Al-Anfal (ٱلْأَنْفَال)

Surah Al-Anfal is the eighth chapter or surah of the blessed Quran. Al-Anfal literally translates to "the Spoils of War." The surah has 75 verses (ayat), 10 rukus, and is divided by Juz 9 – 10. Since Surah Al-Anfal was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in Medina, it is classified as a Madni Surah. The surah was revealed after the Battle of Badar and formed a pair with the next surah, surah Tawbah. The renowned Muslim scholar Abul A'la Maudidi said that surah was revealed in 2 A.H. after the battle of Badr was over – in which, despite the higher number of Meccan forces – Muslims scored a clear victory under the great leadership of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ). 

The surah was revealed at a significant point in Islamic history and detailed a point-by-point recount of the battle. Along with surveying the details of the battle, it also offered guidance to the Muslims at the time. It is an important surah that serves as a source of great wisdom for Muslims facing challenging situations in their lives.

٨ - ٱلْأَنْفَال

8 - Al-Anfal

يَسْــــَٔـلُوْنَكَ عَنِ الْاَنْفَالِ۝۰ۭ قُلِ الْاَنْفَالُ لِلہِ وَالرَّسُوْلِ۝۰ۚ فَاتَّقُوا اللہَ وَاَصْلِحُوْا ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ۝۰۠ وَاَطِيْعُوا اللہَ وَرَسُوْلَہٗۗ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ ￁مِنِيْنَ۝۱
Yasaloonaka AAani alanfali quli alanfalu lillahi waalrrasooli faittaqoo Allaha waaslihoo thata baynikum waateeAAoo Allaha warasoolahu in kuntum mumineena

English

Ahmed Ali

THEY ASK YOU of (benefits accruing as) spoils of war. Tell them: "The benefits belong to God and His Messenger." So fulfil your duty to God and keep peace among yourselves. Obey God and the Prophet, If you really believe.

1

اِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ الَّذِيْنَ اِذَا ذُكِرَ اللہُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوْبُہُمْ وَاِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْہِمْ اٰيٰتُہٗ زَادَتْہُمْ اِيْمَانًا وَّعَلٰي رَبِّہِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُوْنَ۝۲ۚۖ
Innama almuminoona allatheena itha thukira Allahu wajilat quloobuhum waitha tuliyat AAalayhim ayatuhu zadathum eemanan waAAala rabbihim yatawakkaloona

English

Ahmed Ali

Only they are true believers whose hearts fill up with awe when the name of God is mentioned; and their faith is further strengthened when His messages are read out to them; and those who place their trust in their Lord,

2

الَّذِيْنَ يُقِيْمُوْنَ الصَّلٰوۃَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنٰہُمْ يُنْفِقُوْنَ۝۳ۭ
Allatheena yuqeemoona alssalata wamimma razaqnahum yunfiqoona

English

Ahmed Ali

Who are firm in devotion, and spend of what We have given them,

3

اُولٰۗىِٕكَ ہُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ حَقًّا۝۰ۭ لَہُمْ دَرَجٰتٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّہِمْ وَمَغْفِرَۃٌ وَّرِزْقٌ كَرِيْمٌ۝۴ۚ
Olaika humu almuminoona haqqan lahum darajatun AAinda rabbihim wamaghfiratun warizqun kareemun

English

Ahmed Ali

Are true believers. There are for them (high) ranks with their Lord, and pardon and noble provision.

4

كَـمَاۗ اَخْرَجَكَ رَبُّكَ مِنْۢ بَيْتِكَ بِالْحَقِّ۝۰۠ وَاِنَّ فَرِيْقًا مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ لَكٰرِہُوْنَ۝۵ۙ
Kama akhrajaka rabbuka min baytika bialhaqqi wainna fareeqan mina almumineena lakarihoona

English

Ahmed Ali

As your Lord sent you from your home (to fight) for the true cause, a section of the faithful were averse,

5

يُجَادِلُوْنَكَ فِي الْحَقِّ بَعْدَ مَا تَبَيَّنَ كَاَنَّمَا يُسَاقُوْنَ اِلَى الْمَوْتِ وَہُمْ يَنْظُرُوْنَ۝۶ۭ
Yujadiloonaka fee alhaqqi baAAdama tabayyana kaannama yusaqoona ila almawti wahum yanthuroona

English

Ahmed Ali

Who argued with you about the matter even after it had become quite clear, as if they were being pushed into (the arms of) death as they waited.

6

وَاِذْ يَعِدُكُمُ اللہُ اِحْدَى الطَّاۗىِٕفَتَيْنِ اَنَّہَا لَكُمْ وَتَوَدُّوْنَ اَنَّ غَيْرَ ذَاتِ الشَّوْكَۃِ تَكُوْنُ لَكُمْ وَيُرِيْدُ اللہُ اَنْ يُّحِقَّ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمٰتِہٖ وَيَقْطَعَ دَابِرَ الْكٰفِرِيْنَ۝۷ۙ
Waith yaAAidukumu Allahu ihda alttaifatayni annaha lakum watawaddoona anna ghayra thati alshshawkati takoonu lakum wayureedu Allahu an yuhiqqa alhaqqa bikalimatihi wayaqtaAAa dabira alkafireena

English

Ahmed Ali

Though God promised that one of two columns (would fall to you), you desired the one that was not armed. But God wished to confirm the truth by His words, and wipe the unbelievers out to the last,

7

لِيُحِقَّ الْحَقَّ وَيُبْطِلَ الْبَاطِلَ وَلَوْ كَرِہَ الْمُجْرِمُوْنَ۝۸ۚ
Liyuhiqqa alhaqqa wayubtila albatila walaw kariha almujrimoona

English

Ahmed Ali

So that Truth may be affirmed and falsehood negated, even though the sinners be averse.

8

اِذْ تَسْتَغِيْثُوْنَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ اَنِّىْ مُمِدُّكُمْ بِاَلْفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلٰۗىِٕكَۃِ مُرْدِفِيْنَ۝۹
Ith tastagheethoona rabbakum faistajaba lakum annee mumiddukum bialfin mina almalaikati murdifeena

English

Ahmed Ali

Remember when you prayed to your Lord for help, He heard you and said: "I shall send a thousand angels following behind you for your aid."

9

وَمَا جَعَلَہُ اللہُ اِلَّا بُشْرٰي وَلِتَطْمَىِٕنَّ بِہٖ قُلُوْبُكُمْ۝۰ۚ وَمَا النَّصْرُ اِلَّا مِنْ عِنْدِ اؘ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ عَزِيْزٌ حَكِيْمٌ۝۱۰ۧ
Wama jaAAalahu Allahu illa bushra walitatmainna bihi quloobukum wama alnnasru illa min AAindi Allahi inna Allaha AAazeezun hakeemun

English

Ahmed Ali

He gave you the good news only to reassure your hearts, for victory comes from God alone, and certainly God is all-mighty and all-wise.

10

Theme and Subject Matter of Surah Al-Anfal (الْأَنْفَال)

The Battle of Badr occurred in the 2nd year of migration/hijrah to Madinah, and that is when the surah was revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ). Badar was the first battle in which the small Muslim force defeated the mighty Meccan force. The Muslims fought with bravery and Allah rewarded them with a victory. This ayah describes how the Anfal, i.e., the spoil of war, should be divided. Therefore, Surah Al-Anfal discusses the rules, instructions, and regulations Muslims should follow in relation to peace. The following themes have been observed in the surah:

  • Muslims were reminded not to gloat over their victory and instead rely solely on Allah and His Prophet, as victory, like all other blessings, is from Allah. This serves as a reminder to the Muslims to always remain humble, thank Allah for whatever blessings are bestowed upon them and listen to the guidance of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ).

  • The disbelievers, the Jews, and hypocrites are also warned about their wrong ways and instructed to learn their listen and turn to the righteous path.

  • Surah Al-Anfal also guides Muslims regarding the spoils of war and how they should be treated as a blessing from Allah and kept and should not be treated as a right but as a bounty. So, they should accept with gratitude what Allah chooses to provide them with.

  • The surah also gives important instructions about laws for war and peace as it was revealed during a very significant point in Islamic history where Muslims were working towards the cause of Islam and needed instructions on war and peace. The surah guided Muslims to always stay away from ways of ignorance, irrespective of whether they were in a war or peace. However, Muslims were permitted to establish their moral superiority over the world.

  • Some points of the surah also state the laws for Muslims living in a state dar-ul-Islam from those who live outside of it.

  • Surah Al-Anfal also tells Muslims to establish prayer and give zakat. 

Conclusively, the message of Al-Anfal is that of the rest of the Quran: a true believer is not concerned with earning money, whether through the spoils of war or through other means. A true believer is invested in obeying Allah and His Prophet, preparing for the hereafter, and focusing on ibadah. 

Virtues & Benefits of Reciting Surah Al-Anfal (الْأَنْفَال)

Like the rest of the Quran, reciting Surah Al-Anfal will earn its reciter countless blessings and rewards from Allah Azzawajal. Some scholars say that for every word of the Quran, Allah has the angels write 10 good deeds for the reciter. Apart from this reward, Reciting Surah Al-Anfal has the following virtues:

1. Surah Al-Anfal keeps a believer safe from hypocrisy.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "On Judgement Day, I will intercede for one who recites surah Anfal and Taubah and testify that he was not a hypocrite. Moreover, for every hypocrite man and woman in the world, that person will receive the reward of 10 Hasanah (righteous deeds), 10 of his sins will be wiped away, will elevate 10 levels, and the throne and its bearers will salute him in this worldly life" - Mustadrak al-Wasa'il, vol. 4, p. 340.

2. Recitation of the Quran brings Muslims unlimited blessings while also helping them gain protection from the fire of hell.

Abu Hurairah had reported the Prophet (ﷺ) to have said:

"Read the Qur'an, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection." – Riyad-as-Salihin 991

3. Recitation of the Quran helps ease distress and brings comfort. It is a cure for depression and anxiety.

"Those who believe and find peace in their hearts from the contemplation of God: Surely there is peace of heart in the contemplation of God!" (13:28)