In the name
of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful |
SECTION: 1
They ask you about booty (spoils of war). Tell them: “The
Booty belongs to Allah and His Rasool: so fear Allah, end
your disputes, and correct the relations among yourselves:
obey Allah and His Rasool if you are true believers."[1] The
true believers are those whose hearts tremble with fear, when
the name of Allah is mentioned, and whose faith grows stronger
as they listen to His revelations and they put their trust in
their Rabb,[2] who establish Salah and spend in charity out of
the sustenance which We have given them.[3] They are the ones
who are the true believers; they will have exalted ranks with
their Rabb, forgiveness for their sins, and honorable
sustenance.[4] Your Rabb ordered you to leave your home to fight
for justice, but some of the believers were reluctant.[5] They
argued with you about the truth which had been made clear, as if
they were being driven to death with their eyes wide open.[6]
Remember, Allah promised you victory over one of the two enemy
parties and you wished for the one which was unarmed but Allah
intended to prove the truth to be true according to His words
and to cut off the roots of the unbelievers,[7] so that truth
should come out as truth and falsehood should be proved as
false, even though the criminals wished otherwise.[8] When you
prayed to your Rabb for help, He answered: “I will assist you
with one thousand angels, one after another."[9] By this good
news, Allah sought to comfort your heart, for victory comes only
from Allah; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.[10]
8:[1-10] |
Commandment relating to the spoils of war (booty)
Battle of Badr, a battle between truth and falsehood
|
SECTION: 2
Remember (before the battle of Badr) when He caused
drowsiness to overcome you as an assurance from Himself, and
sent down water from the sky to cleanse you and to remove from
you the uncleanliness caused by Shaităn, to strengthen your
hearts and to steady your feet therewith.[11] Then your Rabb
revealed His will to the angels: “I am with you, give courage to
the believers. I will cast panic into the hearts of the
unbelievers, therefore, smite their necks and beat every joint
of their bodies."[12] This is because they defied Allah and His
Rasool. Whoever defies Allah and His Rasool should know that
Allah is strict in retribution,[13] that it is the reality,
so taste it, and there will also be the torture of hellfire
for the unbelievers.[14] O believers! When you encounter the
unbelievers in a battle, never turn your backs to them,[15] and
whoever turns his back to them on such an occasion - unless it
be a strategy of war, or to join towards a detachment - shall
incur the wrath of Allah and his abode shall be hell, and how
awful shall be that dwelling![16] In fact, it was not you who
killed them, but it was Allah Who killed them; it was not you
who threw the handful of sand, but it was Allah Who threw it so
that He might pass the believers successfully through this
excellent trial; surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.[17]
This is His dealing with you: as for the
unbelievers, Allah will surely frustrate their evil plots.[18]
O unbelievers! You wanted a decision; lo! The decision,
in shape of the believers' victory, has come to you. Now if
you desist, it will be better for you, and if you repeat your
act of war against the believers, so shall We repeat the
act of providing them assistance, and your forces, however
large in number they may be, shall avail you nothing, for verily
Allah is with the believers.[19]
8:[11-19] |
Allah's help during the Battle of Badr
Allah's decision between Muslims and kuffar |
SECTION: 3
O believers! Obey Allah and his Rasool and do not turn your back
to him, now that you have heard all.[20] Do not be like those
who say: “We hear,” but give no heed to what they hear.[21] For
the worst animals in the sight of Allah are those deaf and dumb
people who do not use common sense.[22] Had Allah perceived any
virtue in them He would have indeed endowed them with hearing.
Had he made them (those without virtue) hear, they would
have turned away and refused to listen.[23] O believers! Respond
to the call of Allah and His Rasool, when He calls you to that
which gives you life; and know that Allah stands between man and
his heart, and that it is He in Whose presence you shall all be
assembled.[24] Guard yourselves against temptation. The
wrongdoers among you are not the only ones who will be tempted;
and know that Allah is strict in retribution.[25] Call to mind
how He gave you shelter when you were a few in number and were
oppressed in the land, ever fearing lest the enemy would kidnap
you. He made you strong with His help and provided you a safe
asylum and gave you pure things for sustenance so that you may
give thanks.[26] O believers! Do not betray the trust of Allah
and His Rasool, nor violate your trusts knowingly.[27] You
should know that your wealth and your children are, in fact, a
test for you, and that Allah is He with Whom is your mighty
reward.[28]
8:[20-28] |
The worst people in the sight of Allah are those who do not use
their common sense
Guard yourselves against temptations |
SECTION: 4
O believers! If you fear Allah He will grant you a criterion (to
judge between right and wrong), do away with your sins and
forgive you. Allah is the Lord of Mighty Grace.[29] Remember,
how the unbelievers plotted against you. They sought to take you
captive or kill you or exile you. They planned - and Allah also
planned - Allah is the best planner of all.[30] Whenever Our
revelations are recited to them they say: “Well, we have heard
this. If we wanted we could fabricate the like. These are
nothing but the tales of the ancients."[31] Also remember how
they said: “O Allah! If this is indeed the truth from You, then
rain down stones on us from the sky or inflict some dreadful
scourge to punish us."[32] But Allah would not punish them while
you were present in their midst. Nor does Allah punish people
while they are asking His forgiveness.[33] But now there is no
reason why Allah should not punish them when they are blocking
others from the Masjid-al-Harăm (Ka'bah), whereas they
are not its lawful guardians. In fact, its only guardians are
those who fear Allah, even though most of them do not
understand.[34] Their prayer at the House of Allah is nothing
but whistling and clapping of hands: whose only answer can
be, “Taste the punishment because of your denying the
truth."[35] Surely the unbelievers spend their wealth in
blocking the way of Allah and so will they continue to spend;
but in the end these very efforts will become the cause of their
regrets; at length they will be defeated, and in the
hereafter these unbelievers will be gathered together and
driven to hell,[36] in order that Allah may separate the filthy
from the pure. He will heap the filthy one upon another,
altogether, and then cast them into hell. They are the ones who
will be the losers.[37]
8:[29-37] |
If
you become Godfearing, He will grant you wisdom to judge between
right and wrong
The lawful guardians of Ka'bah are those who have fear of Allah
|
SECTION: 5
O Prophet, tell the unbelievers that if they desist
from unbelief, their past shall be forgiven; but if they
persist in sin, let them reflect upon the fate of their
forefathers.[38] O believers, fight them until there is
no more mischief and the Deen of Allah (way of life
prescribed by Allah) is established completely; but if they
do stop from mischief, then surely Allah is observant of
all their actions.[39] If they give no heed, then you should
know that Allah is your protector. He is the best to protect and
the best to help.[40]
8:[38-40] |
For
the unbelievers, who embrace Islam, their past is forgiven
|
Know that one-fifth of the booty (spoils
of war) is for Allah, His Rasool, close relatives of the
Rasool, orphans, the needy and the wayfarer, if you do
believe in Allah and in what We revealed to Our servant on the
day of distinction (between right and wrong), the day
when two armies met in combat. Allah has power over
everything.[41] Remember when you were on this side of the
valley and they on the farther side, and the caravan was on
lower ground than you both. If you had made a mutual appointment
to fight, you would have certainly failed; but Allah sought to
accomplish what He has ordained, that those who were destined to
perish might die by clear proof and those who were destined to
live might survive by clear proof. Surely, Allah is He Who hears
all and knows all.[42] Also remember that Allah made them appear
in your dream as few in number; if He had shown them to you as
many in number, you would surely have been discouraged and you
would have disputed in your decision. But Allah saved you;
surely He knows the very secrets of the hearts.[43] And remember
when you met them in the encounter, He showed them to you as few
in number in your eyes and He made you appear as a few in number
in their eyes so that Allah might accomplish what He had
ordained: for ultimately all affairs return to Allah for
decision.[44]
8:[41-44] |
Rules
about the distribution of spoils of war |
SECTION: 6
O believers! When you encounter an enemy in a combat, be firm
and frequently remember Allah so that you may be successful.[45]
Obey Allah and His Rasool and do not argue with one another,
lest you lose courage and weaken your strength. Show patience,
surely Allah is on the side of the patient.[46] Do not be like
those who started from their homes recklessly in order to be
seen by everybody and debar others from the Way of Allah. Allah
encompasses all their actions.[47] Remember when Shaităn made
their actions seem attractive to them, and said: “No one from
mankind can overcome you today, for I will be at hand to help
you." Yet when the two armies came within sight of each other he
turned upon his heels saying: “ I am done with you, for I can
see what you cannot. I fear Allah, for Allah is severe in
punishment.[48]
8: [45-48] |
Order of Allah to remain firm during combat against enemy
|
SECTION: 7
At that time the hypocrites and all those who had malice in
their hearts were saying: “Their religion has deceived them.”
But you should know that anyone who puts his trust in Allah
will find Allah Mighty, Wise.[49] If you could only see the
angels when they were taking away the souls of the killed
unbelievers! They were smiting their faces and their backs
saying: “Taste the torment of the conflagration![50] This is the
punishment for what your hands have sent forth, for Allah is
never unjust to His servants."[51] This was the same that
happened to the people of Fir‘on (Pharaoh) and to those
that had gone before them. They also rejected the revelations of
Allah and Allah seized them for their sins. Surely Allah is
Mighty and severe in punishment.[52]
8:[49-52] |
Victory of the believers and the painful death of the
unbelievers |
That is because Allah has never changed the
blessings which He has bestowed on a people until they
themselves changed the condition of their souls; verily Allah
hears all and knows all.[53] This same principle was applied to
the people of Fir'on and those who have gone before them, they
rejected the revelations of their Rabb so We destroyed them for
their sins, and We drowned the people of Fir'on; they were all
wrongdoers.[54]
8:[53-54] |
Allah
does not change His blessings unless people change themselves
|
The worst of animals in the sight of Allah
are those who reject the truth and do not become believers.[55]
Those who make treaties with you and time after time violate
their treaties, and have no fear of Allah.[56] If you
encounter them in combat, make them a fearsome example for
others who would follow them so that they all may learn a
lesson.[57] If you fear treachery from any of your allies, you
may fairly retaliate by breaking off the treaty with them (through
properly notifying them to that effect), for Allah does not
love the treacherous.[58]
8:[55-58] |
Treaties must be honored unless broken with proper notification
|
SECTION: 8
Let not the unbelievers think that they have won the game;
surely they can never frustrate the believers.[59] Muster
against them all the military strength and cavalry that you can
afford so that you may strike terror into the hearts of your
enemy and the enemy of Allah, and others besides them who are
unknown to you but known to Allah. Remember that whatever you
will spend in the cause of Allah, shall be paid back to you in
full and you shall not be treated unjustly.[60] If the enemy is
inclined towards peace, do make peace with them, and put your
trust in Allah. He is the One Who hears all , knows all.[61]
Should they intend to deceive you, verily Allah is
All-Sufficient for you. He is the One Who has strengthened you
and the believers with His help ,[62] through putting affection
in their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you
could not have so united their hearts; but Allah has united
them. He is Mighty, Wise.[63] O Prophet! Allah is all-sufficient
for you and for the believers who follow you.[64]
8:[59-64] |
Order
to remain prepared for war against the unbelievers
Make peace, if the enemy is inclined towards peace |
SECTION: 9
O Prophet! Rouse the believers to prepare for combat. If there
are twenty steadfast among you, they shall vanquish two hundred:
if there are one hundred they shall overcome one thousand of the
unbelievers, for they are a people who lack understanding.[65]
For now Allah is lightening your burden, because He knows that
there are still some weak individuals among you, so if there are
one hundred steadfast among you, they shall vanquish two hundred
and if there be one thousand, they will overcome two thousand
with the leave of Allah, for Allah is with those who are
steadfast.[66] It is not fit for a Prophet that he should take
prisoners of war until he has thoroughly subdued the land. Do
you, O followers of Muhammad, desire the temporal goods
of this world, while Allah desires for you the hereafter? Allah
is Mighty, Wise.[67] Had there not been a previous sanction from
Allah to take ransom, you should have been sternly
punished for what you have taken.[68] Very well, enjoy the booty
which you have taken, for it is lawful and pure, but in the
future fear Allah. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.[69]
8:[65-69] |
Allah's promise to make the believers victorious over armies 2
to 10 times larger than the believers |
SECTION: 10
O Prophet! Tell the captives in your custody: “If Allah finds
goodness in your hearts He will give you even better than what
has been taken from you, as well as forgive you. Allah Is
Forgiving, Merciful." [70] But if they have treacherous designs
against you, O Prophet, they have already shown treason
against Allah. That is why He made them your captives. Allah is
Knowledgeable, Wise.[71]
8: [70-71] |
Treatment of prisoners of war who embrace Islam |
Those who believed (embraced Islam),
migrated and made Jihăd (exerted their utmost struggle) with
their wealth and their persons in the cause of Allah; as well as
those who gave them asylum and help, are indeed the protecting
friends of one another. As to those who believed (embraced
Islam) but did not emigrate (to Dar-ul-Islam, the Islamic
State), you are under no obligation to protect them until
they emigrate; yet it is your obligation to help them in the
matters of faith if they ask for your help, except against a
people with whom you have a treaty. Allah is observant of all
your actions.[72] The unbelievers are protectors of one of
another. If you fail to do likewise, there will be disorder in
the land and great corruption.[73] Those who believed (embraced
Islam), migrated and made Jihăd (exerted their utmost
struggle) in the cause of Allah, and those who gave them
asylum and help - they are the true believers. They shall have
forgiveness and honorable provisions.[74] Those who believed (embraced
Islam) afterwards, migrated and joined you in Jihăd - they
too are your brothers, although according to the Book of Allah
the blood relatives have greater rights on one other. Indeed
Allah knows everything.[75]
8: [ 72-75] |
Muslims living in non-Muslim countries |
Major Issues, Divine
Law and Guidance:
* Battle of truth and falsehood.
* Truth should not fear to be cowed down by odds against it.
* Fighting should not be for spoils or gains but for a just
cause.
* Laws relating to peace and war.
* Relation of an Islamic state with Muslims living in non-Muslim
countries.
The battle of Badr took place in the 2nd
year of Hijrah, therefore, rules and regulations relating to
peace and a critical review of war have been made in this Sürah.
But this review is quite different from the reviews that are
usually made by worldly commanders after a great victory.
Instead of gloating over the victory, the moral weaknesses that
had come to the surface in that expedition have been pointed out
as follows:
- The fact that the victory was due to the help of Allah
rather than to their own valor and bravery has been stressed
so that the Muslims should learn to rely on Him and obey Allah
and His Rasool.
- The moral lesson of the conflict between the truth and
falsehood has been explained.
- The mushrikďn, the hypocrites, the Jews, and the prisoners
of war are addressed in a very impressive manner advising them
to learn a lesson.
- Instructions are given in regard to the spoils of war. The
Muslims have been told not to regard these as their right but
as a bounty from Allah. Therefore, they should accept with
gratitude the share that is granted to them out of it and
willingly accede to the share which Allah sets aside for His
cause, for His Rasool, and for the help of the needy.
- It also gives normal instructions concerning the laws of
peace and war, for these were urgently needed at the stage
which the Islamic movement had entered. It enjoined that the
Muslims should refrain from ways of ignorance whether they are
in peace or in war and thus establish their moral superiority
in the world.
- This Sürah also states some articles of the Islamic
Constitution which differentiate the status of Muslims living
within the limits of Dar-ul-Islam (the Abode of Islam) from
that of the Muslims living beyond its limits.
In order to understand the circumstances and conditions which
were being faced by the Muslim community and the Islamic State,
in relation to which Divine guidance and laws were enacted, it
is important to know how the battle of Badr took place.
Battle of Badr
The message of Islam had proved its firmness and stability.
However, the Muslims had not yet had an opportunity to
demonstrate practically the blessings of the system of life
based on Islam. There was neither any Islamic culture, nor any
social, economic or political system; nor were there any
established principles of war and peace. Therefore the Muslims
had no opportunity for demonstrating those moral principles on
which they intended to build their entire system of life; nor
had it been proved on the touchstone of trial that the Muslims
as a community were sincere in their proclamation of the
message. Allah created opportunities for making up these
deficiencies in Al-Madinah.
The people of Makkah had realized that Muhammad (pbuh), who had
a great personality and possessed extraordinary talents, was
going to gain a strong footing in Al-Madinah. This would help
integrate his followers - whose constancy, determination, and
unwavering fidelity to Al-Islam had been tried - into a
disciplined community under his wise leadership and guidance.
They knew that this would spell death for their old ways of
life. They also realized the strategic importance of Al-Madinah
to their trade, which was their main source of livelihood. The
Muslims could strike at the caravans travelling on the trade
route between Yemen and Syria, and thus strike at the root of
their economy. The value of the trade done by the people of
Makkah on this route amounted to about two hundred thousand
dinărs annually.
In Sh‘abăn, 2 A. H. (February or March, 623 A. D.) a big trade
caravan of the Qureysh , on its way back from Syria carrying
goods worth over 50,000 dinărs with a guard of thirty to forty
men, reached the territory from where it could be easily
attacked from Al-Madinah. As soon as the caravan entered the
dangerous territory, Abu Sufyăn, the caravan’s leader,
despatched a camel rider to Makkah with a frantic appeal for
help. This caused great excitement and anger at Makkah. An army
of approximately 1000 warriors with great pomp and show marched
towards Al-Madinah. They intended not only to rescue the caravan
but also to put an end to the rising power of the Muslims and
overawe the clans surrounding the route so as to make it
absolutely secure for future trade.
The Prophet, who always kept himself well informed, felt that
the hour had come to take a bold step; otherwise the Islamic
Movement would become lifeless with no chance to rise again. The
condition of the Muslim community was still very shaky because
the Muslim immigrants from Makkah (Muhăjirin) had not been able
to stabilize their economy; their helpers (the Ansăr)from the
natives of Madinah, who became Muslims after the Prophet and his
followers migrated there from Makkah, had not yet been tried;
and the neighboring Jewish clans could not be trusted. Above
all, the surrounding clans lived in awe of the Qureysh and had
all their religious sympathies with them. Therefore, the
consequences of the coming attack could not be favorable to the
Muslims. A careful study of the situation indicated to the
Prophet that he should take a decisive step and go into the
battle with whatever strength he could muster and demonstrate
whether the Muslim community had the ability to survive or was
doomed to perish.
The Holy Prophet's analysis of the situation was supported by
Divine inspiration, therefore, he called the Muhăjirďn and the
Ansăr to a meeting and placed the whole situation before them,
without any reservation, saying: “Allah has promised that you
will confront one of the two, the trade caravan coming from the
north or the army of the Qureysh marching from the south. Now,
tell me which of the two you would like to confront!” The
majority of the people replied that they should go for the
caravan. When the Prophet repeated the same question, Miqdăd bin
‘Amr, a Muhăjir, stood up and said: “O Rasool of Allah! Please
march in the direction which Allah commands you; we will
accompany you wherever you go. We will not say like the
Israelites: 'You and your Rabb go and fight, we will wait.' In
contrast to them we say: 'Let you and your Rabb decide; we will
fight by your side to our last breath.'" Even then, he did not
announce any decision, but waited for a reply from the Ansăr who
had not yet taken any part in any confrontation for Islam. As
this was the first opportunity for them to prove that they were
ready to fulfill their promise of fighting for the cause of
Islam, he repeated the question without directly addressing
them. At this, Sa‘ad bin Mu‘az, an Ansăr, stood up and said: “O
Rasool of Allah, it appears that you are addressing this
question to us." When the Prophet said, “Yes," he replied, “We
have believed in you and confirmed that what you have brought is
the truth, and have made a solemn pledge with you that we will
listen to you and obey you. Therefore, O Rasool of Allah, do
whatever you intend to do. We swear by Allah Who has sent you
with the truth that we are ready to accompany you to the
seashore and if you enter it, we will plunge into it. We assure
you that not a single one of us will remain behind or forsake
you, for we will not hesitate at all to go to fight, even if you
should lead us to the battlefield tomorrow. We will, Insha Allah
(Allah willing), remain steadfast in the battle and sacrifice
our lives for Islam. We do hope that by the grace of Allah our
behavior will gladden your heart. So, trusting in Allah’s
blessing, take us to the battlefield." After this it was decided
that they would march towards the army of the Qureysh and not
towards the trade caravan.
The number of people who came forward to go to the battlefield
was only a little more than three hundred (86 Muhăjirin, 62 from
Aus, and 170 from Khazraj). Over and above that, this little
army was ill-armed and hardly equipped for battle. Only a couple
of them had horses to ride and the others had to take their turn
in threes or fours on camel back. They had a total of 70 camels.
Above all, they did not even have enough weapons for the battle;
only 60 of them had armor. They marched straight to the
southwest, wherefrom the army of the Qureysh was coming. This is
also an indication that, from the very beginning, they had gone
out to fight with the army and not to plunder the caravan. If
they had aimed at plundering the caravan they would have taken
the north-westernly direction rather than the southwest. The two
parties met in combat at Badr on the seventeenth day of Ramadhăn.
When the two armies confronted each other and the Prophet
noticed that the Qureysh army outnumbered the Muslims by three
to one and was much better equipped, he raised his hands up in
supplication and made this earnest prayer with great humility:
“O Allah! Here are the Qureysh proud of their war material: they
have come to prove that Your Rasool is false. O Allah! Now send
the help that You have promised me. O Allah! If this little army
of Your devotees is destroyed, then there will be no one left in
the land to worship You."
In this combat the emigrants from Makkah were put to the hardest
test because they had to fight against their own relatives,
putting to the sword their fathers, sons, brothers, and uncles.
It is obvious that only such people could do this who had
accepted the truth sincerely and cut off all relations with
falsehood. Similarly, the test to which the Ansăr were put was
not less hard. So far the Ansăr had only alienated the powerful
Qureysh and their allies by giving shelter to the Muslims
against their wishes but now, for the first time, they were
going to give fight to them and to sow the seeds of a long and
bitter war with them. This meant that a small town of a few
thousand inhabitants was going to wage a war with the whole of
Arabia. It is obvious that only such people could take a stand
who believed in the Truth of Islam so firmly that they were
ready to sacrifice every personal interest for its sake. Allah
accepted these sacrifices of the Muhăjirin and the Ansăr because
of their true faith, and rewarded them with His help through
angels.
The proud, well-armed Qureysh were defeated by these
ill-equipped devotees of Islam. Seventy men of the Qureysh army
were killed and seventy captured as prisoners of war. Their arms
and equipment came into the hands of the Muslims as spoils of
war. All their big chiefs, who were their best soldiers and who
had led the opposition to Islam, were killed in this battle.
This decisive victory made Islam a power to be reckoned with.
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