8. Surah Al Anfal
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
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.
الَّذِينَ
يُقِيمُونَ
الصَّلاَةَ
وَمِمَّا
رَزَقْنَاهُمْ
يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾
8: 3. - Who establish regular prayers
- and spend (freely) out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance:
أُوْلَـئِكَ
هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
حَقًّا...
8: 4. Such in truth are the believers:
...لَّهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿٤﴾
they have grades of dignity with their Lord, and forgiveness, and generous sustenance.
C1180. Sustenance: again in both the literal and the metaphorical sense. The object is to warn off from the love of booty and worldly wealth.
Why do we want these?
To all true Believers Allah gives generous sustenance in any case, in both senses, but especially in the spiritual sense, for it is coupled with forgiveness and grades of dignity before Allah' in the next verse.
Other versions:
8: 2
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)
[[ 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 ahs 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.
8: 3
Asad Those who are constant in prayer and spend on others out of what We provide for them as sustenance [note 4]:
Yusuf Ali Who establish regular prayers and spend (freely) out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance:
Pickthall Who establish worship and spend of that We have bestowed on them.
Transliteration Allazina yuqimu_nas sala_ta wa mimma_ razaqna_hum yunfiqu_n(a).
[[ Asad’s note 4 – see surah 2, note 4]]
8: 4
Asad it is they, they who are truly believers! Theirs shall be great dignity in their Sustainer’s sight, and forgiveness of sins, and a most excellent sustenance [note 5].
Yusuf Ali Such in truth are the believers: they have grades of dignity with their Lord and forgiveness and generous sustenance.
Pickthall Those are they who are in truth believers. For them are grades (of honor) with their Lord, and pardon, and a bountiful provision.
Transliteration Ula_'ika humul mu'minu_na haqqa_(n),lahum daraja_tun 'inda rabbihim wa magfiratuw wa rizqun karim(un).
[[ Asad’s note 5 – I.e., in paradise. According to Razi, however, the “most excellent sustenance” is a metonym for “the spiritual raptures arising from the knowledge of God, the love of Him, and the self-immersion (istighraq) in worshipping Him”. In Razi’s interpretation, this expression refers to the spiritual reward of faith in this world. ……]]
8: 72
Asad Behold, as for those who have attained to faith, and who have forsaken the domain of evil [note 77] and are striving hard, with their possessions and their lives, in God’s cause, as well as those who shelter and succor [them] note 78 – these are [truly] the friends and protectors of one another……….
Yusuf Ali Those who believed and adopted exile and fought for the faith with their property and their persons in the cause of Allah as well as those who gave (them) asylum and aid these are (all) friends and protectors one of another. As to those who believed but came not into exile ye owe no duty of protection to them until they seek your aid in religion it is your duty to help them except against a people with whom ye have a treaty of mutual alliance: and (remember) Allah seeth all that ye do.
Pickthall Lo! those who believed and left their homes and strove with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah, and those who took them in and helped them; these are protecting friends one of another. And those who believed but did not leave their homes, ye have no duty to protect them till they leave their homes; but if they seek help from you in the matter of religion then it is your duty to help (them) except against a folk between whom and you there is a treaty. Allah is Seer of what ye do.
Transliteration Innal lazina a_manu_ wa ha_jaru_ wa ja_hadu_ bi amwa_lihim wa anfusihim fi sabililla_hi wallazina a_waw wa nasaru_ ula_'ika ba'duhum auliya_'u ba'd(in), wallazina a_manu_ wa lam yuha_jiru_ ma_ lakum miw wala_yatihim min syai'in hatta_ yuha_jiru_, wa inistansaru_kum fid dini fa 'alaikumun nasru illa_ 'ala_ qaumim bainakum wa bainahum misa_q(un), walla_hu bima_ ta'malu_na basir(un).
8: 73 [al-Anfal, Medina 88, after Badr 2H]
Asad With all this, [remember that] those who are bent on denying the truth are allies of one another, and unless you act likewise [among yourselves], oppression will resign on earth, and great corruption.
Yusuf Ali The unbelievers are protectors of one of another: unless ye do this (protect each other) there would be tumult and oppression on earth and great mischief.
Pickthall And those who disbelieve are protectors one of another--If ye do not so, there will be confusion in the land, and great corruption.
Transliteration Wallazina kafaru_ ba'duhum auliya_'u ba'd(in), illa_ taf'alu_hu takun fitnatun fil ardi wa fasa_dun kabir(un).
[[ Ali’s notes -
1242 Evil consorts with evil. The good have all the more reason for drawing together and not only living in mutual harmony, but being ready at all times to protect each other. Otherwise the world will be given over to aggressions by unscrupulous people, and the good will fail in their duty to establish Allah's Peace and to strengthen all the forces of truth and righteousness. (8.73)
8: 74
Asad And they who have attained to faith, and who have forsaken the domain of evil and are striving hard in God’s cause, as well as those who shelter and succor [them]- it is they, they who are truly believers! Forgiveness of sins awaits them, and a most excellent sustenance [note 83].
Yusuf Ali Those who believe and adopt exile and fight for the faith in the cause of Allah as well as those who give (them) asylum and aid these are (all) in very truth the believers: for them is the forgiveness of sins and a provision most generous.
Pickthall Those who believed and left their homes and strove for the cause of Allah, and those who took them in and helped them--these are the believers in truth. For them is pardon, and a bountiful provision.
Transliteration Wallazina a_manu_ wa ha_jaru_ wa ja_hadu_ fi sabililla_hi wallazina a_waw wa nasaru_ ula_'ika humul mi'minu_na haqqa_(n), lahum magfiratuw wa rizqun karim(un).
[[ Asad’s note 83 – see note 5 on verse 4 of this surah]]