8. [al-Anfal, Medina 88, after Badr 2H]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
...وَأَعِدُّواْ
لَهُم مَّا
اسْتَطَعْتُم
مِّن قُوَّةٍ
وَمِن رِّبَاطِ
الْخَيْلِ...
8: 60. Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war,
C1225. The immediate occasion of this injunction was the weakness of cavalry and appointments of war in the early fights of Islam. But the general meaning follows.
In every fight, physical, moral, or spiritual, arm yourself with the best weapons and the best arms against your enemy, so as to instill wholesome respect into him for you and the Cause you stand for.
...تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدْوَّ اللّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ...
to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies,
...وَآخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ اللّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ...
and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know.
C1226. There are always lurking enemies whom you may not know, but whom Allah knows. It is your duty to be ready against all, for the sacred Cause under whose banner you are fighting.
...وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِن شَيْءٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تُظْلَمُونَ ﴿٦٠﴾
Whatever ye shall spend in the Cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you,
and ye shall not be treated unjustly.
C1227. Be always ready and put all your resources into your Cause. You do not do so in vain. Allah's reward will come in various forms. He knows all, and His reward will always be more generous than you can possibly deserve.
وَإِن جَنَحُواْ
لِلسَّلْمِ
فَاجْنَحْ لَهَا
وَتَوَكَّلْ
عَلَى اللّهِ...
8: 61. But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace,
and trust in Allah:
...إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿٦١﴾
for He is the one that heareth and knoweth (all things).
C1228. While we must always be ready for the good fight lest it be forced on us, even in the midst of the fight we must always be ready for peace if there is any inclination towards peace on the other side.
There is no merit merely in a fight by itself. It should be a joyful duty not for itself, but to establish the reign of peace and righteousness and Allah's Law.
وَإِن
يُرِيدُواْ
أَن يَخْدَعُوكَ
فَإِنَّ حَسْبَكَ
اللّهُ...
8: 62. Should they intend to deceive thee, verily Allah sufficeth thee:
...هُوَ الَّذِيَ أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِ وَبِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٦٢﴾
He it is that hath strengthened thee with his aid and with (the company of) the believers:
C1229. In working for peace there may be a certain risk of treachery on the other side. We must take that risk: because the men of Faith have Allah's aid to count upon and the strength of the united body of the righteous. (R).
8: 60
Asad Hence, make ready against them whatever force and war mounts [note 64] you are able to muster, so that you might deter thereby the enemies of God, who are your enemies as well, and others besides them of whom you may be unaware, [but] whom God is aware: and whatever you may expend [note 66] in God’s cause shall be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.
Pickthall Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others beside them whom ye know not. Allah knoweth them. Whatsoever ye spend in the way of Allah it will be repaid to you in full, and ye will not be wronged.
Transliteration Wa a'iddu_ lahum mastata'tum min quwwatiw wa mir raba_til khaili turhibu_na bihi 'aduwwall_hi wa 'aduwwakum wa a_kharina min du_nihim, la_ ta'lamu_nahum, alla_hu ya'lamuhum, wa ma_ tunfiqu_ min syai'in fi sabililla_hi yuwaffa ilaikum wa antum la_ tuzlamu_n(a).
[[ Ali’s notes - 1225 The immediate occasion of this injunction was the weakness of cavalry and appointments of war in the early fights of Islam. But the general meaning follows. In every fight, physical, moral, or spiritual, arm yourself with the best weapons and the best arms against your enemy, so as to instill wholesome respect into him for you and the Cause you stand for. (8.60)
1226 There are always lurking enemies whom you may not know, but whom Allah knows. It is your duty to be ready against all, for the sacred Cause under whose banner you are fighting. (8.60)
]]
[[ Asad’s notes – 64 – Lit., “tethering of horses” (ribat al-khayl): an expression which signifies “holding in readiness mounted troops at all points open to enemy invasion (thughur)”: hence, tropically, the overall maintenance of military prearedness.
note 66 – I.e., of resources, efforts and sacrifices of life. ]]
8: 61
Pickthall And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Lo! He is the Hearer, the Knower.
Transliteration Wa in janahu_ lis salmi fajnah laha_ wa tawakkal 'alalla_h(i), innahu_ huwas sami'ul 'alim(u).
8: 62
Asad And should they seek but to deceive you [by their show of peace] – behold, God is enough for you [note 67]. He it is who ahs strengthened you with His succor, and by giving you believing followers [note 68].
Pickthall And if they would deceive thee, then lo! Allah is sufficient for thee. He it is Who supporteth thee with His help and with the believers,
Transliteration Wa iy yuridu_ ay yakhda'u_ka fa inna hasbakalla_h(u), huwal lazi ayyada bi nasrihi wa bil mu'minin(a).
[[ Asad’s note 67 – The implication is that “even if they offer peace only with a view to deceiving you, this [offer of] peace must be accepted since all judgment [of their intentions] must be based on outward evidence alone” (Razi): in other words, mere suspicion cannot be made an excuse for rejecting an offer of peace.
68 - …………..thus signifying the visible means (wasitah) by which God succored the Prophet. ]]
[[ Ali’s note - 1229 In working for peace there may be a certain risk of treachery on the other side. We must take that risk: because the men of Faith have Allah's aid to count upon and the strength of the united body of the righteous. (8.62) ]]
[[ Ruby’s note – Giving the benefit of doubt to enemies, adversaries and rivals is as per the spirit of Islam. If there is a risk in going ahead with this good work, accepting this risk in itself is a step towards earning success and victory before God if one places trust in God. In the final hour the victory would be coming for the ones who has taken the risk in the cause of peace in serving God.]]