لِيُحِقَّ ٱلْحَقَّ وَيُبْطِلَ ٱلْبَـٰطِلَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ 8
Translations
That He should establish the truth and abolish falsehood, even if the criminals disliked it.
Transliteration
Liyuhiqq al-haqq wa yubṭil al-bāṭil wa law kariha al-mujrimūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares Allah's purpose in sending the Prophet and revealing guidance: to establish truth (al-haqq) and eliminate falsehood (al-bāṭil), regardless of the aversion of the criminals and disbelievers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this represents the fundamental objective of prophethood—the triumph of divine truth over human falsehood—and that this will occur whether the transgressors accept it or reject it with hatred.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Anfal, revealed after the Battle of Badr (2 AH), where Muslims achieved a miraculous victory despite being outnumbered. The ayah reflects the broader theme of the surah: that victory and divine support come to those who uphold truth, even when facing powerful opposition. It emphasizes that the establishment of Allah's deen is inevitable regardless of human resistance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best jihad is a word of justice before a tyrannical ruler' (Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan At-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Quran states in 21:105 that 'the earth will be inherited by My righteous servants,' reinforcing the theme that truth ultimately prevails.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that establishing truth and combating falsehood is not merely a human endeavor but a divine mission whose success is guaranteed by Allah alone, independent of worldly opposition or the displeasure of wrongdoers. For modern readers, this provides reassurance that steadfastness in truth—through word, action, and character—aligns one with the eternal divine plan.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ
And do not be like those who say, "We have heard," while they do not hear.
إِذْ يُرِيكَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى مَنَامِكَ قَلِيلًا ۖ وَلَوْ أَرَىٰكَهُمْ كَثِيرًا لَّفَشِلْتُمْ وَلَتَنَـٰزَعْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَلَّمَ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
[Remember, O Muḥammad], when Allāh showed them to you in your dream as few; and if He had shown them to you as many, you [believers] would have lost courage and would have disputed in the matter [of whether to fight], but Allāh saved [you from that]. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ زَحْفًا فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ ٱلْأَدْبَارَ
O you who have believed, when you meet those who disbelieve advancing [in battle], do not turn to them your backs [in flight].
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.