سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ

Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 16

The Spoils of War · Medinan · Juz 9 · Page 178

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وَمَن يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُۥٓ إِلَّا مُتَحَرِّفًا لِّقِتَالٍ أَوْ مُتَحَيِّزًا إِلَىٰ فِئَةٍ فَقَدْ بَآءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿16﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

And whoever turns his back to them on such a day - unless it be a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (of his own), - he indeed has drawn upon himself wrath from Allâh. And his abode is Hell, and worst indeed is that destination!

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَمَن waman And whoever
يُوَلِّهِمْ yuwallihim turns to them
يَوْمَئِذٍۢ yawma-idhin that day
دُبُرَهُۥٓ duburahu his back
إِلَّا illā except
مُتَحَرِّفًۭا mutaḥarrifan (as) a strategy
لِّقِتَالٍ liqitālin of war
أَوْ aw or
مُتَحَيِّزًا mutaḥayyizan (to) join
إِلَىٰ ilā to
فِئَةٍۢ fi-atin a group
فَقَدْ faqad certainly
بَآءَ bāa (he has) incurred
بِغَضَبٍۢ bighaḍabin wrath
مِّنَ mina of
ٱللَّهِ l-lahi Allah
وَمَأْوَىٰهُ wamawāhu and his abode
جَهَنَّمُ ۖ jahannamu (is) Hell
وَبِئْسَ wabi'sa a wretched
ٱلْمَصِيرُ l-maṣīru destination

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 16) {اِلَّا مُتَحَرِّفًا لِّقِتَالٍ اَوْ مُتَحَيِّزًا اِلٰى فِئَةٍ: ’’ مُتَحَرِّفًا ‘‘ ’’ تَحَرَّفَ ‘‘} is an active participle, which means to turn aside, that is, to turn from one side to another to deceive the enemy, to change tactics. {’’ مُتَحَيِّزًا ‘‘ ’’ تَحَيَّزَ ‘‘ } means to gather at a place, that is, to turn from one side to another or to retreat in order to surround the enemy or to deceive them, or to seek refuge with the main group of Muslims and to return for another attack is not a sin, that is, the wrath of Allah and the abode of Hell is for the one who flees from battle, but if one retreats from the battlefield under the tactics of warfare, then it is not a sin.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

16. 1 In the previous verse, there are two exceptions to the prohibition of turning one's back. One is "taharruf" and the other is "tahayyuz." تَحَرُّفْ means to turn aside, that is, during battle, as a war tactic or to deceive the enemy, a person may pretend to retreat while fighting, so that the enemy thinks he is fleeing in defeat, but then suddenly changes his stance and attacks the enemy unexpectedly. This is not considered turning one's back, but rather a war tactic, which is sometimes necessary. تَحَیُّزُ means to join or seek refuge, that is, if a fighter is left alone while fighting, he may cleverly move aside from the battlefield in order to seek refuge with his group, and with their help, attack again. Both of these situations are permissible.

16. 2 That is, except for the two aforementioned cases, if anyone turns his back in the battlefield, there is a severe warning for him.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

16. And whoever turns his back on that day, unless it is a maneuver for battle or to join another group, then such a person has incurred the wrath [15] of Allah. His abode will be Hell, and what an evil destination it is.

[15]
Turning Away from Battle is a Major Sin:

There are several forms of retreat in battle. For example, if the entire army’s war policy is that it would be more beneficial to withdraw from this position and attack from another location, or if a military unit wants to leave that place and join its base, or if an individual withdraws to the rear in order to change tactics—then all such cases are considered military strategies. These are not called fleeing or retreating from battle. Rather, what is meant by fleeing is such a retreat in which the sole purpose is to save one’s own life, and this is a major sin. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ counted this act among the seven grave sins that destroy a person. [بخاري، كتاب المحاربين، باب رمي المحصنات]
The severity of this sin is not only because a person, by saving his own life, causes a reduction of one in the army. Rather, the main reason is that this act demoralizes the rest of the people and causes panic, and often the flight of one or a few individuals becomes the cause of the defeat of the entire army.
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