Tafseer of The Spoils of War · Al-Anfaal · 8:11
[Remember] when He overwhelmed you with drowsiness [giving] security from Him and sent down upon you from the sky, rain by which to purify you and remove from you the evil [suggestions] of Satan and to make steadfast your hearts and plant firmly thereby your feet.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The discourse on the explanation of His statement: When He caused the slumber to descend upon you as a reassurance from Him, and sent down upon you water from the sky to purify you thereby, and to remove from you the defilement (rijz) of the devil, and to fortify your hearts and make firm thereby your feet (11).
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted, whose praise is mentioned, says: and that your hearts might thereby be set at ease, "when He caused the slumber to descend upon you." And by His statement (He caused the slumber to descend upon you) He means: He cast the slumber over you — (as a reassurance — amana), He says: as a securing from Allah for you against your enemy, that he might overcome you; and likewise slumber during war is a reassurance from Allah, Mighty and Exalted.
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15758 — Al-Muthannā related to me, saying: Abū Nuʿaym related to us, saying: Sufyān related to us, on the authority of ʿĀṣim, on the authority of Abī Razīn, on the authority of ʿAbdallāh, who said: slumber during battle is a reassurance from Allah, Mighty and Exalted, and during the prayer (ṣalāh) it is from the devil.
15759 — Al-Ḥasan ibn Yaḥyā related to me, saying: ʿAbd al-Razzāq informed us, saying: al-Thawrī informed us concerning His statement: "the slumber covers you as a reassurance from Him," on the authority of ʿĀṣim, on the authority of Abī Razīn, on the authority of ʿAbdallāh, with something similar, he said: ʿAbdallāh said — and he mentioned the like of it.
15760 — Ibn Wakīʿ related to us, saying: my father related to us, on the authority of Sufyān, on the authority of ʿĀṣim, on the authority of Abī Razīn, on the authority of ʿAbdallāh, with something similar.
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And "al-amana" is a maṣdar of the statement of one who says: "amintu min kadhā amanatan, wa-amānan, wa-amnan," and all of that has one and the same meaning.
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And in accordance with what we have said concerning this, the people of interpretation have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
15761 — Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: (as a reassurance from Him), a securing from Allah, Mighty and Exalted.
15762 — . . . . he said: Isḥāq related to us, saying: ʿAbdallāh related to us, on the authority of Warqāʾ, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: (as a reassurance), he said: a securing from Allah.
15763 — Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb related to us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His statement: (when He caused the slumber to descend upon you as a reassurance from Him), he said: Allah, Mighty and Exalted, caused the slumber to descend as a reassurance against the fear that befell them on the day of Uḥud. And he recited: Then He sent down upon you, after the distress, reassurance — a slumber [Sūra Āl ʿImrān: 154].
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And the reciters differed in the reading of His statement: "when He caused the slumber to descend upon you as a reassurance from Him."
The general reciters of the people of Medina read it: "yughshīkumu l-nuʿāsa" with a ḍamma on the yāʾ and a light šīn, and the naṣb on "al-nuʿās," from: "Allah caused them to be covered by the slumber, and He causes them to be covered by it."
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And the general reciters of the Kufans read it: (yughashshīkumu) with a ḍamma on the yāʾ and a doubled šīn, from: "Allah caused them to be covered by the slumber, and He causes them to be covered by it."
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And some of the Meccans and Basrans read it: "yaghshākumu l-nuʿāsu," with a fatḥa on the yāʾ and the rafʿ on "al-nuʿās," in the meaning: "the slumber covered them, and it covers them."
And these adduced as proof for the soundness of their reading of it His statement in "Āl ʿImrān": it covers a group [Sūra Āl ʿImrān: 154].
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Abū Jaʿfar said: And the most fitting of these as the correct one is: (when He caused you to be covered — yughashshīkum), according to what I have mentioned concerning the reading of the Kufans, because of the consensus of all the reciters upon the reading of His statement: (and He sends down upon you water from the sky), by directing it toward the fact that it belongs to the action of Allah, Mighty and Exalted. Thus then it is necessary that (He causes you to be covered) is likewise so, since His statement (and He sends down) is a coordination upon "He causes to be covered," so that the expression would be coherent in one and the same manner.
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As for His statement, Mighty and Exalted: (and He sends down upon you water from the sky to purify you thereby), that was a rain which Allah sent down from the sky on the day of Badr, in order to purify the believers thereby for their prayer, for they were that morning in a state of major ritual impurity (junub) without water. When Allah sent down the water upon them, they washed themselves and purified themselves. And the devil had cast insinuations into them with that which grieved them, namely that in the morning they were junub without water; but Allah removed that from their hearts by the rain. That is His fortifying of their hearts, and His strengthening of their condition, and His making firm with that rain of their feet, for they had advanced to meet their enemy upon a soft, yielding sandy plain. The rain made it firm, so that the feet stood firm upon it and did not sink into it — as a preparation by Allah, Mighty and Exalted, for His Prophet, peace be upon him, and His allies, of the means to gain power over their enemy and to overcome them.
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And in accordance with what we have said, the reports have been transmitted successively from [the companions of] the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and others among the people of knowledge.
* Mention of the reports transmitted concerning that:
15764 — Hārūn ibn Isḥāq related to us, saying: Muṣʿab ibn al-Miqdām related to us, saying: Isrāʾīl related to us, saying: Abū Isḥāq related to us, on the authority of Ḥāritha, on the authority of ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: in the night a light rain shower befell us — that is to say: the night in the morning of which the battle of Badr took place. We went beneath the trees and the shields, to shelter ourselves under them from the rain. And the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, spent the night calling upon his Lord: "O Allah, if You let this band perish, You will not be worshipped on earth!" When the dawn broke, he called out: "The prayer, servants of Allah!" Then the people came out from beneath the trees and the shields, and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, led us in prayer and urged on to the fighting (qitāl).
15765 — Ibn Wakīʿ related to us, saying: Ḥafṣ ibn Ghiyāth and Abū Khālid related to us, on the authority of Dāwūd, on the authority of Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab: (water to purify you thereby), he said: a light rain shower on the day of Badr.
15766 — Al-Ḥasan ibn Yazīd related to me, saying: Ḥafṣ related to us, on the authority of Dāwūd, on the authority of Saʿīd, with something similar.
15767 — Ibn Wakīʿ related to us, saying: Muḥammad ibn Abī ʿAdī and ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, on the authority of Dāwūd, on the authority of al-Shaʿbī and Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab, who both said: a light rain shower on the day of Badr.
15768 — Ibn al-Muthannā related to us, saying: Ibn Abī ʿAdī related to us, on the authority of Dāwūd, on the authority of al-Shaʿbī and Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab concerning this verse: (He sends down upon you water from the sky to purify you thereby and to remove from you the defilement of the devil), who both said: it was a light rain shower on the day of Badr, by which Allah made the feet firm.
15769 — Bishr ibn Muʿādh related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His statement: "when the slumber covered you as a reassurance from Him" — the verse, it has been mentioned to us that they were rained upon that day until the valley flowed with water, and they fought upon a greyish sandy hill. Allah made it firm with the water, and the Muslims drank, and performed the ablution, and gave drink, and Allah removed from them the insinuations of the devil.
15770 — Al-Muthannā related to me, saying: ʿAbdallāh related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, who said: the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace — that is to say: when he set out toward Badr — and the Muslims descended, while between them and the water lay a soft sandy plain. Great weakness befell the Muslims, and the devil cast into their hearts wrath, and he insinuated among them: you claim that you are the allies of Allah and that His Messenger is among you, and yet the polytheists have driven you away from the water, and you pray in a state of junub! Then Allah caused a heavy rain to fall upon them, and the Muslims drank and purified themselves, and Allah removed from them the defilement of the devil, and the sand became firm when the rain struck it, and the people and the mounts walked over it. Thus they advanced toward the people, and Allah fortified His Prophet with a thousand angels: Jibrīl, peace be upon him, was with five hundred of the angels on one flank, and Mīkāʾīl with five hundred on the other flank.
15771 — Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His statement: "when the slumber covered you as a reassurance from Him" up to His statement: (and to make firm thereby the feet) — and that was because the polytheists of Qurayš, when they set out to come to the aid of the caravan and to fight for it, descended at the water on the day of Badr and drove the believers away from it. Then thirst befell the believers, and they began to pray in a state of junub and with broken ritual purity, until that became heavy in the breasts of the companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Then Allah sent down water from the sky, until the valley flowed, and the Muslims drank, and filled the waterskins, and gave the mounts to drink, and washed themselves of the major impurity. And Allah placed therein purification, and made the feet firm. And that was because between them and the people lay a sandy plain; then Allah sent down upon it the rain, which struck it so that it became hard, and the feet stood firm upon it.
15772 — Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn related to me, saying: Aḥmad ibn al-Mufaḍḍal related to us, saying: Asbāṭ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī, who said: while the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the Muslims were on their way, the polytheists went ahead of them to the water of Badr and descended at it. And Abū Sufyān and his companions turned away toward the sea and went on. He said: they descended upon the highest part of the valley, and Muḥammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, descended upon the lowest part of it. And the man of Muḥammad's companions, peace be upon him, became junub and could not reach the water, so he prayed in a state of junub. Then the devil cast into their hearts and said: how do you hope to overcome them, while each one of you rises to the prayer in a state of junub, without ritual washing! He said: then Allah sent down upon them the rain, and they washed themselves and performed the ablution and drank. And the ground became hard for them, whereas it had been a sandy plain into which their feet sank, and it became hard for them by the rain, and they stood firm upon it.
15773 — Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, who said: Ibn ʿAbbās said: the polytheists overcame the Muslims at the beginning of their affair over the water, so that the Muslims became thirsty and prayed in a state of junub and with broken purity, while between them lay sandy plains. Then the devil cast into the hearts of the believers grief and said: you claim that among you is a prophet and that you are the allies of Allah, and yet you have been driven away from the water, and you pray in a state of junub and with broken purity! He said: then Allah, Mighty and Exalted, sent down water from the sky, and every valley flowed, and the Muslims drank and purified themselves, and their feet became firm, and the insinuation of the devil departed.
15774 — Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid concerning His statement: (water to purify you thereby), he said: the rain, which He sent down upon them before the slumber — (the defilement of the devil), he said: his insinuation. He said: and He laid the dust with the rain, and the ground became firm thereby, and their spirits were set at ease thereby, and their feet became firm thereby.
15775 — Al-Muthannā related to us, saying: Abū Ḥudhayfa related to us, saying: Shibl related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: (water to purify you thereby), which He sent down upon them before the slumber; He covered the dust with the rain, and made the ground firm thereby, and their spirits were set at ease thereby, and the feet became firm thereby.
15776 — Al-Muthannā related to me, saying: Abū Ḥudhayfa related to us, saying: Shibl related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: (water to purify you thereby), he said: the rainfall — (and to remove from you the defilement of the devil), his insinuations. He laid the dust with the rain, and made the ground firm thereby, and their spirits were set at ease thereby, and their feet became firm thereby.
15777 — Al-Muthannā related to me, saying: Abū Ḥudhayfa related to us, saying: Shibl related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: "the defilement of the devil," his insinuation.
15778 — Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His statement: (and He sends down upon you water from the sky to purify you thereby), he said: this is the day of Badr; He sent down the rainfall upon them — (and to remove from you the defilement of the devil), which he had cast into your hearts: you have no strength against these! — (and to fortify your hearts and make firm thereby the feet).
15779 — It was related to me on the authority of al-Ḥusayn ibn al-Faraj, who said: I heard Abā Muʿādh saying: ʿUbayd ibn Sulaymān related to us, saying: I heard al-Ḍaḥḥāk saying concerning His statement: (when the slumber covered you as a reassurance from Him) up to His statement: (and to make firm thereby the feet): the polytheists descended at the water on the day of Badr and drove the Muslims away from it. Then thirst befell the Muslims, and they prayed with broken purity and in a state of junub. Then the devil cast into the hearts of the believers grief and insinuated therein: you claim that you are the allies of Allah and that Muḥammad is the prophet of Allah, and yet you have been driven away from the water, and you pray with broken purity and in a state of junub! Then Allah caused the sky to rain until every valley flowed, and the Muslims drank and filled their waterskins, and gave their mounts to drink, and washed themselves of the junub, and Allah made the feet firm thereby. And that was because between them and their enemy lay a sandy plain which the mounts could not traverse and in which the walker could walk only with difficulty; then Allah struck it with the rain until it became hard, and the feet stood firm upon it.
15780 — Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, saying: Salama related to us, on the authority of Ibn Isḥāq: "when the slumber covered you as a reassurance from Him," that is to say: the reassurance was sent down upon you, so that you slept without fear — "and He sends down upon you water from the sky," referring to the rain that befell them that night. Thus the polytheists were prevented from reaching the water first, and the way to it was made clear for the believers — (to purify you thereby and to remove from you the defilement of the devil and to fortify your hearts and make firm thereby the feet), so that He might remove from them the doubt of the devil through his frightening of them concerning their enemy, and through the making firm of the ground for them, until they reached their encampment where their enemy had preceded them.
15781 — Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn related to me, saying: Aḥmad ibn al-Mufaḍḍal related to us, saying: Asbāṭ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī, who said: then He mentioned what the devil had cast into their hearts concerning the matter of the junub, and their rising to pray without washing, and He said: "when He caused the slumber to descend upon you as a reassurance from Him, and sent down upon you water from the sky to purify you thereby and to remove from you the defilement of the devil and to fortify your hearts and make firm thereby the feet," until you would walk firmly over the sand, which became like ordinary ground.
15782 — Yaʿqūb ibn Ibrāhīm related to me, saying: Ibn ʿUlayya related to us, saying: Dāwūd ibn Abī Hind related to us, saying: a man said in the presence of Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab — and once he said: he recited — (and He sends down upon you water from the sky to purify you thereby — liyuṭhirakum bihi). Then Saʿīd said: it is only: "wa-yunazzilu ʿalaykum mina l-samāʾi māʾan liyuṭahhirakum bihi." He said: and al-Shaʿbī said: that was a light rain shower on the day of Badr.
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And some of the scholars of rare words among the people of Basra claimed that the meaning of His statement: (and to make firm thereby the feet) is: and He pours upon them patience and sends it down upon them, so that they hold firm against their enemy.
And that is a statement which contradicts the statement of all the people of interpretation among the companions (ṣaḥāba) and the Followers (tābiʿūn). And it suffices for a statement to be incorrect that it contradicts the statement of those whom we have mentioned. We have already set forth their statements concerning that, and that its meaning is: and He makes firm the feet of the believers by the making firm of the sand with the rain, so that their feet and the hooves of their mounts do not sink into it.
