سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 65
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ حَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى ٱلْقِتَالِ ۚ إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَـٰبِرُونَ يَغْلِبُوا۟ مِا۟ئَتَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّا۟ئَةٌ يَغْلِبُوٓا۟ أَلْفًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ ﴿65﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O Prophet (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)! Urge the believers to fight. If there are twenty steadfast persons amongst you, they will overcome two hundreds, and if there be a hundred steadfast persons they will overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are people who do not understand.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O
ٱلنَّبِىُّ
l-nabiyu
Prophet
حَرِّضِ
ḥarriḍi
Urge
ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
l-mu'minīna
the believers
عَلَى
ʿalā
to
ٱلْقِتَالِ ۚ
l-qitāli
[the] fight
إِن
in
If
يَكُن
yakun
(there) are
مِّنكُمْ
minkum
among you
عِشْرُونَ
ʿish'rūna
twenty
صَـٰبِرُونَ
ṣābirūna
steadfast
يَغْلِبُوا۟
yaghlibū
they will overcome
مِا۟ئَتَيْنِ ۚ
mi-atayni
two hundred
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
يَكُن
yakun
(there) are
مِّنكُم
minkum
among you
مِّا۟ئَةٌۭ
mi-atun
a hundred
يَغْلِبُوٓا۟
yaghlibū
they will overcome
أَلْفًۭا
alfan
a thousand
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
disbelieve
بِأَنَّهُمْ
bi-annahum
because they
قَوْمٌۭ
qawmun
(are) a people
لَّا
lā
(who do) not
يَفْقَهُونَ
yafqahūna
understand
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 65) ➊ {حَرِّضِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ عَلَى الْقِتَالِ …:} The meaning of "tahriz" is to strongly encourage and incite someone to do something. Some scholars say that the mention of jihad in the Noble Qur’an amounts to almost seven parts (juz’). The books of hadith are filled with the virtues of jihad in the Book of Jihad. Here, twenty Muslims are being commanded to prevail over two hundred disbelievers. However, this command is in the form of a statement, because it is well known that when a command is to be given with great emphasis, it is given in the words of a statement. For example, if it is to be said, "Everyone should go to the mosque for prayer," it is said, "Everyone will go to the mosque." Here, twenty Muslims are being commanded to prevail over two hundred disbelievers, but in the words of a statement: if twenty of you are steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. The meaning is that they should overcome them. The proof is in the next verse, that now Allah has lightened (the command) for you, so if a hundred of you are steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. The meaning is that they should overcome two hundred. Clearly, lightening is done in a command, not in a statement. In these verses, there is also glad tidings, but with the condition of faith and patience.
➋ {بِاَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُوْنَ:} That is, they do not use understanding, nor do they have the intention of attaining reward or martyrdom, nor of saving themselves from punishment, nor do they fight for any lasting and eternal purpose. Therefore, they do not possess that spirit and moral strength which gives them the courage to stand firm on the battlefield. So how can they face those devoted fighters whose greatest desire is to attain the virtue of martyrdom?
➌ After mentioning twenty prevailing over two hundred, the wisdom in mentioning a hundred prevailing over a thousand is that whether the army is small or large, each is given this command and each is promised victory.
➋ {بِاَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُوْنَ:} That is, they do not use understanding, nor do they have the intention of attaining reward or martyrdom, nor of saving themselves from punishment, nor do they fight for any lasting and eternal purpose. Therefore, they do not possess that spirit and moral strength which gives them the courage to stand firm on the battlefield. So how can they face those devoted fighters whose greatest desire is to attain the virtue of martyrdom?
➌ After mentioning twenty prevailing over two hundred, the wisdom in mentioning a hundred prevailing over a thousand is that whether the army is small or large, each is given this command and each is promised victory.
