8. Surah Al Anfal

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.

Asad’s Version:

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], and pay heed unto God and his Apostle, if you are [truly] believers!

Yusuf Ali They ask thee concerning (things taken as) spoils of war. Say: "(Such) spoils are at the disposal of Allah and the apostle: so fear Allah and keep straight the relations between yourselves: obey Allah and His apostle if ye do believe."

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 [al-Anfal, Medina

Yusuf Ali For believers are those who when Allah 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.

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)

[[Ali’s notes -1178 The occasion was the question of the division of the booty after the battle of Badr. See Introduction to this Sura. (8.1)

1179 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. (8.1)]]