Tafseer of The Spoils of War · Al-Anfaal · 8:13
That is because they opposed Allah and His Messenger. And whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger - indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.
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 explanation of His word: ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ شَاقُّوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ (13) ("That is because they opposed Allah and His Messenger; and whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger — then indeed, Allah is severe in punishment." (13))
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted — praised be His mention — means by His word: That is because they, that this act, namely the striking of these unbelievers above the necks and the cutting off of every fingertip from them, is a recompense for them on account of their opposition (shiqāq) to Allah and His Messenger, and a punishment for them for that.
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And the meaning of His word: they opposed Allah and His Messenger, is: they deviated from the command of Allah and His Messenger and were disobedient to both, and obeyed the command of Satan.
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And the meaning of His word: and whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger, is: and whoever deviates from the command of Allah and the command of His Messenger and thereby detaches himself from obedience to both = then indeed, Allah is severe in punishment for him. And the severity of His punishment for him is: in this world, the bringing down upon him of that calamity which He used to bring down upon His enemies; and in the Hereafter, the eternal abiding in the Fire of hell (jahannam). And the word "for him" has been omitted from the sentence, because the sentence already points to it.
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Footnotes:
(59) See the explanation of "al-shiqāq" (the opposition) in what preceded, 3: 115, 116, 336; 8: 319; 9: 204.
(60) In the manuscript and the printed edition it reads "wa-fāraqa" ("and he detached himself"), but the context requires what is established here.
