About the Surah

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

[O Muhammad ( may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him )!] They ask you about the spoils of war.Say: “The spoils of war belong to Allah and the Mes-senger.” Hence, fear Allah and settle all differences among you and obey Allah and His messenger if you are (true) believers.

Indeed, the (true) believers are those who, when Allah is mentioned , their hearts are filled with fear, and when His Verses are recited to them, their faith further increases, and they put their trust in Allah (Alone),

Those who perform Salat and spend part of that which We have provided them.

They are the true believers. They have high levels (of dignity) from their Creator and Forgiveness and a generous provision (in Paradise).

As your Creator caused you to go out of your home with the truth, and, in-deed, a group of believer disliked it (i.e. there was hidden Wisdom of Allah in sending you out of your homes, just like there was hidden wisdom of Allah in the regulations for distribution of spoils of war). 

(This group of believers) dis-puted with you concerning the truth after it became clear, (i.e. the caravan of Quraish has escaped and only the army of Quraish remained. Hence, fighting is a must), as if they were being driven to death, while they were looking at it.

And (remember) when Allah promised the Muslims that one of the two groups (army or caravan) should be yours. You wished that the unarmed (the caravan) should be yours, but Allah willed that He may prove the (real) truth by His Words and also cut the roots of the disbelievers.

       That He may prove the (real) truth clearly and prove the falsehood as false, even though the criminals (disbelievers) hate it.

(Remember) when you made a humble supplication to Allah for help and Allah granted your supplication (saying): “I will help you with one thousand an-gels coming one after another in succes-sion.” 

And Allah conveyed this news to you only as a glad tiding and to soothe your hearts. And there is no help (victory) except from Allah. Indeed, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

(Remember) when Allah made slumber overcome you to provide you com-fort from Him, and He sent down rainwater  from the sky, to clean you with it and to remove the whispering of Satan, and to strengthen your hearts, and to make your feet firm.

(Remember) When Allah revealed to the angels: “Indeed, I am with you, so raise the courage of the believers, soon I will infuse fear in the hearts of the dis-believers. So strike the disbelievers on their necks and their finger tips and toes (so that they are disabled to fight and disabled to run away).”

This is because they opposed Allah and His messenger, and whoever opposes Allah and His messenger, then, indeed, Allah is Severe in punishment.

This (torment) is for you (in this world), so taste it, and, indeed, there is torment of Fire for the disbelievers (in the Hereafter).

O you who believe! When you are facing the disbelievers in a battlefield, never turn your backs to them.

And whoever turns his back to them on such occasion, except as a war strat-egy or to take refuge with his own troop, he has incurred wrath from Allah. And his abode is Hell and it is a terrible destination.

Hence, you did not kill them, but Allah killed them. And you did not throw (pebbles) when you did throw, rather Allah threw (since Allah caused the pebbles to do damage to the disbelievers) and so that Allah may reward the believers very generously for their efforts. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

That was one thing. And, (secondly) Allah intended to weaken the strategy of the disbelievers.

(O disbelievers) if you ask for final result and judgement, then you have seen the result (truth has overcome the falsehood). Hence, if you stop opposition [to Prophet Muhammad ( may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him )], it is better for you. And if you revert, We shall revert too (i.e. crush you down by Muslims), and your forces will not be able to do you any good however large they may be. And, indeed, Allah is with the believers.

O you who believe! Obey Allah and His messenger and don’t turn away from it when you hear it. (Hence, obey it also just like you believe it).

And don’t be like those who say: “We have heard,” but they hear not. (i.e. don’t be like disbelievers who have neither belief nor under-standing of it).

Indeed, the worst of the living creatures in the sight of Allah are those who are deaf (unable to hear the truth), and dumb (unable to speak out the truth) and they don’t understand a bit (i.e. disbelievers). (Also Surah Al-Araf:179)

Had Allah known any good in them (i.e. if they were keen to seek the truth), then Allah would have given them the ability to hear (with belief). However, even if Allah make them hear (with their present state of mind), they will defi-nitely turn away (with disbelief).

      O you who believe! Obey Allah and His messenger when the messenger calls you since he is inviting you to a (permanent) life. (Hence, your obedience is beneficial for you), and bear in mind that Allah becomes a barrier between a person and his heart . And, verily, you all shall be gathered to Him. 

      O you who believe! Obey Allah and His messenger when the messenger calls you since he is inviting you to a (permanent) life. (Hence, your obedience is beneficial for you), and bear in mind that Allah becomes a barrier between a person and his heart . And, verily, you all shall be gathered to Him. 

And remember when you were few and were considered weak in the land (Makkah), and you were always worried lest people snatch you away (i.e. kidnap you), but Allah gave you refuge (in Madinah), strengthened you with His help, and provided you good things so that you might be thankful (to Allah).

O you who believe! Don’t betray Allah and His messenger, nor betray knowingly things entrusted to you.

And bear in mind that your wealth and your children are but a test, and that with Allah is immense reward.

O you who believe! If you constantly remain conscious of Allah, He will grant you criteria (to clearly distinguish between right and wrong), and remove your sins, and forgive you too. And Allah has Great Bounty (He can bestow many more favours on you, which are beyond your imagination).

And that time is worth remembering, when the disbelievers were plotting to imprison you, or to kill you, or to expel you from your land, and they were plot-ting and Allah was plotting too (to defeat their evil plots). And Allah’s strategy is the Best.

And (the mentality of dis-believers is such that) When Our revelations are recited in their presence they say: “We have heard (the recitation of the Quran), if we wish we can recite similar sentences. Indeed, these are only ancient tales.”

And (remember) when they said: “O Allah! If this Quran is a true revelation from You, then rain down stones on us from the sky (for our refusal to accept it) or inflict upon us a painful torment.”

And Allah would not punish them while you [Muhammad ( may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him )] are amongst them and Allah would not punish them as long as they seek (Allah’s) Forgiveness.

And why should not Allah punish them while they hinder people to enter Masjid-al-Haram, and they are not the guardians of this masjid. Only the pious persons can be the guardians of this masjid, but most of them (the disbelievers) don’t understand this.

And their Salat near the house of Allah was nothing but whistling and hand clapping. Hence, taste this punishment because of your disbelief.

(Above were the verbal and physical activities of the disbelievers. Here are their financial activities). Indeed, the disbelievers spend their wealth in order to hinder from the Path of Allah, and they will keep spending their wealth, then this wealth will become anguish for them and finally they will be defeated. And the disbelievers will be gathered to Hell.

(This grouping is) so that Allah separate the unclean people (disbelievers) from the clean people (believers), and then pack the unclean people one over the other and then make a heap of them, and finally dump them into Hell. They are, truly, the losers.

Say to the disbelievers, if they stop disbelieving (and embrace Islam), Allah will forgive their previous sins. But if they revert (to their previous habits) then the examples about the fate of the previous disbelievers is there (in the his-tory).

And fight them until there is no more disbelief and the worship will all be for Allah Alone. But if they stop (worshipping others besides Allah), then, in-deed, Allah is All-Seer of what they do.

And if they turn away (from Islam, then fight them back) and bear in mind that Allah is your Protector – what an Excellent Protector and what an Excellent Helper.

And know that one fifth of any booty gained is for Allah and His messenger, and for the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, if you believe in Allah and what We have sent down to Our obedient servant on the Day of criterion, the Day when two armies met (in the battle of Badr); and Allah is Able to do all things.

Remember when you (the Muslim forces) were on the near end of the valley and enemy forces were on the farthest end, and the caravan was on the lower ground than you. And if two armies had a mutual appointment (to meet each other), one of them would have broken its promise. (But Allah created circum-stances in which both armies met) so that Allah does accomplish a matter already ordained by Him, in order that those who were to be killed, might be killed after a clear evidence, and those who were to live, might live after a clear evidence. And, indeed, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Remember when Allah showed enemies as few in number in your [Muhammad’s ( may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him )] dream. Had he shown you large in num-ber you would have been definitely discouraged, and you would surely have disputed among yourselves about this matter. But Allah saved you [from having these differences. Allah saved Muslims from this tor-ture through the dream of Prophet Muhammad ( may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him )]. Indeed, Allah is All-Knower of what is in the breasts. And remember (during the actual battle of Badr) Allah showed the enemy to you as few in your eyes and Allah made you appear also few in the enemy’s eyes108, so that Allah does accomplish a matter already ordained. And all affairs do return to Allah (for reward or punishment).

       (Here Muslims are taught etiquettes of war). O you who believe! When you come across an enemy force, remain steadfast and engage yourself in remembrance of Allah a lot so that you may be successful.

       And obey Allah, and His messenger, and don’t quarrel with one another lest you become coward and also mess up your impression on others. And be patient (in case of difficulties). Indeed, Allah is with those who are patient.

       And don’t be like those who came out of their homes boastfully, while showing off to people and hindering them from the path of Allah. And Allah encompasses whatever they were doing.

       And (remember) when  Satan made the (evil) deeds of disbelievers attractive to them and said: “No one will be able to overcome you this Day and, indeed, I am your supporter.” But when the two armies came in sight of each other, Satan ran back on his heels and said: “Verily, I have nothing to do with you. Indeed, I see what you don’t see. Indeed, I fear Allah, since Allah is Severe in punishment.”

       When the hypocrites and those who had disease (of disbelief) in their hearts were saying: “These Muslims are deceived by their religion.” But whoever puts his trust in Allah, then, indeed, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

       And if you could see how angels take away the souls of disbelievers, hitting them on their faces and backs, (saying): “Taste the punishment of the blazing Fire.” (Also Surah Al-Anam:93)

       This (punishment) is due to your deeds sent forward by your hands. And, indeed, Allah is not unjust to (His) slaves.

       (Allah does not punish without a crime). Hence the condition of these disbelievers is similar to the condition of the followers of Firaun and other disbelievers who passed before them. They rejected the revelations of Allah, so Allah punished them due to their sins. Indeed, Allah is All-Strong, Severe in punishment.

       (Rule of Allah is that) Allah does not remove His Favour bestowed upon a nation until the people of that nation change their deeds (i.e. commit sins). And, indeed, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

       The condition of these dis-believers is similar to the condition of the followers of Firaun and the other disbelievers who passed before them. They denied the revelations of Allah, so We killed them due to their sins and We drowned the people of Firaun, and all of them were the wrong-doers.

       Indeed, the worst of the creatures in the sight of Allah are the disbelievers. Hence they shall never believe.

       Whenever you make a treaty with them, they break their promise every time, and they don’t fear (Allah).

       Hence if you overcome them in war, give them an exemplary punishment so that their supporters behind them are also dispersed and they may learn a lesson from it.

       (If disbelievers don’t break the promise openly) But you fear treachery from the disbelievers, then throw back their agreement to them (i.e. do inform them that there is no more mutual agreement in force) so that both parties have same information. (Fighting without con-veying such information is treachery). Indeed, Allah does not like the treacherous (persons).

       And let not the disbelievers think that they can escape from the punishment. Indeed, they will never be able to suppress.

       And remain prepared against the disbelievers with whatever armed forces you can, and with strong horses to cause terror to the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others besides them whom you don’t know, but Allah does know them. Whatsoever you spend in the Path of Allah, it will be repaid to you in full and no injustice will be done to you. (Also Surah Al-Anfal:39)

       And if the disbelievers incline towards peace, you should also incline to it (using your judgement), and put your trust in Allah. Indeed, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

       And if (through peace-talk) they intend to deceive you, then Allah is Sufficient for you. (Remember that) He has supported you with His Help and with the believers.

       And Allah has created love and affinity between the hearts of the believers. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have created this mutual love in their hearts, but Allah has, created the mutual love in their hearts He is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

       O Prophet Muhammad ( may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him )! Allah is sufficient for you and for the believers who follow you.

       O Prophet [Muhammad ( may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him )!] Motivate the believers to fight (in the Path of Allah). If there are twenty steadfast believers, they will overcome two hundred (disbelievers), and if there are one hundred (steadfast) believers, they will overcome one thousand disbelievers, since disbelievers are such people who don’t understand (and, hence, they stick to their disbelief).

       Now Allah has lightened your obligation for He knows that there is weakness in you. Hence if there are one hundred steadfast believers, they shall overcome two hundred, and if there are one thousand of you, they shall overcome two thousand disbelievers with the Leave of Allah. And Allah is with the patient persons.

       [O believers! Your suggestion to the Prophet ( may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him ) to release the prisoners of war with ransom was not appropriate when the disbelief was prevalent in the land]. It is not proper for a Prophet to have prisoners of war (and they be freed with ransom) until he makes a blood battle in the land (to break the power of disbelievers). You desired the benefits of this world but Allah desired for you the Hereafter. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

       Had it not been previously written from Allah, a severe torment would have seized you for what (the ransom) you took.

       Hence enjoy what you have captured of booty in war as lawful and good. (By this Verse ransom is now lawful and a good gain). And (always) fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Very-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

       O Prophet! [Muhammad ( may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him )] Say to those captives in your hands: “If Allah would see goodness in your hearts, then He will give you something far better than what has been taken from you (as ransom) and (moreover), Allah will forgive your sins. And Allah is Very-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.

       [O Muhammad ( may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him )! If these captives have not embraced Islam sincerely and] if they intend to betray you (don’t worry, Allah will again make them your captives), just like they betrayed Allah before, then Allah made them your captives. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.

       Verily, those who believed, and emigrated, and strove hard (including fighting) with their property and their lives in the Path of Allah (called Mahajireen) and also those who gave them refuge in their homes and helped them (called Ansar), all of them are protecting friends of each other. And those who believed but did not emigrate, it is not your duty to protect them till they emigrate. And if they seek help from you concerning religion, then it is your duty to help them except against a group with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance in force. And Allah is All-Seer of what you do.

       And the disbelievers are protecting friends of each other (i.e. a disbeliever cannot inherit property from a believer and vice versa). And if you don’t do so (i.e. if the believers don’t become truly protecting friends of each other), there will be a great corruption and mischief in the world.

       And those who believed, and emigrated and strove hard in the Path of Allah and also those who gave them protection in their homes and helped them, all of them are the very true believers. For them is forgiveness and a generous provision (in Paradise).

       And those who believed after-wards, and emigrated and strove hard along with you (in the Path of Allah), they are from you. And the blood relatives are nearer to one another (regarding inheritance) in Allah’s law. Indeed, Allah is All-Knower of everything.