Revealed in Madinah immediately following the decisive Battle of Badr, Surah Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War) serves as a profound divine commentary on the ethics, psychology, and spiritual realities of armed conflict. The chapter was initially sent down to resolve a dispute among the early Muslims regarding the distribution of war booty, fundamentally shifting their mindset by declaring that all spoils belong to God and His Messenger, establishing a just system for distribution that prioritized community welfare. Beyond military logistics, the Surah forcefully reminds the believers that their unexpected victory over a vastly superior Makkan army was purely the result of divine intervention—through the sending of unseen angels, calming rain, and courage—rather than their own physical prowess. It lays down critical Islamic protocols for warfare, the ethical treatment of prisoners of war, the strict honoring of peace treaties, and the absolute necessity of internal unity, warning that discord will strip away their strength. Ultimately, it redefines the true nature of victory and faith, beautifully describing the sincere believers as those whose hearts tremble at the mention of God, commanding the community to ensure their physical struggles are always governed by moral integrity, unwavering trust in the Creator, and a higher spiritual purpose rather than the pursuit of material gain.
Transliteration
Yasaloonaka AAani alanfali quli alanfalu lillahi waalrrasooli faittaqoo Allaha waaslihoo thata baynikum waateeAAoo Allaha warasoolahu in kuntum mumineena
Translation
They ask you about the bounties. Say, “The bounties are for God and the Messenger.” So be mindful of God, and settle your differences, and obey God and His Messenger, if you are believers
Transliteration
Innama almuminoona allatheena itha thukira Allahu wajilat quloobuhum waitha tuliyat AAalayhim ayatuhu zadathum eemanan waAAala rabbihim yatawakkaloona
Translation
The believers are those whose hearts tremble when God is mentioned, and when His revelations are recited to them, they strengthen them in faith, and upon their Lord they rely
Transliteration
Allatheena yuqeemoona alssalata wamimma razaqnahum yunfiqoona
Translation
Those who perform the prayer; and from Our provisions to them, they spend
Transliteration
Olaika humu almuminoona haqqan lahum darajatun AAinda rabbihim wamaghfiratun warizqun kareemun
Translation
These are the true believers. They have high standing with their Lord, and forgiveness, and a generous provision
Transliteration
Kama akhrajaka rabbuka min baytika bialhaqqi wainna fareeqan mina almumineena lakarihoona
Translation
Even as your Lord brought you out of your home with the truth, some believers were reluctant
Transliteration
Yujadiloonaka fee alhaqqi baAAdama tabayyana kaannama yusaqoona ila almawti wahum yanthuroona
Translation
Arguing with you about the truth after it was made clear, as if they were being driven to death as they looked on
Transliteration
Waith yaAAidukumu Allahu ihda alttaifatayni annaha lakum watawaddoona anna ghayra thati alshshawkati takoonu lakum wayureedu Allahu an yuhiqqa alhaqqa bikalimatihi wayaqtaAAa dabira alkafireena
Translation
God has promised you one of the two groups—that it would be yours—but you wanted the unarmed group to be yours. God intends to prove the truth with His words, and to uproot the disbelievers
Transliteration
Liyuhiqqa alhaqqa wayubtila albatila walaw kariha almujrimoona
Translation
In order to confirm the truth and nullify falsehood, even though the guilty dislike it
Transliteration
Ith tastagheethoona rabbakum faistajaba lakum annee mumiddukum bialfin mina almalaikati murdifeena
Translation
When you appealed to your Lord for help, He answered you, “I am reinforcing you with one thousand angels in succession.”
Transliteration
Wama jaAAalahu Allahu illa bushra walitatmainna bihi quloobukum wama alnnasru illa min AAindi Allahi inna Allaha AAazeezun hakeemun
Translation
God only made it a message of hope, and to set your hearts at rest. Victory comes only from God. God is Mighty and Wise
Transliteration
Ith yughashsheekumu alnnuAAasa amanatan minhu wayunazzilu AAalaykum mina alssamai maan liyutahhirakum bihi wayuthhiba AAankum rijza alshshaytani waliyarbita AAala quloobikum wayuthabbita bihi alaqdama
Translation
He made drowsiness overcome you, as a security from Him. And He sent down upon you water from the sky, to cleanse you with it, and to rid you of Satan’s pollution, and to fortify your hearts, and to strengthen your foothold
Transliteration
Ith yoohee rabbuka ila almalaikati annee maAAakum fathabbitoo allatheena amanoo saolqee fee quloobi allatheena kafaroo alrruAAba faidriboo fawqa alaAAnaqi waidriboo minhum kulla bananin
Translation
Your Lord inspired the angels: “I am with you, so support those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. So strike above the necks, and strike off every fingertip of theirs.”
Transliteration
Thalika biannahum shaqqoo Allaha warasoolahu waman yushaqiqi Allaha warasoolahu fainna Allaha shadeedu alAAiqabi
Translation
That is because they opposed God and His Messenger. Whoever opposes God and His Messenger—God is severe in retribution
Transliteration
Thalikum fathooqoohu waanna lilkafireena AAathaba alnnari
Translation
“Here it is; so taste it.” For the disbelievers there is the suffering of the Fire
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo itha laqeetumu allatheena kafaroo zahfan fala tuwalloohumu aladbara
Translation
O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve on the march, never turn your backs on them
Transliteration
Waman yuwallihim yawmaithin duburahu illa mutaharrifan liqitalin aw mutahayyizan ila fiatin faqad baa bighadabin mina Allahi wamawahu jahannamu wabisa almaseeru
Translation
Anyone who turns his back on them on that Day, except while maneuvering for battle, or to join another group, has incurred wrath from God, and his abode is Hell—what a miserable destination
Transliteration
Falam taqtuloohum walakinna Allaha qatalahum wama ramayta ith ramayta walakinna Allaha rama waliyubliya almumineena minhu balaan hasanan inna Allaha sameeAAun AAaleemun
Translation
It was not you who killed them, but it was God who killed them. And it was not you who launched when you launched, but it was God who launched. That He may bestow upon the believers an excellent reward. God is Hearing and Knowing
Transliteration
Thalikum waanna Allaha moohinu kaydi alkafireena
Translation
Such is the case. God will undermine the strategy of the disbelievers
Transliteration
In tastaftihoo faqad jaakumu alfathu wain tantahoo fahuwa khayrun lakum wain taAAoodoo naAAud walan tughniya AAankum fiatukum shayan walaw kathurat waanna Allaha maAAa almumineena
Translation
If you desire a verdict, the verdict has come to you. And if you desist, it would be best for you. And if you return, We will return; and your troops, however numerous, will not benefit you. God is with the believers
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo ateeAAoo Allaha warasoolahu wala tawallaw AAanhu waantum tasmaAAoona
Translation
O you who believe! Obey God and His Messenger, and do not turn away from him when you hear