaha mawlaakum; ni'mal mawlaa wa ni'man naseer

And if they turn away, know that Allah is your Protector. An excellent Protector and an excellent Helper.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What This Part Means

Overview

The Question Was About the Spoils.

Men came back from the first battle they had ever won and asked how the captured property should be divided. It is an ordinary question and there is nothing shameful in it. The answer redirects twice before it ever reaches the property.

First, ownership. The spoils belong to Allah and the Messenger. Second, and this is the part that stings, set right what is between you. The dispute was named as the actual problem, not the distribution. The material question is not answered until verse 41, forty verses later, after the community has been walked through what happened to it and why.

What sits in between is a description of Badr in which the victory keeps being handed back. Sleep that fell on frightened men as security. Rain that settled the dust, gave them water, and firmed the sand under their feet. Angels described in verse 10 as good news for the heart rather than as the mechanism. And verse 17, which removes even the throw from the man who threw it.

Then the chapter turns from the battle to the listener. Respond when you are called to what gives you life. Do not say you heard when you are not hearing. Guard against a trial that will not confine itself to the guilty. Remember when you were few. And know that what you just captured is itself a test.

Verses 1 to 19

You Did Not Throw When You Threw.

Verses 2 to 4 give five marks and then a verdict. Hearts that tremble at the mention of Allah. Belief that increases when the verses are recited. Reliance on the Lord. Prayer established. Spending from what was provided. Then, those are the believers in truth. Three of the five are internal states and two are actions, and the list refuses to separate them.

Verses 5 and 6 preserve something most accounts would have edited out. A group of the believers disliked going out, and argued about it after the matter was clear, as though being driven to death while they looked on. These were the men who won at Badr, and their reluctance is on the record permanently. Nothing in the chapter shames them for it. It is simply left there, which tells any reader with a reluctant heart that reluctance is not disqualifying.

Verse 7 is the whole of the human predicament in one line. Two parties were available. They wanted the unarmed caravan, which is to say the easy gain. Allah wanted the confrontation, which is to say the thing that would settle the matter permanently. The verse does not criticize the preference. It simply reports that the preference was overruled, and then explains what was accomplished by overruling it.

Verse 11 is one weather event doing four separate jobs. Drowsiness sent on men who were about to fight, described as security. Water sent for washing. The same water removing the disturbance of Satan, whatever that whispering consisted of that night. And the same water binding hearts and firming feet in the sand. Sleep and rain, and not a single supernatural element visible to anyone watching.

Then verse 17. So you did not kill them, but Allah killed them. And you did not throw when you threw, but Allah threw. The construction affirms the human act and removes the human claim in the same clause. You threw. It was not your throw. This is delivered at the exact moment men are most entitled to feel it was theirs, which is the only moment the correction would land.

Verse 19 is addressed to the losing side and it is more generous than they were. If you stop, it is better for you. The offer stands after the battle they started.

Verses 20 to 29

What Gives You Life.

Verse 21 identifies a specific failure, and it is not disobedience. Do not be like those who said we heard, while they were not hearing. The words were correct. The reception was not happening. Verse 22 then calls the deaf and dumb who do not use their reason the worst of creatures, and the faculties in question are all present. Nothing is missing except use.

Verse 24 is the most demanding verse in this section. Respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to what gives you life. The claim is that the response is the life, not a cost paid out of it. Then, without transition, and know that Allah comes between a man and his heart. A man who delays because he is waiting to feel ready is assuming the feeling will still be there when he is. The verse says the access to his own heart is not his to schedule.

Verse 25 should be read slowly by anyone comfortable in a community. Guard yourselves against a trial that will not strike only those among you who did wrong. A corruption tolerated by the people around it does not stay confined to the people committing it. The verse addresses the bystanders, in the plural, and calls it a thing to be guarded against rather than a thing to be reported.

Verse 26 asks them to remember being few, weak, and afraid of being snatched off the street. That memory is placed here on purpose. This is a chapter written for people who have just started winning.

And verse 29 makes an offer with a mechanism. If you are conscious of Allah He will give you furqan, a criterion, something that separates. Not more information. The ability to tell things apart. The condition attached to it is not study.

Verses 30 to 40

Money Spent Against the Truth.

Verse 30 records the council that met to decide what to do about one man. Hold him, kill him, or drive him out. All three options were on the table and they chose the worst one, and the verse closes with they plot, and Allah plans, and Allah is the best of planners. The word used for both sides is the same, which is the point. The scheming was real, competent, and completely accounted for.

Verse 32 contains the strangest prayer in the Quran. Allah, if this is the truth from You, then rain stones on us from the sky. Given a fifty-fifty proposition on the truth of a message, they asked for the punishment rather than for the guidance. Nobody asked to be shown. A man can be so committed to a position that he would rather be destroyed than be corrected, and here it is stated in his own words.

Verse 33 then answers the request with two protections, and the second one is the one to notice. Allah was not going to punish them while you were among them, and Allah was not going to punish them while they were asking forgiveness. One protection was the presence of a specific person, which is temporary by nature. The other is available to anybody, permanently, and requires nothing but asking.

Verse 35 is a devastating description of ritual. Their prayer at the House was nothing but whistling and clapping. They were at the correct building, performing something they called prayer, in the most sacred location available to them, and the verse declines to count it. Location does not sanctify the act.

Verse 36 traces the arc of money spent against the truth in three stages. They will spend it. Then it will be a regret for them. Then they will be overcome. Not the spending fails and then they lose. The spending happens, it produces grief in the spender, and the loss comes anyway. Every stage is listed because the middle one is the one people do not expect.

And verse 38 leaves the door open at the end of all of it. Say to those who disbelieved, if they stop, what has already passed will be forgiven them. Said to the men who ran the council in verse 30 and made the prayer in verse 32.

Structural Summary

Verses One to Forty. You Did Not Throw When You Threw.

A question about property answered by repairing a relationship. Five marks and a verdict. Reluctance preserved on the record without shame. The easy gain wanted and the decisive one given. Sleep and rain doing four jobs at once. A throw affirmed and a claim removed in the same clause. Hearing without receiving. A trial that will not stay with the guilty. Criterion offered in exchange for consciousness. A council of three bad options. A prayer for stones. And a door left open for the men who asked for them.

The Practice

Take It Into the Week

Verse 1. The verse answers a property dispute by ordering the relationship repaired first. Name the disagreement you are currently holding a correct position in. Contact the other person this week about the relationship, not the position.

Verse 17. The verse removes the claim at the moment of success. Take the last thing that went well for you and say out loud, in specific words, which parts of it you did not arrange.

Verse 29. The verse attaches discernment to taqwa rather than to study. For one week, when you face a decision you cannot resolve, do the thing you know is required of you in an unrelated area first, and then decide.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verses 1 to 41 / 13

Verse 1

What are they asking about in verse 1, and what does the answer order before it touches the property?