Surah Al-Anfal Ayat 19 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 19
If you [disbelievers] seek the victory – the defeat has come to you. And if you desist [from hostilities], it is best for you; but if you return [to war], We will return, and never will you be availed by your [large] company at all, even if it should increase; and [that is] because Allah is with the believers.
(O Unbelievers!) if ye prayed for victory and judgment, now hath the judgment come to you: if ye desist (from wrong), it will be best for you: if ye return (to the attack), so shall We. Not the least good will your forces be to you even if they were multiplied: for verily Allah is with those who believe!
(Tell the unbelievers:) ‘If you have sought a judgement, then surely a judgement has come to you. And if you desist from disobedience, it is all the better for you. But if you revert to your mischief, We will again chastise you; and your host, howsoever numerous, will never be of any avail to you. Know well, Allah is with the believers.’
(O disbelievers) if you ask for a judgement, now has the judgement come unto you and if you cease (to do wrong), it will be better for you, and if you return (to the attack), so shall We return, and your forces will be of no avail to you, however numerous it be, and verily, Allah is with the believers.
(O Qureysh!) If ye sought a judgment, now hath the judgment come unto you. And if ye cease (from persecuting the believers) it will be better for you, but if ye return (to the attack) We also shall return. And your host will avail you naught, however numerous it be, and (know) that Allah is with the believers (in His Guidance).
In case you seek arbitration, then arbitration has already come to you; and in case you refrain, then it is a most charitable thing for you; and in case you go back, We will go back, and your community will never avail you anything, though it be many; and that Allah is with the believers.
[Disbelievers], if you were seeking a decision, now you have witnessed one: if you stop here, it will be better for you. If you return, so shall We, and your forces, though greater in number, will be of no use to you. God is with the believers.
اگر تم لوگ فیصلہ چاہتے ہو تو وه فیصلہ تمہارے سامنے آموجود ہوا اور اگر باز آجاؤ تو یہ تمہارے لیے نہایت خوب ہے اور اگر تم پھر وہی کام کرو گے تو ہم بھی پھر وہی کام کریں گے اور تمہاری جمعیت تمہارے ذرا بھی کام نہ آئے گی گو کتنی زیاده ہو اور واقعی بات یہ ہے کہ اللہ تعالیٰ ایمان والوں کے ساتھ ہے
Quran 8 Verse 19 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Al-Anfal ayat 19, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(8:19) (Tell the unbelievers:) ‘If you have sought a judgement, then surely a judgement has come to you. [15] And if you desist from disobedience, it is all the better for you. But if you revert to your mischief, We will again chastise you; and your host, howsoever numerous, will never be of any avail to you. Know well, Allah is with the believers.’
15. Before marching out from Makka the unbelievers held the covering of the Ka’bah and prayed: ‘O God! Grant victory to the better of the two parties.’ Abu Jahl, in particular invoked God’s judgement: ‘O God! Grant victory to the one who is in the right and cause humiliation to the wrong-doer.’ God answered these prayers fully and the outcome of the battle clearly pointed to the party which was in the right.
Ibn-Kathir
19. (O disbelievers) if you ask for a judgement, now has the judgement come unto you; and if you cease (to do wrong), it will be better for you, and if you return (to the attack), so shall We return, and your forces will be of no avail to you, however numerous they be; and verily, Allah is with the believers.
Allah says to the disbeliever,
(If you ask for a judgement), you invoked Allah for victory, judgement and a decision between you and your believing nemesis, and you got what you asked for. Muhammad bin Ishaq and several others reported from Az-Zuhri from `Abdullah bin Tha`labah bin Su`ayr who said that Abu Jahl said on the day of Badr, “O Allah! Whichever of the two camps (pagans and Muslims) severed the relation of the womb and brought us what is not familiar, then destroy him this day.” This Ayah was later on revealed,
(If you ask for a judgement, then now has the judgement come unto you,) until the end of the Ayah. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Tha`labah said, “Abu Jahl asked for (Allah’s judgment) when he said upon facing the Muslims, `O Allah! Those among us who severed the relations of the womb and brought forth what we do not recognize, then destroy him this day.”’ This was also recorded by An-Nasa’i in the Book of Tafsir (of his Sunan) and Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak, and he said, “It is Sahih according to the criteria of the Two Shaykhs, and they did not record it. ”. Similar statements were reported from Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, Yazid bin Ruwman and several others. As-Suddi commented, “Before the idolators left Makkah for Badr, they clung to the curtains covering the Ka`bah and supplicated to Allah for victory, `O Allah! Give victory to the exalted among the two armies, the most honored among the two groups, and the most righteous among the two tribes.’ Allah revealed the Ayah, F
(If you ask for a judgement, then now has the judgement come unto you.) Allah says here, `I accepted your supplication and Muhammad gained the victory.”’
`Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said; “This is Allah the Most High’s answer to their supplication;
(And (remember) when they said: “O Allah! If this is indeed the truth from you..)” ﴿8:32﴾
Allah said next,
(and if you cease…) from your disbelief and rejection of Allah and His Messenger ,
(it will be better for you), in this life and the Hereafter. Allah said,
(and if you return, so shall We return…) This is similar to another Ayah,
(but if you return (to sins), We shall return (to Our punishment).) ﴿17:8﴾ meaning, `if you persist in your disbelief and misguidance, We shall repeat the defeat that you suffered,’
(and your forces will be of no avail to you, however numerous they be…) for even if you gather whatever forces you can, then know that those whom Allah is with cannot be defeated,
(and verily, Allah is with the believers.) in reference to the Prophet’s group, the side of the chosen Messenger .
Quick navigation links
