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 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 15) {يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اِذَا لَقِيْتُمُ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا زَحْفًا …:’’ زَحَفَ الصَّبِيُّ ‘‘} When a child crawls on the ground. {’’ زَحَفَ الْجَيْشُ ‘‘} Since a large army also advances slowly, the advance of the army is also called {’’ زَحَفَ‘‘}. The meaning is that when the enemy stands before you in the field for confrontation, do not run away. This command was not only for Badr but is for all Muslims for all times. In numerous hadiths, fleeing at the time of confrontation with the disbelievers has been declared a major sin. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Beware of the seven destructive sins." One of them is turning your back at the time of meeting the enemy. [ بخاری، الوصایا، باب قول اللہ تعالٰی : « إن الذین یأکلون…» : ۲۷۶۶ ] For this reason, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, taught many supplications for protection from cowardice, so after every prayer he would recite this supplication: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّيْ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ وَاَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ اُرَدَّ اِلٰی اَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ ] [ بخاری، الدعوات، باب الاستعاذۃ من أرذل العمر… : ۶۳۷۴، عن سعد رضی اللہ عنہ ]
Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, when he would descend at any place, I would often hear him reciting this: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّیْ أَعُوْذُبِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحُزْنِ وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَ ضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَ غَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ ] [ بخاری، الجھاد والسیر، باب من غذا بصبی للخدمۃ : ۲۸۹۳ ]
Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, when he would descend at any place, I would often hear him reciting this: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّیْ أَعُوْذُبِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحُزْنِ وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَ ضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَ غَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ ] [ بخاری، الجھاد والسیر، باب من غذا بصبی للخدمۃ : ۲۸۹۳ ]
