لَّوْلَا كِتَـٰبٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِيمَآ أَخَذْتُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ 68
Translations
If not for a decree from Allāh that preceded, you would have been touched for what you took by a great punishment.
Transliteration
Llaw laa kitaabun min-Allaahi sabaq lamas-sakum feemaa akhdhatum adhaabun adheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that had it not been for a prior decree from Allah, the Muslims would have been punished severely for taking spoils of war before receiving explicit divine permission. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain this refers to the taking of war booty at Badr—an action that, while successful, lacked prior explicit authorization. Allah's mercy and foreknowledge ('kitaab') protected the believers from punishment, establishing that obedience to divine commandments must precede action, and that Allah's grace encompasses human fallibility.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Battle of Badr (2 AH), where the Muslims captured significant spoils of war without awaiting explicit divine instruction on how to distribute them. The broader context of Surah Al-Anfal deals with divine guidance regarding warfare, spoils distribution, and obedience to Allah and His Messenger. The ayah reminds believers of Allah's mercy and the necessity of following proper procedures in matters of war and gain.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding spoils: 'The spoils of war have been made lawful for me' (Sahih Muslim 1218). Additionally, the incident of Badr itself is extensively documented in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, highlighting how the companions initially took spoils without clear guidance before receiving instruction.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that success in worldly endeavors does not justify bypassing divine guidance or proper procedure, and reminds us that Allah's protection and mercy often shield us from the full consequences of our mistakes when done without malicious intent. It emphasizes the importance of seeking proper authorization and following established guidelines before taking significant actions, especially in matters affecting the community.
Related Ayahs
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُمْ دَرَجَـٰتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
Those are the believers, truly. For them are degrees [of high position] with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ ٱلْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِۦ وَأَنَّهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
O you who have believed, respond to Allāh and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allāh intervenes between a man and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered.
وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ ٱلْتَقَيْتُمْ فِىٓ أَعْيُنِكُمْ قَلِيلًا وَيُقَلِّلُكُمْ فِىٓ أَعْيُنِهِمْ لِيَقْضِىَ ٱللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا ۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
And [remember] when He showed them to you, when you met, as few in your eyes, and He made you [appear] as few in their eyes so that Allāh might accomplish a matter already destined. And to Allāh are [all] matters returned.
وَأَعِدُّوا۟ لَهُم مَّا ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ ٱلْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِۦ عَدُوَّ ٱللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَءَاخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ
And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allāh and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allāh knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allāh will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.