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Al-Anfal 67

Ayah 67 of 75 · Medinan

مَا كَانَ لِنَبِيٍّ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥٓ أَسۡرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يُثۡخِنَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ تُرِيدُونَ عَرَضَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٞ ٦٧

It is not for a prophet to have captives [of war] until he inflicts a massacre [upon Allāh's enemies] in the land. You [i.e., some Muslims] desire the commodities of this world,1 but Allāh desires [for you] the Hereafter. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.

Translation: Saheeh International (English)

1 i.e., material benefit, such as the ransom paid for prisoners.

Word by word

Each word's meaning and sound

  1. مَاNotmā
  2. كَانَiskāna
  3. لِنَبِيٍّfor a Prophetlinabiyyin
  4. أَنthatan
  5. يَكُونَ(there) should beyakūna
  6. لَهُۥٓfor himlahu
  7. أَسۡرَىٰprisoners of warasrā
  8. حَتَّىٰuntilḥattā
  9. يُثۡخِنَhe has battled strenuouslyyuth'khina
  10. فِيinfī
  11. ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚthe landl-arḍi
  12. تُرِيدُونَYou desireturīdūna
  13. عَرَضَ(the) commoditiesʿaraḍa
  14. ٱلدُّنۡيَا(of) the worldl-dun'yā
  15. وَٱللَّهُbut Allahwal-lahu
  16. يُرِيدُdesiresyurīdu
  17. ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَۗ(for you) the Hereafterl-ākhirata
  18. وَٱللَّهُAnd Allahwal-lahu
  19. عَزِيزٌ(is) All-Mightyʿazīzun
  20. حَكِيمٞAll-Wiseḥakīmun

Tafsir

It is not right for a prophet to take captives from the disbelievers who fight against him until he kills many of them, so that this makes other disbelievers fear fighting him. By taking captives from Badr, O believers, you want to receive ransom, but Allah wants the Afterlife for you, which is gained by making religion victorious and powerful. Allah is Mighty in His essence, His attributes and in His domination. Nothing can overcome Him. He is Wise in His decree and sacred laws.

Al-Mukhtasar in interpreting the Noble Quran