سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 30
وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلْمَـٰكِرِينَ ﴿30﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (remember) when the disbelievers plotted against you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) to imprison you, or to kill you, or to get you out (from your home, i.e. Makkah); they were plotting and Allâh too was plotting; and Allâh is the Best of those who plot.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذْ
wa-idh
And when
يَمْكُرُ
yamkuru
plotted
بِكَ
bika
against you
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
disbelieved
لِيُثْبِتُوكَ
liyuth'bitūka
that they restrain you
أَوْ
aw
or
يَقْتُلُوكَ
yaqtulūka
kill you
أَوْ
aw
or
يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ
yukh'rijūka
drive you out
وَيَمْكُرُونَ
wayamkurūna
And they were planning
وَيَمْكُرُ
wayamkuru
and (also) was planning
ٱللَّهُ ۖ
l-lahu
Allah
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
خَيْرُ
khayru
is (the) Best
ٱلْمَـٰكِرِينَ
l-mākirīna
(of) the Planners
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.
30. And (O Prophet, remember) when the disbelievers were plotting against you to imprison you, kill you, or expel you. They were planning, and Allah was planning [31], and Allah is the best of planners.
[31]
The Consultation to Imprison, Exile, or Kill the Prophet ﷺ:
When some Muslims migrated to Madinah, the disbelievers of Makkah became alarmed that if Muhammad ﷺ escaped from our hands here in Makkah, then this danger would slip out of our control. Therefore, whatever the means, a solution should be thought of immediately. For this purpose, they held a meeting in Dar al-Nadwah and sought suggestions and opinions from the participants. Someone said that he should be shackled and imprisoned. Satan, who himself attended this meeting in human form, said: This suggestion is not correct. Because his followers are so devoted to him that they will risk their lives and eventually succeed in freeing him at some point. Another said he should be exiled from here. The benefit of this would be that at least we would be rid of his daily talk. Satan said this suggestion is also not correct. Because there is so much magic in this man's speech and words that wherever he goes, his devoted followers will arise there. Then, taking them, he could attack you at any time. Later, Abu Jahl spoke and said that we should take one young man from each tribe, and all of them together should attack Muhammad ﷺ at once and finish him off. Now, it is obvious that Banu Abd Manaf cannot risk fighting all the tribes. Inevitably, the matter will be settled with blood money, which all the tribes will jointly pay their share of. Hearing this opinion, a gleam appeared in Satan's eyes and he liked this opinion very much. Then, the time for this task was also set in that very meeting: on such-and-such night, all these young men would surround Muhammad ﷺ' house, and when he came out, they would all attack him at once and finish him off.
The Immediate Cause of the Prophet’s ﷺ Migration:
While these consultations were taking place, on the other side Allah, through revelation, informed His Prophet of the proceedings of this meeting and also granted permission for migration. The Prophet ﷺ, in the blazing afternoon when people are usually resting, secretly went to the house of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ and informed him that permission for migration had been granted. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ was already waiting for this opportunity. Thus, together with Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ, he secretly reached the Cave of Thawr. (The details of this will come at another place.) That very night, the group of assassins had planned to besiege the Prophet’s house. They arrived at their duty on time. When the Prophet ﷺ did not come out of the house until morning, they themselves entered and saw that no one was present except Sayyiduna Ali ؓ, and when they found out that the Prophet ﷺ had already left, their anger knew no bounds. Because Allah had completely foiled the plan approved by their entire assembly.
[31]
The Consultation to Imprison, Exile, or Kill the Prophet ﷺ:
When some Muslims migrated to Madinah, the disbelievers of Makkah became alarmed that if Muhammad ﷺ escaped from our hands here in Makkah, then this danger would slip out of our control. Therefore, whatever the means, a solution should be thought of immediately. For this purpose, they held a meeting in Dar al-Nadwah and sought suggestions and opinions from the participants. Someone said that he should be shackled and imprisoned. Satan, who himself attended this meeting in human form, said: This suggestion is not correct. Because his followers are so devoted to him that they will risk their lives and eventually succeed in freeing him at some point. Another said he should be exiled from here. The benefit of this would be that at least we would be rid of his daily talk. Satan said this suggestion is also not correct. Because there is so much magic in this man's speech and words that wherever he goes, his devoted followers will arise there. Then, taking them, he could attack you at any time. Later, Abu Jahl spoke and said that we should take one young man from each tribe, and all of them together should attack Muhammad ﷺ at once and finish him off. Now, it is obvious that Banu Abd Manaf cannot risk fighting all the tribes. Inevitably, the matter will be settled with blood money, which all the tribes will jointly pay their share of. Hearing this opinion, a gleam appeared in Satan's eyes and he liked this opinion very much. Then, the time for this task was also set in that very meeting: on such-and-such night, all these young men would surround Muhammad ﷺ' house, and when he came out, they would all attack him at once and finish him off.
The Immediate Cause of the Prophet’s ﷺ Migration:
While these consultations were taking place, on the other side Allah, through revelation, informed His Prophet of the proceedings of this meeting and also granted permission for migration. The Prophet ﷺ, in the blazing afternoon when people are usually resting, secretly went to the house of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ and informed him that permission for migration had been granted. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ was already waiting for this opportunity. Thus, together with Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ, he secretly reached the Cave of Thawr. (The details of this will come at another place.) That very night, the group of assassins had planned to besiege the Prophet’s house. They arrived at their duty on time. When the Prophet ﷺ did not come out of the house until morning, they themselves entered and saw that no one was present except Sayyiduna Ali ؓ, and when they found out that the Prophet ﷺ had already left, their anger knew no bounds. Because Allah had completely foiled the plan approved by their entire assembly.
