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Learn › Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr The Complete Qurʾān Commentary › Lesson 8

Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr The Complete Qurʾān Commentary · As-Sabʿ al-Ṭiwāl The Seven Long Surahs
Lesson 8

Sūrah Al-Anfāl The Spoils of War

الأنفال

75 verses, Madanī. Revealed immediately after the Battle of Badr the first major military confrontation in Islam. Ibn Kathīr covers the distribution of war spoils, the ethics of warfare, the required qualities of the believers, and the conditions for fighting and making peace.

Surah Overview

DetailInformationClassificationSignificance
SurahالأنفالAl-Anfāl The SpoilsRevealed after Badr (2 AH)
TypeMadanī75 versesJuzʾ 9–10
ContextBattle of Badr 2 AHFirst major battle in Islam313 Muslims vs 1000 Quraysh
Key RulingDistribution of Ghanimah (war booty)4/5 to fighters · 1/5 (Khums) to Allah8:41 the Khums verse

Key Themes from Ibn Kathīr

The spoils belong to Allah and His Messenger (8:1): When the companions disagreed over how to divide the spoils of Badr, Allah resolved it taking the matter out of their hands and establishing the khums system: one-fifth for Allah, His Messenger, the kin, orphans, the poor, and the traveller.

Qualities of the true believers (8:2–4): Hearts tremble at the mention of Allah, faith increases when His verses are recited, trust is in Allah alone, establish prayer, spend from what is provided. These are the ones who have true faith they have ranks with their Lord, forgiveness, and generous provision.

The angels at Badr (8:9–12): The Muslims called upon Allah when facing overwhelming odds. He answered sending a thousand angels in ranks. Ibn Kathīr: the angels did not fight directly but strengthened the believers' hearts and weakened the disbelievers' resolve.

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا Innamā l-muʾminūna lladhīna idhā dhukira llāhu wajilat qulūbuhum wa idhā tuliyat ʿalayhim āyātuhu zādat-hum īmānā The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts tremble with fear; and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith... (8:2)
وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ Wa aʿiddū lahum mā staṭaʿtum min quwwatin wa min ribāṭi l-khayli turhbūna bihi ʿaduwwa llāh And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah... (8:60) The verse of military preparedness.
  • Badr as a day of criterion (8:41): Yawm al-Furqān the Day of Distinction when truth and falsehood were separated on the battlefield. Ibn Kathīr: Badr established the Muslim community as a political and military reality.
  • Do not betray Allah and the Messenger (8:27): And do not betray your trusts knowingly. This verse was revealed regarding Abū Lubābah ؓ who signalled to Banū Qurayẓah against the Prophet's ﷺ judgment and then bound himself to a pillar in repentance.
  • The prisoners of Badr (8:67–69): A Prophet should not have prisoners until he has subdued the land. The ransom of the prisoners was permitted after the fact a concession from Allah. Ibn Kathīr: the default ruling would have been to kill them all.
  • Strong rope of faith and treaty (8:72–73): Those who believed and emigrated and those who helped they are allies of one another. This verse established the brotherhood (muʾākhāh) between the Muhājirūn and Anṣār as a legal bond.
  • Preparedness as deterrence (8:60): The verse of quwwah power and readiness. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Indeed, strength is in archery" repeated three times. Ibn Kathīr: the verse is not limited to cavalry; any means of legitimate military strength is included.

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