8. [al-Anfal, Medina 88, after Badr 2H]
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.
وَاعْلَمُواْ
أَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُم
مِّن شَيْءٍ...
8: 41. And know that out of all the booty that ye may acquire (in war),
فَأَنَّ لِلّهِ خُمُسَهُ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ...
a fifth share is assigned
- to Allah, and
- to the Messenger, and
- to near relatives,
- orphans,
- the needy, and
- the wayfarer,
C1209. The rule is that a fifth share is set apart for the Imam (the Commander) and the rest is divided among the forces.
The fifth share reserved is expressed to be for Allah and the Prophet, and for charitable purposes for those to whom charity is due. Ultimately everything is at the disposal of Allah and His Prophet: 8:1: but four-fifths are divided, and only one-fifth is retained for the special purposes. The Imam has discretion as to the mode of division.
In the Prophet's life-time a certain portion was assigned to him and his near relatives.
...إِن كُنتُمْ آمَنتُمْ بِاللّهِ وَمَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا يَوْمَ الْفُرْقَانِ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ...
if ye do believe in Allah and in the revelation We sent down to Our servant on the day of testing, the day of the meeting of the two forces.
C1210. Testing: Furqan: Criterion between right and wrong, decision between the forces of faith and unbelief.
The battle of Badr is called by this name. See 8:29 and n. 1202.
...وَاللّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٤١﴾
For Allah hath power over all things.
C1211. Allah's power is shown in the events detailed in the three verses following (verses 42-44), leading to the complete victory of the Muslims over the pagan Quraysh.
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!
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
Asad Believers are only they whose hearts tremble with awe whenever God is mentioned, and whose faith is strengthened whenever His messages are conveyed unto them, and who in their Sustainer place their trust-
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 has 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. ]]
[[ Ruby’s note – I disagree with Asad in his implication that this idea is meant only for so called an ‘Islamic state’: this is a universal idea to be incorporated into governance. In any good governing system the goal of an army is to fight for the security and safety of a society. For that an army is maintained or citizens volunteer in the call of this inherent collective responsibility and duty of citizenry. In return they are honored, appreciated, remembered and rewarded by a due process. The gains out of a defeat of an enemy therefore rightly belong to the state. However a part of the booty or something else could be given to the soldiers only after it is decided through a due process of a governing system and not automatically due to the soldiers. This is a standard of good governance anywhere in the world now and in the past. It could constitute as a ‘loot’ if treated otherwise and that would motivate the soldiers to fight for the wrong reasons and do wrong things to pursue it. The Quran is establishing this spirit into the social mindset through this articulation to give the proper legitimacy to this idea. This system is not only for the believers but the believers should take this as a duty to accept and incorporate this idea for the sake of the society.
The next sentence to keep the relationship among the community members is to emphasize
the fact that if this idea is not accepted wholeheartedly and if not institutionalized in the system of governance there could be serious rivalry and dissension among the soldiers and the leaders as to the distribution of these gains of war victory. Here the collective right of society on such windfall [‘anfal’] gains is established.
In the modern system of governance and warfare this issue is no longer relevant as there are state laws, infrastructure and chain of decision making regarding this matter clearly laid down. Soldiers do not have even any reason to debate and quarrel about the war booty. However, in those days of tribal and nomad mindset this was a serious issue. This injunction right after the very first war of the Muslim community this issue needed to be settled in a clear term to establish the collective right of the society as to the ownership and a due process of decision making. That is why the right of God and His prophet as the administer [the due process] is established and mentioned to give it the proper legitimacy.
Moreover, so that there is no impulse from the soldiers about this issue. For the modern time the application of this could be seen in different light. Here the collective right of a society as to these issues and a due process of decision making is implied here as to ownership of such exceptional windfall gains and not and arbitrary automatic ownership of soldiers who are the instrumental in getting this gain. ]]
[[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)]]
8: 41
Asad ……..on the day when the true was distinguished from the false – the day when the two hosts met in battle. And God has the power to will anything [note 42].
Pickthall And know that whatever ye take as spoils of war, lo! a fifth thereof is for Allah, and for the messenger and for the kinsmen (who hath need) and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer; if ye believe in Allah and that which We revealed unto Our slave on the Day of Discrimination, the day when the two armies met. And Allah is Able to do all things.
Transliteration Wa'lamu_ annama_ ganimtum min syai'in fa anna lilla_hi khumusahu_ wa lir rasu_li wa lizil qurba_ wal yata_ma_ wal masa_kini wabnis sabili in kuntum a_mantum billa_hi wa ma_ anzalna_ 'ala_ 'abdina_ yaumal furqa_ni yaumal taqal jam'a_n(i), walla_hu 'ala_ kulli syai'in qadir(un).
[[ Asad’s Note 42 - I.e., …………The battle of Badr is described here as “the day when the true was distinguished from the false” (yawm al-furqan)
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48. Al-Fath (Victory) [29 verses]
Medina Period 111
Asad’s Version:
(48: 15) As soon as you [O believers] are about to set forth on a war that promises booty," those who stayed behind [aforetime] will surely say, "Allow us to go with you" - [thus showing that] they would like to alter the Word of God. 15 Say: "By no means shall you go with us: God has declared aforetime 16 [to whom all spoils shall belong]." Thereupon they will [surely] answer, "Nay, but you begrudge us [our share of booty]!" Nay, they can grasp but so little of the truth!
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
سَيَقُولُ
الْمُخَلَّفُونَ
إِذَا انطَلَقْتُمْ
إِلَى مَغَانِمَ
لِتَأْخُذُوهَا
ذَرُونَا
نَتَّبِعْكُمْ
...
48: 15. Those who lagged behind (will say), when ye (are free to) march and take booty (in war): "Permit us to follow you."
C4883. Now comes out another motive behind the minds of the laggards. The journey for pilgrimage had no promise of war booty. If at any future time there should be a promise of booty they would come! But that is to reverse Allah's law and decree. Jihad is not for personal gain or booty: see Surah 8. and Introduction to Surah 8., paragraph 2. On the contrary Jihad is hard striving, in war and peace, in the Cause of Allah.
...يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُبَدِّلُوا كَلَامَ اللَّهِ ...
They wish to change Allah's decree:
...قُل لَّن تَتَّبِعُونَا كَذَلِكُمْ ...
Say: "Not thus will ye follow us:
C4884. Not thus: i.e., not on those terms; not if your object is only to gain booty.
... قَالَ اللَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ ...
Allah has already declared (this) beforehand":
...فَسَيَقُولُونَ بَلْ تَحْسُدُونَنَا ...
then they will say, "but ye are jealous of us."
C4886. The desert Arabs loved fighting and plunder and understood such motives for war. The higher motives seemed to be beyond them. Like ignorant men they attributed petty motives or motives of jealousy if they were kept out of the vulgar circle of fighting for plunder. But they had to be schooled, and they were schooled to higher ideas of discipline, self-sacrifice, and striving hard for a Cause.
...بَلْ كَانُوا لَا يَفْقَهُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿١٥﴾
Nay, but little do they understand (such things).
[[Asad’s notes - 14 Lit., "set forth to take booty": i.e., any expedition other than against the Quraysh of Mecca, with whom the Prophet had just concluded a truce. This is generally taken as an allusion to the forthcoming war against the Jews of Khaybar (in the year 7 H.), but the meaning may well be more general.
15 Evidently a reference to 8:1 - "All spoils of war belong to God and the Apostle" - which, as pointed out in note 1 on that verse, implies that no individual warrior can have any claim to the booty obtained in war. Moreover, fighting for the sake of booty contravenes the very principle of a "war in God's cause", which may be waged only in defence of faith or liberty (cf surah 2, note 1 67), "until there is no more oppression and all worship is devoted to God alone" (see 2:193 and the corresponding note 170).
It is to these principles, too, that the Prophet's anticipated answer, mentioned in the sequence, refers.
16 I.e., in the first verse of Al-Anfal, which was revealed in the year 2 H. (see preceding note). ]]