سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 39
وَقَـٰتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ ٱلدِّينُ كُلُّهُۥ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنِ ٱنتَهَوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿39﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism, i.e. worshipping others besides Allâh) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allâh Alone [in the whole of the world]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allâh), then certainly, Allâh is All-Seer of what they do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَقَـٰتِلُوهُمْ
waqātilūhum
And fight them
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
لَا
lā
not
تَكُونَ
takūna
there is
فِتْنَةٌۭ
fit'natun
oppression
وَيَكُونَ
wayakūna
and is
ٱلدِّينُ
l-dīnu
the religion
كُلُّهُۥ
kulluhu
all of it
لِلَّهِ ۚ
lillahi
for Allah
فَإِنِ
fa-ini
But if
ٱنتَهَوْا۟
intahaw
they cease
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
then indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
بِمَا
bimā
of what
يَعْمَلُونَ
yaʿmalūna
they do
بَصِيرٌۭ
baṣīrun
(is) All-Seer
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.
39. And fight against them until there is no more persecution [40] and the religion is entirely for Allah [41]. But if they desist, then surely Allah is All-Seeing of what they do.
[40]
The Meaning of Fitnah and the Need for Jihad:
The word "fitnah" is very broad in meaning, and here it refers to every hostile effort against Islam that becomes an obstacle in the path of Islam. Removing such an obstacle and clearing the way for Islam is called jihad fi sabilillah. Now, these hostile activities are of two types. One is that in places where Muslims live, the disbelievers there create obstacles in the way of Muslims practicing the Shariah commands or make their lives difficult. The second type is that Muslims are free in their own place, but obstacles are created in conveying the message of Islam to others. Islam commands jihad in both these situations. In today's language, the first type of jihad is called defensive war, and the second type is called offensive war. Islam does not differentiate between these two types of wars. Because the very definition of jihad fi sabilillah is: «لتكون كلمة الله هي العليا» that is, the word of Allah becomes supreme, and this can only be achieved when every kind of obstacle or fitnah is eradicated.
[41]
Conditions for Offensive Jihad:
This does not mean that jihad should continue until the whole world becomes Muslim. There is no justification for such an offensive war, because no one can be forced to accept Islam, let alone be compelled to accept Islam by the sword. Rather, it means that no country, region, or nation should create obstacles in the way of Islam, and there are several forms of this. For example, they become Muslim, or accept to pay jizyah, or become allies of the Muslims, or are willing to remain neutral and make a treaty. In these cases, they will not be interfered with. In other words, the meaning of this statement will be that the supremacy of Islam is established, and the most complete form of this supremacy is that the whole world becomes Muslim, as will happen in the time of 'Isa ؑ after the descent of the Messiah.
[40]
The Meaning of Fitnah and the Need for Jihad:
The word "fitnah" is very broad in meaning, and here it refers to every hostile effort against Islam that becomes an obstacle in the path of Islam. Removing such an obstacle and clearing the way for Islam is called jihad fi sabilillah. Now, these hostile activities are of two types. One is that in places where Muslims live, the disbelievers there create obstacles in the way of Muslims practicing the Shariah commands or make their lives difficult. The second type is that Muslims are free in their own place, but obstacles are created in conveying the message of Islam to others. Islam commands jihad in both these situations. In today's language, the first type of jihad is called defensive war, and the second type is called offensive war. Islam does not differentiate between these two types of wars. Because the very definition of jihad fi sabilillah is: «لتكون كلمة الله هي العليا» that is, the word of Allah becomes supreme, and this can only be achieved when every kind of obstacle or fitnah is eradicated.
[41]
Conditions for Offensive Jihad:
This does not mean that jihad should continue until the whole world becomes Muslim. There is no justification for such an offensive war, because no one can be forced to accept Islam, let alone be compelled to accept Islam by the sword. Rather, it means that no country, region, or nation should create obstacles in the way of Islam, and there are several forms of this. For example, they become Muslim, or accept to pay jizyah, or become allies of the Muslims, or are willing to remain neutral and make a treaty. In these cases, they will not be interfered with. In other words, the meaning of this statement will be that the supremacy of Islam is established, and the most complete form of this supremacy is that the whole world becomes Muslim, as will happen in the time of 'Isa ؑ after the descent of the Messiah.
