Indexed OCR Text

332
IA H
8A
18 Lato
Surah Al-Anfal 8:42-43
إِذْ أَنْتُم بِالْعُدْوَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُم بِلْعُدْوَةِ الْقُصْوَى وَالرَّكْبُ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ وَلَوْ
تَوَاعَدْتُمْ لَآَخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِ اَلْمِيعَدِ وَلَكِن لِّيَقْضِىَ اللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا
لِيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْبَى مَنْ حَىَّ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَسَمِيعُ
عَلِيمٌ ﴿ إِذْ يُرِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِى مَنَامِكَ قَلِيلاً وَلَوْ أَرَكَهُمْ كَثِيرًا لَّفَشِلْتُمْ
وَلَنَزَعْتُمْ فِى الْأَمْرِ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ سَلَّمَّ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
(Remember) when you were on the nearest end of the valley, and they
were on the farthest one, and the caravan was downwards from you.
14
Had you made an appointment with each other, you would have
Ssagreed about the appointment. But (it happened like this) so that
Allah might accomplish what was destined to be done, so that whoever is
going to perish may perish knowingly, and whoever is going to live may
Eve knowingly. 15 Allah is indeed All-Hearing, All-Knowing. [42] (Recall)
when in your dream, Allah showed them to you few in number. And if He
had shown them to you many in number, you would have been
demoralized and would have disputed in the matter, but Allah saved
(you). Surely, Allah is fully aware of what lies in the hearts. [43]
4) The verse depicts the scene of the battlefield at Badr. The Muslims camped
un that side of the valley which was nearer to Madinah, and as mentioned earlier,
it was a sandy place not suitable to camp an army. The enemy camped at the
apposite end of the valley, which was better. Moreover the pagans had the
merantage that the caravan had bypassed the valley and had reached a place on
the seaside from where it could support the army of Abu Jahl when necessary.
15) Two points are made in this section of the verse. One, that Allah created
such circumstances that the Muslims and the pagans had to face each other in
a batde without a previous appointment made between the two. A prearranged
dune and place for the battle was hardly conceivable in the given circumstances,
because it was too early for both to have a formal war at that point of time. The
second point is that Allah Ta'ala decreed that such a battle should take place,
und the sweeping victory of the Muslims with such feeble resources might
demonstrate the truth of their cause, and one might choose Islam or disbelief
with open eyes. Thus the words 'perish' or 'live' in this verse stand respectively
for "disbelief' and 'belief'.

333
Sūrah Al-Anfal 8:44-48
وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ الْتَقَيْتُمْ فِىَ أَعْيُنِكُمْ قَلِيلًا وَيُقَلِّلُكُمْ فِى أَعْيُنِهِمْ لِيَقْضِىَ
يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
اللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولَاً وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الْأُمُورُ
ءَمَنُواْ إِذَا لَفِيسِتُمْ فِئَةً فَأَتْبُتُواْ وَأَذْكُرُواْ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
٤٥
وَأَطِيعُواْ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ، وَلَا تَنَزَعُواْ فَنَفْشَلُواْ وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ وَأَصْبِرُوَاْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ
◌ْ وَلَا تَكُونُواْ كَالَّذِينَ خَرَجُواْ مِن دِيَرِهِم بَطَرًّا وَرِثَآءَ النَّاسِ
الصَّبِينَ
وَإِذْ زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ
وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ
الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَلَهُمْ وَقَالَ لَا غَالِبَ لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَإِنَّى جَارٌ
لَِّكُمٌّ فَلَغَا تَرَآءَتِ الْفِيَ تَانِ نَكَصَ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ وَقَالَ إِلَى بَرِىٌّ مِنْكُمْ إِّ
أَرَى مَا لَا تَرَوْنَ إِلَى أَخَافُ اللَّهَ وَاللّهُ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
٤٨
And when, at the time you met each other, He showed them to you few
in number in your eyes, and reduced your number in their eyes, so that
Allah might accomplish what was destined to be done. And to Allah all
matters are returned. [44]
O you who believe, when you face a group (in battle), stand firm and
remember Allah abundantly, so that you may be successful. [45] Obey Allah
and His Messenger, and do not quarrel with each other, lest you should
lose courage, and your prowess should evaporate; and be patient. Surely,
Allah is with the patient. [46] And do not be like those who set forth from
their homes waxing proud and showing off to people, preventing (people)
from the way of Allah. Allah is All-Encompassing of what they do. [47]
When the Satan made their deeds look beautiful to their eyes, and said,
"None of the people can overpower you today, and I am a protector for
you." But, when the two groups faced each other, he turned back on his
heels and said, "I am quit of you. I am seeing what you do not see. I am
scared of Allah, and Allah is severe in punishment." 16 [48]
16) The verse tells us that Satan had persuaded the people of Quraish to attack

334
Sūrah Al-Anfal 8:49-52
إِذْ يَقُولُ الْمُنَفِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ قَرَضُ غَرَّ هَؤُلَاءِ دِينُهُمُّ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ
وَلَوْ تَرَىّ إِذْ يَتَوَنَّى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ
عَلَى اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
ذَلِكَ بِمَا
اُلْمَلَئِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَرَهُمْ وَذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ
كَدَأْبِ ءَالٍ فِرْعَوْنٌ وَالَّذِينَ مِن
قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّمٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ
٢ ٥
قَبْلِهِمْ كَفَرُواْ بِشَايَتِ اللَّهِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
When the hypocrites and those who have a malady in their hearts said,
"The belief of these people has deluded them." 17 And whoever places his
trust in Allah (becomes victorious, because) Allah is Mighty, Wise. [49]
Only if you were to see (them) when the angels take out the souls of those
who disbelieve, beating their faces and their backs, and (saying) "Taste
the punishment of the flaming Fire. [50] That is due to what your hands
sent ahead, and that Allah is not cruel to (His) servants." [51]
(Their way is) like the way of the people of Pharaoh and of those before
them. They rejected the signs of Allah; so Allah seized them for their
sins. Surely, Allah is strong, severe in punishment. [52]
the Muslims. This persuasion could be through whispering in the hearts, but the
style of the Qur'anic expression indicates that the Satan had appeared to them
in human form. This is supported by a narration reported by Ibn Jarir on the
authority of Ibn 'Abbas Age that while leaving their homes, the people of Quraish
apprehended that the neighboring tribe of Bakr, who were their enemies, could
attack their homes in their absence. In order to remove this apprehension, the
Satan appeared to them in the form of Suraqah, a person well-known to
Quraish. He claimed that he, through his tribe, would protect their homes and
their families against any attack from Bakr, and that they might safely proceed
to their mission against the Muslims. He then joined the Quraish in Badr and
claimed that the Muslims could never defeat them in the battle. But when the
armies grappled with each other, and he saw the angels descending for the help
of the Muslims; he ran away and disowned his promises to the Quraish
declaring that he was seeing what they could not see, i.e. the angels. (Ibn Kathir)
17) When the hypocrites observed that such a small number of Muslims was
going to face the huge army of the Quraish, they remarked that the religion of

335
Sūrah Al-Anfal 8:53-57
ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَكُ مُغَيِرًا نَعْمَةً أَنْعَمَهَا عَلَى قَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِرُواْ مَا يَنفُسِهِمٌ وَأَنَّ
كَدَأْبِ ءَلِ فِرْعَوْنٌَ وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمَّ كَذَّبُواْ بِشَايَتِ
اللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
رَبِهِمْ فَأَهْلَكْنَهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَآ ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَكُلُّ كَانُواْ ظَلِمِينَ.
إِنَّ
الَّذِينَ عَهَدتَّ مِنْهُمْ
شَرَّ الدَّوَابِ عِندَ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
(٦﴿ فَإِمَّا نَثْقَفَنَّهُمْ فِي
ثُمَّ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَهُمْ فِ كُلِّ مَرَّةٍ وَهُمْ لَا يَنَّقُونَ
اَلْحَرْبِ فَشَرِّدْ بِهِمِ مَّنْ خَلْفَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
All this is because Allah is not the one who may change a favour He has
conferred on a people unless they change their own condition, and that
Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. [53]
Their practice is like that of the people of Pharaoh and those before
them. They rejected the signs of their Lord. So, We destroyed them for
their sins and drowned the people of Pharaoh; and all of them were
wrongdoers. [54]
Surely, the worst of all the moving creatures, in the sight of Allah, are
those who reject Faith and do not believe [55] __ those with whom you
have entered into a treaty, then they break their treaty each time, and
they do not fear Allah.
18
[56] So, if you find them in war, deal with them
in a way that those behind them have to disperse fearfully, so that they
take a lesson. [57]
the Muslims had made them overconfident, but they would realize the truth
when they would be defeated by their enemy.
18) The reference is to the Jews. The Holy Prophet we had entered into a treaty
with them soon after he migrated to Madinah. According to this treaty, the
Jews and the Muslims should have to live in peace with each other, and should
not support each other's enemies. The Jews violated this treaty by supporting
the pagans against the Muslims at the time of Badr under the hope that the
pagans would put the Islamic state to an end, but after the victory of the
Muslims they begged pardon from the Holy Prophet de and he forgave them.
Then they breached the covenant again and again at the time of the battles of

336
Surah Al-Anfal 8:58-62
وَإِمَّا تَخَافَنَ مِن قَوْمٍ خِيَانَةً فَنْبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَى سَوَاءٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْخَيِنِينَ
﴿ وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ سَبَقُواْ إِنَّهُمْ لَا يُعْجِزُونَ ﴿ وَأَعِدُواْ لَهُم مَّا
اُسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ، عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ
وَءَاخَرِيْنَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لَا نَعْلَمُونَهُمُ اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمَّ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ شَىْءٍ فِى سَبِيلِ
﴿ وَإِن جَنَحُواْ لِلسَّلْمِ فَأَجْنَحْ لَهَا
اللَهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا نُظْلَمُونَ
وَإِن يُرِيدُواْ أَنْ يَحْدَعُوَكَ فَإِنَّ
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ, هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
حَسْبَكَ اللَّهُ هُوَ الَّذِىِّ أَيََّكَ بِنَصْرِهِ، وَبِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And if you apprehend a breach from a people, then, throw (the treaty)
towards them in straight-forward terms. 19 Surely, Allah does not like
those who breach the trust. [58] The disbelievers should never think that
they have surpassed (the divine punishment). Surely, they cannot
frustrate (the Divine will). [59]
Prepare against them whatever force you can, and the trained horses
whereby you frighten Allah's enemy and your own enemy and others
besides them whom you do not know. Allah knows them. Whatever thing
you spend in the way of Allah, it will be paid to you in full, and you shall
not be wronged. [60]
And if they tilt towards peace, you too should tilt towards it, and place
your trust in Allah. Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. [61]
If they intend to deceive you, then, Allah is all-sufficient for you. He is
the One who supported you with His help and with the believers, [62]
Uhud and Aļzāb.
19) This means that the termination of the treaty should be declared openly, so
that the enemy may not remain under the impression that the treaty is intact. It
is not permissible to act against the terms of the treaty without such a clear
declaration, unless the enemy has violated it openly and it is known to everyone,
in which case an action may be taken without such a declaration.

LA # 337
Sūrah Al-Anfal 8:63-66
وَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمَّ لَوْ أَنْفَقْتَ مَا فِى الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مَّا أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ
وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمَّ إِنَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿ يَأَيُّهَا النَّبِىُ حَسْبُكَ اللَّهُ
يَأَيُّهَا النَّبِىُّ حَرِّضِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى الْقِتَالِّ إِنَ
وَمَنْ أَتَبَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
يَكُن مِّنَكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَبِرُونَ يَغْلِبُواْ مِائَنَيْنَّ وَإِن يَكُنْ مِّنكُم مِّأْنَةٌ يَغْلِبُواْ
اٌلْكَنَ خَفَّفَ اللَّهُ
أَلْفًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
عَنَكُمْ وَعَلِمَ أَنَ فِيكُمْ ضَعْفًا فَإِن يَكُنْ مِّنكُم مِّأْتَةٌ صَابِرَةٌ يَغْلِبُواْ مِأْتَنَيْنَّ
17
وَإِن يَكُنْ مِّنَكُمْ أَلْفٌ يَغْلِبُّوْ أَلْفَيْنِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّبِينَ
and united their hearts. Had you spent all that is on earth, you could not
have united their hearts. But Allah did unite their hearts. Surely, He is
All-Mighty, All-Wise. [63]
O Prophet, Allah is sufficient for you, and the believers who followed you.
[64] O Prophet, rouse the believers to fighting. If there are twenty among
you, who are patient, they will overcome two hundred; and if there are one
hundred among you, they will overcome one thousand of those who
disbelieve, because they are a people who do not understand. 20 [65] Now
Allah has lightened your burden, and He knew that there is weakness in
you. So, if there are one hundred among you, who are patient, they will
overcome two hundred; and if there are one thousand among you, they will
overcome two thousand by the will of Allah.21 Allah is with the patient. [66]
20) The sense is that the unbelievers do not understand the reality of life after
death, and all their efforts revolve around the pleasures of this world, and
therefore they do not have the courage of sacrificing their lives for the
betterment of the next life. Conversely, the Muslims believe that if they are
martyred in jihad, they will have a much better life in the next world.
21) This is a complement to the injunction laid down in verses 15 and 16 above,
where it was prohibited for the Muslims to flee from facing the enemy. These
verses prescribe limits to that injunction. Initially, verse 65 laid down the rule
that if the number of the enemy is ten times more, the Muslims are obligated to

338
Sūrah Al-Anfal 8:67-68
مَا كَانَ لِنَبِ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ، أَشْرَى حَتَّى يُتْحِنَ فِى الْأَرْضِّ تُرِيدُونَ عَرَضَ
الدُّنْيَا وَاللَّهُ يُرِيدُ الْآَخِرَةُ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ جَ لَّوْلَ كِنَبُ مِنَ اللَّهِ سَبَقَ
لَمَسَّكُمْ فِيمَآ أَخَذْتُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
It is not befitting a prophet that he has captives with him unless he has
subdued the enemy by shedding blood in the land. 22 You intend to have
the stuff of this world, while Allah intends the Hereafter (for you). And
Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. [67] Had there not been a decree from
Allah that came earlier, a great punishment would have overtaken you
because of what you have taken. 23 [68]
face the enemy with patience, because they will triumph with the help of Allah,
if they observe patience as due. But verse 66 has lightened the rule and
restricted it to a situation where the number of the enemy is twice as that of the
Muslims, and not ten times more. Many exegetes take the verse 66 as abrogating
the rule mentioned in verse 65. According to some others, however, verse 65 is
referring to the best level of patience required from the Muslims, while the
verse 66 refers to the minimum level. (See Rāzī, v.15, p.195)
22) Seventy outstanding people of the Quraish were taken as captives in the
battle of Badr. The Holy Prophet the consulted his Sahabah how to deal with
them. Majority of the noble Sahabah , including Abu Bakr , was of the
view that they should be freed after taking ransom from them, while 'Umar
and Sa'd Ibn Mu'adh 4% suggested that they should be killed, so that the power
of the Quraish is totally suppressed, and they should not be given an
opportunity to rearrange their forces against the Muslims. The Holy Prophet
acted upon the view of the majority, and after accepting ransom from the
captives, set them free. The present verse was revealed on that occasion to
declare that accepting ransom from the captives might have been resorted to
only after the enemy was totally suppressed and demoralized, and his aggressive
designs were entirely eliminated. In the given circumstances, therefore, it was
mot proper to accept ransom from them.
23) That is, because of the ransom you have taken from the captives without an
express permission from Allah, a divine punishment might have seized you, but
there was a previous decree from Allah that saved you from it. The Holy Qur'an
did not mention the details of that decree, and the exegetes have expressed

339
Sūrah Al-Anfal 8:69-71
فَكُلُواْ مِمَّا غَنِمْتُمْ حَلًا طَيِّبَأْ وَأَتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ لَهَبَ
النَّبِىُّ قُل لِّمَنْ فِىّ أَيَدِيكُمْ مِنَ الْأَسْرَىّ إِن يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ خَيْرًا يُؤْتِكُمْ
وَإِن يُرِيدُواْ
خَيْرًا مِمَا أُخِذَ مِنكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
خِيَانَكَ فَقَدْ خَانُوْ اْللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ فَأَمْكَنَ مِنْهُمُّ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمُ
So, eat of the spoils you have got,24 lawful and pure, and fear Allah.
Surely, Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful. [69]
O Prophet, say to the prisoners in your hands, "If Allah knows any
goodness in your hearts,25 He will give you something better than what
has been taken from you, and will forgive you. Allah is Most-Forgiving,
Very-Merciful." [70] And if they intend to commit treachery against you,
then, they have already committed treachery against Allah, and in turn
Allah has given you full control over them.26 And Allah is All-Knowing.
Wise. [71]
different views to identify it. Most probably it refers to the decree that the
Muslim 'Ummah will not be subjected to an all-encompassing divine
punishment, especially because of a bona fide mistake in judgment.
24) On the basis of the previous verse, one might presume that the ransom
taken from the captives or the spoils acquired during the war are not lawful for
the Muslims. To remove this doubt, this verse says that accepting ransom in the
given circumstances was though improper; it does not mean that the amount so
acquired is unlawful. It is in fact a part of the spoils acquired during the war,
and it is allowed to benefit from it.
25) That is, 'if you embrace Islam wholeheartedly, the ransom you have paid
will be compensated by Allah with much more valuable benefits, both in this
world and in the Hereafter. 'Abbas de, the noble uncle of the Holy Prophet
who was one of the captives, embraced Islam after Badr. He states that he saw
this promise coming true in his case. (Ibn Kathir)
26) The sense is that if someone from the captives pretends to have accepted
Islam, while he intends to deceive the Muslims, Allah will give him again in the
control of the Muslims, as He did in the battle of Badr.

340
Surah Al-Anfal 8:72-72
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَهَاجَرُواْ وَجَهَدُواْ بِأَمْوَلِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ
ءَاوَواْ وَنَصَرُواْ أُوْلَئِكَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضِّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَمْ يُهَاجِرُواْ مَا لَكُمْ مِّنَ
وَلَتِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ حَتَّى يُّهَاجِرُواْ وَإِنِ أَسْتَنَصَرُوَكُمْ فِىِ الدِّينِ فَعَلَيْكُمُ النَّصْرُ إِلَّا
عَلَى قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَنَهُم مِّيثَقُّ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
Surely those who believed and emigrated and carried out Jihad in the
way of Allah with their wealth and lives, and those who gave refuge and
help (to the emigrants), both are close friends to each other. "And those
27
who believed and did not emigrate, you have no friendship with them at
all, unless they emigrate. However, if they seek your help in the matter of
faith, then, you are bound to help, except against a people with whom
you have a treaty. Allah is watchful over what you do. [72]
27)According to most exegetes, these verses spell out some rules of
inheritance. 'Close friendship' stands for the right of heirship. The rules
mentioned in verses 72 to 74 relate to a time when many Muslims had migrated
to Madinah, while their womb-relatives were either Non-Muslims or the
Muslims living in Makkah. The Holy Prophet de had established a fraternal
relationship of such emigrant Muslims with the natives of Madinah (Ansar)
who had provided shelter to them. In this background the present verses laid down
the following rules:
(a)The emigrants who have no womb-relations in Madinah will be deemed
as rightful heirs of those Ansar with whom they have fraternal relationship
(mu'akhat), and vice versa. ( ... both are close friends to one another ... 72)
(b)The emigrants will not be the legal heirs of their non-Muslim relatives,
(because a Muslim cannot inherit a Non-Muslim). Nor will they be the heirs
of those Muslim relatives who did not migrate from Makkah, because by
failing to discharge their obligation to migrate, they have lost their right of
inheritance. Moreover, an Islamic state has no control over the Muslim
citizens of a Non-Muslim state. (And those who believed and did not emigrate, you
have no friendship with them at all, unless they emigrate ... 72)
(c)Deprivation of the Muslim citizens of Makkah from inheritance does
not mean that they are not Muslims, or that they should be left at the mercy
of the non-believers. If they seek help from the Muslims of the Islamic

341
Sūrah Al-Anfal 8:73-75
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضَِّ إِلَّا تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُنْ فِتْنَةٌ فِى الْأَرْضِ
وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَهَاجَرُواْ وَجَهَدُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ
وَفَسَادٌ كَبِيرٌ لَا
وَالَّذِينَ
ءَاوَواْ وَنَصَرُواْ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
ءَامَنُوْ مِنْ بَعْدُ وَهَاجَرُواْ وَجَهَدُواْ مَعَكُمْ فَأُوْلَئِكَ مِنَكُمْ وَأُوْلُواْ الْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَى
Vo
بَعْضِ فِي كِتَبِ اَللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
And those who disbelieve are friends to each other. If you do not do so,
there shall be disorder on the earth, and a great corruption. [73]
Those who have believed and emigrated and carried out Jihad in the way
of Allah, and those who gave refuge and help, both are the believers in
truth. For them there is forgiveness and a respectful provision. [74]
Those who believed later on and emigrated and carried out Jihad
alongwith you, then, they are joined with you. As for the womb-relatives,
they are closer to one another according to the Book of Allah. 28 Surely,
Allah is aware of every thing. [75]
state, the latter should help the former against the non-believers, even
though it entails an armed conflict with them. However, if the Muslims
have a peace treaty with those non-Muslims (against whom help is sought),
then the treaty must be honored, and it is not permissible to fight with them
on the request of their Muslim citizens. (And if they seek your help in the matter
of faith, then, you are bound to help, except against a people with whom you have a
treaty ... 72)
(d) The matters of inheritance between Non-Muslims will be decided
according to their own religious laws. (And those who disbelieve are friends to each
other ... 73)
28)According to some exegetes, this verse was revealed after Makkah was
conquered, and it has abrogated the rule (a) mentioned in verse 72 above.
According to them, it means that the inheritance between Emigrants and Ansar
was due to the fact that the Emigrants had no blood relations in Madinah.
When Makkah became a part of the Islamic state, and most of the blood
relatives of the Emigrants embraced Islam, the original principle of inheritance

342
Spatwor
Surah Al-Anfal 8:73-75
was restored, according to which inheritance was based on close blood
relations. Therefore, inheritance between the Emigrants and the Ansar was no
more applicable.
Some other exegetes, however, take this verse as a proviso to the rule
mentioned above. According to them, the verse means that the Emigrants and
Ansar are though inheritors of each other, the rule will apply only when an
emigrant has no Muslim womb - relative living in Madinah. If he has one, he
will inherit him. (Bayan-ul-Qur'an)
UBA
SURAH

343
Surah At-Taubah 9
سُوْرَةُ التَّوَّبَة
SURAH AT-TAUBAH
(Repentance)

344
Sūrah At-Taubah 9
Introduction
This Surah is known by two names, At-Taubah, which means repentance, and
Al-Bara'ah, which means disavowal. The first name refers to those verses of
the Surah which have declared the divine pardon for the Muslims who had
repented on some of their lapses, while the second name is after the
declaration of disavowal made in the beginning part of the Surah. All the
Qur'anic Surahs normally commence with Bismillah ... (With the name of
Allah ... ). But this formula was not revealed in the beginning of this Sūrah,
probably because it was to be placed after Surah Al-Anfal, and was though
independent in some respects, it had many similarities with the previous
Sūrah, which made it a complement to Sūrah Al-Anfal. Keeping both aspects
in view, the present Surah was separated from Sūrah Al-Anfal, but the formula
of Bismillah was avoided to show its close relation with the former Surah.
The period of revelation of this Surah is between year 8 and 10 after Hijrah.
The pagans of Makkah had breached the peace treaty signed at Hudaibiyah,
after which the Holy Prophet alg had conquered the city of Makkah, and had
given a decisive blow to the hostile forces at the valley of Hunain. The truth
of the message of Islam was recognized throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
Even those tribes who, under the influence of Quraish, were reluctant to
accept Islam and had been waiting for the ultimate end of the conflict
between the Muslims and Quraish, freed themselves from all apprehensions
and rushed towards Madinah to embrace Islam, and thus major part of
Arabia was converted into an Islamic state. The present Sūrah mostly deals
with the issues relating to this new situation. In the beginning part of the
Sūrah, it is declared that the Arabian peninsula, having gained the status of
the main headquarter of Islam, is a state meant exclusively for Islam and
Muslims, where no form of polytheism will be allowed to contaminate

345
Sūrah At-Taubah 9
its pure atmosphere. The polytheists, who have been persecuting the
Muslims during last two decades and have breached all covenants made with
them from time to time, will no more be allowed to permanently reside in the
peninsula. Their different groups were allowed different periods after which
they had to leave the land. The Sacred Mosque of Makkah has to return to
its original sanctity and no trace of paganism will be tolerated. The polytheist
customs had tampered even with the sequence of sacred months by the
irrational practice of Nasi", which has also been nullified by this Surah.
Having seen the speedy progress of Islam, the ruler of Byzantine empire had
mustered a huge army to attack Madinah. The Holy Prophet launched the
expedition of Tabuk against this danger. A considerable part of the Sūrah is
devoted to the issues relating to this expedition. The hypocrites, living
around Madinah, spared no effort to undermine the progress of Islam
through their nefarious activities. The Surah has exposed their evil designs
and laid down the strategy the Muslims should adopt to deal with them.
These are the main subjects of the Surah, which have been taken up with the
unique Qur'anic style in which the emphasis on adopting taqwa and being
mindful of the Hereafter is never ignored.

TAH 346
Sūrah At-Taubah 9:1-1
بَرَاءَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ: إِلَى الَّذِينَ عَهَدْ تُم مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
SURAH AT-TAUBAH
(Repentance)
This Sūrah is Madani and comprises 129 'ayat (verses)
Here is a disavowal (proclaimed) by Allah and His Messenger against the
Mushriks (polytheists) with whom you have a treaty. 1[1]
1)In order to understand these verses, it is necessary to note that the
polytheists in Arabia were of four categories as regards their political
relationship with the Muslims:
(a)Those who had entered a peace treaty with the Muslims for an indefinite
period. Verse 1 declares the termination of such a treaty, but verse 2 allows
a period of four months for such people before the termination takes effect.
In other words, the terms of the treaty are allowed to be continued for four
months only.
(b) Those who had a treaty for a definite period, and did not violate its
terms. Verse 4 directs the Muslims to honor the treaty up to the agreed
period, no matter how long it may be. But after the expiry of the agreed
term, it will not be renewed, and the disavowal will be operative.
(c)Those who had no treaty with the Muslims at all. Such people are again
allowed (in verse 2) a period of peace for four months.
(d)Those who had a treaty with the Muslims but breached it on their own
initiative (like Quraish). Such people did not deserve any respite, but the
disavowal having been announced in the Sacred Months, no war could be
waged against them during this period. The Muslims are therefore directed
to fight against them only after the expiry of the Sacred Months. (verse 5)
As explained in the introduction, the basic purpose of this announcement was
that the Arabian Peninsula, the base of Islam, had to be cleansed from
polytheism. The polytheists have been given these different periods to think
about their future and to decide whether they are convinced to accept Islam, or
they wished to leave the land and live elsewhere, or to face war. Since all these
rules must have been clearly conveyed to the relevant parties, the Holy Prophet
directed his noble Sahabah Abu Bakr de and 'All
je to announce them at
the time of Hajj in year 9 A.H. (See verse 3)

347
Surah At-Taubah 9:2-5
فَسِيحُواْ فِى الْأَرْضِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَأَعْلَمُوْ أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِرِى اللَّهِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مُخْرِى
وَأَذَنٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، إِلَى النَّاسِ يَوْمَ الْحَجِّ الْأَكْبَرِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ بَرِىٌَّ
اُلْكَفِرِينَ
مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينُّ وَرَسُولُهُ، فَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمٌّ وَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَأَعْلَمُواْ أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ
﴿ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ عَهَدَثُم مِّنَ
مُعْجِزِى اللَّهِ وَبَشْرِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
اُلْمُشْرِكِينَ ثُمَّ لَمَ يَنقُصُوَكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَمْ يُظَاهِرُواْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدًا فَأَنِمُواْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُ
فَإِذَا انْسَلَخَ الْأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
إِلَى مُدَّتِهِمَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُنَّقِينَ
حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَأَحْصُرُوهُمْ وَأَقْعُدُواْ لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ فَإِن تَابُواْ
وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلَوَةَ وَءَاتَوْ الزَّكَوَةَ فَخَلُّواْ سَبِيلَهُمَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
So, move in the land freely for four months, and be aware that you can
never frustrate Allah, and that Allah is going to disgrace the disbelievers.
[2] And here is an announcement, from Allah and His Messenger, to the
people on the day of the greater Hajj,2 that Allah is free from (any
commitment to) the Mushriks, and so is His Messenger. Now, if you
repent, it is good for you. And if you turn away, then be aware that you
can never frustrate Allah. And give those who disbelieve the 'good' news
of a painful punishment. [3] Except those of the Mushriks with whom you
have a treaty, and they were not deficient (in fulfilling the treaty) with
you, and did not back up any one against you. So fulfill the treaty with
them up to their term. Surely, Allah loves the God-fearing. [4]
So, when the sacred months expire, kill the Mushriks wherever you find
them, and catch them and besiege them and sit in ambush for them
everywhere. Then, if they repent and establish Salah and pay Zakāh,
leave their way. Surely, Allah is most Forgiving, Very-Merciful. [5]
It should also be borne in mind that the rules mentioned above are restricted
only to the Arabian Peninsula. In other Muslim states, the non-Muslims may
live as minority citizens with all their civil rights safeguarded, so far as they
submit to the laws of the Islamic state.
2) 'Greater Hajj' (Al-Hajj-ul-Akbar) is the name of Hajj, as opposed to Umrah
which is termed as: minor Hajj.

348
Sūrah At-Taubah 9:6-10
وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ أَسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرُهُ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ كَمَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغَهُ
كَيِّفَ يَكُونُ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ عَهْدُ
مَأْمَنَهُ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ
عِندَ اللَّهِ وَعِندَ رَسُولِهِ: إِلَّا الَّذِينَ عَهَدْتُمْ عِندَ اُلْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَاءِ فَمَا
كَيْفَ وَإِنَ
أَسْتَقَمُواْ لَكُمْ فَاسْتَقِيمُواْ لَهُمَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُثَّقِينَ
يَظْهَرُواْ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا يَزْقُبُواْ فِيَكُمْ إِلَّا وَلَا ◌ِمَّةٌ يُرْضُونَكُمْ بِأَفْوَهِهِمْ وَتَأْبَ
أَشْتَرَوْاْ بِشَايَتِ اللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَصَدُواْ
قُلُوبُهُمْ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ فَسِقُونَ
[َلَا يَرْقُبُونَ فِى مُؤْمِنٍ إِلَّا وَلَا
عَن سَبِيلِهِ: إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ
فِقَةٌ وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُعْتَدُونَ
And if any one of the Mushriks seeks your protection, give him
protection until he listens to the Word of Allah, then let him reach his
place of safety.3 That is because they are a people who do not know. [6]
How can the Mushriks have a treaty with Allah and His Messenger?
Except those with whom you made a treaty near Al-Masjid-ul-Haram .
Then, as long as they remain straight with you, you too remain straight
with them. Surely, Allah loves the God-fearing. [7]
How (can they have a treaty) while if they overcome you, they will not
observe any bond or treaty with you. They want to please you with (words
of) their mouths, but their hearts refuse. Most of them are sinners. [8]
They have taken a paltry price for the verses of Allah, so they have
prevented (people) from His path. Indeed, evil is what they have been
doing. [9] They do not observe any bond or treaty with a believer; and
they are the transgressors. [10]
3) This means that, even after the expiry of the term allowed for different
categories of the Mushriks, if someone from them seeks permission to remain
in or enter Arabia, under the protection of the Muslims, in order to find out the
truth and understand Islam, the Muslims should provide protection to him and
let him listen to the message of the Qur'an, then he should be allowed a place
of safety, so that he may think upon it and may take a decision with open mind.

349
Strah At-Taubah 9:11-16
فَإِن تَابُواْ وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلَوَةَ وَءَاتَواْ الزَّكَوَةَ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَنُفَصِّلْ
وَإِن تَكَثُواْ أَيْمَنَهُم مِّنْ بَعْدِ عَهْدِهِمْ وَطَعَنُوا فِى
اُلْأَيَتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ ()
دِينِكُمْ فَقَئِلُواْ أَبِعَّةَ الْكُفْرِ إِنَّهُمْ لَآَ أَيْمَنَ لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنْتَهُونَ
أَلَا نُقَتِلُونَ قَوْمًا نَّكَثُواْ أَيْمَنَهُمْ وَهَقُّواْ بِإِخْرَاجِ الرَّسُولِ وَهُم
بَدَءُوكُمْ أَقَّكَ مَرَّةٍ أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمَّ فَاللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَوْهُ إِن كُنُ
قَتِلُوهُمْ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ وَيُخْزِهِمْ وَيَنصُرَّكُمْ عَيْهِمْ
تُؤْمِنِينَ لَبَ
وَيُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمٌّ وَيَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَ
وَيَشْفِ صُدُوَرَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ.
مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمُ ﴿ أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تُتْرَكُواْ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ
جَهَدُواْ مِنكُمْ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذُواْ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَا رَسُولِهِ، وَلَ اُلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلِيحَةً
وَاللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
Then, if they repent and establish Salah and pay Zakah, they are your
hrothers in faith. We elaborate the verses for a people who understand.
[I] And if they break their oaths after they have made a covenant, and
speak evil of your Faith, then fight the leaders of infidelity,_since their
maths are nothing, __ so that they may desist, [12] Would you not fight a
people who broke their oaths and conspired to expel the Messenger, and
in was they who started (fighting) against you for the first time? Do you
fear them? But Allah has greater right that you fear Him, if you are
believers. [13]
Fight them, so that Allah should punish them at your hands and disgrace
them, and help you win against them and bring relief to bosoms of the
believing people, [14] and remove the rage of their hearts. And Allah
relents to whomsoever He wills. Allah is (All-) Knowing, (All-) Wise. [15]
Do you think that you will be left alone (without being tested), while
Allah has not yet seen those of you who struggle in Jihad and never take
anyone as their confidant other than Allah and His Messenger and the
believers? Allah is fully aware of what you do. [16]

350
Sūrah At-Taubah 9:17-20
مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُواْ مَسَجِدَ اللَّهِ شَهِدِينَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِم بِالْكُفْرِ
أُوْلَكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَلُهُمْ وَفِ النَّارِ هُمْ خَلِّدُونَ (١) إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَجِدَ اللَّهِ
مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآَخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَوَةَ وَءَاتَى الزَّكَوَةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلََّ
أَجَعَلْتُ سِقَايَةَ الْحَجّ
اللَّهَ فَعَسَىَّ أُوْلَئِكَ أَنْ يَكُونُواْ مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴾
وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ ءَامَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْأَخِرِ وَجَهَدَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَا
يَسْتَوُنَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى أَلْقَوْمَ الظََّلِينَ" [٤] اُلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَهَاجَرُواْ وَجَهَدُواْ
فِي سَبِيلِ الَّهِ يِأَمْوَهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِندَ اللَّهِ وَأُوْلَكَ هُمُ الْفَآيِرُونَ
It is not for the Mushriks to build up the mosques of Allah while they are
witnesses of their own infidelity. Those are the ones whose deeds have
gone to waste; and in the Fire they shall remain forever. [17]
In fact, the mosques of Allah are built-up only by those who believe in
Allah and the Last Day and those who establish Salah and pay Zakah and
who fear none but Allah.4 So, it is hoped that they are to be among those
on the right path. [18] Have you taken the serving of water to the pilgrims
and the maintenance of Al-Masjid-ul-Haram as equal to (the acts) of one
who believes in Allah and in the Last Day, and carries out Jihad in the
way of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah. Allah does not lead
the wrongdoing people to the right path. [19]
Those who believed and emigrated and carried out Jihad in the way of
Allah with their wealth and lives are greater in rank in the sight of Allah
and it is they who are the successful. [20]
4) The polytheists used to take pride in serving the Sacred Mosque in Makkah
The present verse clarifies that the service of the Mosque can be laudable only
if it is based on sincere faith in Allah and in His Oneness. Those who associate
partners with Allah have no right to build the Mosque or to serve it, because
the service of the mosque is not an objective in itself. It is a means of Allah
worship. If one does not recognize the true attributes of Allah and His
Oneness, the very purpose of building a mosque is frustrated.

351
Sinh At-Taubah 9:21-25
يُبَشِّرُهُمْ رَبُّهُم بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنْهُ وَرِضْوَنٍ وَجَنَّتِ لَهُمْ فِيهَا نَعِيمٌ مُقِيهُ
خَلِينَ فِيَهَا أَبَدًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ: أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ} [َهَ بَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَ
تَتَّخِذُوَاْ ءَابَآءَكُمْ وَإِخْوَتَكُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ إِنِ أَسْتَحَبُّواْ الْكُفْرَ عَلَى الْإِيمَنِّ وَسَنَ
قُلْ إِن كَانَ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكْ
يَنَوَلَّهُم مِّنْكُمْ فَأُوْلَّكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
وَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَأَزْوَجَكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَلُ أَقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَنَجَرَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَكِرُ
تَرْضَوْنَهَا أَحَبَ إِلَيْكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَجِهَادٍ فِى سَبِيلِهِ، فَتَرَبَّصُواْ حَتَ
0
يَأْتِيَ اللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِ وَاَللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الْفَسِقِينَ ٠٥ لَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ فِى
مَوَاطِنَ كَثِيرَةٍ وَيَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍ إِذْ أَعْجَبَنْكُمْ كَثْرَتُكُمْ فَمَّ تُغْنِ عَنَكْ
شَيْئًا وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ ثُمَّ وَلَّيْتُمِ مُدْيِينَ
Their Lord gives them the happy news of Mercy from Him, and of (His)
Measure, and of Gardens having an everlasting bliss for them, [21]
where they shall dwell forever. Surely, it is Allah with whom lies a great
msward. [22]
O you who believe, do not take your fathers and your brothers as your
itends, if they prefer infidelity to Faith. Those of you who have
mendship with them are the wrongdoers. [23] Say, "If your fathers and
muur sons and your brothers and your spouses and your clan and the
wealth you have earned and the trade you apprehend will recede and the
Bumes you like are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and Jihad
in His way, then, wait until Allah comes with His command. Allah does
DE lead the sinning people to the right path." [24] Allah has surely
hessed you with His help on many battlefields, and on the day of
Humain, 5 when you were proud of your great number, then it did not
help you at all, and the earth was straitened for you despite all its
mastness, then you turned back on your heels. [25]
After the conquest of Makkah, the Holy Prophet we came to know that some
meghboring tribes, like Hawazin, have assembled a huge force to attack the