Table of Contents
Introduction
Surah 8 of the Qur’an, Al-Anfal (Arabic: الأنفال), translated as “The Spoils of War,” is generally classified as a Medinan revelation and consists of 75 verses. Its historical context is closely connected to the events following the Battle of Badr, one of the earliest decisive moments in the formation of the emerging Muslim community. Within this framework, the surah addresses both practical and spiritual matters related to the management of conflict, the distribution of spoils, and the establishment of a communal order grounded in justice and obedience to GOD.
The text develops a nuanced reflection on the relationship between human action and divine providence, emphasizing that every outcome—including military victory—ultimately depends on the will of GOD. At the same time, it stresses both inner and outer discipline among believers, calling them to unity, sincerity of faith, and adherence to prophetic authority as a normative guide.
Alongside its normative dimensions, the surah offers a theological interpretation of historical events, presenting them as signs and trials through which the community is instructed. This perspective resonates with the broader heritage of the Abrahamic traditions, in which historical experiences are often understood as contexts of revelation and moral discernment.
Taken as a whole, Al-Anfal emerges as a text that interweaves law, ethics, and theology, providing not only concrete guidance for communal life but also a wider vision of the relationship between human beings, conflict, and the absolute sovereignty of GOD.
Audiobook Surah 8
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Interlinear Text of Sura 8
Verses 1–10
| Verse | Arabic | Transliteration | Maulana Muhammad Ali Translation | ASH Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَنفَالِ ۖ قُلِ الْأَنفَالُ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُوا ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ ۖ وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ | Yasʾalūnaka ʿani al-anfāl. Quli al-anfālu li-Allāhi wa al-rasūl. Fa-ittaqū Allāha wa aṣliḥū dhāta baynikum. Wa aṭīʿū Allāha wa rasūlahu in kuntum muʾminīn. | They ask you about the spoils of war. Say: The spoils are for Allah and the Messenger. So keep your duty to Allah and set aright matters of disagreement among yourselves, and obey Allah and His Messenger if you are believers. | They ask you concerning the spoils. Say: “The spoils belong to GOD and the Messenger.” Therefore fear GOD, restore harmony among yourselves, and obey GOD and His Messenger if you are believers. |
| 2 | إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ | Innamā al-muʾminūna alladhīna idhā dhukira Allāhu wajilat qulūbuhum wa idhā tuliyat ʿalayhim āyātuhu zādathum īmānan wa ʿalā rabbihim yatawakkalūn. | Those only are believers whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, and when His messages are recited to them they increase them in faith, and in their Lord they trust. | The true believers are those whose hearts tremble when GOD is mentioned; when His signs are recited to them, their faith increases, and they place their trust in their LORD. |
| 3 | الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ | Alladhīna yuqīmūna al-ṣalāh wa mimmā razaqnāhum yunfiqūn. | Those who keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them. | Those who establish prayer and give from what We have granted them. |
| 4 | أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ | Ulāʾika humu al-muʾminūna ḥaqqan. Lahum darajātun ʿinda rabbihim wa maghfiratun wa rizqun karīm. | These are the believers in truth. For them are درجات with their Lord and forgiveness and an honourable provision. | These are the true believers. For them are exalted درجات with their LORD, forgiveness, and a generous provision. |
| 5 | كَمَا أَخْرَجَكَ رَبُّكَ مِن بَيْتِكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًا مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَكَارِهُونَ | Kamā akhrajaka rabbuka min baytika bi-al-ḥaqqi wa inna farīqan mina al-muʾminīna la-kārihūn. | Even as your Lord caused you to go forth from your house with the truth, though a party of the believers were surely averse. | Thus your LORD brought you forth from your home in truth, although a group among the believers were reluctant. |
| 6 | يُجَادِلُونَكَ فِي الْحَقِّ بَعْدَ مَا تَبَيَّنَ كَأَنَّمَا يُسَاقُونَ إِلَى الْمَوْتِ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ | Yujādilūnaka fī al-ḥaqqi baʿda mā tabayyana ka-annamā yusāqūna ilā al-mawti wa hum yanẓurūn. | Disputing with you about the truth after it had become manifest, as if they were being driven to death while they saw. | They disputed with you concerning the truth after it had become clear, as though they were being driven toward death while looking on. |
| 7 | وَإِذْ يَعِدُكُمُ اللَّهُ إِحْدَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ أَنَّهَا لَكُمْ وَتَوَدُّونَ أَنَّ غَيْرَ ذَاتِ الشَّوْكَةِ تَكُونُ لَكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَن يُحِقَّ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَيَقْطَعَ دَابِرَ الْكَافِرِينَ | Wa idh yaʿidukumu Allāhu iḥdā al-ṭāʾifatayn annahā lakum wa tawaddūna anna ghayra dhāti al-shawkati takūnu lakum wa yurīdu Allāhu an yuḥiqqa al-ḥaqqa bi-kalimātihi wa yaqṭaʿa dābira al-kāfirīn. | And when Allah promised you one of the two parties that it should be yours, and you desired that the one not armed should be yours, and Allah desired to establish the truth by His words and to cut off the roots of the disbelievers. | When GOD promised you that one of the two groups would be yours, you wished to confront the weaker one, while GOD intended to establish the truth through His words and cut off the power of the disbelievers. |
| 8 | لِيُحِقَّ الْحَقَّ وَيُبْطِلَ الْبَاطِلَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُجْرِمُونَ | Li-yuḥiqqa al-ḥaqqa wa yubṭila al-bāṭila wa law kariha al-mujrimūn. | That He might cause the truth to triumph and bring falsehood to naught, though the guilty disliked it. | So that He might make the truth prevail and bring falsehood to nothing, even though the guilty hated it. |
| 9 | إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّي مُمِدُّكُم بِأَلْفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ | Idh tastaghīthūna rabbakum fa-istajāba lakum annī mumiddukum bi-alfin mina al-malāʾikati murdifīn. | When you sought aid of your Lord, so He answered you: I will assist you with a thousand of the angels following one another. | When you implored help from your LORD, He answered you: “I shall support you with a thousand angels sent in succession.” |
| 10 | وَمَا جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ بِهِ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۚ وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ | Wa mā jaʿalahu Allāhu illā bushrā wa li-taṭmaʾinna bihi qulūbukum. Wa mā al-naṣru illā min ʿindi Allāh. Inna Allāha ʿazīzun ḥakīm. | And Allah made it only as good news and that your hearts might be at rest thereby. And victory comes only from Allah. Surely Allah is Mighty, Wise. | GOD made this only as glad tidings so that your hearts might find peace therein. Victory comes only from GOD. Truly GOD is Mighty and Wise. |
Verses 11–20
| Verse | Arabic | Transliteration | Maulana Muhammad Ali Translation | ASH Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ النُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةً مِّنْهُ وَيُنَزِّلُ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً لِّيُطَهِّرَكُم بِهِ وَيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمْ رِجْزَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَلِيَرْبِطَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتَ بِهِ الْأَقْدَامَ | Idh yughasshīkumu al-nuʿāsa amanatan minhu wa yunazzilu ʿalaykum mina al-samāʾi māʾan li-yuṭahhirakum bihi wa yudhhiba ʿankum rijza al-shayṭāni wa li-yarbiṭa ʿalā qulūbikum wa yuthabbita bihi al-aqdām. | When He caused slumber to overcome you as a security from Him and sent down upon you water from the clouds that He might thereby purify you and remove from you the evil suggestions of the devil, and that He might strengthen your hearts and make firm your feet thereby. | Quando Egli fece scendere su di voi il sonno come sicurezza proveniente da Lui, e fece scendere acqua dal cielo per purificarvi, allontanare da voi l’influenza di Satana, rafforzare i vostri cuori e rendere saldi i vostri passi. |
| 12 | إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۚ سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُوا فَوْقَ الْأَعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُوا مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ | Idh yūḥī rabbuka ilā al-malāʾikati annī maʿakum fa-thabbitū alladhīna āmanū. Sa-ulqī fī qulūbi alladhīna kafarū al-ruʿba fa-iḍribū fawqa al-aʿnāqi wa-iḍribū minhum kulla banān. | When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, so strengthen those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, so strike above the necks and strike off all fingertips of them. | Quando il tuo SIGNORE rivelò agli angeli: “Io sono con voi, rafforzate coloro che credono.” Getterò il terrore nei cuori dei miscredenti: colpiteli dunque nei punti decisivi del combattimento e alle estremità delle loro forze. |
| 13 | ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ شَاقُّوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ | Dhālika bi-annahum shāqqū Allāha wa rasūlah. Wa man yushāqiqi Allāha wa rasūlahu fa-inna Allāha shadīdu al-ʿiqāb. | This is because they opposed Allah and His Messenger. And whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger, then surely Allah is severe in requiting. | Ciò avvenne perché essi si opposero a DIO e al Suo Messaggero. Chi si oppone a DIO e al Suo Messaggero sappia che DIO è severo nel giudizio. |
| 14 | ذَٰلِكُمْ فَذُوقُوهُ وَأَنَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابَ النَّارِ | Dhālikum fa-dhūqūhu wa anna li-al-kāfirīna ʿadhāba al-nār. | This — so taste it. And for the disbelievers is the chastisement of the Fire. | Questo è il vostro destino: gustatelo. E per i miscredenti vi sarà il castigo del Fuoco. |
| 15 | يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا زَحْفًا فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ الْأَدْبَارَ | Yā ayyuhā alladhīna āmanū idhā laqītumu alladhīna kafarū zaḥfan fa-lā tuwallūhumu al-adbār. | O you who believe, when you meet those who disbelieve advancing in battle, then turn not your backs to them. | O voi che credete, quando incontrate i miscredenti avanzare in battaglia, non voltate loro le spalle. |
| 16 | وَمَن يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُ إِلَّا مُتَحَرِّفًا لِّقِتَالٍ أَوْ مُتَحَيِّزًا إِلَىٰ فِئَةٍ فَقَدْ بَاءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَمَأْوَاهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ | Wa man yuwallihim yawmaʾidhin duburahu illā mutaḥarrifan li-qitālin aw mutaḥayyizan ilā fiʾatin faqad bāʾa bi-ghaḍabin mina Allāhi wa maʾwāhu jahannam wa biʾsa al-maṣīr. | And whoever turns his back to them on that day — unless turning aside for battle or joining a company — he indeed incurs wrath from Allah, and his abode is hell. And evil is the destination. | Chi in quel giorno volterà loro le spalle — salvo che per strategia di combattimento o per ricongiungersi a un gruppo — attirerà su di sé l’ira di DIO, e il suo rifugio sarà la Geenna. Quale terribile destino. |
| 17 | فَلَمْ تَقْتُلُوهُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ رَمَىٰ ۚ وَلِيُبْلِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْهُ بَلَاءً حَسَنًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ | Fa-lam taqtulūhum wa lākinna Allāha qatalahum. Wa mā ramayta idh ramayta wa lākinna Allāha ramā. Wa li-yubliya al-muʾminīna minhu balāʾan ḥasanā. Inna Allāha samīʿun ʿalīm. | So you did not slay them, but Allah slew them. And you did not smite when you smote, but Allah smote, and that He might confer upon the believers a good favour from Himself. Surely Allah is Hearing, Knowing. | Non foste voi a ucciderli, ma fu DIO. E non fosti tu a lanciare quando lanciasti, ma fu DIO a lanciare, affinché Egli concedesse ai credenti una prova favorevole proveniente da Lui. In verità DIO è Ascoltatore e Sapiente. |
| 18 | ذَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مُوهِنُ كَيْدِ الْكَافِرِينَ | Dhālikum wa anna Allāha mūhinu kaydi al-kāfirīn. | This, and that Allah weakens the struggle of the disbelievers. | Così è, e DIO rende debole il piano dei miscredenti. |
| 19 | إِن تَسْتَفْتِحُوا فَقَدْ جَاءَكُمُ الْفَتْحُ ۖ وَإِن تَنتَهُوا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تَعُودُوا نَعُدْ وَلَن تُغْنِيَ عَنكُمْ فِئَتُكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَوْ كَثُرَتْ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ | In tastaftiḥū faqad jāʾakumu al-fatḥ. Wa in tantahū fa-huwa khayrun lakum. Wa in taʿūdū naʿud wa lan tughniya ʿankum fiʾatukum shayʾan wa law kathurat wa anna Allāha maʿa al-muʾminīn. | If you sought a judgment, then indeed the judgment has come to you. And if you desist, it is better for you. But if you return, We shall return, and your forces shall not avail you at all, even if they are many, and Allah is with the believers. | Se chiedevate un giudizio, il giudizio vi è giunto. Se desistete sarà meglio per voi, ma se tornerete, anche Noi torneremo. Le vostre schiere non vi serviranno a nulla, anche se numerose, poiché DIO è con i credenti. |
| 20 | يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَا تَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ وَأَنتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ | Yā ayyuhā alladhīna āmanū aṭīʿū Allāha wa rasūlahu wa lā tawallaw ʿanhu wa antum tasmaʿūn. | O you who believe, obey Allah and His Messenger and turn not away from him while you hear. | O voi che credete, obbedite a DIO e al Suo Messaggero e non allontanatevi da lui mentre ascoltate. |
Note (v.11):
The sleep, the rain, and the strengthening of hearts are presented as signs of divine mercy before the battle. The Qur’an emphasizes not only physical preparation, but also inner purification and spiritual peace granted by GOD.
Note (vv.12–16):
These verses belong to the context of armed conflict at Badr and must be understood within that historical framework. The text describes a defensive and existential struggle experienced by the early community. ASH rejects interpretations that universalize such passages into calls for indiscriminate violence outside their historical and moral context.
Note (vv.17–18):
The Surah insists once again that victory does not originate from human strength alone. The expression “it was not you who threw, but GOD” underlines the idea that human action remains subordinate to divine will and providence.
Note (vv.19–20):
The passage concludes with an invitation to reflection and obedience. The true strength of the believers is presented not as numerical superiority, but as faithfulness, discipline, and trust in GOD.
Verses 21–30
| Verse | Arabic | Transliteration | Maulana Muhammad Ali Translation | ASH Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ | Wa lā takūnū ka-alladhīna qālū samiʿnā wa hum lā yasmaʿūn. | And be not like those who say: We hear, while they hear not. | Do not be like those who say: “We have heard,” while in reality they do not listen. |
| 22 | إِنَّ شَرَّ الدَّوَابِّ عِندَ اللَّهِ الصُّمُّ الْبُكْمُ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ | Inna sharra al-dawwābbi ʿinda Allāhi al-ṣummu al-bukmu alladhīna lā yaʿqilūn. | Surely the vilest of beasts in Allah’s sight are the deaf, the dumb, who understand not. | Indeed, the worst creatures before GOD are the deaf and the mute who do not understand. |
| 23 | وَلَوْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا لَّأَسْمَعَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ أَسْمَعَهُمْ لَتَوَلَّوا وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ | Wa law ʿalima Allāhu fīhim khayran la-asmaʿahum. Wa law asmaʿahum la-tawallaw wa hum muʿriḍūn. | And if Allah had known any good in them, He would have made them hear. And if He makes them hear, they will turn back while they withdraw. | Had GOD recognized goodness within them, He would have made them hear. Yet even if He had made them hear, they would still have turned away in rejection. |
| 24 | يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ | Yā ayyuhā alladhīna āmanū istajībū li-Allāhi wa li-al-rasūli idhā daʿākum li-mā yuḥyīkum. Wa iʿlamū anna Allāha yaḥūlu bayna al-marʾi wa qalbihi wa annahu ilayhi tuḥsharūn. | O you who believe, respond to Allah and the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life, and know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart, and that to Him you will be gathered. | O you who believe, respond to GOD and the Messenger when they call you toward that which gives you true life. Know that GOD stands between the human being and the heart, and that unto Him you shall be gathered. |
| 25 | وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لَّا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنكُمْ خَاصَّةً ۖ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ | Wa ittaqū fitnatan lā tuṣībanna alladhīna ẓalamū minkum khāṣṣah. Wa iʿlamū anna Allāha shadīdu al-ʿiqāb. | And guard yourselves against an affliction which may not smite those of you exclusively who are unjust. And know that Allah is severe in requiting. | Guard yourselves against a trial that will not strike only those among you who committed injustice. And know that GOD is severe in judgment. |
| 26 | وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَن يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النَّاسُ فَآوَاكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُم بِنَصْرِهِ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ | Wa udhkurū idh antum qalīlun mustaḍʿafūna fī al-arḍi takhāfūna an yatakhaṭṭafakumu al-nāsu fa-āwākum wa ayyadakum bi-naṣrihi wa razaqakum mina al-ṭayyibāti laʿallakum tashkurūn. | And remember when you were few, deemed weak in the land, fearing that people would extirpate you, but He sheltered you and strengthened you with His help and provided you with good things that you might give thanks. | Remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, fearing that people might destroy you. Yet He gave you refuge, strengthened you with His help, and provided you with good things so that you might be grateful. |
| 27 | يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَخُونُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا أَمَانَاتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ | Yā ayyuhā alladhīna āmanū lā takhūnū Allāha wa al-rasūla wa takhūnū amānātikum wa antum taʿlamūn. | O you who believe, betray not Allah and the Messenger, nor misappropriate knowingly your trusts. | O you who believe, do not betray GOD and the Messenger, nor knowingly betray what has been entrusted to you. |
| 28 | وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ | Wa iʿlamū annamā amwālukum wa awlādukum fitnah wa anna Allāha ʿindahu ajrun ʿaẓīm. | And know that your possessions and your children are only a trial, and that Allah — with Him is a mighty reward. | Know that your wealth and your children are only a trial, while with GOD there is an immense reward. |
| 29 | يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ | Yā ayyuhā alladhīna āmanū in tattaqū Allāha yajʿal lakum furqānan wa yukaffir ʿankum sayyiʾātikum wa yaghfir lakum. Wa Allāhu dhū al-faḍli al-ʿaẓīm. | O you who believe, if you keep your duty to Allah, He will grant you a distinction and remove from you your evil deeds and forgive you. And Allah is the Lord of mighty grace. | O you who believe, if you fear GOD, He will grant you discernment, erase your sins, and forgive you. GOD possesses immense grace. |
| 30 | وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ ۖ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ | Wa idh yamkuru bika alladhīna kafarū li-yuthbitūka aw yaqtulūka aw yukhrijūka. Wa yamkurūna wa yamkuru Allāh. Wa Allāhu khayru al-mākirīn. | And when those who disbelieved plotted against you to imprison you or slay you or drive you away; and they planned and Allah also planned. And Allah is the Best of planners. | When the disbelievers plotted against you to imprison you, kill you, or expel you: they were plotting, but GOD was also planning. And GOD is the Best of planners. |
Note (vv.21–24):
These verses insist upon the importance of authentic listening and inner transformation. The Qur’an distinguishes between those who merely hear outwardly and those who truly receive the Word within the heart. The expression “that which gives you true life” points to a spiritual life founded upon truth, justice, and nearness to GOD.
Note (vv.25–29):
The Surah recalls the collective responsibility of the community. Injustice does not affect only those who commit it, but can generate consequences for the entire society. The “furqān” (“discernment”) promised by GOD represents the spiritual ability to distinguish truth from falsehood and good from evil.
Note (v.30):
This verse recalls the plots against the Prophet before the migration from Mecca. Despite human schemes, the text affirms that the divine will remains superior to human plans. This theme runs throughout many Abrahamic traditions: history does not completely escape the control of the Creator.
Verses 31–75
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Note (vv.1–4):
The Surah opens by addressing the issue of the spoils, yet immediately shifts attention toward inner purification, unity within the community, and obedience to GOD. True believers are defined not by military strength, but by spiritual sincerity, prayer, trust in the Creator, and generosity toward others.
Note (vv.5–8):
These verses introduce the context of the Battle of Badr. The text shows how many believers experienced fear and uncertainty, while GOD guided events toward the manifestation of truth. Victory is not described merely as military success, but as the manifestation of divine justice against oppression.
Note (vv.9–10):
The angelic assistance is presented above all as spiritual comfort and strengthening of the believers’ hearts. The Qur’an insists that authentic victory does not come from numbers or human power, but from the will of GOD. This principle runs throughout many Abrahamic traditions, in which trust in the Creator surpasses material strength.