سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 41
۞ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَأَنَّ لِلَّهِ خُمُسَهُۥ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ إِن كُنتُمْ ءَامَنتُم بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا يَوْمَ ٱلْفُرْقَانِ يَوْمَ ٱلْتَقَى ٱلْجَمْعَانِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿41﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And know that whatever of war-booty that you may gain, verily one-fifth (1/5th) of it is assigned to Allâh, and to the Messenger, and to the near relatives [of the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)], (and also) the orphans, Al-Masâkîn (the poor) and the wayfarer, if you have believed in Allâh and in that which We sent down to Our slave (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) on the Day of criterion (between right and wrong), the Day when the two forces met (the battle of Badr); And Allâh is able to do all things.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟
wa-iʿ'lamū
And know
أَنَّمَا
annamā
that what
غَنِمْتُم
ghanim'tum
you obtain (as) spoils of war
مِّن
min
of
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
anything
فَأَنَّ
fa-anna
then that
لِلَّهِ
lillahi
for Allah
خُمُسَهُۥ
khumusahu
(is) one fifth of it
وَلِلرَّسُولِ
walilrrasūli
and for the Messenger
وَلِذِى
walidhī
and for the
ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ
l-qur'bā
near relatives
وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ
wal-yatāmā
and the orphans
وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ
wal-masākīni
and the needy
وَٱبْنِ
wa-ib'ni
and the
ٱلسَّبِيلِ
l-sabīli
wayfarer
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you
ءَامَنتُم
āmantum
believe
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
in Allah
وَمَآ
wamā
and (in) what
أَنزَلْنَا
anzalnā
We sent down
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
to
عَبْدِنَا
ʿabdinā
Our slave
يَوْمَ
yawma
(on the) day
ٱلْفُرْقَانِ
l-fur'qāni
(of) the criterion
يَوْمَ
yawma
(the) day
ٱلْتَقَى
l-taqā
(when) met
ٱلْجَمْعَانِ ۗ
l-jamʿāni
the two forces
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
(is) on
كُلِّ
kulli
every
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
thing
قَدِيرٌ
qadīrun
All-Powerful
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.
41. 1 By "ghanimah" is meant the wealth that is obtained from the disbelievers after achieving victory and dominance over them in battle. In previous nations, the method for this was that after the war ended, all the wealth obtained from the disbelievers was piled up in one place, and fire would descend from the sky and burn it to ashes. But for the Muslim Ummah, this wealth of ghanimah has been made lawful. And the wealth that is obtained without fighting, through reconciliation or by jizyah and kharaj, is called fay', whether it is little or much, valuable or ordinary, all of it will be collected and distributed according to the prescribed rules. No soldier is allowed to keep anything from it for himself before the distribution.
41. 2 The word "Allah" is for the sake of blessing, and also because He is the real owner of everything and His command prevails. The meaning of the share of Allah and His Messenger is the same, that is, after dividing all the ghanimah into five parts, four parts will be distributed among those mujahideen who participated in the battle. Among them, the foot soldier will get one share and the horseman will get three times the share. The fifth part, which is called "khums" in Arabic, it is said that it will then be divided into five parts. One part is for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (and after him, it will be spent for public welfare), just as he ﷺ himself used to spend this share on the Muslims, rather he ﷺ also said, "My fifth share is also spent on the interests of the Muslims." The second part is for the relatives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then for the needy, and the travelers. It is said that this khums should be spent as needed.
41. 3 By this "descent" is meant the descent of angels and the divine signs (miracles, etc.) that occurred at Badr.
41. 4 The Battle of Badr took place in 2 Hijri, on the 17th of Ramadan. This day is called "Yawm al-Furqan" because it was the first battle between the disbelievers and the Muslims, and by granting victory and dominance to the Muslims, it was made clear that Islam is the truth and disbelief and polytheism are falsehood.
41. 5 That is, the armies of the Muslims and the disbelievers
41. 2 The word "Allah" is for the sake of blessing, and also because He is the real owner of everything and His command prevails. The meaning of the share of Allah and His Messenger is the same, that is, after dividing all the ghanimah into five parts, four parts will be distributed among those mujahideen who participated in the battle. Among them, the foot soldier will get one share and the horseman will get three times the share. The fifth part, which is called "khums" in Arabic, it is said that it will then be divided into five parts. One part is for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (and after him, it will be spent for public welfare), just as he ﷺ himself used to spend this share on the Muslims, rather he ﷺ also said, "My fifth share is also spent on the interests of the Muslims." The second part is for the relatives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then for the needy, and the travelers. It is said that this khums should be spent as needed.
41. 3 By this "descent" is meant the descent of angels and the divine signs (miracles, etc.) that occurred at Badr.
41. 4 The Battle of Badr took place in 2 Hijri, on the 17th of Ramadan. This day is called "Yawm al-Furqan" because it was the first battle between the disbelievers and the Muslims, and by granting victory and dominance to the Muslims, it was made clear that Islam is the truth and disbelief and polytheism are falsehood.
41. 5 That is, the armies of the Muslims and the disbelievers
