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 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 68) {لَوْ لَا كِتٰبٌ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ سَبَقَ …:} Here, “the Book written by Allah” can mean several things. One is that if war booty had not been made lawful for this Ummah, as is understood from the hadith in Bukhari (335) [ وَ أُحِلَّتْ لِيَ الْغَنَائِمُ ] (“And war booty has been made lawful for me”), and Ibn Jarir (may Allah have mercy on him) preferred this view. Another is that the sins of the Companions who participated in Badr had already been forgiven, etc. (Ibn Kathir, Fath al-Qadeer) Some scholars have said that the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was a barrier to the descent of punishment, as He said: «وَ مَا كَانَ اللّٰهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَ اَنْتَ فِيْهِمْ» [ الأنفال : ۳۳ ] “And Allah would not punish them while you are among them.” Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: “It had already been written that among those captives, many were destined to become Muslim.” (Mawdhih) In short, if these things had not already been decreed, punishment would have descended upon you.
