Surat Anfal is a Madani surah and therefore very different from the Makki surahs which precede it. While Makki surahs are concerned with embedding the concept of tawheed and imaan in the minds of their audience, the Madani surahs contain rulings and details on how to building the community. Surah Anfal is particularly focused on how to deal with war booty. Pre-Islamic Arab tribes were constantly at war with each other, and they had their own rules of how to take it and distribute it. The Quran instructs that booty should be divided into five shares.
This surah was revealed after the Battle of Badr, which occurred in the second year after the Prophet’s migration (peace be upon him) to Madinah. It marked the first time the Muslims gained war spoils, as they had not been permitted to fight since the advent of Islam. Until then, the Quraysh had controlled the distribution of booty.
Before the battle, the Prophet (peace be upon him), out of his humility, asked the Ansar whether they would support the believers, because according to the treaty they had with them, the Ansar were only expected to protect the Muhajiroon (those who had emigrated from Makkah) within the borders of Madinah. They were not obliged to defend them outside, and the battle was going to take place in the plains of Badr, so the Ansar were not technically required to participate. The Ansar had one leader and the whole army was unified behind him and they offered wholehearted support. Their obedience and unity were key components in their gaining victory.
By contrast, the Quraysh, despite having an army of 1,000 strong, outnumbering the 315 believers three to one, were divided and conflicted. Their leadership was not united in purpose—some wanted to go back to Makkah, because their caravan was safe and they did not want to get involved in battle, while others wanted vengeance and to teach them a lesson and secure their reputation. This internal division weakened their resolve, and they had not motivation other than arrogance and this led to their humiliating defeat.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) called to Allah for help and Allah did not disappoint him. They were victorious. Allah states:
إِذۡ تَسۡتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمۡ فَٱسۡتَجَابَ لَكُمۡ أَنِّي مُمِدُّكُم بِأَلۡفٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ مُرۡدِفِينَ
And recall when you implored your Lord for help and He responded to you: ‘I will indeed reinforce you with a thousand angels, coming in succession.’ (8:9)
وَمَا جَعَلَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشۡرَىٰ وَلِتَطۡمَئِنَّ بِهِۦ قُلُوبُكُمۡۚ وَمَا ٱلنَّصۡرُ إِلَّا مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
Allah made it but a message of hope, and an assurance to your hearts: (in any case) there is no help except from Allah: and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise. (8:10)
Allah reminds the believers that their victory was not by their own strength, but by His divine intervention—it was Allah Himself who defeated the enemy, not the believers. Though the believers were unprepared and barely equipped – they had just 70 camels, and basic arms and swords, they defeated the troops of the Quraysh who were heavily armed and well trained. Though they fought, it was the aid of the angelic forces who led them to victory. Allah states:
فَلَمۡ تَقۡتُلُوهُمۡ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمۡۚ وَمَا رَمَيۡتَ إِذۡ رَمَيۡتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَمَىٰ وَلِيُبۡلِيَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ مِنۡهُ بَلَآءً حَسَنًاۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٞ
And you did not kill them, but it was Allah who killed them. And you threw not, [O Muhammad], when you threw, but it was Allah who threw that He might test the believers with a good test. Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing.
The lesson here is clear: take the means available to you, put in your best effort, and leave the rest to Allah. This principle has been demonstrated throughout history, including in Gaza today, where despite being dishevelled, hungry, and outmatched in weaponry, they remain undefeated—because the forces of Allah are with them. Their sincerity (ikhlas) is evident, as no amount of technology or intelligence can overpower the will of Allah.
No matter how powerful one may seem, if Allah is against them, they will never succeed. This ayah is not only an assurance to the believers at Badr but also to the entire ummah. When we recite these verses, they remind us not to be intimidated by the apparent strength of evil forces. If you are with Allah, no one can defeat you—but you must do your part, put in the effort, and place your full trust in Him.
InshaAllah, Allah will bring the ummah together. These calamities are a wake-up call, shaking the Ummah and guiding it back onto the right path. Through these struggles, a stronger Ummah will emerge. Though we are enduring great suffering, we have to go through this to improve. So do not be pessimistic—be optimistic. Things often get worse before they get better. InshaAllah, this is the beginning of a new page for the Ummah.
Delievered on 14th Ramadan by Shaykh Haytham Tamim.