Sūrat al-Anfāl
Section 4 of 17 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
It Was Not You Who Killed Them
There are a few other verses to point out. Allah (swt) says in verse 17, to show that it is truly Allah who creates the effect in your fighting, even if you are few, so long as you do it in the right way and with all that Allah (swt) has asked of us:
فَلَمْ تَقْتُلُوهُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَمَىٰ ۚ وَلِيُبْلِىَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْهُ بَلَآءً حَسَنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“So, it is not you who killed them, but in fact Allah killed them. And you did not throw when you threw but Allah did throw, so that He might bless the believers with a good favour. Surely, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (8:17)
Allah says fa-lam taqtulūhum: it was not you who killed them. Wa-lākinna Allāha qatalahum: it was Allah who killed them. Wa mā ramayta idh ramayta: it was not you who threw when you threw. Wa-lākinna Allāha ramā: it was Allah who threw. Wa li-yubliya al-muʾminīna minhu balāʾan ḥasanā, inna Allāha samīʿun ʿalīm. So trust in Allah, that Allah is with you when this happens.
وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
“Be aware that your wealth and your children are but a trial and that with Allah there is a great reward.” (8:28)
Allah reminds us: wa-ʿlamū annamā amwālukum wa awlādukum fitnah. Upon the path of good, your wealth or your children will sometimes be a trial to you. In your love of these things you may give up your dīn; you may give up fulfilling the commands of Allah. But remember that Allah has the greatest reward. See that you do not fail in that way.