سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 1
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْأَنفَالِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلْأَنفَالُ لِلَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُوا۟ ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ ۖ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿1﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) about the spoils of war. Say: "The spoils are for Allâh and the Messenger." So fear Allâh and adjust all matters of difference among you, and obey Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), if you are believers.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ
yasalūnaka
They ask you
عَنِ
ʿani
about
ٱلْأَنفَالِ ۖ
l-anfāli
the spoils of war
قُلِ
quli
Say
ٱلْأَنفَالُ
l-anfālu
The spoils of war
لِلَّهِ
lillahi
(are) for Allah
وَٱلرَّسُولِ ۖ
wal-rasūli
and the Messenger
فَٱتَّقُوا۟
fa-ittaqū
So fear
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
وَأَصْلِحُوا۟
wa-aṣliḥū
and set right
ذَاتَ
dhāta
that
بَيْنِكُمْ ۖ
baynikum
(which is) between you
وَأَطِيعُوا۟
wa-aṭīʿū
and obey
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ
warasūlahu
and His Messenger
إِن
in
if
كُنتُم
kuntum
you are
مُّؤْمِنِينَ
mu'minīna
believers
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
1. They ask you about the spoils of war [1]. Say, "The spoils belong to Allah and His Messenger [3]." So fear Allah, set matters right among yourselves [4], and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you are believers.
[1]
What is Meant by Anfal (Surplus Wealth)?
Anfal or surplus wealth refers to those assets which are not the result of anyone’s labor, but rather are granted purely by Allah’s grace and favor, and they have several types, such as:
(1) Spoils of war (ghanimah), which, although they seem to be the reward for the efforts of the fighters, are counted among the anfal because, for previous communities, the spoils of war were forbidden. All such wealth would be gathered in one place, and then at night, a fire would descend and consume it. But for this Ummah, it has been made lawful.
(2) Fay’ wealth, i.e., such assets that come into the hands of Muslims without fighting.
(3) Salb wealth, i.e., the property that a fighter takes from the body of a slain enemy.
(4) Other assets such as jizyah, charity, and gifts, etc. All these fall under the category of anfal.
[2]
The Circumstances of Revelation of Surah Anfal, the Battle of Badr, and the Dispute Over Spoils of War:
At the end of the Battle of Badr, the situation arose that the group who had collected the spoils of war had taken possession of them. Another group, who had pursued the disbelievers, said that they too were equal partners in these assets, because if they had not pursued the disbelievers, the latter could have turned back and attacked, and thus victory could have turned into defeat. A third group, who had formed a protective circle around the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said that they too were equal shareholders in these assets, because if they had not protected him, and God forbid, any harm had come to him, victory could have turned into defeat. However, those in possession were not willing to accept such arguments, which led to tension among the fighters. When this situation was presented to the Prophet ﷺ, he remained silent and awaited divine revelation. At that time, this verse—and indeed a large part of this Surah—was revealed, which begins by addressing the moral weaknesses of the Muslims and the ways to correct them.
[3]
Why Are the Spoils of War for Allah and His Messenger?
Regarding the spoils of war and similar assets, Allah made a clear decision that they belong to Allah and His Messenger. Therefore, there is no need for you to dispute over them. Whatever decision Allah’s Messenger ﷺ makes regarding these assets, you must accept it. As is evident from the following hadith: Sayyiduna Sa’d ؓ narrates that on the day of Badr, I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with a sword and said, “O Messenger of Allah! Allah has cooled my heart by (allowing me to kill) the polytheists,” or words to that effect, “so please give me this sword.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “This sword is neither mine nor yours.” I thought to myself, perhaps the Prophet ﷺ would give this sword to someone who had not striven as I had. Then a messenger from the Prophet ﷺ came to me and said, “You asked me for the sword. At that time, it was not mine, but now I have been given authority, so I give it to you.” At that time, this verse was revealed: [ترمذي، ابواب التفسير، مسلم، كتاب الجهاد والسيه، باب الانفال]
And the reason for declaring the spoils of war as the right of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ was that in the Battle of Badr, the Muslims achieved victory purely through Allah’s help and mercy, as will be detailed later. Then, according to verse 41 of this Surah, one-fifth of the spoils of war was allocated for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, and the remaining four-fifths were to be distributed equally among the fighters. As is clear from the following hadith: Sayyiduna ‘Ubada bin Samit ؓ narrates that Allah took the spoils of war from our hands and placed them under the authority of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then the Prophet ﷺ distributed them equally [حاكم، كتاب التفسير]. As for fay’ assets, salb assets, and miscellaneous assets, they each have their own rulings, which will be explained in their respective places.
[4] That is, do not ruin your relationships by getting involved in disputes over the spoils of war. Rather, fear Allah and accept His command, and accept the way the Messenger ﷺ distributes these assets, and make obedience to him your way in every matter. And if you truly believe in Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, then you should willingly accept these rulings.
[1]
What is Meant by Anfal (Surplus Wealth)?
Anfal or surplus wealth refers to those assets which are not the result of anyone’s labor, but rather are granted purely by Allah’s grace and favor, and they have several types, such as:
(1) Spoils of war (ghanimah), which, although they seem to be the reward for the efforts of the fighters, are counted among the anfal because, for previous communities, the spoils of war were forbidden. All such wealth would be gathered in one place, and then at night, a fire would descend and consume it. But for this Ummah, it has been made lawful.
(2) Fay’ wealth, i.e., such assets that come into the hands of Muslims without fighting.
(3) Salb wealth, i.e., the property that a fighter takes from the body of a slain enemy.
(4) Other assets such as jizyah, charity, and gifts, etc. All these fall under the category of anfal.
[2]
The Circumstances of Revelation of Surah Anfal, the Battle of Badr, and the Dispute Over Spoils of War:
At the end of the Battle of Badr, the situation arose that the group who had collected the spoils of war had taken possession of them. Another group, who had pursued the disbelievers, said that they too were equal partners in these assets, because if they had not pursued the disbelievers, the latter could have turned back and attacked, and thus victory could have turned into defeat. A third group, who had formed a protective circle around the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said that they too were equal shareholders in these assets, because if they had not protected him, and God forbid, any harm had come to him, victory could have turned into defeat. However, those in possession were not willing to accept such arguments, which led to tension among the fighters. When this situation was presented to the Prophet ﷺ, he remained silent and awaited divine revelation. At that time, this verse—and indeed a large part of this Surah—was revealed, which begins by addressing the moral weaknesses of the Muslims and the ways to correct them.
[3]
Why Are the Spoils of War for Allah and His Messenger?
Regarding the spoils of war and similar assets, Allah made a clear decision that they belong to Allah and His Messenger. Therefore, there is no need for you to dispute over them. Whatever decision Allah’s Messenger ﷺ makes regarding these assets, you must accept it. As is evident from the following hadith: Sayyiduna Sa’d ؓ narrates that on the day of Badr, I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with a sword and said, “O Messenger of Allah! Allah has cooled my heart by (allowing me to kill) the polytheists,” or words to that effect, “so please give me this sword.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “This sword is neither mine nor yours.” I thought to myself, perhaps the Prophet ﷺ would give this sword to someone who had not striven as I had. Then a messenger from the Prophet ﷺ came to me and said, “You asked me for the sword. At that time, it was not mine, but now I have been given authority, so I give it to you.” At that time, this verse was revealed: [ترمذي، ابواب التفسير، مسلم، كتاب الجهاد والسيه، باب الانفال]
And the reason for declaring the spoils of war as the right of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ was that in the Battle of Badr, the Muslims achieved victory purely through Allah’s help and mercy, as will be detailed later. Then, according to verse 41 of this Surah, one-fifth of the spoils of war was allocated for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, and the remaining four-fifths were to be distributed equally among the fighters. As is clear from the following hadith: Sayyiduna ‘Ubada bin Samit ؓ narrates that Allah took the spoils of war from our hands and placed them under the authority of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then the Prophet ﷺ distributed them equally [حاكم، كتاب التفسير]. As for fay’ assets, salb assets, and miscellaneous assets, they each have their own rulings, which will be explained in their respective places.
[4] That is, do not ruin your relationships by getting involved in disputes over the spoils of war. Rather, fear Allah and accept His command, and accept the way the Messenger ﷺ distributes these assets, and make obedience to him your way in every matter. And if you truly believe in Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, then you should willingly accept these rulings.
