Al-Fatḥ (Surah 48)
Al-Fatḥ (The Triumph)
Madni SurahIntroduction
This Medinian sûrah takes its name from the clear triumph (i.e., Treaty of Ḥudaibiyah) in verse 1. The Prophet (ﷺ) and 1400 of his companions travelled to Mecca to perform the minor pilgrimage (’umrah) in 6 A.H./628 C.E. He (ﷺ) sent ’Uthmân ibn ’Affân to let the Meccans know that the Muslims had come in peace, only to visit the Sacred House. When the Meccans delayed ’Uthmân, the Prophet (ﷺ) thought they might have killed his envoy. So he (ﷺ) called upon the faithful to pledge allegiance to him under a tree at Ḥudaibiyah in the outskirts of Mecca. Shortly after, ’Uthmân returned safely and a peace agreement was signed by the Muslims and Meccan pagans, stating in part that the Muslims would have to return to Medina and come back next year for ’umrah. The Treaty of Ḥudaibiyah is described as a clear triumph since it established peace, temporarily diffused the tension between the Muslims and the Meccan pagans, and gave the Muslims plenty of time to spread awareness and understanding of their faith. Thousands from different tribes accepted Islam during that truce. The sûrah commends the believers for proving true to Allah and His Messenger, criticizes the hypocrites for not marching forth with the Prophet (ﷺ), and condemns the pagans for denying the believers access to the Sacred House. The description of the true believers both in the Torah and the Gospel is given at the end of the sûrah, followed by instructions on proper conduct with the Prophet (ﷺ) and other believers in the next sûrah. In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
Treaty of Ḥudaibiyah
1. Indeed, We have granted you a clear triumph (O Prophet) 2. so that Allah may forgive you for your past and future shortcomings, perfect His favour upon you, guide you along the Straight Path, 3. and so that Allah will help you tremendously. 4. He is the One Who sent down serenity upon the hearts of the believers so that they may increase even more in their faith. To Allah (alone) belong the forces of the heavens and the earth. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. 5. So He may admit believing men and women into Gardens under which rivers flow—to stay there forever—and absolve them of their sins. And that is a supreme achievement in the sight of Allah. 6. Also (so that) He may punish hypocrite men and women and polytheistic men and women, who harbour evil thoughts of Allah. May ill-fate befall them! Allah is displeased with them. He has condemned them and prepared for them Hell. What an evil destination! 7. To Allah (alone) belong the forces of the heavens and the earth. And Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.
Surah 48 - Al-Fatḥ (The Triumph) - Verses 1-7
The Prophet’s Duty
8. Indeed, (O Prophet,) We have sent you as a witness, a deliverer of good news, and a warner, 9. so that you (believers) may have faith in Allah and His Messenger, support and honour him, and glorify Allah morning and evening.
Surah 48 - Al-Fatḥ (The Triumph) - Verses 8-9
Allegiance Under the Tree
10. Surely those who pledge allegiance to you (O Prophet) are actually pledging allegiance to Allah. Allah’s Hand is over theirs. Whoever breaks their pledge, it will only be to their own loss. And whoever fulfils their pledge to Allah, He will grant them a great reward.
Surah 48 - Al-Fatḥ (The Triumph) - Verses 10-10
Fake Excuses for Not Travelling to Mecca
11. The nomadic Arabs, who stayed behind, will say to you (O Prophet), “We were preoccupied with our wealth and families, so ask for forgiveness for us.” They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say, “Who then can stand between you and Allah in any way, if He intends harm or benefit for you? In fact, Allah is All-Aware of what you do. 12. The truth is: you thought that the Messenger and the believers would never return to their families again. And that was made appealing in your hearts. You harboured evil thoughts (about Allah), and (so) became a doomed people.” 13. And whoever does not believe in Allah and His Messenger, then We surely have prepared for the disbelievers a blazing Fire. 14. To Allah (alone) belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He forgives whoever He wills, and punishes whoever He wills. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Surah 48 - Al-Fatḥ (The Triumph) - Verses 11-14
Shares in the Spoils of War
15. Those who stayed behind will say, when you (believers) set out to take the spoils of war, “Let us accompany you.” They wish to change Allah’s promise. Say, (O Prophet,) “You will not accompany us. This is what Allah has said before.” They will then say, “In fact, you are driven by jealousy against us!” The truth is: they can hardly comprehend.
Surah 48 - Al-Fatḥ (The Triumph) - Verses 15-15
A Second Chance
16. Say to nomadic Arabs, who stayed behind, “You will be called (to fight) against a people of great might, who you will fight unless they submit. If you then obey, Allah will grant you a fine reward. But if you turn away as you did before, He will inflict upon you a painful punishment.”
Surah 48 - Al-Fatḥ (The Triumph) - Verses 16-16
Those Exempted from Fighting
17. There is no blame on the blind, or the disabled, or the sick (for staying behind). And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be admitted by Him into Gardens under which rivers flow. But whoever turns away will be subjected by Him to a painful punishment.
Surah 48 - Al-Fatḥ (The Triumph) - Verses 17-17
Allegiance of the Faithful
18. Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you (O Prophet) under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down serenity upon them and rewarded them with a victory at hand, 19. and many spoils of war they will gain. For Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. 20. Allah has promised you (believers) abundant spoils, which you will gain, so He hastened this (truce) for you. And He has held people’s hands back from (harming) you, so it may be a sign for the believers, and so He may guide you along the Straight Path. 21. And (there are) other gains which are beyond your reach that Allah is keeping in store (for you). For Allah is Most Capable of everything.
Surah 48 - Al-Fatḥ (The Triumph) - Verses 18-21
The Believers Will Prevail
22. If the disbelievers were to fight you, they would certainly flee. Then they would never find any protector or helper. 23. (This is) Allah’s way, already long established (in the past). And you will find no change in Allah’s way.
Surah 48 - Al-Fatḥ (The Triumph) - Verses 22-23
Wisdom Behind the Truce
24. He is the One Who held back their hands from you and your hands from them in the valley of (Ḥudaibiyah, near) Mecca, after giving you the upper hand over (a group of) them. And Allah is All-Seeing of what you do. 25. They are the ones who persisted in disbelief and hindered you from the Sacred Mosque, preventing the sacrificial animals from reaching their destination. (We would have let you march through Mecca,) had there not been believing men and women, unknown to you. You might have trampled them underfoot, incurring guilt for (what you did to) them unknowingly. That was so Allah may admit into His mercy whoever He wills. Had those (unknown) believers stood apart, We would have certainly inflicted a painful punishment on the disbelievers.
Surah 48 - Al-Fatḥ (The Triumph) - Verses 24-25
Meccan Arrogance
26. (Remember) when the disbelievers had filled their hearts with pride—the pride of (pre-Islamic) ignorance —then Allah sent down His serenity upon His Messenger and the believers, inspiring them to uphold the declaration of faith, for they were better entitled and more worthy of it. And Allah has (perfect) knowledge of all things.
Surah 48 - Al-Fatḥ (The Triumph) - Verses 26-26
The Prophet’s Vision
27. Indeed, Allah will fulfil His Messenger’s vision in all truth: Allah willing, you will surely enter the Sacred Mosque, in security—(some with) heads shaved and (others with) hair shortened—without fear. He knew what you did not know, so He first granted you the triumph at hand. 28. He is the One Who has sent His Messenger with (right) guidance and the religion of truth, making it prevail over all others. And sufficient is Allah as a Witness.
Surah 48 - Al-Fatḥ (The Triumph) - Verses 27-28
Believers’ Description in the Torah and the Gospel
29. Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allah. And those with him are firm with the disbelievers and compassionate with one another. You see them bowing and prostrating (in prayer), seeking Allah’s bounty and pleasure. The sign (of brightness can be seen) on their faces from the trace of prostrating (in prayer). This is their description in the Torah. And their parable in the Gospel is that of a seed that sprouts its (tiny) branches, making it strong. Then it becomes thick, standing firmly on its stem, to the delight of the planters —in this way Allah makes the believers a source of dismay for the disbelievers. To those of them who believe and do good, Allah has promised forgiveness and a great reward.