Surah Al-Anfal; Explaining Real Meaning of Jihad in Islam
However, Islam always stresses peace while also deeming it necessary to exercise jihad in the face of aggressors.
Al-Anfal is the name of the 8th surah of the Quran; this Madani surah contains 75 verses and is in the 9th and 10th Juzes of the book. Anfal means spoils and the surah has been named accordingly because the first verse contains this word and offers rules about dividing and using spoils. The surah also points to jurisprudential rules of spoils and public wealth, khums, jihad, the duties of the Mujahideen, how to treat prisoners of war, the necessity of maintaining military readiness, and the signs of a believer.
This chapter has been revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) after the Battle of Badr. This was the first jihad of Muslims and hence there has been a need for directives about war and what follows it such as how to treat the prisoners and how to divide the spoils.
Verse 61 of the Surah reads: “If they (the unbelievers) propose peace, accept it and trust in God. God is All-hearing and All-knowing.” This verse, also known as the verse of peace, talks about accepting peace without any conditions in the face of the other side’s proposal in a war and this shows the importance of peace in Islamic teachings.
This verse demonstrates that Islam is not based on war, rather it seeks to establish peace. Although, there are other verses in the Quran that calls on Muslims to be vigilant in case the enemy misuses this approach.
The main aim of the surah is to explain how the faithful can benefit from divine help. It names obeying God and His messenger as the main conditions. The chapter also emphasizes that God Almighty will certainly fulfill His promises.
The story of the Prophet’s (PBUH) Hijrah (migration) has also been mentioned in this chapter. Surah Al-Anfal praises those people who accompanied the Prophet (PBUH) in Hijrah for the sake of God and with a trust in God.
Compiled by Mohammad Ali Haqshenas
