You are here: Home » Chapter 8 » Verse 1 » Translation
← Sura 8 →
← Aya 1 →

Chapter 8

The Spoilsal-Anfāl ( الأنفال )

75 verses • revealed at Medinan

»The surah that answers the question that the believers put to the Prophet regarding how God and His Messenger would have them distribute The spoils, after the believers had differed among themselves about its disbursement. It takes its name from the term “spoils” (al-anfāl) mentioned in verse 1. The main part of this surah is a comment on the Battle of Badr (year 2/624), the first fought between the Muslims and their Meccan opponents. The Muslims, some of whom were at first reluctant to fight, won in spite of being vastly outnumbered, and began to question the distribution of the gains (spoils of war). The surah reminds them that it was God who brought about the victory. verse 41 shows how the gains were to be distributed. It advises Muslims and comments on the role of the hypocrites and on those who always break their treaties (verse 56), ending with a statement about loyalties and alliances.«

The surah is also known as Battle Gains, Booty, The Spoils of War

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

(Muntakhab): In the Name of Allah, AL-Rahman (Beneficent) and AL-Rahim (Merciful)

1
يَسأَلونَكَ عَنِ الأَنفالِ ۖ قُلِ الأَنفالُ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسولِ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَصلِحوا ذاتَ بَينِكُم ۖ وَأَطيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسولَهُ إِن كُنتُم مُؤمِنينَ

(Muntakhab)

They ask you O Muhammad about the spoils of war what to do with them, to whom do they belong and how are they going to be divided among the victors! Say to them: "They belong to Allah and His cause and to the Messenger who administers Allah's affairs according to divine instructions. The main thing is that you people entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Allah and to stand firm to Allah's principles and purpose, to concert all matters in difference and to obey Allah and His Messenger if indeed your hearts have been impressed with the image of religious and spiritual virtues".