Chapter 8

Surah Al Anfal (The Spoils of War)

8.21

surah 8 - verse 21

translator's name verse
Arberry and be not as those who say, 'We hear,' and they hear not.
Maududi And do not be like those who say: 'We hear', though they do not hearken.
Pickthall Be not as those who say, we hear, and they hear not.
Sahih And do not be like those who say, "We have heard," while they do not hear.
Yusuf Ali Nor be like those who say, "We hear," but listen not:

8.22

surah 8 - verse 22

translator's name verse
Arberry Surely the worst of beasts in God's sight are those that are deaf and dumb and do not understand.
Maududi Indeed the worst kind of all beasts in the sight of Allah are the people that are deaf and dumb, and do not understand.
Pickthall Lo! the worst of beasts in Allah's sight are the deaf, the dumb, who have no sense.
Sahih Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are the deaf and dumb who do not use reason.
Yusuf Ali For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are the deaf and the dumb,- those who understand not.

8.23

surah 8 - verse 23

translator's name verse
Arberry If God had known of any good in them He would have made them hear; and if He had made them hear, they would have turned away, swerving aside.
Maududi And had Allah known in them any good He would surely, have made them hear; but (being as they, are) even if He made them hear, they would have surely turned away in aversion.
Pickthall Had Allah known of any good in them He would have made them hear, but had He made them hear they would have turned away, averse.
Sahih Had Allah known any good in them, He would have made them hear. And if He had made them hear, they would [still] have turned away, while they were refusing.
Yusuf Ali If Allah had found in them any good. He would indeed have made them listen: (As it is), if He had made them listen, they would but have turned back and declined (Faith).

8.24

surah 8 - verse 24

translator's name verse
Arberry O believers, respond to God and the Messenger when He calls you unto that which will give you life; and know that God stands between a man and his heart, and that to Him you shall be mustered.
Maududi Believers! Respond to Allah, and respond to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. Know well that Allah stands between a man and his heart, and it is to Him that all of you shall be mustered.
Pickthall O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and the messenger when He calleth you to that which quickeneth you, and know that Allah cometh in between the man and his own heart, and that He it is unto Whom ye will be gathered.
Sahih O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered.
Yusuf Ali O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calleth you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart, and that it is He to Whom ye shall (all) be gathered.

8.25

surah 8 - verse 25

translator's name verse
Arberry And fear a trial which shall surely not smite in particular the evildoers among you; and know that God is terrible in retribution.
Maududi And guard against the mischief that will not only bring punishment to the wrong-doers among you. Know well that Allah is severe in punishment.
Pickthall And guard yourselves against a chastisement which cannot fall exclusively on those of you who are wrong-doers, and know that Allah is severe in punishment.
Sahih And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allah is severe in penalty.
Yusuf Ali And fear tumult or oppression, which affecteth not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong: and know that Allah is strict in punishment.

8.26

surah 8 - verse 26

translator's name verse
Arberry And remember when you were few and abased in the land, and were fearful that the people would snatch you away; but He gave you refuge, and confirmed you with His help, and provided you with the good things, that haply you might be thankful.
Maududi And recall when you were few in numbers and deemed weak in the land, fearful lest people do away with you. Then He provided you refuge, strengthened you with His help, and provided you sustenance with good things that you may be grateful.
Pickthall And remember, when ye were few and reckoned feeble in the land, and were in fear lest men should extirpate you, how He gave you refuge, and strengthened you with His help, and made provision of good things for you, that haply ye might be thankful.
Sahih And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, fearing that people might abduct you, but He sheltered you, supported you with His victory, and provided you with good things - that you might be grateful.
Yusuf Ali Call to mind when ye were a small (band), despised through the land, and afraid that men might despoil and kidnap you; But He provided a safe asylum for you, strengthened you with His aid, and gave you Good things for sustenance: that ye might be grateful.

8.27

surah 8 - verse 27

translator's name verse
Arberry O believers, betray not God and the Messenger, and betray not your trusts and that wittingly;
Maududi Believers! Do not be unfaithful to Allah and the Messenger, nor be knowingly unfaithful to your trusts.
Pickthall O ye who believe! Betray not Allah and His messenger, nor knowingly betray your trusts.
Sahih O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence].
Yusuf Ali O ye that believe! betray not the trust of Allah and the Messenger, nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you.

8.28

surah 8 - verse 28

translator's name verse
Arberry and know that your wealth and your children are a trial, and that with God is a mighty wage.
Maududi Know well that your belongings and your children are but a trial, and that with Allah there is a mighty reward.
Pickthall And know that your possessions and your children are a test, and that with Allah is immense reward.
Sahih And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allah has with Him a great reward.
Yusuf Ali And know ye that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial; and that it is Allah with Whom lies your highest reward.

8.29

surah 8 - verse 29

translator's name verse
Arberry O believers, if you fear God, He will assign you a salvation, and acquit you of your evil deeds, and forgive you; and God is of bounty abounding.
Maududi Believers! If you fear Allah He will grant you a criterion and will cleanse you of your sins and forgive you. Allah is Lord of abounding bounty.
Pickthall O ye who believe! If ye keep your duty to Allah, He will give you discrimination (between right and wrong) and will rid you of your evil thoughts and deeds, and will forgive you. Allah is of Infinite Bounty.
Sahih O you who have believed, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty.
Yusuf Ali O ye who believe! if ye fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion (to judge between right and wrong), remove from you (all) evil (that may afflict) you, and forgive you: for Allah is the Lord of grace unbounded.

8.30

surah 8 - verse 30

translator's name verse
Arberry And when the unbelievers were devising against thee, to confine thee, or slay thee, or to expel thee, and were devising, and God was devising; and God is the best of devisers.
Maududi And recall how those who disbelieved schemed against you to take you captive, or kill you, or drive you away. They schemed and Allah did also scheme. Allah is the best of those who scheme.
Pickthall And when those who disbelieve plot against thee (O Muhammad) to wound thee fatally, or to kill thee or to drive thee forth; they plot, but Allah (also) plotteth; and Allah is the best of plotters.
Sahih And [remember, O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you [from Makkah]. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.
Yusuf Ali Remember how the Unbelievers plotted against thee, to keep thee in bonds, or slay thee, or get thee out (of thy home). They plot and plan, and Allah too plans; but the best of planners is Allah.

8.31

surah 8 - verse 31

translator's name verse
Arberry And When Our signs were being recited to them, they said, 'We have already heard; if we wished, we could say the like of this; this is naught but the fairy-tales of the ancients.'
Maududi And when Our verses are recited to them, they say: 'We have heard. We could, if we willed, compose the like of it. They, are nothing but fables of the ancient times.'
Pickthall And when Our revelations are recited unto them they say: We have heard. If we wish we can speak the like of this. Lo! this is naught but fables of the men of old.
Sahih And when Our verses are recited to them, they say, "We have heard. If we willed, we could say [something] like this. This is not but legends of the former peoples."
Yusuf Ali When Our Signs are rehearsed to them, they say: "We have heard this (before): if we wished, we could say (words) like these: these are nothing but tales of the ancients."

8.32

surah 8 - verse 32

translator's name verse
Arberry And when they said, 'O God, if this be indeed the truth from Thee, then rain down upon us stones out of heaven, or bring us a painful chastisement.'
Maududi And also recall when they said: 'O Allah! If this indeed be the truth from You, then rain down stones upon us from heaven, or bring upon us a painful chastisement.'
Pickthall And when they said: O Allah! If this be indeed the truth from Thee, then rain down stones on us or bring on us some painful doom!
Sahih And [remember] when they said, "O Allah, if this should be the truth from You, then rain down upon us stones from the sky or bring us a painful punishment."
Yusuf Ali Remember how they said: "O Allah if this is indeed the Truth from Thee, rain down on us a shower of stones form the sky, or send us a grievous penalty."

8.33

surah 8 - verse 33

translator's name verse
Arberry But God would never chastise them, with thee among them; God would never chastise them as they begged forgiveness.
Maududi But Allah was not to chastise them while you are in their midst; nor was Allah going to chastise them while they sought His forgiveness.
Pickthall But Allah would not punish them while thou wast with them, nor will He punish them while they seek forgiveness.
Sahih But Allah would not punish them while you, [O Muhammad], are among them, and Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness.
Yusuf Ali But Allah was not going to send them a penalty whilst thou wast amongst them; nor was He going to send it whilst they could ask for pardon.

8.34

surah 8 - verse 34

translator's name verse
Arberry But what have they now, that God should not chastise them, when they are barring from the Holy Mosque, not being its protectors? Its only protectors are the godfearing; but most of them know not.
Maududi But what prevents Allah from chastising them now when they are hindering people from the Holy Mosque, even though they are not even its true guardians. For its true guardians are none but the God-fearing, though most of them do not know that.
Pickthall What (plea) have they that Allah should not punish them, when they debar (His servants) from the Inviolable Place of Worship, though they are not its fitting guardians. Its fitting guardians are those only who keep their duty to Allah. But most of them know not.
Sahih But why should Allah not punish them while they obstruct [people] from al-Masjid al- Haram and they were not [fit to be] its guardians? Its [true] guardians are not but the righteous, but most of them do not know.
Yusuf Ali But what plea have they that Allah should not punish them, when they keep out (men) from the sacred Mosque - and they are not its guardians? No men can be its guardians except the righteous; but most of them do not understand.

8.35

surah 8 - verse 35

translator's name verse
Arberry And their prayer at the House is nothing but a whistling and a clapping of hands -- therefore taste you now the chastisement for your unbelief!
Maududi Their Prayer at the House is nothing but whistling and handclapping. Taste, then, this chastisement for your denying the truth.
Pickthall And their worship at the (holy) House is naught but whistling and hand-clapping. Therefore (it is said unto them): Taste of the doom because ye disbelieve.
Sahih And their prayer at the House was not except whistling and handclapping. So taste the punishment for what you disbelieved.
Yusuf Ali Their prayer at the House (of Allah) is nothing but whistling and clapping of hands: (Its only answer can be), "Taste ye the penalty because ye blasphemed."

8.36

surah 8 - verse 36

translator's name verse
Arberry The unbelievers expend their wealth to bar from God's way, and still they will expend it, till it is an anguish for them, then be overthrown, and the unbelievers will be mustered into Gehenna,
Maududi Surely those who deny the truth spend their wealth to hinder people from the way of Allah, and will continue to so spend until their efforts become a source of intense regret for them, and then they will be vanquished, and then these deniers of the truth will be driven to Hell,
Pickthall Lo! those who disbelieve spend their wealth in order that they may debar (men) from the way of Allah. They will spend it, then it will become an anguish for them, then they will be conquered. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto hell,
Sahih Indeed, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to avert [people] from the way of Allah. So they will spend it; then it will be for them a [source of] regret; then they will be overcome. And those who have disbelieved - unto Hell they will be gathered.
Yusuf Ali The Unbelievers spend their wealth to hinder (man) from the path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend; but in the end they will have (only) regrets and sighs; at length they will be overcome: and the Unbelievers will be gathered together to Hell;-

8.37

surah 8 - verse 37

translator's name verse
Arberry that God may distinguish the corrupt from the good, and place the corrupt one upon another, and so heap them up all together, and put them in Gehenna; those are the losers.
Maududi so that Allah may separate the bad from the good, and join together all those who are bad into a pile one upon another, and cast them into Hell. They, it is they who are the losers.
Pickthall That Allah may separate the wicked from the good, The wicked will He place piece upon piece, and heap them all together, and consign them unto hell. Such verily are the losers.
Sahih [This is] so that Allah may distinguish the wicked from the good and place the wicked some of them upon others and heap them all together and put them into Hell. It is those who are the losers.
Yusuf Ali In order that Allah may separate the impure from the pure, put the impure, one on another, heap them together, and cast them into Hell. They will be the ones to have lost.

8.38

surah 8 - verse 38

translator's name verse
Arberry Say to the unbelievers, if they give over He will forgive them what is past; but if they return, the wont of the ancients is already gone!
Maududi [O Prophet!] Tell the unbelievers that if they desist from evil, their past shall be forgiven and if they revert to their past ways, then it is well known what happened with the people of the past.
Pickthall Tell those who disbelieve that if they cease (from persecution of believers) that which is past will be forgiven them; but if they return (thereto) then the example of the men of old hath already gone (before them, for a warning).
Sahih Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return [to hostility] - then the precedent of the former [rebellious] peoples has already taken place.
Yusuf Ali Say to the Unbelievers, if (now) they desist (from Unbelief), their past would be forgiven them; but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them).

8.39

surah 8 - verse 39

translator's name verse
Arberry Fight them, till there is no persecution and the religion is God's entirely; then if they give over, surely God sees the things they do;
Maududi And fight against them until the mischief ends and the way prescribed by Allah - the whole of it -prevail Then, if they give up mischief, surely Allah sees what they do.
Pickthall And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah. But if they cease, then lo! Allah is Seer of what they do.
Sahih And fight them until there is no fitnah and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah. And if they cease - then indeed, Allah is Seeing of what they do.
Yusuf Ali And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.

8.40

surah 8 - verse 40

translator's name verse
Arberry but if they turn away, know that God is your Protector -- an excellent Protector, an excellent Helper!
Maududi But if they turn away, then know well that Allah is your Protector - an excellent Protector and an excellent Helper.
Pickthall And if they turn away, then know that Allah is your Befriender - a Transcendent Patron, a Transcendent Helper!
Sahih But if they turn away - then know that Allah is your protector. Excellent is the protector, and Excellent is the helper.
Yusuf Ali If they refuse, be sure that Allah is your Protector - the best to protect and the best to help.