AL ANFAAL
In the name of God, Most Gracious,
Most Merciful.
8-1
They ask thee concerning (things taken as) spoils of war.
Say: "(such) spoils are at the disposal of God and the Apostle: So fear
God, and keep straight the relations between yourselves: Obey God and His
Apostle, if ye do believe."
8-2
For, Believers are those who, when God is mentioned, feel a
tremor in their hearts, and when they hear His signs rehearsed, find their
faith strengthened, and put (all) their trust in their Lord;
8-3
Who establish regular prayers and spend (freely) out of the
gifts We have given them for sustenance:
8-4
Such in truth are the believers: they have grades of dignity
with their Lord, and forgiveness, and generous sustenance:
8-5
Just as thy Lord ordered thee out of thy house in truth,
even though a party among the Believers disliked it,
8-6
Disputing with thee concerning the truth after it was made
manifest, as if they were being driven to death and they (actually) saw it.
8-7
Behold! God promised you one of the two (enemy) parties,
that it should be yours: Ye wished that the one unarmed should be yours, but God
willed to justify the Truth according to His words and to cut off the roots of
the Unbelievers;-
8-8
That He might justify Truth and prove Falsehood false,
distasteful though it be to those in guilt.
8-9
Remember ye implored the assistance of your Lord, and He
answered you: "I will assist you with a thousand of the angels, ranks on
ranks."
8-10
God made it but a message of hope,
and an assurance to your hearts: (in any case) there is no help except from
God: and God is Exalted in Power, Wise.
8-11
Remember He covered you with a sort of drowsiness, to give
you calm as from Himself, and he caused rain to descend on you from heaven, to
clean you therewith, to remove from you the stain of Satan, to strengthen your
hearts, and to plant your feet firmly therewith.
8-12
Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message):
"I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into
the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their
necks and smite all their finger-tips off them."
8-13
This because they contended against God and His Apostle: If
any contend against God and His Apostle, God is strict in punishment.
8-14
Thus (will it be said): "Taste ye then of the
(punishment): for those who resist God, is the penalty of the Fire."
8-15
O ye who believe! when ye meet the
Unbelievers in hostile array, never turn your backs to them.
8-16
If any do turn his back to them on such a day - unless it be
in a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (of his own)- he draws on himself
the wrath of God, and his abode is Hell,- an evil refuge (indeed)!
8-17
It is not ye who slew them; it was God: when thou threwest
(a handful of dust), it was not thy act, but God's: in order that He might test
the Believers by a gracious trial from Himself: for God is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things).
8-18
That, and also because God is He Who
makes feeble the plans and stratagem of the Unbelievers.
8-19
(O Unbelievers!) if ye prayed for
victory and judgment, now hath the judgment come to you: if ye desist (from
wrong), it will be best for you: if ye return (to the attack), so shall We. Not
the least good will your forces be to you even if they
were multiplied: for verily God is with those who believe!
8-20
O ye who believe! Obey God and His Apostle, and turn not
away from him when ye hear (him speak).
8-21
Nor be like those who say, "We hear," but listen
not:
8-22
For the worst of beasts in the sight of God are the deaf and
the dumb,- those who understand not.
8-23
If God had found in them any good. He would indeed have made them listen: (As it is), if He had made
them listen, they would but have turned back and declined (Faith).
8-24
O ye who believe! give your response to God and His Apostle,
when He calleth you to that which will give you life; and know that God cometh
in between a man and his heart, and that it is He to Whom ye shall (all) be
gathered.
8-25
And fear tumult or oppression, which affecteth not in
particular (only) those of you who do wrong: and know that God is strict in
punishment.
8-26
Call to mind when ye were a small (band), despised through
the land, and afraid that men might despoil and kidnap you; But He provided a
safe asylum for you, strengthened you with His aid, and gave you Good things
for sustenance: that ye might be grateful.
8-27
O ye that believe! betray not the
trust of God and the Apostle, nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to
you.
8-28
And know ye that your possessions
and your progeny are but a trial; and that it is God with Whom lies your
highest reward.
8-29
O ye who believe! if ye fear God,
He will grant you a criterion (to judge between right and wrong), remove from
you (all) evil (that may afflict) you, and forgive you: for God is the Lord of
grace unbounded.
8-30
Remember how the Unbelievers plotted against thee, to keep
thee in bonds, or slay thee, or get thee out (of thy home). They plot and plan,
and God too plans; but the best of planners is God.
8-31
When Our Signs are rehearsed to them, they say: "We
have heard this (before): if we wished, we could say (words) like these: these
are nothing but tales of the ancients."
8-32
Remember how they said: "O God if this is indeed the
Truth from Thee, rain down on us a shower of stones form the sky, or send us a
grievous penalty."
8-33
But God was not going to send them a penalty whilst thou
wast amongst them; nor was He going to send it whilst they could ask for
pardon.
8-34
But what plea have they that God should not punish them,
when they keep out (men) from the sacred Mosque - and they are not its
guardians? No men can be its guardians except the righteous; but most of them
do not understand.
8-35
Their prayer at the House (of God) is nothing but whistling
and clapping of hands: (Its only answer can be), "Taste ye the penalty
because ye blasphemed."
8-36
The Unbelievers spend their wealth to hinder (man) from the
path of God, and so will they continue to spend; but in the end they will have
(only) regrets and sighs; at length they will be overcome: and the Unbelievers
will be gathered together to Hell;-
8-37
In order that God may separate the impure from the pure, put
the impure, one on another, heap them together, and cast them into Hell. They
will be the ones to have lost.
8-38
Say to the Unbelievers, if (now) they desist (from
Unbelief), their past would be forgiven them; but if they persist, the
punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them).
8-39
And fight them on until there is no more tumult or
oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God altogether and
everywhere; but if they cease, verily God doth see all that they do.
8-40
If they refuse, be sure that God is your Protector - the
best to protect and the best to help.
8-41
And know that out of all the booty that ye may acquire (in
war), a fifth share is assigned to God,- and to the
Apostle, and to near relatives, orphans, the needy, and the wayfarer,- if ye do
believe in God and in the revelation We sent down to Our servant on the Day of
Testing,- the Day of the meeting of the two forces. For God hath power over all
things.
8-42
Remember ye were on the hither side of the valley, and they
on the farther side, and the caravan on lower ground than ye. Even if ye had
made a mutual appointment to meet, ye would certainly have failed in the
appointment: But (thus ye met), that God might accomplish a matter already
enacted; that those who died might die after a clear Sign (had been given), and
those who lived might live after a Clear Sign (had been given). And verily God
is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things).
8-43
Remember in thy dream God showed them to thee as few: if He
had shown them to thee as many, ye would surely have been discouraged, and ye
would surely have disputed in (your) decision; but God saved (you): for He
knoweth well the (secrets) of (all) hearts.
8-44
And remember when ye met, He showed them to you as few in
your eyes, and He made you appear as contemptible in their eyes: that God might
accomplish a matter already enacted. For to God do all questions go back (for
decision).
8-45
O ye who believe! When ye meet a force, be
firm, and call God in remembrance much (and often); that ye may prosper:
8-46
And obey God and His Apostle; and fall into no disputes, lest
ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: For God is
with those who patiently persevere:
8-47
And be not like those who started from their homes
insolently and to be seen of men, and to hinder (men) from the path of God: For
God compasseth round about all that they do.
8-48
Remember Satan made their (sinful) acts seem alluring to
them, and said: "No one among men can overcome you this day, while I am
near to you": But when the two forces came in sight of each other, he
turned on his heels, and said: "Lo! I am clear of you; lo! I see what ye
see not; Lo! I fear God: for God is strict in
punishment."
8-49
Lo! the hypocrites say, and those
in whose hearts is a disease: "These people,- their religion has misled
them." But if any trust in God, behold! God is Exalted
in might, Wise.
8-50
If thou couldst see, when the angels take the souls of the
Unbelievers (at death), (How) they smite their faces and their backs, (saying):
"Taste the penalty of the blazing Fire-
8-51
"Because of (the deeds) which your (own) hands sent
forth; for God is never unjust to His servants:
8-52
"(Deeds) after the manner of the people of Pharaoh and
of those before them: They rejected the Signs of God, and God punished them for
their crimes: for God is Strong, and Strict in
punishment:
8-53
"Because God will never change the grace which He hath
bestowed on a people until they change what is in their (own) souls: and verily
God is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things)."
8-54
(Deeds) after the manner of the people of Pharaoh and those
before them": They treated as false the Signs of their Lord: so We destroyed them for their crimes, and We drowned the
people of Pharaoh: for they were all oppressors and wrong- doers.
8-55
For the worst of beasts in the sight of God are those who
reject Him: They will not believe.
8-56
They are those with whom thou didst make a covenant, but
they break their covenant every time, and they have not the fear (of God).
8-57
If ye gain the mastery over them in war, disperse, with
them, those who follow them, that they may remember.
8-58
If thou fearest treachery from any group, throw back (their
covenant) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms: for God loveth not the
treacherous.
8-59
Let not the unbelievers think that they can get the better
(of the godly): they will never frustrate (them).
8-60
Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your
power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the
enemies, of God and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but
whom God doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of God, shall be
repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.
8-61
But if the enemy incline towards
peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust in God: for He is One
that heareth and knoweth (all things).
8-62
Should they intend to deceive thee,-
verily God sufficeth thee: He it is That hath strengthened thee with His aid
and with (the company of) the Believers;
8-63
And (moreover) He hath put affection between their hearts:
not if thou hadst spent all that is in the earth, couldst thou have produced
that affection, but God hath done it: for He is Exalted in might, Wise.
8-64
O Apostle! sufficient unto thee is God,-
(unto thee) and unto those who follow thee among the Believers.
8-65
O Apostle! rouse the Believers to
the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will
vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will vanquish a thousand of the
Unbelievers: for these are a people without understanding.
8-66
For the present, God hath lightened your (task), for He
knoweth that there is a weak spot in you: But (even so), if there are a hundred
of you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred, and if a
thousand, they will vanquish two thousand, with the leave of God: for God is
with those who patiently persevere.
8-67
It is not fitting for an apostle that he should have
prisoners of war until he hath thoroughly subdued the land. Ye look for the
temporal goods of this world; but God looketh to the Hereafter: And God is Exalted in might, Wise.
8-68
Had it not been for a previous ordainment from God, a severe
penalty would have reached you for the (ransom) that ye took.
8-69
But (now) enjoy what ye took in war, lawful and good: but
fear God: for God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
8-70
O Apostle! say to those who are captives in your hands:
"If God findeth any good in your hearts, He will give you something better
than what has been taken from you, and He will forgive you: for God is
Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful."
8-71
But if they have treacherous designs against thee, (O
Apostle!), they have already been in treason against God, and so hath He given
(thee) power over them. And God so He Who hath (full)
knowledge and wisdom.
8-72
Those who believed, and adopted exile, and fought for the
Faith, with their property and their persons, in the cause of God, as well as
those who gave (them) asylum and aid,- these are (all) friends and protectors,
one of another. As to those who believed but came not into exile, ye owe no
duty of protection to them until they come into exile; but if they seek your
aid in religion, it is your duty to help them, except against a people with
whom ye have a treaty of mutual alliance. And (remember) God seeth all that ye
do.
8-73
The Unbelievers are protectors, one of another: Unless ye do
this, (protect each other), there would be tumult and oppression on earth, and
great mischief.
8-74
Those who believe, and adopt exile, and fight for the Faith,
in the cause of God as well as those who give (them) asylum and aid,- these are (all) in very truth the Believers: for them is
the forgiveness of sins and a provision most generous.
8-75
And those who accept Faith subsequently, and adopt exile,
and fight for the Faith in your company,- they are of
you. But kindred by blood have prior rights against each other in the Book of
God. Verily God is well-acquainted with all things.