• Muslims to be always prepared to meet the enemy in any number

• Peace to be always the object of the fight

• Unity a Divine Gift

• God’s help promised against the deception from the disbelievers

Al-Anfaal Verses 59 – 64

وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَبَقُوٓا۟ إِنَّهُمْ لَا يُعْجِزُونَ

“And let not those who disbelieve think that they have excelled1(the Muslims): verily they shall not weaken (God).” (8:59)

وَأَعِدُّوا۟ لَهُم مَّا ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ ٱلْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِۦ عَدُوَّ ٱللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَءَاخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ

“And prepare ye against them whatever (force) ye can2and steeds of war at the garrison to frighten the enemy of God thereby and your enemy and others besides them, whom ye know not, (but) God knoweth them; and whatever things ye spend3in God’s way, will be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly4.” (8:60)

وَإِن جَنَحُوا۟ لِلسَّلْمِ فَٱجْنَحْ لَهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

“And if they lean to peace, then leaneth thou too to it, and trust in God; Verily He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing5.” (8:61)

وَإِن يُرِيدُوٓا۟ أَن يَخْدَعُوكَ فَإِنَّ حَسْبَكَ ٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِۦ وَبِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

“And if they intend to deceive thee, then verily God sufficeth for thee6; He it is Who strengthened thee with His help and with the believers7.” (8:62)

وَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مَّآ أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِنَّهُۥ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

“Caused He affection8between their hearts; had thou spent all that is in the earth thou couldst not have caused that affection between their hearts, but God caused affection between them; Verily He is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (8:63)

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ حَسْبُكَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

“O’(Our) Apostle (Muhammad!) Sufficeth for thee God and those of the believers who follow thee.” (8:64)

Commentary

Verse 60

‘Quwwat’ in this verse implies everything which could be the source of strength at the time of need including all implements of war to meet both the defensive as well as the offensive exigencies as it might become essential. The preparation enjoined here was again for the helplessness of the Muslims in Badr which position of theirs encouraged the enemy to an offensive. Note the preparation for war is only to maintain peace and to; avoid any encouragement or temptation to any aggression on the part of the enemy. And the next verse clearly speaks of the object or the policy of Islam.

Verse 61

If the enemy be inclined to peace, to grant them peace depending upon (God’s help). This verse clears the position of Islam and the Holy Prophet to show whether they were defensive or offensive in their attitude towards the non-Muslims.

Verse 62

Mullah Jalahuddin Suyuti in his renowned commentary on the Holy Qur’an ‘al-Durr al-Manthur’ relates that Ibn Asakir reported that the Holy Prophet said that the following words were written on the Arsh or the Central Seat of the Divinity of God: “God, I am alone, there is no partner with Me, Muhammad My servant and Apostle, I helped him with ‘Ali.” And this is the meaning of this verse (D.M.). The same statement has been made by Ibn-Adi and Ibn Asakir on the authority of Anas in his book ‘Zayn al-Fata’ (M.F.A.). The history of Islam fully agrees with this declaration.

The reference is to the Battle of Badr in which the victory was the result of coming of the angels and the efforts of the Muslim warriors.

But in 33:25, referring to the Battle of Ahzab or the Confederates or Khandaq, God attributes the victory totally to Himself though besides the heavenly help in the form of the storm, and awe which filled the hearts of the Confederates, ‘Ali played the most conspicuous part but because ‘Ali’s action has always been godly like that of the Holy Prophet, without any selfish motive in it. God always attributes actions of ‘Ali and the Holy Prophet to Himself Refer to verse 8:17, and the well-known saying of the Holy Prophet on the occasion of the Battle of Khaybar referring to ‘Ali: ‘He will not come back until God gets the victory on his hand.’ (A.P.).

Verse 64

Mullah Abdur Razzaq Muhaddis Hambali says that this verse was revealed specially about ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib. A knowledge of the true history of Islam is needed to know fully about the truth in this statement.

• 1. Or they are ahead of.
• 2. To your utmost ability in any form or manner - economically, physically, spiritually.
• 3. This indicates that any effort or wealth subscribed for the defence forces with pure intention is counted as ‘Ibadat’ i.e. serving God or worshipping Him. (A.P.).
• 4. Refer to verses 2:190, 2:217.
• 5. Refer to verse 4:90.
• 6. Refer to verse 33:25.
• 7. Those who never deserted him - like ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib.
• 8. Refers to - The unity and the power achieved by the believers as the result of which they overcame the most formidable enemies, which was not based on any terrestrial resources but purely spiritual. It is a warning to the Muslims to always resort to this unsurmountable force (i.e. God’s).