Surah Al Anfal

 Introduction and Verse 1

The introduction of this Surah is quite long but it is significant and very important to set the

stage for what is about to follow.

This is part of a series of surahs – Surah Anfal and Surah Taubah. This surah is related to the

previous surah (Surah A’raf) in that they both talk about the ‘Sunnah of Allah’ (Sunnatillah).

It talks about how Allah deals with similar Nations in the same way. It is mentioned in the

Qur’an:

[This is] the established way of Allah with those who passed on before; and you will not find in

the way of Allah any change. [33:62]

In the second half of Surah A’raf, Allah talks about the worldly destruction of nations and people

that came before, specially the people of Musa and the destruction and drowning of Fir’awn and

in Surah Anfal Allah will talk about the destruction of the people of Makkah (NOT the entire

Arabian Peninsula). The Makkans here will be destroyed and defeated by the very swords of the

believers – the army behind Rasulallah (s). It is not going to be fire from the skies, not a flood or

an earthquake but the companions themselves.

Part of the Sunnah of Allah is that punishments usually come down in two different forms:

1. Smaller punishments are sent as warnings before it is too late for example the nine signs

of Musa(as)

2. Eventually the greater and major punishment is sent down for example the drowning of

Fir’awn.

The same way, Surah Anfal is post-battle of Badr. This is the second time post-battle commentary

is seen in the Qur'an. Surah Al-e-Imran also gives post Uhud commentary and in Surah Baqarah

pre-battle commentary is also seen that was sent to prepare the Muslims.

Surah Anfal talks about the victorius battle of Badr. It primarily is one giant speech. It can be

divided into sub categories but it mainly talks about Badr in details. It is an incredible chain of

events that portray the Sunnah of Allah:

1. Badr – even though it was in favor of the Muslims, it certainly did not end the Quraish,

but it was indeed a great blow. So this was a minor punishment.

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2. The final and major punishment for the Quraish was the Conquest of Makkah where they

didn’t go after the Muslims, the Muslims came after them.

This Conquest of Makkah and the final blow to Quraish is mentioned in the first verse of Surah

At Taubah where the humiliation of defeat and the Conquest are publicly declared and that their

plots and strategies against Allah and his Rasul (s) have failed:

[This is a declaration of] disassociation, from Allah and His Messenger, to those with whom you

had made a treaty among the polytheists. [9:1]

This was in 9 A.H. (After Hijrah), whereas Badr took place about 6 months after Hijrah. So for

almost nine years, the Quraish were facing minor punishments.

The Hijrah in itself was a miraculous event. First we need to see why Rasulallah(s) had to

migrate? The Hijrah was the turning point in Rasulallah(s)’s life. Everything with regards to the

Quraish from Rasulallah(s)’s side – pre Hijrah – was non violent. After Hijrah, the dealings with

Quraish essentially became violent with a few exceptions such as Hudaibiyah etc. In terms of

dealing with Quraish, the first Madani phase was the hirjah and the last was Conquest of of

Makkah.

This is what us Muslims need to have a very clear understanding of. The book that we are

studying, the Qur'an, is not just a book. It is a book that dictates world history as well as the

future of the world. It is not just a way of our life; its understanding dictates the course of an

entire nation. Even after all the things that have happened in the Ummah, the Qur'an hasn’t

fundamentally lost its place in our lives. It is our responsibility to remind ourselves the

relationship with this Qur'an. Understanding this book properly will basically dictate what kind of

direction this Ummah will take and since we are 1/5th of the population, eventually the direction

this world will take. It is not a minor thing to study this book. In this era, we should know and

learn our Qur'an with clarity so that we can be aware when it is quoted either out of context or it

is forced into contexts where it does not belong.

Rasulallah(s) began his message with non violence. For a decade he continued to do it that way

until Allah told him to stop. Allah said that these people were not worth it anymore, they were a

lost cause and Rasulallah(s) needed to leave that place. Rasulallah(s) could not just pack up and

leave because in the Makkan revelations, the story of a prophet was already mentioned who left

without the permission of Allah and then got into trouble. So Rasulallah(s) knew that he could

not leave until Allah’s command came.

In a legacy, the closest prophet to Rasulallah(s) is Musa(as). He also took his people and left a

land of oppression and they too survived in miraculous conditions with the help of Allah.

Let's talk from the perspective of International Laws, apart from the seerah and try and

understand three different kinds of violence:

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1. SELF DEFENSE

When someone is about to attack you, you start to defend yourself - not because you hate

that person, but because you want to protect yourself.

2. RETALIATION

When someone comes, punches you and leaves then you go over and punch him, tit for

tat. Basically it is an act of revenge.

3. PRE-EMPTIVE

You see someone and you 'feel' that he is about to attack you. You have no proof, just a

hunch that he might attack you and you go and punch him.

When individual people as well as nations are involved in violence, it is either one of these

categories.

Now, self defense, in any constitution even in our Sharee'ah is the right of a human being. In our

Deen it is in fact mandated. It is like a body reflex. If someone comes to hit you, automatically

your hand will go up in defense. You need serious training Not to react that way as it comes so

naturally to us!

In the beginning of the seerah, Rasulallah(s) and the Muslims were denied the right to self

defense (Surah Nisa). Allah revealed that In a given time Muslims should either do da'wah or

jihad, not both together. So the Makkan phase was all about da'wah. There was no jihad except

for the jihad of sabr (patience). In surah Ankabut also it was told to the Muslims that it was

difficult to hold back. It is a late Makkan surah which talks about the struggle and persecution of

Muslims.

Now the question arises - who initiated the violence? In historical sense the Makkans started the

violence and the Muslims held back at a time when any nation would find it justifiable to fight

back. In modern terms, it is known as 'non violent protest'. What are the benefits of non violent

protest? When both parties engage in violence, it turns into an endless conflict.

Rasulallah(s) established his credibility as non-violent by not lifting even a finger when he and

the Muslims were being persecuted. It went on to the point when they even wanted to assassinate

the Messenger of Allah (s) but the only thing stopping them was their sense of tribalism. They

didn't want to kill one their 'own', this sense of tribalism and nation was what bound them all

together. They were unified only for this idea, not religion. But when it came to dealing with

Islam, they were willing to even sacrifice this one principle they believed in.

Today, the only way Islam haters can turn an entire nation against Islam is by proving that

Muslims are violent or that Islam preaches violence no matter How Much da'wah you do!

RA, by not engaging in violence, created a silent sympathy in Makkah for the Muslims. So the

Muslims at that point were facing such terrible situation - to the point where Rasulallah(s) was

almost killed - they could not even live there anymore. Thus the hijrah took place.

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So now they are in Madinah. Almost the entire first six months passed in setting up three major

administrative matters:

1. The masjid was established. It was the community center, the government house and the darul

ilm (university) of the city

2. Brotherhood was established between the Ansar and the Muhajiroon

3. Treaties with the Jewish tribes around were formed. These were mainly to defend Madinah if

attacked, not religious treaties

Immediately after this, Rasulallah(s) started to send out small military groups (4 people to 20

people maximum) to the trade routes that the Makkans used to usually take. Allah mentions in

surah Quraish:

(And with all those Allah's Grace and Protections for their taming, We cause) the

(Quraish) caravans to set forth safe in winter (to the south), and in summer (to the north

without any fear) [106:2]

Makkans used to trade all year long. So basically Rasulallah(s) started to launch small economic

attacks at Makkah. As he himself was a successful trader, he knew all the ins and outs of their

business. So he used to send groups of Sahabas to attack them and bring back the goods/assets to

Madinah.

One of the most successful tradesmen in Makkah was Abu Sufiyan and he used to regularly take

a shorter route to Sham which was through the fields of Badr and Rasulallah(s) knew that so he

sent a group of Muslims to capture his caravan as he was taking a lot of goods with him. The

Muslims however were late in catching up to him and Abu Sufiyan was able to reach Sham

unharmed. However, because he was so smart he immediately sent a horseman back to Makkah

to tell the leaders that Mohammed (s) had come after him, the biggest economic trade, because

Abu Sufiyan’s trade helped the economy of the entire city.

Rasulallah(s) sent another group to Nakhlah – a place between the cities of Makkah and Taif, to

scout and keep and eye on the people of Makkah. However, they got spotted and a fight broke out

during which the Muslims killed one of the men, captured another one and brought all the goods

back to Madinah. A few of them however, escaped back to Makkah. Rasulallah(s) was not at all

pleased with this incident and the Muslims were only supposed to scout and remain undetected.

So the horseman from Sham and the few runaways from Nakhlah reached Makkah and both

broke the news that the Muslims had come after them. Incidentally, during this time the Makkans

were having a debate. Some said that because Mohammed (s) had set up a new city it was good

for them and it was just like an expansion of their own city while the other group said that he had

broken all ties, defied the religion of their forefathers so they needed to eliminate him completely.

So when they received the news, they immediately decided that it was time to finish the Muslims

and they started preparing for battle. Meanwhile Abu Sufiyan sent a quick message to Quraish 

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saying that the Muslims would probably try to attack him again on his way back so the Quraish

army should head to Badr while Abu Sufiyan himself would take the longer route along the coast.

The Muslims were not aware of this so about 300 men, barely prepared to attack a caravan came

out of Madinah with only about 8 swords in the entire group and just daggers and sticks as their

weapons. They were not mentally prepared to take on a battle. On the other hand, a thousand

Makkans were heading to Badr as well. They had 900 camel riders and 100 horse riders and were

fully armed and loaded with weapons and drum beaters.

Once the Muslims were out of Madinah and on their way to Badr revelation came down to

Rasulallah(s) about the actual scenario (some reports say scouts came and informed him). He was

informed that the Makkans were heading towards Badr and that they had taken charge of the

water holes there. In a battlefield, especially in the desert, water is the most valuable asset! At

that moment Rasulallah(s) received the beautiful revelation where Allah gave him a choice

between the two and Allah also said whichever group they decided to go after, the Muslims

would win. Even though Abu Sufiyan’s caravan was the easier and more lucrative opposition, the

Muslims still decided to go after the Quraish. Since Allah promised them victory, why not go

after the bigger fish, Subhanallah!

So, the Surah Anfal is translated as Spoils of War. The word Anfal comes from the word Nafil or

Nafala which means extra. Ganeema also means spoils of war, but Anfal is used here because all

these spoils of war were in fact extra, it was a bonus. Their main motive to fight was not to gain