8. Surah Al Anfal
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ
قُل لِّمَن فِي
أَيْدِيكُم
مِّنَ الأَسْرَى...
8: 70. O Prophet! say to those who are captives in your hands:
...إِن يَعْلَمِ اللّهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ خَيْرًا يُؤْتِكُمْ خَيْرًا مِّمَّا أُخِذَ مِنكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ...
"If Allah findeth any good in your hearts, He will give you something better than what has been taken from you, and He will forgive you:
C1237. This is a consolation to the prisoners of war. In spite of their previous hostility, Allah will forgive them in His mercy if there was any good in their hearts, and confer upon them a far higher gift than anything they have ever lost. This gift in its highest sense would be the blessing of Islam, but even in a material sense, there was great good fortune awaiting them, e.g., in the case of Abbas (see n. 1235).
Note how comprehensive is Allah's care. He encourages and strengthens the Muslims, at the same time condemning any baser motives that may have entered their minds, He consoles the prisoners of war and promises them better things if there is any good in them at all. And He offers comfort to those who have left their homes in His Cause, and knits them into closer fellowship with those who have helped them and sympathized with them.
...وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٧٠﴾
for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
وَإِن
يُرِيدُواْ خِيَانَتَكَ
فَقَدْ خَانُواْ
اللّهَ مِن
قَبْلُ ...
8: 71. But if they have treacherous designs against thee, (O Messenger!) they have already been in treason against Allah,
C1238. If the kindness shown to them is abused by the prisoners of war when they are released, it is not a matter for discouragement to those who showed the kindness. Such persons have in their treachery shown already their treason to Allah, in that they took up arms against Allah's Prophet, and sought to blot out the pure worship of Allah.
The punishment of defeat, which opened the eyes of some of their comrades, evidently did not open their eyes. But Allah knows all, and in His wisdom will order all things for the best. The Believers have done their duty in showing such clemency as they could in the circumstances of war. For them "Allah sufficeth" (8:62).
... فَأَمْكَنَ مِنْهُمْ...
and so hath He given (thee) power over them
...وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٧١﴾
and Allah is He who hath (full) knowledge and wisdom.
Other versions:
8:70 [al-Anfal, Medina 88, after Badr 2H]
Asad [Hence,] O Prophet, say unto the captives who are in your hands: “If God finds any good in your hearts, He will give you something better than all that has been taken away from you, and will forgive you your sins: for God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.” [note 74]
Yusuf Ali O apostle! say to those who are captives in your hands: "If Allah 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 Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful."
Pickthall O Prophet, Say unto those captives who are in your hands: If Allah knoweth any good in your hearts He will give you better than that which hath been taken from you, and will forgive you. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhan nabiyyu qul liman fi aidikum minal asra_, iy ya'lamilla_hu fi qulu_bikum khairay yu'tikum khairam mimma_ ukhiza minkum wa yagfir lakum, walla_hu gafu_rur rahim(un).
8: 71
Asad ……….but He gave [the believers] mastery over them [ntoe76]. And God is all-knowing, wise.
Yusuf Ali But if they have treacherous designs against thee (o apostle!) they have already been in treason against Allah and so hath He given (thee) power over them and Allah is He who hath (full) knowledge and wisdom.
Pickthall And if they would betray thee, they betrayed Allah before, and He gave (thee) power over them. Allah is knower, Wise.
Transliteration Wa iy yuridu_ khiya_nataka faqad kha_nulla_ha min qablu fa amkana minhum walla_hu 'alimun hakim(un).
[[ Asad’s note 76 - ….Thus, the Muslims are enjoined, by implications, to accept the declaration of the captives at their face value, and not to be swayed by mere suspicion of their motives. The possibility of treachery on the part of those captives, and even a later discovery that some of them had indeed played false, should not induce the Muslims to deviate from the course ordained by God.]]
[[ Ruby’s note – I wholeheartedly agree with Asad that giving benefit of the doubt to the reconciliatory gestures of enemies or the adversaries – through trust in God and solely relying on God to be the ultimate disposer of all affairs -- is as per the spirit of faith and goodness of a believer. This help earn one the right to take following course of actions and the right to be victorious over the ones who are the defaulters of agreement. This is what happened as a result of Hudaybiah treaty. An example for mankind to that a compromise or giving benefit of the doubt to the enemies from the point of strength help earn the ultimate victory. Reconciliation or compromise from the position of strength dictates ultimate victory. ]]