The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

8. BATTLE GAINS
The main part of this Medinan sura is a comment on the Battle of Badr (near
Medina), the first fought between the Muslims and their Meccan opponents in
the second year after the Migration. The Muslims, some of whom were at first
reluctant to fight, won in spite of being vastly outnumbered, and began to
question the distribution of the gains. The sura reminds them that it was God
who brought about the victory. Verse 41 shows how the gains were to be distributed.
It advises Muslims and comments on the role of the hypocrites and on
those who always break their treaties (verse 56), ending with a statement about
loyalties and alliances.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 They ask you [Prophet] about [distributing] the battle gains. Say,
‘That is a matter for God and His Messenger, so be mindful of God
and make things right between you. Obey God and His Messenger
if you are true believers: 2 true believers are those whose hearts
tremble with awe when God is mentioned, whose faith increases
when His revelations are recited to them, who put their trust in
their Lord, 3 who keep up the prayer and give to others out of what
We provide for them. 4 Those are the ones who truly believe. They
have high standing with their Lord, forgiveness, and generous
provision.’
5 For a it was your Lord who made you [Prophet] venture from your
home for a true purpose––though a group of the believers disliked it
6 and argued with you about the truth after it had been made clear, as
if they were being driven towards a death they could see with their
own eyes. 7 Remember how God promised you [believers] that one of
the two enemy groups b would fall to you: you wanted the unarmed
group to be yours, but it was God’s will to establish the truth according
to His Word and to finish off the disbelievers––8 to prove the
Truth to be true, and the false to be false, much as the guilty might
dislike it. 9 When you begged your Lord for help, He answered you,
‘I will reinforce you with a thousand angels in succession.’ 10 God
a This links to v. 1.
b The Meccan trade caravan or their army.