8:1  They ask you (O Muhammad) about the spoils of war. Say: “The spoils are for Allah and the Messenger. So fear Allah and set right things (end differences) among you, and obey Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), if you are believers.”

8:2  Only the believers are those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts quake and when His Verses (this Qur’an) are recited to them, they increase in faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (alone);

8:3  who establish prayer and they spend out of what We have provided them.

8:4  They are these who are the believers in truth. They have high ranks with their Lord; Forgiveness, and a generous sustenance.

8:5  As your Lord brought you (O Muhammad) out from your home (to struggle) for the truth, and surely, a party among the believers disliked it.

8:6  They disputed with you about the truth after it became clear, as if they were driven to the death while they were looking (at it).

8:7  And (remember) when Allah promised you (Muslims) one of the 2 groups (of the enemy- army or caravan) that it should be for you, and you wished that one without having arms (the caravan) should be for you, but Allah willed to justify the truth by His Words and cut off the roots of the disbelievers (in the battle of Badr),

8:8  so that He causes triumph the truth and proves false the falsehood, even though the evil-doers dislike it.

8:9  (Remember) when you sought help of your Lord and He answered to you (saying): “Indeed I will help you with 1,000 angels one after another.”

8:10  Allah made it only as glad tidings, that your hearts be at rest with it. There is no victory except from Allah. Surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

8:11  (Remember before the battle of Badr) when He covered you with a drowsiness as a security from Him, He sent down rain on you from the sky to clean you thereby and take away from you the evil-thinking of Satan, to strengthen your hearts, and thereby make your feet firm thereby.

8:12  (Remember) when your Lord inspired to the angels: “I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast the terror in the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike above their necks, and strike over all their fingertips.”

8:13  This is because they defied Allah and His Messenger. And whoever defies Allah and His Messenger, then surely, Allah is Severe in punishment,

8:14  that is (the punishment), so taste it, and that is for the disbeliever’s punishment of the fire.

8:15  O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve in a battlefield, don’t turn your backs to them,

8:16  and those who turn their back to them that Day, unless as strategy of war, or retreat to a troop (of their own), they indeed have incurred the wrath of Allah. Their abode is hell, and worst indeed is that destination!

8:17  You did not kill them, but Allah killed them. You (Muhammad) did not throw sand but Allah threw, so that He might test the believers by a fair trial from Him. Surely, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

8:18  Surely this is the fact; Allah weakens evil designs of the disbelievers.

8:19  (O disbelievers) if you seek a judgment, then surely the judgment has come to you (with victory for the believers). If you desist, that will be better for you, and if you return (to the attack), We too shall return, and your forces will not avail you anything though it be large in numbers, and that Allah is with the believers.

8:20  O you who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger, and don’t turn away from him (Muhammad) while you hear.

8:21  You don’t be like those who say: “We have heard,” but they have not heard.

8:22  Surely! Worst of living creatures to Allah are the deaf and the dumb, those who don’t use their reason.

8:23  Had Allah known in them of any good, He would indeed have made them listen. Even if He had made them listen, they would have turned away while they were reluctant (to the truth).

8:24  O you who believe! Respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which will give you life, and know that Allah comes in between a person and his heart (to prevent evil). And it is to Him you all shall be gathered.

8:25  And fear mischief which don’t affect particularly those of you who do wrong (but may afflict good and bad people), and know that Allah is severe in punishment.

8:26  And remember when you were few and reckoned weak in the land, and you were afraid that the people might kidnap you. He provided you with refuge, strengthened you with His help, and provided you with good things so that you may give thanks.

8:27  O you who believe! You don’t betray Allah and His Messenger, or betray your trusts while you know.

8:28  And know that your possessions and your children are just a trial and that with Allah is a great reward.

8:29  O you who believe! If you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion (to judge between right and wrong), and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you. Allah is the Lord of the Great Bounty.

8:30  And (remember) when those who disbelieved, they plotted against you (O Muhammad) to imprison you, or to kill you, or to drive you away (from your home at Makkah). They planned, Allah also planned, and Allah is the best of the planners.

8:31  And when Our Verses (of the Qur’an) are recited to them, they say: “We have heard. If we wished we could say like this. These are nothing but the tales of the ancient people.”

8:32  And (remember) when they said: “O Allah! If this (the Qur’an) is indeed the truth from You, then rain down stones on us from the sky or brings us a painful punishment.”

8:33  And Allah would not punish them while you (Muhammad) are among them. Or He will not punish them while they seek (Allah’s) Forgiveness.

8:34  And what is with them that Allah should not punish them while they stop people from the Sacred Masjid (at Makkah), and they are not its guardians? None can be its guardians except the pious, but most of them don’t know.

8:35  Their prayer at the House (the Ka’bah at Makkah) is nothing but whistling and hand-clapping. So taste the punishment for what you used to disbelieve.

8:36  Surely, those who disbelieve, they spend their wealth to hinder people from the way of Allah. They will keep on spending; and then it will become anguish for them. Then they will be defeated. And those who disbelieve, (in the Hereafter) they will be gathered to hell,

8:37  in order that Allah may distinguish the wicked (disbelievers, evil-doers) from the good (believers with righteous deeds). Allah will put the wicked one upon another, will pile them all, and will cast them into hell. Those are they who are the losers.

8:38  Say (O Muhammad) to those who have disbelieved, if they desist (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven. But if they revert, then let them precede the examples of the ancients (as a warning).

8:39  And (O believers) fight them until there is no more mischief and the religion (Islam) is established completely for Allah alone. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then surely, Allah is All-Seer of what they do.

8:40  And if they turn away, then know that Allah is your Protector, an excellent Protector, and an Excellent Helper!

8:41  And know that whatever war-booty you may gain, surely 1/5th of it (is assigned) to Allah, and to the Messenger, and to the near relatives (of Muhammad), (and also) the orphans, the poor who don’t beg, and the wayfarer, if you do believe in Allah and in that which We have sent down to Our servant (Muhammad) on the day of criterion (between right and wrong), the day when the 2 forces met (the battle of Badr). Allah has power over all things.

8:42  (And remember) when you (the Muslim army) were on the near side of the valley, and they were on the further side, and the caravan was on the ground lower than you. If you had made a mutual appointment to meet, you would surly have failed in the appointment; but Allah might accomplish a matter that was already ordained (in His Knowledge), so that those who were destined to perish might die with a clear evidence, and those who were destined to live (believers) might live with a clear evidence. Surely, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

8:43  (And remember) when Allah showed them to you (Muhammad) as few in numbers in your dream; if He had shown them to you as many in number, you would surely have been discouraged and you would surely have disputed in making a decision. But Allah saved you. Certainly, He is All-Knower of what is in the hearts.

8:44  And (remember) when you met (disbelievers during the battle of Badr), He showed them to you as few in number in your eyes and He made you appear as few in number in their eyes so that Allah might accomplish a matter that was already ordained, and to Allah all matters return (for decision).

8:45  O you who believe! When you meet a force (enemy), take a firm stand against them and remember (the name of) Allah much, so that you may be successful.

8:46  And obey Allah and His Messenger, and don’t dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and weaken your strength, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are patient.

8:47  And don’t be like those who come out of their homes boastfully in order to be seen by people, and hinder others from the way of Allah. Allah encompasses all of what they do.

8:48  And (remember) when Satan made their evil deeds seem fair to them and said: “No one from mankind can overcome you this day (battle of Badr), and surely, I am your neighbor (to help).” Yet, when the 2 forces came in sight of each other, he ran away on his heels and said: “Surely, I have nothing to do with you. Surely, I can see what you don’t see. Surely, I fear Allah for Allah is Severe in punishment.”

8:49  Then the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was a disease (of disbelief) said: “These people (Muslims) are deceived by their religion.” But those who put their trust in Allah, and surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

8:50  And if you could only see when the angels were taking away souls (at death) of those who disbelieve! They were smiting their faces and their backs, (saying): “Taste the punishment of the blazing fire.

8:51  This (punishment) is because of what your hands have sent forth. Surely, Allah is not unjust to His servants.”

8:52  Their behavior is similar (to that) of the people of Pharaoh, and those before them. They also rejected the Verses of Allah and Allah punished them for their sins. Surely, Allah is All-Mighty, Severe in punishment.

8:53  That is because Allah will never change a grace which He has bestowed on a people until they themselves change what is in their own selves. Surely, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

8:54  Their behavior is similar (to that) of the people of Pharaoh, and those before them. They denied the Verses of their Lord, so We destroyed them for their sins, and We drowned the people of Pharaoh, and they all were wrongdoers.

8:55  Surely, the worst of living creatures to Allah are those who disbelieve, so they shall not believe.

8:56  They are those with whom you made a covenant, then they break their covenant every time, and they don’t fear (Allah).

8:57  If you gain the mastery over them in war, punish them severely in order to disperse those who are behind them so that they may learn a lesson.

8:58  If you (O Muhammad) fear treachery from any people, throw back (their covenant) to them on equal terms. Certainly Allah does not like the treacherous.

8:59  And let not the disbelievers think that they can outdo (escape punishment). Surely, they will never be able to save themselves (from punishment).

8:60  And make ready against them (enemy) all the power you can afford including steeds of war (all military means, cavalry, etc) to threaten them the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others besides them whom you don’t know but Allah knows. Whatever you shall spend in the way of Allah shall be repaid to you, and you shall not be treated unjustly.

8:61  But if they incline towards peace, you also incline to it, and trust in Allah. Surely, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

8:62  And if they intend to deceive you, then surely, Allah is Sufficient for you. He is the one who has supported you and the believers with His help,

8:63  and He has united their (believers) hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah has united them. Certainly He is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

8:64  O Prophet (Muhammad)! Allah is sufficient for you and for the believers who follow you.

8:65  O Prophet (Muhammad)! Urge the believers on to fight. If there are 20 steadfast people amongst you, they shall overcome 200 (disbelievers), and if there are 100 (steadfast people) amongst you, they will overcome 1,000 of those who disbelieve, because they (disbelievers) are people who don’t understand.

8:66  Now, Allah has lightened from you (task), for He knows that there is weakness in you. So, if there are 100 steadfast (people) amongst you, they shall overcome 200, and if there are 1,000 of you, they shall overcome 2,000 with the permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient.

8:67  It is not fit for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he has thoroughly subdued the land. You (Muslims) desire the good of this world while Allah desires for you the Hereafter. Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

8:68  Had there not a previous ordainment from Allah (to take ransom), a severe punishment would have touched you for what you have taken.

8:69  Enjoy the booty in war which you have taken, for it is lawful and good, but be afraid of Allah. Certainly, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

8:70  O Prophet! Say to those who are from the captives in your hands: “If Allah knows any good in your hearts, He will give you something better than what has been taken from you, and He will forgive you. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”

8:71  But if they intend to betray you (Muhammad), they have already betrayed Allah before. So, He gave (you) power over them. Allah All-Knower, All-Wise.

8:72  Surely, those who believed, emigrated, and strove hard and fought with their property and their lives in the way of Allah; and those who gave asylum and help; these are all allies to one another. As to those who believed but did not emigrate, you owe no duty of protection to them until they emigrate; but if they seek your help in religion, it is your duty to help them except against a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance. Allah is All-Seer of what you do.

8:73  And those who disbelieve are allies to one another. If you (Muslims) don’t do so (become allies), there will be oppression on earth, and a great mischief.

8:74  Those who believed, emigrated, and strove hard in the way of Allah, and those who gave them asylum and help; these are the believers in truth, for them is forgiveness and noble provisions.

8:75  Those who believed afterwards, emigrated, and strove hard along with you (in the cause of Allah), they are of you. But kindred by blood are nearer to one another in the book ordained by Allah. Surely, Allah is All-Knower of everything.