8. [al-Anfal, Medina 88]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَسْأَلُونَكَ
عَنِ الأَنفَالِ...
8: 1. They ask thee concerning (things taken as) spoils of war.
C1178. The occasion was the question of the division of the booty after the battle of Badr- See Introduction to this Surah.
...قُلِ الأَنفَالُ لِلّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ...
Say:
"(such) spoils are at the disposal of Allah and the Messenger:
C1179. Booty taken in a lawful and just war. It belongs to the Cause, in this case the Cause of Allah, as administered by His Messenger. The chief thing is to remain staunch to the Cause of Allah, and have no differences among those who stand for the Cause.
Our internal relations must be kept straight: they must not be disturbed by cupidity or worldly considerations of gain, for any windfalls of this kind should be outside our calculations.
...فَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَأَصْلِحُواْ ذَاتَ بِيْنِكُمْ...
so fear Allah, and keep straight the relations between yourselves:
...وَأَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١﴾
obey Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe."
إِنَّمَا
الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
الَّذِينَ إِذَا
ذُكِرَ اللّهُ
وَجِلَتْ
قُلُوبُهُمْ...
8: 2. For, believers are those who,
- when Allah is mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts,
...وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا...
- and when they hear His signs rehearsed, find their faith strengthened,
...وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ﴿٢﴾
- and put (all) their trust in their Lord.
الَّذِينَ
يُقِيمُونَ
الصَّلاَةَ
وَمِمَّا
رَزَقْنَاهُمْ
يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾
8: 3. - Who establish regular prayers
- and spend (freely) out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance:
أُوْلَـئِكَ
هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
حَقًّا...
8: 4. Such in truth are the believers:
...لَّهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿٤﴾
they have grades of dignity with their Lord, and forgiveness, and generous sustenance.
C1180. Sustenance: again in both the literal and the metaphorical sense. The object is to warn off from the love of booty and worldly wealth.
Why do we want these?
To all true Believers Allah gives generous sustenance in any case, in both senses, but especially in the spiritual sense, for it is coupled with forgiveness and grades of dignity before Allah' in the next verse.
8: 1
Asad They will ask you about the spoils of war. Say: “All spoils of war belong to God and the Apostle [note 1].” Remain, then, conscious of God, and keep alive the bonds of brotherhood among yourselves [note 2], an pay heed unto God and his Apostle, if you are [truly] believers!
Pickthall They ask thee (O Muhammad) of the spoils of war. Say: The spoils of war belong to Allah and the messenger, so keep your duty to Allah, and adjust the matter of your difference, and obey Allah and His messenger, if ye are (true) believers.
Transliteration Yas'alu_naka 'anil anfa_l(i), qulil anfa_lu lilla_hi war rasu_l(i), fattaqulla_ha wa aslihu_ za_ta bainikum, wa ati'ulla_ha wa rasu_lahu_ in kuntum mu'minin(a).
8: 2
Pickthall They only are the (true) believers whose hearts feel fear when Allah is mentioned, and when the revelations of Allah are recited unto them they increase their faith, and who trust in their Lord;
Transliteration Innamal mu'minu_nal lazina iza_ zukiralla_hu wajilat qulu_buhum wa iza_ tuliyat 'alaihim a_ya_tuhu_ za_dathum ima_naw wa'ala_ rabbihim yatawakkalu_n(a)
[[ Asad’s note 1 – The “nafl” ( of which “anfal” is the plural) denotes, in its purely linguistic sense, “an accretion or addition received beyond one’s due” or “something given in excess of one’s obligation” (from which latter meaning the term “salat al-nafl” – i.e., a “supererogatory prayer” – is derived). In its plural form “anfal” which occurs in the Quran only in the above verse, this world signifies “spoils of war”, …………..an incidental accession above and beyond anything that a mujahid (“a fighter in God’s cause”) is entitled to expect. The statement that “all spoils of war belong to God and the Apostle” implies that no individual warrior ahs a claim to any war booty: it is public property, to be utilized or distributed by the government of an Islamic state …..For further details relating to the division of the spoils of war, see verse 41 of this surah.
8: 3
Asad Those who are constant in prayer and spend on others out of what We provide for them as sustenance [note 4]:
Pickthall Who establish worship and spend of that We have bestowed on them.
Transliteration Allazina yuqimu_nas sala_ta wa mimma_ razaqna_hum yunfiqu_n(a).
[[ Asad’s note 4 – see surah 2, note 4]]
8: 4
Asad it is they, they who are truly believers! Theirs shall be great dignity in their Sustainer’s sight, and forgiveness of sins, and a most excellent sustenance [note 5].
Pickthall Those are they who are in truth believers. For them are grades (of honor) with their Lord, and pardon, and a bountiful provision.
Transliteration Ula_'ika humul mu'minu_na haqqa_(n),lahum daraja_tun 'inda rabbihim wa magfiratuw wa rizqun karim(un).
[[ Asad’s note 5 – I.e., in paradise. According to Razi, however, the “most excellent sustenance” is a metonym for “the spiritual raptures arising from the knowledge of God, the love of Him, and the self-immersion (istighraq) in worshipping Him”. In Razi’s interpretation, this expression refers to the spiritual reward of faith in this world. ……]]