Surah Al-Anfal 8:1

Which was revealed in Al-Madinah

There are seventy-five Ayat in this Surah. The word count of this Surah is one thousand, six hundred and thirty-one words and its letters number five thousand, two hundred and ninety-four.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Meaning of Anfal

Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "Al-Anfal are the spoils of war." Al-Bukhari also recorded that Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "I said to Ibn `Abbas, `Surat Al-Anfal' He said, `It was revealed concerning (the battle of) Badr."' `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported, as Al-Bukhari recorded from Ibn `Abbas without a chain of narration, that Ibn `Abbas said, "Al-Anfal are the spoils of war; they were for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and none had a share in them." Similar was said by Mujahid, `Ikrimah, `Ata', Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, `Ata' Al-Khurasani, Muqatil bin Hayyan, `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam and several others. It was also said that the Nafl (singular for Anfal) refers to the portion of the spoils of war that the commander gives to some of the fighters after dividing the bulk of the spoils. It was also said that Anfal refers to the Khumus; one-fifth of the captured goods after four-fifths are divided between the fighters. It was also said that the Anfal refers to the Fay', the possessions taken from the disbelievers without fighting, and the animals, servants or whatever other possessions escape from the disbelievers to Muslims.

Ibn Jarir recorded that `Ali bin Salih bin Hay said: "It has reached me that,

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الأَنفَالِ

(They ask you about Al-Anfal) is about the divisions. This refer to what the Imam gives to some squads in addition to what is divided among the rest of the soldiers."

The Reason behind revealing Ayah 8:1

Imam Ahmad recorded that Sa`d bin Malik said, "I said, `O Allah's Messenger, Allah has brought comfort to me today over the idolators, so grant me this sword.' He said,

«إِنَّ هَذَا السَّيْفَ لَا لَكَ وَلَا لِي، ضَعْه»

(This sword is neither yours nor mine; put it down.) So I put it down, but said to myself, `The Prophet might give this sword to another man who did not fight as fiercely as I did.' I heard a man calling me from behind and I said, `Has Allah revealed something in my case' The Prophet said,

«كُنْتَ سَأَلْتَنِي السَّيْفَ وَلَيْسَ هُوَ لِي، وَإِنَّهُ قَدْ وُهِبَ لِي، فَهُو لَك»

(You asked me to give you the sword, but it is not for me to decide about. However, it has been granted to me (by Allah), and I give it to you.) So Allah sent down this Ayah,

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الأَنفَالِ قُلِ الأَنفَالُ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ

(They ask you about Al-Anfal. Say: "Al-Anfal are for Allah and the Messenger").

Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i collected this Hadith, At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih".

Another Reason behind revealing the Ayah 8:1

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said, "I asked `Ubadah about Al-Anfal and he said, `It was revealed about us, those who participated in (the battle of) Badr, when we disputed about An-Nafl and our dispute was not appealing. So Allah took Al-Anfal from us and gave it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger ﷺ divided it equally among Muslims."'

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that `Ubadah bin As-Samit said, "We went with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to the battle of Badr. When the two armies met, Allah defeated the enemy and some of us pursued them inflicting utter defeat and casualties. Another group of us came to the battlefield collecting the spoils of war. Another group surrounded the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, so that the enemy could not attack him suddenly. When it was night and the various army groups went back to our camp, some of those who collected the spoils said, `We collected it, so none else will have a share in it.' Those who went in pursuit of the enemy said, `No, you have no more right to it than us. We kept the enemy away from the war spoils and defeated them.' Those who surrounded the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to protect him said, `You have no more right to it than us, we surrounded the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for fear that the enemy might conduct a surprise attack against him, so we were busy.' The Ayah,

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الأَنفَالِ قُلِ الأَنفَالُ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُواْ ذَاتَ بِيْنِكُمْ

(They ask you about Al-Anfal (the spoils of war). Say: "Al-Anfal are for Allah and the Messenger." So fear Allah and settle all matters of difference among you.) was revealed and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ divided the Anfal equally between Muslims."'

«وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلّم إِذَا أَغَارَ فِي أَرْضِ الْعَدُوِّ نَفَلَ الرُّبُعَ، فَإِذَا أَقْبَلَ وَكُلّ النَّاسِ رَاجِعًا نَفَلَ الثُّلُث»

(And Allah's Messenger would give a fourth for Anfal when there was a surprise attack in the land of the enemy, and when there was a confrontation then a third to the people who returned).

The Prophet used to dislike the Anfal and encouraged strong fighters to give some of their share to weak Muslim fighters. At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah collected a similar narration for this Hadith, and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan".

Allah said,

فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُواْ ذَاتَ بِيْنِكُمْ

(So have Taqwa of Allah and settle all matters of difference among you,)

The Ayah commands, have Taqwa of Allah in all your affairs, settle matters of differences between you, do not wrong each other, do not dispute, and do not differ. Certainly, the guidance and knowledge that Allah has granted you is better than what you are disputing about such as Al-Anfal,

وَأَطِيعُواْ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ

(and obey Allah and His Messenger,) in the division that the Messenger makes according to Allah's order. The Prophet only divided according to what Allah ordained, which is perfectly just and fair. Ibn `Abbas commented on this Ayah, "This is a command from Allah and His Messenger to the believers, that they should have Taqwa of Allah and settle all matters of differences between them." A similar statement was reported from Mujahid. As-Suddi also commented on Allah's statement,

فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُواْ ذَاتَ بِيْنِكُمْ

(So have Taqwa of Allah and settle all matters of difference among you), meaning "Do not curse each other."

Ayat ini membicarakan persoalan harta rampasan perang yang diperoleh kaum Muslimin setelah usainya Perang Badar Kubra. Perang ini berakhir dengan kemenangan kaum Muslimin. Mereka memperoleh harta rampasan perang yang banyak.

Al-Anfal (al-Ganimah) ialah segala macam harta yang diperoleh kaum Muslimin dari musuh dalam medan pertempuran. Harta rampasan perang ini dinamakan al-Anfal (bentuk jamak dari Nafal) karena harta-harta ini menjadi harta kekayaan kaum Muslimin.

Setelah kaum Muslimin memperoleh harta rampasan perang itu, terjadilah perselisihan pendapat di antara mereka yang ikut berperang. Perselisihan itu mengenai cara-cara pembagiannya, dan pihak-pihak manakah yang berhak mendapatkan. Pihak pemuda ataukah pihak orang-orang tua, pihak-pihak orang Muhajirin atau pihak Anshar, ataukah pula masing-masing pihak sama-sama mendapat bagian. Persoalan itu dibawa kepada Rasulullah saw agar mendapat keputusan yang adil.

Sebagai jawaban atas pertanyan kaum Muslimin itu, Allah memerintahkan kepada Rasulullah saw untuk menetapkan hukumnya, bahwa harta rampasan perang itu adalah hak Allah dan Rasul-Nya. Oleh sebab itu yang menentukan pembagian harta rampasan itu bukan kelompok pemuda atau kelompok orang tua, bukan orang Muhajirin atau orang Anshar, bukan pula tim penyerang, tim pelindung, atau tim pengumpul harta rampasan perang, tetapi Allah-lah yang menentukan dengan wahyu yang diturunkan kepada Rasul-Nya. Rasulullah membagi harta rampasan perang itu secara merata di antara kaum Muslimin.

Dalam ketentuan ini terkandung pelajaran yang tinggi bagi kaum Muslimin agar mereka tidak beranggapan, bahwa harta rampasan perang yang mereka peroleh itu, merupakan imbalan jasa peperangan, tetapi semata-mata mereka peroleh karena karunia Allah. Kalau mereka beranggapan bahwa harta rampasan perang itu mereka peroleh sebagai imbalan jasa, maka perjuangan mereka tidak murni karena Allah dan mengikuti perintah Rasul-Nya. Ayat ini memberi dorongan pula kepada kaum Muslimin, agar mereka dalam menghadapi tanggung jawab yang berat, hendaklah mereka hadapi secara bersama-sama, dan apabila mendapat kenikmatan, agar dirasakan bersama-sama pula.

Mengenai pembagian harta rampasan perang secara rinci akan diuraikan penafsirannya pada ayat 41 surah ini. Allah memerintahkan pula kepada Rasulullah saw agar kaum Muslimin bertakwa, menjauhi perselisihan dan persengketaan yang menimbulkan kesusahan dan menjerumuskan mereka kepada kemurkaan Allah. Takwa diperlukan dalam setiap keadaan, terlebih dalam perang dan pembagian harta rampasan perang, akibat perselisihan dapat dirasakan, yaitu terganggunya persatuan dan timbulnya perpecahan yang mengakibatkan kekalahan.

Sesudah itu Allah memerintahkan agar kaum Muslimin memperbaiki hubungan sesama muslim, yaitu menjalin cinta kasih dan memperkokoh kesatuan pendapat. Hal inilah yang dapat mengikat mereka dalam kesatuan gerak dalam mencapai cita-cita bersama, yaitu mempertinggi kalimat Allah. Persatuan dan kesatuan ini menjadi dasar kekuatan umat dalam segala bidang. Itulah sebabnya, memperbaiki hubungan di antara sesama muslim diwajibkan, agar kaum Muslimin menyadari akan pentingnya menghindari bahaya yang mengancam mereka, bahaya keretakan yang menggoyahkan kesatuan umat. Hal ini jelas tergambar pada saat terjadinya perselisihan yang terjadi di antara kelompok-kelompok karena yang satu merasa lebih berjasa dari kelompok yang lain. Demikian pula hal ini terjadi karena mereka melupakan tugas mereka yang penting, yaitu bahwa tugas mempertahankan kebenaran itu adalah tugas bersama.

Pada akhir ayat, Allah menegaskan agar kaum Muslimin menaati Allah dan Rasul, dalam hal ini menaati ketentuan perang, yang disampaikan kepada Rasulullah saw dengan perantaraan wahyu. Ketentuan Allah wajib ditaati, Dia adalah Tuhan seru sekalian alam dan Yang Mahakuasa, sedang taat kepada Rasul, dalam urusan agama, berarti taat kepada Allah karena dialah yang menyampaikan agama itu dan memberikan penjelasan yang tertuang dalam perkataan, perbuatan serta keputusannya.

Perintah ini ditegaskan pada saat kaum Muslimin dalam keadaan bersengketa mengenai pembagian harta rampasan perang, untuk mengingatkan mereka bahwa dalam saat-saat bagaimanapun juga kaum Muslimin harus tetap menaati Allah dan Rasul-Nya, agar mereka tidak menimbulkan perpecahan karena ambisi golongan dan kemauan hawa nafsu, yang biasanya menjerumuskan mereka kepada kehancuran.

Di dalam ayat ini terdapat beberapa unsur penting yang dapat memelihara kesatuan umat yaitu; takwa, memperbaiki hubungan sesama muslim, dan menaati Allah dan Rasul di dalam setiap keadaan.