سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 68
لَّوْلَا كِتَـٰبٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِيمَآ أَخَذْتُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿68﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Were it not a previous ordainment from Allâh, a severe torment would have touched you for what you took.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَّوْلَا
lawlā
Had not
كِتَـٰبٌۭ
kitābun
an ordainment
مِّنَ
mina
from
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
سَبَقَ
sabaqa
preceded
لَمَسَّكُمْ
lamassakum
surely (would) have touched you
فِيمَآ
fīmā
for what
أَخَذْتُمْ
akhadhtum
you took
عَذَابٌ
ʿadhābun
a punishment
عَظِيمٌۭ
ʿaẓīmun
great
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.
68. 1. There is a difference among the commentators regarding what this written matter was. Some have said that by this is meant the permissibility of war booty, i.e., since it was decreed in destiny that war booty would be lawful for the Muslims, therefore, by taking ransom you have done a permissible act. If it had not been so, then because of taking ransom, a great punishment would have afflicted you. Some have taken the forgiveness of the people of Badr as the meaning, some have taken the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as a prevention from punishment, etc.
