Surah Al-Anfal Ayat 59 (8:59 Quran) With Tafsir

Ala-Maududi

(8:59) Let not the deniers of the truth be deluded that they will gain any advantage. Surely, they, can never overcome Us!

There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.

Ibn-Kathir

59. And let not those who disbelieve think that they can outstrip (escape from the punishment). Verily, they will never be able to save themselves (from Allah’s punishment). 60. And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others besides them, whom you may not know but whom Allah does know. And whatever you shall spend in the cause of Allah shall be repaid unto you, and you shall not be treated unjustly.

Allah says to His Prophet , in this Ayah,

(those who disbelieve think that they can outstrip), Do not think that such disbelievers have escaped Us or that We are unable to grasp them. Rather, they are under the power of Our ability and in the grasp of Our will; they will never escape Us.’ Allah also said,

(Or think those who do evil deeds that they can outstrip Us (escape Our punishment) Evil is that which they judge!) ﴿29:4﴾,

(Consider not that the disbelievers can escape in the land. Their abode shall be the Fire, and worst indeed is that destination.) ﴿24:57﴾, and,

(Let not the free disposal (and affluence) of the disbelievers throughout the land deceive you. A brief enjoyment; then their ultimate abode is Hell; and worst indeed is that place for rest.) ﴿3:196-197﴾

Allah commands Muslims to prepare for war against disbelievers, as much as possible, according to affordability and availability. Allah said,

(And make ready against them all you can) whatever you can muster,

(of power, including steeds of war). Imam Ahmad recorded that `Uqbah bin `Amir said that he heard the Messenger of Allah saying, while standing on the Minbar;

(And make ready against them all you can of power,)

(Verily, Power is shooting! Power is shooting.)

Muslim collected this Hadith.

Imam Malik recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, “The Messenger of Allah said,

(Horses are kept for one of three purposes; for some people they are a source of reward, for some others they are a means of shelter, and for some others they are a source of sin. The one for whom they are a source of reward, is he who keeps a horse for Allah’s cause (Jihad) tying it with a long tether on a meadow or in a garden. The result is that whatever it eats from the area of the meadow or the garden where it is tied, will be counted as good deeds for his benefit; and if it should break its rope and jump over one or two hillocks then all its dung and its footmarks will be written as good deeds for him. If it passes by a river and drinks water from it, even though he had no intention of watering it, then he will get the reward for its drinking. Therefore, this type of horse is a source of good deeds for him. As for the man who tied his horse maintaining self – sufficiency and abstinence from begging, all the while not forgetting Allah’s right concerning the neck and back of his horse, then it is a means of shelter for him. And a man who tied a horse for the sake of pride, pretense and showing enmity for Muslims, then this type of horse is a source of sins.)

When Allah’s Messenger was asked about donkeys, he replied,

(Nothing has been revealed to me from Allah about them except these unique, comprehensive Ayat:

(Then anyone who does an atom’s weight of good, shall see it. And anyone who does an atom’s weight of evil, shall see it.)) ﴿99:7-8﴾”

Al-Bukhari and Muslim collected this Hadith, this is the wording of Al-Bukhari. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said that the Prophet said,

(There are three reasons why horses are kept: A horse that is kept for Ar-Rahman (the Most Beneficent), a horse kept for Shaytan and a horse kept for the man. As for the horse kept for Ar-Rahman, it is the horse that is being kept for the cause of Allah (for Jihad), and as such, its food, dung and urine, etc., (he made mention of many things). As for the horse that is for Shaytan, it is one that is being used for gambling. As for the horse that is for man, it is the horse that one tethers, seeking its benefit. For him, this horse will be a shield against poverty.) oAl-Bukhari recorded that `Urwah bin Abi Al-Ja`d Al-Bariqi said that the Messenger of Allah said,

(Good will remain in the forelocks of horses until the Day of Resurrection, (that is) reward, and the spoils of war.)

Allah said next,

(to threaten), or to strike fear,

(the enemy of Allah and your enemy), the disbelievers,

(and others besides them), such as Bani Qurayzah, according to Mujahid, or persians, according to As-Suddi.

Muqatil bin Hayyan and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that this Ayah refers to hypocrites, as supported by Allah’s statement,

(And among the bedouins around you, some are hypocrites, and so are some among the people of Al-Madinah who persist in hypocrisy; you know them not, We know them.)﴿9:101﴾.

Allah said next,

(And whatever you shall spend in the cause of Allah shall be repaid to you, and you shall not be treated unjustly.)

Allah says, whatever you spend on Jihad will be repaid to you in full.

We also mentioned Allah’s statement,

(The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah, is that of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.) ﴿2:261﴾