8. [al-Anfal, Medina 88, after Badr 2H]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قُل لِلَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ إِن
يَنتَهُواْ
يُغَفَرْ لَهُم
مَّا قَدْ
سَلَفَ...
8: 38. Say to the unbelievers, if (now) they desist (from unbelief), their past would be forgiven them;
...وَإِنْ يَعُودُواْ فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّةُ الأَوَّلِينِ ﴿٣٨﴾
but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them).
وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ
حَتَّى لاَ
تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ
وَيَكُونَ
الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ
لِلّه...
8: 39. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere;
...فَإِنِ انتَهَوْاْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿٣٩﴾
but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.
C1208. If they cease from fighting and from the persecution of truth, Allah judges then by their actions and their motives, and would not wish that they should be harassed with further hostility.
But if they refuse all terms, the righteous have nothing to fear: Allah will help and protect them.
8: 38
Pickthall Tell those who disbelieve that if they cease (from persecution of believers) that which is past will be forgiven them; but if they return (thereto) then the example of the men of old hath already gone (before them, for a warning).
Transliteration Qul lillazina kafaru_ iy yantahu_ yugfar lahum ma_ qad salaf(a), wa iy ya'u_du_ fa qad madat sunnatul awwalin(a).
8: 39
Asad And fight against them until there is no more oppression and all worship is devoted to God alone [note 39]. And if they desist – behold, God sees all that they do [note 40];
Pickthall And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah. But if they cease, then lo! Allah is Seer of what they do.
Transliteration Wa qa_tilu_hum hatta_ la_ taku_na fitnatuw wa yaku_nad dinu kulluhu_ lilla_h(i), fa inintahau fa innalla_ha bima_ ya'malu_na basir(un).
[[ Asad’s note 39 – I.e., until man is free to worship God. Cf. the identical phrase in 2:193, and the corresponding note. Both these passages stressed self-defense – in the widest sense of this word – as the only justification of war.
40 I.e., He knows their motives, and will requite them according to their merits. ]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 1207 Cf. ii. 193 and n. (8.39)
1208 If they cease from fighting and from the persecution of truth, Allah judges then by their actions and their motives, and would not wish that they should be harassed with further hostility. But if they refuse all terms, the righteous have nothing to fear: Allah will help and protect them. (8.39) ]]