Surah Al Anfal (سورة الأنفال)

Al-Anfal (Arabic: ٱلْأَنْفَال‎, al-ʾAnfāl, "Earnings, Savings, Profits") is the eighth chapter (sūrah) of the Quran, with 75 verses (āyāt). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation (Asbāb al-nuzūl), it is a "Medinan surah", completed after the Battle of Badr. It forms a pair with the next surah, At-Tawba.

The Surah is named Al-Anfal (The Bounties) from the 1st ayat. The word utilized in the ayat is الْأَنفَالِ. The word نفل alludes to what is given as an extra sum past what is required. A very subtle perspective is covered in employing this word: the reward of undertaking jihad for God is permanently saved with God. Other than this prize, the spoils of war that are picked up from the adversary are an extra offer for such individuals; before the Day of Judgment, the Almighty awards these to the participants of the war.

This surah was most probably revealed in 2 A. H. after the Battle of Badr, the first fight among Islam and kufr. As it contains a point by point and extensive survey of the Battle, it gives the idea that most presumably it was uncovered at very much the same time. Yet, it is additionally conceivable that a portion of the ayaat concerning the issues emerging because of this Battle may have been uncovered later and joined at the best possible spots to make it a consistent entirety.

‘Fight them until there is no more persecution and all worship is dedicated to God alone: if they desist …’ (8.39).This is one of the well-known verses about fighting (and therefore killing) which Islamophobes and haters offer as a summary of the essence of Islam. Clearly it is not. I have not even quoted the full verse but it has conditionality at its heart. This chapter is not all about fighting, there are a limited number of verses about it and it is in response to persecution. The Qur’an, the Word of God, has no problem with being rooted in its time, it was given to an historical individual, just as the stories from the Bible retold in it belong in their own time context. So, it is not urging perpetual war, it cannot, it is only talking about those who are persecuting, and only in the context of current happenings. In fact the focus is on Makkah and access to the Kaaba.
Fighting is always tempered by the limit of how the Muslims should respond when those who fight or persecute desist. The possibility and desirability of desisting is always there. We could even say that to fight is human and to desist is Divine.
Any reading of 8.39 must be alongside 8.61 — ‘if they incline towards peace, you must also incline towards it’ (emphasis added). God says, effectively, take a risk with peace-making. God doesn’t say ‘be suspicious’ but ‘respond to the indications of peace’, the desire for peace should always be in the heart of the believer.

This Surah was revealed in Madinah and it has 75 verses. In the commentary of Majma’ul Bayaan, it is narrated from Imam Jafar as Sadiq (a.s.) that whoever recites Surah al-Anfaal and Surah at Tawba every month, he will be protected from being a hypocrite and will be counted among the followers of Ameerul Mu’mineen – Imam Ali (a.s.), and on the day of Qiyamah he will eat from the table-spread of Jannah together with all the followers of Ahlul Bayt.

This Surah contains the verse about khums, which is the right of the Ahlul Bayt. The Holy Prophet (S.) said that he will, on the Day of Judgement, intercede for the person who recites this Surah and will bear witness that the reciter of this Surah was free from hypocrisy. Keeping Surah al-Anfaal in your possession at all times ensures that you get your rights that have been taken from you and your legitimate desires are fulfilled.