سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 15
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ زَحْفًا فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ ٱلْأَدْبَارَ ﴿15﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve, in a battle-field, never turn your backs to them.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
who
ءَامَنُوٓا۟
āmanū
believe
إِذَا
idhā
When
لَقِيتُمُ
laqītumu
you meet
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
disbelieve
زَحْفًۭا
zaḥfan
advancing
فَلَا
falā
then (do) not
تُوَلُّوهُمُ
tuwallūhumu
turn to them
ٱلْأَدْبَارَ
l-adbāra
the backs
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.
15. 1. The meaning of زَ حْفًا is to be face to face and in direct confrontation. That is, when Muslims and disbelievers are arrayed in ranks against each other, turning one's back and fleeing is not permitted. In a hadith it is stated: اَ جْتَنِبُوْا السَّبْعَ الْمُوْبِقَاتِ "Avoid the seven destructive things." Among these seven is واتّوَلَیِ یَوم الزَّحْفِ (turning one's back on the day of confrontation).
