Sweetness of the Qur’an Class # 8 ()وة ا$رآن

Surah Al Anfal(سورة ا.-ال) Surah Al Anfal is a Medani surah. It comes after Surah Al ‘Araf and before Surah At Tawbah and is a shorter surah compared to both of these surahs.

Names of the Surah (أسمآء السورة)

Al Anfal (األنفال): meaning something extra. It is referring to the booty that is the earning of the war (مكاسب الحرب). The booty is not the goal of the war. Badr (بدر): the surah mentions the incidents that occurred in the battle of Badr (تتحدث .(عن غزوة بدرAl Qitaal (القتال): as it refers to the first battle in Islam (اول قتال في االسالم). Al Furqaan (الفرقان): the day of battle is the day of criterion (يوم القتال يوم الفرقان).

Virtues of Surah (فضل السورة) Best of the battles (افضل الغزوات): the surah is about the best battle which is the Battle of Badr. It was the first battle and it is not easy to be in the first battle. Best of the people (افضل العباد)

اد بن سلمة، ح وحدثنا أحمد بن سنان، حدثنا يزيد بن هارون، حدثنا موسى بن إسماعيل، حدثنا حماد بن سلمة، عن عاصم، عن أبي صالح، عن أبي هريرة، قال قال رسول اهلل صلى اهلل عليه أخبرنا حموسلم قال موسى " فلعل اهلل " . وقال ابن سنان " اطلع اهلل على أهل بدر فقال اعملوا ما شئتم فقد غفرت

لكم " .

Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص) as saying – will be according to the version of Musa :Perhaps Allah, and Ibn Sinan’s version has : Allah looked at the participants

of the battle of Badr (with mercy) and said : Do whatever you wish ; I have forgiven you.(Sunan Abi Dawud 4654)

Main Theme of the Surah (املحور الرئيسي للسورة)

The main theme of Surah Al Anfal is the laws for victory (قوانني النصر). Even though the word anfal means the booty of the war, it is not the main purpose of the battle.

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Sweetness of the Qur’an Class # 8 ()وة ا$رآن

Ayah 1-9: Divine laws of victory (القوانني الربانية) Ayah 1-4: Ruling regarding the booty and description of the believers (حكم who are the real believers? What is their motive and :(الغنائم و صفات املؤمننيcharacteristics? Their motive is not the booty of the war. Ayah 5-19: Story of the Battle of Badr (قصة غزوة بدر) Ayah 20-29: Command to follow the Prophet (ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص) and warning from opposing him (األمر بطاعة الرسول صلى اهلل عليه و سلم و الحذر عن محالفته) Ayah 30-40: Plot of the mushrikeen against the Prophet (ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص) (مكر املشركني (بالنبي صلى اهلل عليه و سلم

Ayah 41-75: Material laws of victory (القوانني املادية) Ayah 41-: Division of the booty (تقسيم الغنائم) Ayah 42-47: The blessing of victory, command for firmness and do not from dispute (نعمة النصر واالمر بالثبات وعدم التنازع) Ayah 48-49: Plot of the shaitan (مكر الشيطان) Ayah 50-59: Betrayal of the disbelievers (تخوين الكفار) Ayah 60-64: Command to prepare physically (األمر بإعداد القوة) Ayah 65-71: Verbal encouragement for battle (التحريض على القتال) Ayah 72-75: Strength of the unity of the Muslims and caution from enemies (قوة رابطة اإلسالم و الحذر من املواالة)

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Sweetness of the Qur’an Class # 8 ()وة ا$رآنHighlights of the Surah

Warning from fleeing the battlefield (التحذير من الفرار وعند اللقاء). Listen to and obey the leaders (السمع والطاعة). Warning from revealing the secrets (التحذير من افشاء سر االمة). Fruits of taqwa (ثمرة التقوى): Allah tells us in ayah 29- (يا أيها الذين آمنوا إن تتقوا اهلل !O you who believe يجعل لكم فرقانا ويكفر عنكم سيئاتكم ويغفر لكم واهلل ذو الفضل العظيمIf you obey and fear Allah, He will grant you Furqan a criterion [(to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. making a way for you to get out from every difficulty)], and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you, and Allah is the Owner of the Great Bounty).

He will grant you Furqan a criterion [(to judge between right and wrong) (يجعل لكم فرقانا)Expiation of sins (يكفر سيئات) Forgiveness of sins (يغفر الذنوب)

Means for the victory (اسباب النصر): Firmness + Remember Allah abundantly (الثبات + ذكر اهلل كثيرا): Allah tells us in ayah 45: (يا أيها الذين آمنوا إذا لقيتم فئة فاثبتوا واذكروا اهلل كثيرا لعلكم تفلحون O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them and remember the Name of Allah much (both with tongue and mind), so that you may be successful) Obey Allah and His Messengers + Do not dispute + Be patient (طاعة اهلل وأطيعوا اهلل ورسوله وال) :Allah tells us in ayah 46 :(ورسوله + ال تنازعوا + اصبرواابرين And obey Allah تنازعوا فتفشلوا وتذهب ريحكم واصبروا إن اهلل مع الصand His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.)) Don’t have these characteristics (boastful/ungrateful + showing off + stopping from the way of Allah) (بطرا + رئاء الناس + يصدون عن) ال تكونوا وال تكونوا كالذين خرجوا من ديارهم بطرا ورئاء) Allah tells us in ayah 47 :(سبيل اهلل And be not like those who الناس ويصدون عن سبيل اهلل واهلل بما يعملون محيطcome out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men, and hinder (men) from the Path of Allah. and Allah is Muhitun (encircling and thoroughly comprehending) all that they do)

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