Masjid DarusSalamMasjid DarusSalam
  • Masjid
    • About Us
    • Nikah/Marriage Services
    • Daily & Jumu’ah Prayers
    • Outreach & Services
    • Special Needs Services
    • Schedule a Visit
    • Careers
    • Ask a Question
  • Seminary
    • Takmil Program for Higher Islamic Learning
    • Tahfiz Academy for Qur’an Memorization
    • The Revelatory Sciences
    • Tadris Integrated High School
    • Tadris Prep
    • Tajwid & Tarbiyah After-School Program
    • Tafhim Weekend Islamic Studies
    • Ta’lim Online Program
    • Early Childhood Program
    • Sunday School
    • Summer 2025
      • Tamhid Summer Arabic & Islamic Studies
      • Qur’an, Islamic Studies and Sports Camp
      • Tarbiya 4 Tots
    • Sister’s Fiqh & Tajweed
    • Staff
  • Tanwir Intensive
    • About the Program
    • How to Apply
    • Curriculum
    • Accommodations
    • Student Life
    • Tuition & Aid
    • Open House
    • Integrated High School
    • FAQs
  • Multimedia
    • Jumu’ah Khutbah
    • Monthly Seminar
    • Stories of Prophet
    • Qur’an Tafsir
    • Ramadan
  • Writing Blog
    • Aqidah
    • Biographies
    • Current & Contemporary Issues
    • Fiqh
    • Hadith
    • Pearls of Wisdom
    • Tafsir
    • Other/Misc.
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
    • Donate Now
    • Fortunate 1400
    • Zakat Calculator
    • Planned Giving
    • Outright Gifts
    • Donor Advised Funds / Employer Match
    • Ramadan Resources

      Du’as & Adhkar

      Zakat Calculator

      Ramadan Timetable

      2000 Quran Khatams

    • PAY YOUR ZAKAT

      “And establish Salat and discharge the Zakat, for whatever good you advance for yourselves, you will find its reward with Allah SWT. Indeed Allah SWT is all-seeing of all that you do.“ (Qur’an 2:110)

      QuickPay

      Send Chase QuickPay to: zakat@MasjidDS.org

      Direct Debit

      To setup monthly payments by direct debit, please download the following form:
      Pledge Form
      Make checks payable to DarusSalam Foundation.

  • Masjid
    • About Us
    • Nikah/Marriage Services
    • Daily & Jumu’ah Prayers
    • Outreach & Services
    • Special Needs Services
    • Schedule a Visit
    • Careers
    • Ask a Question
  • Seminary
    • Takmil Program for Higher Islamic Learning
    • Tahfiz Academy for Qur’an Memorization
    • The Revelatory Sciences
    • Tadris Integrated High School
    • Tadris Prep
    • Tajwid & Tarbiyah After-School Program
    • Tafhim Weekend Islamic Studies
    • Ta’lim Online Program
    • Early Childhood Program
    • Sunday School
    • Summer 2025
      • Tamhid Summer Arabic & Islamic Studies
      • Qur’an, Islamic Studies and Sports Camp
      • Tarbiya 4 Tots
    • Sister’s Fiqh & Tajweed
    • Staff
  • Tanwir Intensive
    • About the Program
    • How to Apply
    • Curriculum
    • Accommodations
    • Student Life
    • Tuition & Aid
    • Open House
    • Integrated High School
    • FAQs
  • Multimedia
    • Jumu’ah Khutbah
    • Monthly Seminar
    • Stories of Prophet
    • Qur’an Tafsir
    • Ramadan
  • Writing Blog
    • Aqidah
    • Biographies
    • Current & Contemporary Issues
    • Fiqh
    • Hadith
    • Pearls of Wisdom
    • Tafsir
    • Other/Misc.
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
    • Donate Now
    • Fortunate 1400
    • Zakat Calculator
    • Planned Giving
    • Outright Gifts
    • Donor Advised Funds / Employer Match

Tafsir

  • Home
  • Tafsir
  • Introductory Notes on Sūrat al-Anfāl

Introductory Notes on Sūrat al-Anfāl

  • Posted by writingblog
  • Date April 8, 2017
  • Comments 0 comment

Introductory Notes on Sūrat al-Anfāl

by Sulaiman Hamid

(5th Year Alim Student, DarusSalam Seminary)

 

The Sūrah’s Name

Sūrat al-Anfāl is a madanī (revealed in Madinah) chapter. It was revealed towards the end of the Battle of Badr; and for this reason, it is also called: “Sūrah Badr.” Regarding it being named, “al-Anfāl,” this is because of the query regarding the spoils of war at the beginning of the chapter. It begins with the question:

 

يسألونك عن الأنفال

“They ask you regarding the spoils…“

 

The Sūrah’s Place in the Chronological Order of Revelation

According to some scholars, it is the second chapter that was revealed in Madinah, being revealed after Sūrat al-Baqarah. Others maintained that it was the third, being revealed after Sūrah Āl ʿImrān.  It was revealed before Sūrat al-Aḥzāb. In consideration of all of the chapters, it was the eighty-ninth revealed.

 

The Number of Verses in the Sūrah

According to the authorities of Madinah, Makkah, and Basrah, it consists of seventy-six verses. According to the authorities of the Levant, it consists of seventy-seven verses. And according to the authorities of Kufah, it consists of seventy-five.

 

Some of the Correlations Between It and the Sūrah that Precedes It

1)    The chapter that comes before it, Sūrat al-Aʿrāf, discusses some of the well-known Prophets and their interactions with their nations. It discusses how the Prophets (may Allāh send blessings upon them) triumphed over their nations. Similarly, the chapter discusses the Prophet Muḥammad (may peace and blessings be upon him) and his nation. Then, in Sūrat al-Anfāl, the chapter deals with the Battle of Badr, in which the Muslims were victorious after divine assistance was sent. Outwardly, the Muslims were unequipped and were few in number compared to the disbelievers. Despite that, the Muslims defeated them through the unseen help sent by Allāh.

2)    As well, at the end of Sūrat al-Aʿrāf, Allāh says:

 

وأمر بالعرف

“Enjoin virtue…“

And in Sūrat al-Anfāl many of the virtues that are to be enjoined are mentioned.

3)    Imām Biqāʿī (may Allāh have mercy upon him) mentioned that in the previous chapters, Allāh’s majesty was expounded on. Then, in Sūrat al-Anfāl, Allāh discusses the obligation of following the Prophet of Allāh (may peace and blessing be upon him), the one assigned the duty of calling humanity towards the Supreme Being.

 

Topics That the Sūrah Discusses

Sūrat al-Anfāl discusses a variety of topics of which some are the following:

  • Reservation of the right for the Prophet (may peace and blessing be upon him) to distribute the spoils of war
  • Allāh’s divine help during the Battle of Badr
  • Legal rulings pertaining to the rules of engagement
  • The immigration from Makkah to Madinah
  • The Muslims’ protection from general punishment so long as the Prophet (may peace and blessing be upon him) remained amongst them
  • Reliance on Allāh along with taking the appropriate means
  • The detrimental effect of oppression
  • The welfare of a nation being dependent on the people’s conduct
  • Peace being preferred over conflict
  • The obligation of fulfilling pacts
  • The obligation of treating those who break pacts firmly
  • The unity of the Muslims and the obligation of mutual support

 

References

al-Zuḥaylī, Wahbah b. Muṣṭafā. al-Tafsīr al-Munīr fī al-ʿAqīdah wa al-Sharīʿah wa al-Manhaj. Damascus: Dār al-Fikr al-Muʿāṣir, 2nd edition, 2003, 17 vol.

al-Kāndahlawī, Muḥammad Idrīs. Maʿārif al-Qurʾān. Sindh: Maktabat al-Maʿārif Dār al-ʿUlūm al-Ḥusayniyyah Shadadpur, 8 vol. 1422.

al-Biqāʿī, Burhān al-Dīn Abū al-Ḥasan Ibrāhīm b. ʿUmar. Naẓm al-Durar fī Tanāsub al-Ayāt wa al-Suwar.  Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmiyyah, 7 vol. 1432/2011.

Ibn ʿĀshūr, Muḥammad Ṭāhir. al-Taḥrīr wa al-Tanwīr. Tunisia: Dār Saḥnūn li al-Nashr wa al-Tawzīʿ, 30:12. n.d.

  • Share:
writingblog

Previous post

Equal Treatment of Wives
April 8, 2017

Next post

Mufti Minhajuddin Ahmed – Raising Righteous Children: Luqman’s (AS) Advice to His Son
April 13, 2017

You may also like

IMG_1971 (Large)
Shāfiʿī Scholarship: Imam al-Muzanī
15 March, 2023
IMG_1971 (Large)
Shāfiʿī Scholarship: Imam al-Buwayṭī
6 March, 2023
tanwirprepbg
A Brief Biography of Khalīfah ʿUmar bin ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz
5 March, 2023

Leave A Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Seminary Programs

  • Summer 2025
  • Tanwir 1-Year Program
  • Tahfiz Hifz Program
  • Takmil 7-Year ‘Alim Program
  • Tafhim Weekend Classes
  • Tajwid & Tarbiyah After-School Program
  • Sunday School

Masjid

  • Daily & Jumu’ah Prayers
  • Multimedia
  • Writing Blog
  • Donate

Masjid DarusSalam

630 360 2373

office@MasjidDS.org

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe

Make a Donation

"And establish Salat and discharge the Zakat, for whatever good you advance for yourselves, you will find its reward with Allah SWT. Indeed Allah SWT is all-seeing of all that you do." (Qur'an 2:110)

Zelle

Donate Via Zelle to: info@darussalamfoundation.org

Donate Online

To make one-time or monthly donations, click here

Donation Store

To sponsor an item of your choice for our expansion, visit our donation store

SEMINARY PROGRAMS

  • Summer 2025
  • Tanwir 1-Year Program
  • Tahfiz Hifz Program
  • Takmil 7-Year ‘Alim Program
  • Tafhim Weekend Classes
  • Tajwid & Tarbiyah After-School Program
  • Sunday School

Masjid DarusSalam

630 360 2373

office@MasjidDS.org

Links

  • Masjid
  • Gallery
  • FAQs

Recommended

  • Seminary
  • Student Life

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe

© 2024 Masjid DarusSalam. All Rights Reserved.