Sura al-Fath
48
Introduction of Surah
al-Fath is the 48th sura of the Qur’an, which means ‘The Victory’. It derives its name from the 1st verse, in which God Almighty tells Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) that He has given him a clear victory (i.e. the Treaty of al-Hudaybiya in 6 ah. and the coming conquests including the conquest of Mecca in 8 ah. The sura belongs to the Medinan period and comprises 29 verses, 560 words, 2,438 letters, and 4 segments. It is the 111th sura in chronological order, revealed after Sura al-Jumu‘a. This sura was revealed in the context of the Holy Prophet’s (blessings and peace be upon him) journey to Mecca to perform ‘Umra (minor pilgrimage) with his 1,400 Companions (may God be pleased with them). Upon their arrival, the Quraysh of Mecca stopped the Muslims at al-Hudaybiya, refusing them entry into the Sacred City. The Muslims and the Quraysh agreed upon a treaty known as the Treaty of Hudaybiya, which included a clause, among others, that both parties (the Meccans and Medinans) would cease hostilities for ten years. The Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) and the Companions (may God be pleased with them) slaugh-tered their sacrificial animals at Hudaybiya and began to return to Medina. It was upon this occasion that this sura was revealed declaring the treaty of Hudaybiya a clear victory, as the treaty established peace and diffused hostilities and tensions between the two states. During this time of Truce, thousands of people from different tribes embraced Islam. It also opened the way to conquer Khybar, eliminating the treacheries of Jewish tribes within and threats against the Muslim state. Furthermore, the sura refers to the pledge of allegiance, commonly known as ‘Bay‘a al-Ridwan’. Those who travelled with the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) and pledged allegiance to him are praised and promised extensive spoils in this life and great rewards in the Hereafter. The sura continues by describing the wisdom behind the truce, the Meccan people’s arrogance and the fulfilment of the Holy Prophet’s (blessings and peace be upon him) vision in all truth. The sura concludes by mentioning the descriptions of the believers in the Torah and the Gospel and mentions the great rewards awarded to those who believe and perform righteous deeds.
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In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the All-Merciful
ﭗﭘﭙﭚﭛﭜﭝﭞﭟﭠﭡﭢﭣﭤﭥﭦ
48:2. so, for your sake, Allah may forgive the past faults of your community* and their future shortcomings. And He may complete His Blessing upon you, and guide you upon a straight path.
*
The co-related noun is estimated and has been omitted here. The intended words are ‘ma taqaddama min dhanbi ummati-ka wa ma ta’akhkhar’. It is because the following subject relates to glad tidings of sending down tranquillity, admission to Paradise and forgiveness of sins. The meaning will become evident if verses 1 to 5 are studied together. The leading exegetes have elucidated it under verse 55 of Sura al-Mu’min. In li-dhanbi-ka, the co-related noun is ‘Umma’, which is omitted. On this basis, therefore, wastaghfir li-dhanbi-ka denotes the sins of the Umma. The leading scholars Imam al-Nasafi, Imam al-Qurtubi and al-Shawkani have drawn the same meanings. To summarise:
1. Wastaghfir li-dhanbi-ka means li-dhanbi Ummati-ka, that is ‘the sins
of your Umma’. (al-Nasafi in Madarik al-Tanzil wa Haqa’iq al-Ta’wil, 4:359.)
2. Wastaghfir li-dhanbi-ka means li-dhanbi Ummati-ka, hudhifa al-mudaf wa uqima
al-mudaf ilayh maqama-hu. It implies the sins of the Umma. The co-related
noun is omitted in the given phrase. (al-Qurtubi in al-Jami‘ li-Ahkam al-Qur’an,
15:324.)
3. Wa qila li-dhanbi Ummati-ka fi haqqi-ka. It is said that li-dhanbi-ka,
signifies the faults committed by the Umma, regarding your rights. (Ibn Hayyan
al-Andalusi in al-Bahr al-Muhit, 7:471.)
4. Wastaghfir li-dhanbi-ka means dhanbi Ummati-ka, fa-huwa ‘ala hadhfi al-mudaf.
It implies the sins of the Umma, and this interpretation is based on the
principle of omission of the co-related noun. (al-Shawkani in Fath al-Qadir,
4:497.)
ليغفر لك الله ما تقدم من ذنبك وما تأخر ويتم نعمته عليك ويهديك صراطا مستقيما
(al-Fath, 48 : 2)
ﭬﭭﭮﭯﭰﭱﭲﭳﭴﭵﭶﭷﭸﭹﭺﭻﭼﭽﭾﭿﮀﮁ
48:4. He is the One Who sent down tranquillity into the hearts of the believers so that they might increase in faith along with their (existing) faith. To Allah belong the forces of the heavens and the earth. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
هو الذي أنزل السكينة في قلوب المؤمنين ليزدادوا إيمانا مع إيمانهم ولله جنود السماوات والأرض وكان الله عليما حكيما
(al-Fath, 48 : 4)
ﮂﮃﮄﮅﮆﮇﮈﮉﮊﮋﮌﮍﮎﮏﮐﮑﮒﮓﮔﮕﮖ
48:5. So He may cause the believing men and the believing women to enter Gardens with streams flowing forever. And that He may absolve them of their misdeeds. And that is a great success in the sight of Allah.
ليدخل المؤمنين والمؤمنات جنات تجري من تحتها الأنهار خالدين فيها ويكفر عنهم سيئاتهم وكان ذلك عند الله فوزا عظيما
(al-Fath, 48 : 5)
ﮗﮘﮙﮚﮛﮜﮝﮞﮟﮠﮡﮢﮣﮤﮥﮦﮧﮨﮩﮪﮫﮬﮭﮮﮯ
48:6. And He may punish the hypocritic men and the hypocritic women and the polytheistic men and the polytheistic women, who entertain evil assumptions about Allah. They will be encircled by evil. And Allah has afflicted them with His wrath, cursed them and prepared Hell for them. And it is an evil destination.
ويعذب المنافقين والمنافقات والمشركين والمشركات الظانين بالله ظن السوء عليهم دائرة السوء وغضب الله عليهم ولعنهم وأعد لهم جهنم وساءت مصيرا
(al-Fath, 48 : 6)
ﭑﭒﭓﭔﭕﭖﭗﭘﭙﭚﭛﭜﭝﭞﭟﭠﭡﭢﭣﭤﭥﭦﭧﭨﭩﭪﭫﭬ
48:10. Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you (O Prophet!) actually pledge allegiance to Allah. The Hand of Allah is over their hands. So, whoever breaks his oath breaks it only to his own detriment. And whoever fulfils the covenant he made with Allah, He will grant him a great reward.
إن الذين يبايعونك إنما يبايعون الله يد الله فوق أيديهم فمن نكث فإنما ينكث على نفسه ومن أوفى بما عاهد عليه الله فسيؤتيه أجرا عظيما
(al-Fath, 48 : 10)
ﭭﭮﭯﭰﭱﭲﭳﭴﭵﭶﭷﭸﭹﭺﭻﭼﭽﭾﭿﮀﮁﮂﮃﮄﮅﮆﮇﮈﮉﮊﮋﮌﮍﮎﮏﮐﮑﮒﮓﮔﮕ
48:11. The Bedouins who were left behind will tell you (apologetically): ‘Our possessions and our families kept us occupied. So plead (to Allah) for our forgiveness.’ They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say: ‘Who can be of any avail to you against Allah if He intends to cause you harm or desires to benefit you? But Allah is well aware of what you do.
سيقول لك المخلفون من الأعراب شغلتنا أموالنا وأهلونا فاستغفر لنا يقولون بألسنتهم ما ليس في قلوبهم قل فمن يملك لكم من الله شيئا إن أراد بكم ضرا أو أراد بكم نفعا بل كان الله بما تعملون خبيرا
(al-Fath, 48 : 11)
ﮖﮗﮘﮙﮚﮛﮜﮝﮞﮟﮠﮡﮢﮣﮤﮥﮦﮧﮨﮩﮪ
48:12. Rather, you thought that the Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) and the believers would never return to their families. And that (evil thought) was made appealing to your hearts. And you entertained vicious speculations, so you are a ruined people.’
بل ظننتم أن لن ينقلب الرسول والمؤمنون إلى أهليهم أبدا وزين ذلك في قلوبكم وظننتم ظن السوء وكنتم قوما بورا
(al-Fath, 48 : 12)
ﯧﯨﯩﯪﯫﯬﯭﯮﯯﯰﯱﯲﯳﯴﯵﯶﯷﯸﯹﯺﯻﯼﯽﯾﯿﰀﰁﰂﰃﰄﰅﰆﰇﰈﰉﰊ
48:15. Those who stayed behind (on the occasion of al-Hudaybiya) will say when you set out to collect the spoils (of Khaybar): ‘Allow us (also) to follow you.’ They desire to change the Words of Allah. Say: ‘You will not follow us. Thus has Allah said before.’ Then they will say: ‘Nay! You are jealous of us.’ Instead, they cannot comprehend except a little.
سيقول المخلفون إذا انطلقتم إلى مغانم لتأخذوها ذرونا نتبعكم يريدون أن يبدلوا كلام الله قل لن تتبعونا كذلكم قال الله من قبل فسيقولون بل تحسدوننا بل كانوا لا يفقهون إلا قليلا
(al-Fath, 48 : 15)
ﭑﭒﭓﭔﭕﭖﭗﭘﭙﭚﭛﭜﭝﭞﭟﭠﭡﭢﭣﭤﭥﭦﭧﭨﭩﭪﭫﭬﭭﭮﭯ
48:16. Say to the Bedouins who stayed behind: ‘You will soon be invited (to fight) against a people possessing great might. You will fight them, or they will submit. So if you obey (the command), Allah will give you a good reward. But if you turn away as you did before, He will inflict upon you a painful punishment.
قل للمخلفين من الأعراب ستدعون إلى قوم أولي بأس شديد تقاتلونهم أو يسلمون فإن تطيعوا يؤتكم الله أجرا حسنا وإن تتولوا كما توليتم من قبل يعذبكم عذابا أليما
(al-Fath, 48 : 16)
ﭰﭱﭲﭳﭴﭵﭶﭷﭸﭹﭺﭻﭼﭽﭾﭿﮀﮁﮂﮃﮄﮅﮆﮇﮈﮉﮊﮋﮌﮍ
48:17. There is no blame on the blind, nor is there blame on the lame (or disabled), nor is there blame on the sick (for their incapacity to fight). And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him), He will admit him into the Gardens with rivers flowing beneath them. But whoever refuses to comply, He will inflict upon him a painful punishment.
ليس على الأعمى حرج ولا على الأعرج حرج ولا على المريض حرج ومن يطع الله ورسوله يدخله جنات تجري من تحتها الأنهار ومن يتول يعذبه عذابا أليما
(al-Fath, 48 : 17)
ﮎﮏﮐﮑﮒﮓﮔﮕﮖﮗﮘﮙﮚﮛﮜﮝﮞﮟﮠﮡﮢ
48:18. Allah was indeed well pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree (at al-Hudaybiya). He knew what was in their hearts (of their loyalty to His Messenger). So He sent down tranquillity upon them and rewarded them with a forthcoming victory,*
* The forthcoming victory was either the Conquest of Khaybar or Mecca.
لقد رضي الله عن المؤمنين إذ يبايعونك تحت الشجرة فعلم ما في قلوبهم فأنزل السكينة عليهم وأثابهم فتحا قريبا
(al-Fath, 48 : 18)
ﮬﮭﮮﮯﮰﮱﯓﯔﯕﯖﯗﯘﯙﯚﯛﯜﯝﯞﯟ
48:20. Allah has promised you (all) many (future) spoils of war that you will gain (from the coming victories), but He has expedited this (booty of Khaybar) for you. And He has restrained the hands of the people from (harming) you.* So that it may become a sign (of the forthcoming victories) for the believers. And He will keep guiding you along the straight path.
* These people include the inhabitants of Mecca, Khaybar, the Banu Asad, the Banu Ghatafan and all other enemy tribes.
وعدكم الله مغانم كثيرة تأخذونها فعجل لكم هذه وكف أيدي الناس عنكم ولتكون آية للمؤمنين ويهديكم صراطا مستقيما
(al-Fath, 48 : 20)
ﯠﯡﯢﯣﯤﯥﯦﯧﯨﯩﯪﯫﯬﯭﯮﯯ
48:21. And (there are) other (great victories) yet beyond your reach. Allah has encompassed them (for you in the future).* And Allah is All-Capable of everything.
* These include the Conquests of Mecca, Hawazin, Hunayn, and then, the Conquests of Persia and Byzantine. Before the Treaty of al-Hudaybiya, the Muslims could not campaign to the north of Medina due to the threat from the south. But now that a truce was signed with the Quraysh and their allies, they could freely deal with the threat from the north. The Muslims were able to concentrate their energy against Khaybar as they had freed themselves from the attacks of their southern enemies, the Quraysh until the Quraysh themselves broke the Treaty. Breaking the Treaty was a significant political development, marking a turning point for the Muslims. That is why the Qur’an miraculously declared the Treaty of al-Hudaybiya a ‘clear victory’ as it opened the doors to great historical conquests. It led to the Conquests of Khaybar, Mecca and the entire Arabian Peninsula, and later, the expansion of the Islamic state outside of Arabia, overtaking both the Persian and Byzantine empires.
وأخرى لم تقدروا عليها قد أحاط الله بها وكان الله على كل شيء قديرا
(al-Fath, 48 : 21)
ﭑﭒﭓﭔﭕﭖﭗﭘﭙﭚﭛﭜﭝﭞﭟﭠﭡﭢﭣﭤﭥ
48:24. He is the One Who held back their hands from you and your hands from them (restraining both sides from engaging in combat) in the valley of Mecca after He had given you the upper hand over (a group of) them. And Allah was All-Seeing of what you do.
وهو الذي كف أيديهم عنكم وأيديكم عنهم ببطن مكة من بعد أن أظفركم عليهم وكان الله بما تعملون بصيرا
(al-Fath, 48 : 24)
ﭦﭧﭨﭩﭪﭫﭬﭭﭮﭯﭰﭱﭲﭳﭴﭵﭶﭷﭸﭹﭺﭻﭼﭽﭾﭿﮀﮁﮂﮃﮄﮅﮆﮇﮈﮉﮊﮋﮌﮍﮎﮏﮐﮑ
48:25. They are the ones who disbelieved and barred you from the Sacred Mosque and prevented the sacrificial animals from reaching their destination. And were it not for (some) believing men and believing women (residing in Mecca), unknown to you, you would have trampled upon them in negligence, and thus, the blame of killing them would fall upon you. (You were held back from fighting) so that Allah may admit into His mercy whom He pleases. If those (unknown believers) had been clearly separated, We would have inflicted a painful punishment upon the disbelievers among them.
هم الذين كفروا وصدوكم عن المسجد الحرام والهدي معكوفا أن يبلغ محله ولولا رجال مؤمنون ونساء مؤمنات لم تعلموهم أن تطؤوهم فتصيبكم منهم معرة بغير علم ليدخل الله في رحمته من يشاء لو تزيلوا لعذبنا الذين كفروا منهم عذابا أليما
(al-Fath, 48 : 25)
ﮒﮓﮔﮕﮖﮗﮘﮙﮚﮛﮜﮝﮞﮟﮠﮡﮢﮣﮤﮥﮦﮧﮨﮩﮪﮫﮬﮭﮮﮯ
48:26. When the disbelievers had harboured pride in their hearts, the pride of pagan ignorance, Allah sent down His tranquillity upon His Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) and upon the believers, and He made them abide by the Word of God-consciousness, for they were better entitled and more worthy of it. And Allah is All-Knowing of everything.
إذ جعل الذين كفروا في قلوبهم الحمية حمية الجاهلية فأنزل الله سكينته على رسوله وعلى المؤمنين وألزمهم كلمة التقوى وكانوا أحق بها وأهلها وكان الله بكل شيء عليما
(al-Fath, 48 : 26)
ﮰﮱﯓﯔﯕﯖﯗﯘﯙﯚﯛﯜﯝﯞﯟﯠﯡﯢﯣﯤﯥﯦﯧﯨﯩﯪﯫﯬﯭﯮﯯ
48:27. Allah has indeed fulfilled His Messenger’s vision in truth. You will most certainly enter the Sacred Mosque safely, God willing, (some with your) heads shaven and (others with their) hair shortened, not fearing—for He knew what you did not know. So, He granted you an immediate victory (of the Conquest of Khaybar) before that (i.e. the Conquest of Mecca).
لقد صدق الله رسوله الرؤيا بالحق لتدخلن المسجد الحرام إن شاء الله آمنين محلقين رؤوسكم ومقصرين لا تخافون فعلم ما لم تعلموا فجعل من دون ذلك فتحا قريبا
(al-Fath, 48 : 27)
ﯰﯱﯲﯳﯴﯵﯶﯷﯸﯹﯺﯻﯼﯽﯾﯿ
48:28. He is the One Who sent His Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) with guidance and the Religion of Truth that He may elevate it over all religions. And Allah suffices as a Witness.
هو الذي أرسل رسوله بالهدى ودين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله وكفى بالله شهيدا
(al-Fath, 48 : 28)
ﭑﭒﭓﭔﭕﭖﭗﭘﭙﭚﭛﭜﭝﭞﭟﭠﭡﭢﭣﭤﭥﭦﭧﭨﭩﭪﭫﭬﭭﭮﭯﭰﭱﭲﭳﭴﭵﭶﭷﭸﭹﭺﭻﭼﭽﭾﭿﮀﮁﮂﮃﮄﮅﮆﮇﮈﮉﮊﮋﮌﮍ
