سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 70
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّمَن فِىٓ أَيْدِيكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَسْرَىٰٓ إِن يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّهُ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ خَيْرًا يُؤْتِكُمْ خَيْرًا مِّمَّآ أُخِذَ مِنكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿70﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O Prophet (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) Say to the captives that are in your hands! "If Allâh knows any good in your hearts, He will give you something better than what has been taken from you, and He will forgive you, and Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O
ٱلنَّبِىُّ
l-nabiyu
Prophet
قُل
qul
Say
لِّمَن
liman
to whoever
فِىٓ
fī
(is) in
أَيْدِيكُم
aydīkum
your hands
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلْأَسْرَىٰٓ
l-asrā
the captives
إِن
in
If
يَعْلَمِ
yaʿlami
knows
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
فِى
fī
in
قُلُوبِكُمْ
qulūbikum
your hearts
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
any good
يُؤْتِكُمْ
yu'tikum
He will give you
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
better
مِّمَّآ
mimmā
than what
أُخِذَ
ukhidha
was taken
مِنكُمْ
minkum
from you
وَيَغْفِرْ
wayaghfir
and He will forgive
لَكُمْ ۗ
lakum
you
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
غَفُورٌۭ
ghafūrun
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٌۭ
raḥīmun
Most Merciful
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.
O Prophet, say to those captives who are in your hands: "If Allah knows any good in your hearts [72], He will give you better than what has been taken from you, and He will forgive you. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."
[72]
The Ransom of Sayyiduna Abbas, the Reason for His Acceptance of Islam, and Allah’s Mercy Upon Him:
The Prophet ﷺ said to his uncle, Sayyiduna Abbas ؓ, “Pay the ransom for yourself and your two nephews.” He replied, “I have no wealth, and during the battle, twenty-four uqiyah were taken from me by force as a contribution; consider that as our ransom.” He thought that perhaps, due to kinship, he would be released without giving anything (he was wealthy but naturally stingy, as he used to engage in usury. Thus, when usury was declared forbidden, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ announced at the great gathering of the Farewell Pilgrimage that the first usury he was abolishing was that of Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib from his own family). The Prophet ﷺ, being aware of his uncle’s nature, instructed the Companions not to leave him even a single coin from the ransom money. Then the Prophet ﷺ addressed his uncle and said, “Where is the wealth that you and Umm al-Fadl have hidden together?” This was something that no one except them knew. When Sayyiduna Abbas heard this, he said, “I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah,” and he accepted Islam. Then he paid the ransom for himself, his two nephews, and his ally Utbah bin Amr. He used to say, “Twenty uqiyah were taken from me as ransom, but in return, Allah has given me much more wealth in this world. At this time, I have twenty slaves whose earnings bring me great benefit. Also, Allah Almighty has granted me the custodianship of Zamzam. Moreover, I hope for forgiveness from Allah as well.”
[72]
The Ransom of Sayyiduna Abbas, the Reason for His Acceptance of Islam, and Allah’s Mercy Upon Him:
The Prophet ﷺ said to his uncle, Sayyiduna Abbas ؓ, “Pay the ransom for yourself and your two nephews.” He replied, “I have no wealth, and during the battle, twenty-four uqiyah were taken from me by force as a contribution; consider that as our ransom.” He thought that perhaps, due to kinship, he would be released without giving anything (he was wealthy but naturally stingy, as he used to engage in usury. Thus, when usury was declared forbidden, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ announced at the great gathering of the Farewell Pilgrimage that the first usury he was abolishing was that of Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib from his own family). The Prophet ﷺ, being aware of his uncle’s nature, instructed the Companions not to leave him even a single coin from the ransom money. Then the Prophet ﷺ addressed his uncle and said, “Where is the wealth that you and Umm al-Fadl have hidden together?” This was something that no one except them knew. When Sayyiduna Abbas heard this, he said, “I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah,” and he accepted Islam. Then he paid the ransom for himself, his two nephews, and his ally Utbah bin Amr. He used to say, “Twenty uqiyah were taken from me as ransom, but in return, Allah has given me much more wealth in this world. At this time, I have twenty slaves whose earnings bring me great benefit. Also, Allah Almighty has granted me the custodianship of Zamzam. Moreover, I hope for forgiveness from Allah as well.”
