185 Page Notes

08 Surah Al-Anfal (continued)

Page 185 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

8:62

8:63

8:64

8:65

8:66

8:67

8:68

8:69

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 185 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 185 of the Quran contains Surah Al-Anfal (Chapter 8), verses 62 through 69.

This page addresses deeply profound themes: divine protection against political deception, the miraculous uniting of former enemy tribes under Islam, military mathematical ratios of steadfastness, and a historic, heavily-debated moment regarding how the Muslims handled prisoners of war after the Battle of Badr.

1. Hadiths Related to Verse 63 (The Miracle of Brotherhood)

"And He brought together their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together; but Allah brought them together. Indeed, He is Exalted in Might and Wise."

Before Islam, the Arabian peninsula—specifically the tribes of Medina, the Aws and Khazraj—was locked in a brutal, multi-generational cycle of blood feuds and civil warfare (such as the Battle of Bu'ath). No amount of money or political treaty could resolve their deep-seated hatred. This verse highlights that their sudden transition into loving, self-sacrificing brothers was a direct psychological miracle from Allah.

The Prophet (ﷺ) Reminding the Ansar of This Blessing

Years later, during the distribution of spoils at the Battle of Hunayn, some young Medinan helpers (Ansar) felt left out. The Prophet (ﷺ) delivered a powerful sermon, explicitly referencing the transformation mentioned in Verse 63.

Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 64, Hadith 4330: Narrated Abdullah bin Zaid: "When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gathered the Ansar, he said to them: 'O Ansar! Did I not find you misguided and Allah guided you through me? And you were divided into separate groups and Allah united your hearts through me? And you were poor and Allah made you rich through me?' To every question they replied, 'Allah and His Messenger are more benevolent.'"

2. Hadiths Related to Verses 65–66 (The Ratios of Battlefield Steadfastness)

"O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred... Now, Allah has lightened [the hardship] for you, and He knows that among you is weakness. So if there are from you a hundred who are steadfast, they will overcome two hundred..."

These verses map out a fascinating legislative shift regarding strategic patience and military retreat. Initially, under Verse 65, a Muslim soldier was legally forbidden from fleeing if they were outnumbered 10 to 1.

Recognizing human limitations, Allah revealed Verse 66 immediately afterward, lowering the mandatory ratio to 2 to 1. If the enemy army is more than double the size of the Muslim army, a tactical retreat is legally permissible; if it is less than double, standing firm is an obligation.

The Legal Modification of the Ratio

The Companions noted exactly how this verse permanently altered the legal boundaries of battlefield courage.

Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 65, Hadith 4652: Narrated Ibn Abbas: "When the verse: 'If there are twenty steadfast persons among you, they will overcome two hundred' was revealed, it became a heavy duty binding upon the Muslims that one man must not flee from ten. So Allah revealed the alleviation: 'Now Allah has lightened your burden...' So when Allah lightened the obligation, the required steadfastness changed: it was no longer permissible for one man to flee from two."

3. Hadiths Related to Verses 67–69 (The Captives of Badr and Umar's Accordance)

"It is not for a prophet to have captives [of war] until he inflicts a massacre [i.e., thoroughly establishes systemic control] in the land. You desire the commodities of this world, but Allah desires [for you] the Hereafter..." (Verse 67) "If not for a decree from Allah that preceded, there would have touched you for what you took a great punishment." (Verse 68)

These verses are among the most emotionally raw in the history of Islamic legislation. After the victory at Badr, the Muslims captured roughly 70 Meccan prisoners, including the Prophet's uncle Al-Abbas and elite Quraysh leaders. The Prophet (ﷺ) held a mutual consultation (Shura) on how to handle them, as no formal revelation had yet dropped concerning captives.

• Abu Bakr suggested: Show them mercy, accept a financial ransom (Fidya), and free them. This money would strengthen the impoverished Muslim state, and perhaps they would accept Islam later.

• Umar ibn al-Khattab suggested: Execute them. They are the leaders of disbelief who tortured Muslims; executing them shows Arabia that Islam cannot be bought or intimidated.

The Prophet (ﷺ) leaned toward Abu Bakr's merciful approach and accepted the ransom. The next morning, Verses 67 and 68 were revealed, sharply correcting the decision. It clarified that early on, before a state is secure, releasing enemy combatants for cash sends the wrong geopolitical message.

Key details of the Battle of Badr where the captive dispute took place. Source: Quran For kids

The Prophetic Tears Over the Revelation

The Sunnah preserves the intense emotional reaction of the Prophet (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr when they realized they had been gently but severely reprimanded by divine decree.

Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Hadith 58: Umar ibn al-Khattab narrated the event in detail: "...The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) favored the view of Abu Bakr. The next day, I went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and found him and Abu Bakr sitting together, both weeping intensely. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, tell me what makes you and your companion weep? If I find reason to weep, I will weep with you; if not, I will try to weep out of sympathy!'

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'I am weeping because of what your companions suggested to me regarding taking ransom. Your punishment was shown to me closer than this nearby tree.' Then Allah revealed: 'It is not for a prophet to have captives until he inflicts a massacre in the land...' down to the verse: 'So consume what you have taken of war booty, [as it is] lawful and good...' (8:69). Thus, Allah explicitly legalized and blessed the spoils and ransom money for them retroactively out of His immense mercy."

This event is famously classified in Islamic scholarship as one of the major instances of Muwafaqat Umar (occasions where the subsequent Quranic revelation directly verified the strategic intuition of Umar ibn al-Khattab).