فَإِمَّا تَثْقَفَنَّهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَرْبِ فَشَرِّدْ بِهِم مَّنْ خَلْفَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ 57
Translations
So if you, [O Muḥammad], gain dominance over them in war, disperse by [means of] them those behind them that perhaps they will be reminded.
Transliteration
Fa-imma tathqafannuhum fil-harbi fasharrid bihim man khalfahum lalaahum yathadhakkarun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah instructs believers that when they encounter disbelievers in battle, they should decisively defeat them and make an example of them for those who come after, as a deterrent and a reminder. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'sharrid' (scatter/disperse) as referring to inflicting decisive military defeat that serves as a warning to enemy reinforcements and allies. The phrase 'those behind them' refers to other enemies or potential aggressors who might be deterred by witnessing the consequences of opposing the believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Anfal, a Medinan surah revealed after the Battle of Badr (2 AH), the first major military engagement between the Muslims and the Quraysh. The surah addresses military strategy and conduct during warfare, providing guidance to the Muslim community as they transitioned from a persecuted minority to a state defending itself militarily. The context concerns proper conduct in warfare and the deterrent effect of resolute military response.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), relating to the purpose of 'dhikr' (remembrance/reminder). Additionally, the Prophet's military expeditions exemplified strategic decisiveness—when enemies were defeated conclusively at Badr and Hunayn, it deterred subsequent aggression (Sirat Ibn Hisham).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that strength and compassion are not mutually exclusive—decisive action against oppressors serves both justice and mercy by preventing future bloodshed through deterrence. For believers today, it emphasizes that standing firm against injustice and evil, when necessary, ultimately serves the greater good of protecting the innocent and deterring would-be aggressors.
Related Ayahs
وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allāh has with Him a great reward.
إِن تَسْتَفْتِحُوا۟ فَقَدْ جَآءَكُمُ ٱلْفَتْحُ ۖ وَإِن تَنتَهُوا۟ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تَعُودُوا۟ نَعُدْ وَلَن تُغْنِىَ عَنكُمْ فِئَتُكُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَلَوْ كَثُرَتْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
If you [disbelievers] seek the decision [i.e., victory] - the decision [i.e., defeat] has come to you. And if you desist [from hostilities], it is best for you; but if you return [to war], We will return, and never will you be availed by your [large] company at all, even if it should increase; and [that is] because Allāh is with the believers.
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِن يَنتَهُوا۟ يُغْفَرْ لَهُم مَّا قَدْ سَلَفَ وَإِن يَعُودُوا۟ فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّتُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return [to hostility] - then the precedent of the former [rebellious] peoples has already taken place.
إِذْ أَنتُم بِٱلْعُدْوَةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُم بِٱلْعُدْوَةِ ٱلْقُصْوَىٰ وَٱلرَّكْبُ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَلَوْ تَوَاعَدتُّمْ لَٱخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِى ٱلْمِيعَـٰدِ ۙ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَقْضِىَ ٱللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا لِّيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنۢ بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَىٰ مَنْ حَىَّ عَنۢ بَيِّنَةٍ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
[Remember] when you were on the near side of the valley, and they were on the farther side, and the caravan was lower [in position] than you. If you had made an appointment [to meet], you would have missed the appointment. But [it was] so that Allāh might accomplish a matter already destined - that those who perished [through disbelief] would perish upon evidence and those who lived [in faith] would live upon evidence; and indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.