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.