الفتح
Surah Al-Fath
The Victory · Surah 48 · Medinan · 29 verses
1إِنَّا فَتَحۡنَا لَكَ فَتۡحࣰا مُّبِينࣰا ١Lo! We have given thee (O Muhammad) a signal victory.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is a victory that opens the future, the beginning of many conquests to come; some commentators explained it as the good news of the conquest of Mecca.2لِّيَغۡفِرَ لَكَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنۢبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعۡمَتَهُۥ عَلَيۡكَ وَيَهۡدِيَكَ صِرَٰطࣰا مُّسۡتَقِيمࣰا ٢That Allah may forgive thee of thy sin that which is past and that which is to come, and may perfect His favour unto thee, and may guide thee on a right path.InsightElmalılı relates from al-Baydawi: the victory became a cause of forgiveness, since it was a means of repelling idolatry by striving and of raising the religion.3وَيَنصُرَكَ ٱللَّهُ نَصۡرًا عَزِيزًا ٣And that Allah may help thee with strong help.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is making the Prophet victorious and honoured with an unparalleled help and triumph.4هُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ فِي قُلُوبِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ لِيَزۡدَادُوٓاْ إِيمَٰنࣰا مَّعَ إِيمَٰنِهِمۡۗ وَلِلَّهِ جُنُودُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمࣰا ٤He it is Who sent down peace of reassurance into the hearts of the believers that they might add faith unto their faith. Allah’s are the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is ever Knower, Wise.InsightElmalılı explains “sakinah” as calm, assurance, steadfastness and composure: a peace that removes agitation and anxiety from the soul.5لِّيُدۡخِلَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ جَنَّـٰتࣲ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَيُكَفِّرَ عَنۡهُمۡ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمۡۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ فَوۡزًا عَظِيمࣰا ٥That He may bring the believing men and the believing women into Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide, and may remit from them their evil deeds - That, in the sight of Allah, is the supreme triumph.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is tied to a purpose understood from Allah’s knowledge and wisdom: admitting the believers to Paradise and covering their sins.6وَيُعَذِّبَ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ وَٱلۡمُنَٰفِقَٰتِ وَٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ وَٱلۡمُشۡرِكَٰتِ ٱلظَّآنِّينَ بِٱللَّهِ ظَنَّ ٱلسَّوۡءِۚ عَلَيۡهِمۡ دَآئِرَةُ ٱلسَّوۡءِۖ وَغَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَعَنَهُمۡ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمۡ جَهَنَّمَۖ وَسَآءَتۡ مَصِيرࣰا ٦And may punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and the idolatrous men and the idolatrous women, who think an evil thought concerning Allah. For them is the evil turn of fortune, and Allah is wroth against them and hath cursed them, and hath made ready for them hell, a hapless journey’s end.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, since the hypocrites harmed the Muslims more than the idolaters, their punishment is mentioned first.7وَلِلَّهِ جُنُودُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا ٧Allah’s are the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, mentioning this twice points to Allah having both armies of mercy and armies of punishment.8إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ شَٰهِدࣰا وَمُبَشِّرࣰا وَنَذِيرࣰا ٨Lo! We have sent thee (O Muhammad) as a witness and a bearer of good tidings and a warner.InsightElmalılı relates from ar-Razi: commentators explained it as witness to the community’s deeds; but more fitting is witness to Allah’s oneness.9لِّتُؤۡمِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُۚ وَتُسَبِّحُوهُ بُكۡرَةࣰ وَأَصِيلًا ٩That ye (mankind) may believe in Allah and His messenger, and may honour Him, and may revere Him, and may glorify Him at early dawn and at the close of day.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there are several meanings here; one is that these four commands correspond to the sending, witnessing, good news and warning.10إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ يَدُ ٱللَّهِ فَوۡقَ أَيۡدِيهِمۡۚ فَمَن نَّكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَنۡ أَوۡفَىٰ بِمَا عَٰهَدَ عَلَيۡهُ ٱللَّهَ فَسَيُؤۡتِيهِ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمࣰا ١٠Lo! those who swear allegiance unto thee (Muhammad), swear allegiance only unto Allah. The Hand of Allah is above their hands. So whosoever breaketh his oath, breaketh it only to his soul’s hurt; while whosoever keepeth his covenant with Allah, on him will He bestow immense reward.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, obeying the Messenger as Messenger is obeying the One who sent him.11سَيَقُولُ لَكَ ٱلۡمُخَلَّفُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَعۡرَابِ شَغَلَتۡنَآ أَمۡوَٰلُنَا وَأَهۡلُونَا فَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَنَاۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَلۡسِنَتِهِم مَّا لَيۡسَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمۡۚ قُلۡ فَمَن يَمۡلِكُ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيۡـًٔا إِنۡ أَرَادَ بِكُمۡ ضَرًّا أَوۡ أَرَادَ بِكُمۡ نَفۡعَۢاۚ بَلۡ كَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرَۢا ١١Those of the wandering Arabs who were left behind will tell thee: Our possessions and our households occupied us, so ask forgiveness for us! They speak with their tongues that which is not in their hearts. Say: Who can avail you aught against Allah, if He intend you hurt or intend you profit? Nay, but Allah is ever Aware of what ye do.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, when the Prophet set out for Mecca for ‘umrah in the year of Hudaybiyah, some Bedouins made excuses and stayed behind.12بَلۡ ظَنَنتُمۡ أَن لَّن يَنقَلِبَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِيهِمۡ أَبَدࣰا وَزُيِّنَ ذَٰلِكَ فِي قُلُوبِكُمۡ وَظَنَنتُمۡ ظَنَّ ٱلسَّوۡءِ وَكُنتُمۡ قَوۡمَۢا بُورࣰا ١٢Nay, but ye deemed that the messenger and the believers would never return to their own folk, and that was made fairseeming in your hearts, and ye did think an evil thought, and ye were worthless folk.13وَمَن لَّمۡ يُؤۡمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ فَإِنَّآ أَعۡتَدۡنَا لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ سَعِيرࣰا ١٣And so for him who believeth not in Allah and His messenger - Lo! We have prepared a flame for disbelievers.14وَلِلَّهِ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ يَغۡفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورࣰا رَّحِيمࣰا ١٤And Allah’s is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. He forgiveth whom He will, and punisheth whom He will. And Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.15سَيَقُولُ ٱلۡمُخَلَّفُونَ إِذَا ٱنطَلَقۡتُمۡ إِلَىٰ مَغَانِمَ لِتَأۡخُذُوهَا ذَرُونَا نَتَّبِعۡكُمۡۖ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُبَدِّلُواْ كَلَٰمَ ٱللَّهِۚ قُل لَّن تَتَّبِعُونَا كَذَٰلِكُمۡ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ مِن قَبۡلُۖ فَسَيَقُولُونَ بَلۡ تَحۡسُدُونَنَاۚ بَلۡ كَانُواْ لَا يَفۡقَهُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلࣰا ١٥Those who were left behind will say, when ye set forth to capture booty: Let us go with you. They fain would change the verdict of Allah. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Ye shall not go with us. Thus hath Allah said beforehand. Then they will say: Ye are envious of us. Nay, but they understand not, save a little.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, when Allah commanded the campaign of Khaybar, those who stayed behind from Hudaybiyah wanted to join for the spoils.16قُل لِّلۡمُخَلَّفِينَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَعۡرَابِ سَتُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمٍ أُوْلِي بَأۡسࣲ شَدِيدࣲ تُقَٰتِلُونَهُمۡ أَوۡ يُسۡلِمُونَۖ فَإِن تُطِيعُواْ يُؤۡتِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَجۡرًا حَسَنࣰاۖ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوۡاْ كَمَا تَوَلَّيۡتُم مِّن قَبۡلُ يُعَذِّبۡكُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمࣰا ١٦Say unto those of the wandering Arabs who were left behind: Ye will be called against a folk of mighty prowess, to fight them until they surrender; and if ye obey, Allah will give you a fair reward; but if ye turn away as ye did turn away before, He will punish you with a painful doom.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is being called to face a people very strong in war; some say the Byzantines or the Persians.17لَّيۡسَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ حَرَجࣱ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَعۡرَجِ حَرَجࣱ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلۡمَرِيضِ حَرَجࣱۗ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ يُدۡخِلۡهُ جَنَّـٰتࣲ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُۖ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ يُعَذِّبۡهُ عَذَابًا أَلِيمࣰا ١٧There is no blame for the blind, nor is there blame for the lame, nor is there blame for the sick (that they go not forth to war). And whoso obeyeth Allah and His messenger, He will make him enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow; and whoso turneth back, him will He punish with a painful doom.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there is no obligation for them to go; they are excused, yet not forbidden from joining.18۞لَّقَدۡ رَضِيَ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ إِذۡ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحۡتَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمۡ فَأَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَأَثَٰبَهُمۡ فَتۡحࣰا قَرِيبࣰا ١٨Allah was well pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance unto thee beneath the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down peace of reassurance on them, and hath rewarded them with a near victory.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is the pledge made at Hudaybiyah, called the Pledge of Ridwan because this verse gave the good news of Allah’s pleasure.19وَمَغَانِمَ كَثِيرَةࣰ يَأۡخُذُونَهَاۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمࣰا ١٩And much booty that they will capture. Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.20وَعَدَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَغَانِمَ كَثِيرَةࣰ تَأۡخُذُونَهَا فَعَجَّلَ لَكُمۡ هَٰذِهِۦ وَكَفَّ أَيۡدِيَ ٱلنَّاسِ عَنكُمۡ وَلِتَكُونَ ءَايَةࣰ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَيَهۡدِيَكُمۡ صِرَٰطࣰا مُّسۡتَقِيمࣰا ٢٠Allah promiseth you much booty that ye will capture, and hath given you this in advance, and hath withheld men’s hands from you, that it may be a token for the believers, and that He may guide you on a right path.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these are the conquests and spoils of the Muslims until the Resurrection; what was given immediately is Khaybar.21وَأُخۡرَىٰ لَمۡ تَقۡدِرُواْ عَلَيۡهَا قَدۡ أَحَاطَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَاۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءࣲ قَدِيرࣰا ٢١And other (gain), which ye have not been able to achieve, Allah will compass it, Allah is Able to do all things.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is what had not yet come into their hands; but Allah had surely encompassed and secured it.22وَلَوۡ قَٰتَلَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَوَلَّوُاْ ٱلۡأَدۡبَٰرَ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُونَ وَلِيࣰّا وَلَا نَصِيرࣰا ٢٢And if those who disbelieve join battle with you they will take to flight, and afterward they will find no protecting friend nor helper.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, had the Meccans fought instead of making peace, they would surely have been defeated and fled; for Allah was with the believers.23سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِي قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلُۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ ٱللَّهِ تَبۡدِيلࣰا ٢٣It is the law of Allah which hath taken course aforetime. Thou wilt not find for the law of Allah aught of power to change.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the prophets prevailing is a divine custom that has held since earlier communities.24وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي كَفَّ أَيۡدِيَهُمۡ عَنكُمۡ وَأَيۡدِيَكُمۡ عَنۡهُم بِبَطۡنِ مَكَّةَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَنۡ أَظۡفَرَكُمۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرًا ٢٤And He it is Who hath withheld men’s hands from you, and hath withheld your hands from them, in the valley of Mecca, after He had made you victors over them. Allah is Seer of what ye do.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Muslims reaching Hudaybiyah and camping there was itself a victory; Allah held both sides back from fighting.25هُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّوكُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ وَٱلۡهَدۡيَ مَعۡكُوفًا أَن يَبۡلُغَ مَحِلَّهُۥۚ وَلَوۡلَا رِجَالࣱ مُّؤۡمِنُونَ وَنِسَآءࣱ مُّؤۡمِنَٰتࣱ لَّمۡ تَعۡلَمُوهُمۡ أَن تَطَـُٔوهُمۡ فَتُصِيبَكُم مِّنۡهُم مَّعَرَّةُۢ بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمࣲۖ لِّيُدۡخِلَ ٱللَّهُ فِي رَحۡمَتِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُۚ لَوۡ تَزَيَّلُواْ لَعَذَّبۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنۡهُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا ٢٥These it was who disbelieved and debarred you from the Inviolable Place of Worship, and debarred the offering from reaching its goal. And if it had not been for believing men and believing women, whom ye know not - lest ye should tread them under foot and thus incur guilt for them unknowingly; that Allah might bring into His mercy whom He will - If (the believers and the disbelievers) had been clearly separated We verily had punished those of them who disbelieved with painful punishment.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there were believers in Mecca hiding their faith; had there been fighting, you might unknowingly have trampled them; Allah prevented this.26إِذۡ جَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلۡحَمِيَّةَ حَمِيَّةَ ٱلۡجَٰهِلِيَّةِ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَأَلۡزَمَهُمۡ كَلِمَةَ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ وَكَانُوٓاْ أَحَقَّ بِهَا وَأَهۡلَهَاۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمࣰا ٢٦When those who disbelieve had set up in their hearts zealotry, the zealotry of the Age of Ignorance, then Allah sent down His peace of reassurance upon His messenger and upon the believers and imposed on them the word of self-restraint, for they were worthy of it and meet for it. And Allah is Aware of all things.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, while the idolaters acted from the pride of ignorance, Allah kept the believers firm on the word of piety; they were worthy of it.27لَّقَدۡ صَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ ٱلرُّءۡيَا بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ لَتَدۡخُلُنَّ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدَ ٱلۡحَرَامَ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ مُحَلِّقِينَ رُءُوسَكُمۡ وَمُقَصِّرِينَ لَا تَخَافُونَۖ فَعَلِمَ مَا لَمۡ تَعۡلَمُواْ فَجَعَلَ مِن دُونِ ذَٰلِكَ فَتۡحࣰا قَرِيبًا ٢٧Allah hath fulfilled the vision for His messenger in very truth. Ye shall indeed enter the Inviolable Place of Worship, if Allah will, secure, (having your hair) shaven and cut, not fearing. But He knoweth that which ye know not, and hath given you a near victory beforehand.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah fulfilled the vision in truth, for a true reason, such as distinguishing those firm in faith from those who were not.28هُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَرۡسَلَ رَسُولَهُۥ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلۡحَقِّ لِيُظۡهِرَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدࣰا ٢٨He it is Who hath sent His messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He may cause it to prevail over all religion. And Allah sufficeth as a Witness.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, guidance is the Qur’an, the proof that shows the right way; and the Messenger is Muhammad.29مُّحَمَّدࣱ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ أَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى ٱلۡكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَيۡنَهُمۡۖ تَرَىٰهُمۡ رُكَّعࣰا سُجَّدࣰا يَبۡتَغُونَ فَضۡلࣰا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضۡوَٰنࣰاۖ سِيمَاهُمۡ فِي وُجُوهِهِم مِّنۡ أَثَرِ ٱلسُّجُودِۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمۡ فِي ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةِۚ وَمَثَلُهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡإِنجِيلِ كَزَرۡعٍ أَخۡرَجَ شَطۡـَٔهُۥ فَـَٔازَرَهُۥ فَٱسۡتَغۡلَظَ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِۦ يُعۡجِبُ ٱلزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ ٱلۡكُفَّارَۗ وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ مِنۡهُم مَّغۡفِرَةࣰ وَأَجۡرًا عَظِيمَۢا ٢٩Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves. Thou (O Muhammad) seest them bowing and falling prostrate (in worship), seeking bounty from Allah and (His) acceptance. The mark of them is on their foreheads from the traces of prostration. Such is their likeness in the Torah and their likeness in the Gospel - like as sown corn that sendeth forth its shoot and strengtheneth it and riseth firm upon its stalk, delighting the sowers - that He may enrage the disbelievers with (the sight of) them. Allah hath promised, unto such of them as believe and do good works, forgiveness and immense reward.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, against this testimony of Allah, Muhammad’s messengership will be proven in deeds; and his companions are a community with the marks of prostration on their faces.