سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 16
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 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.
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.
