8. Al-Anfaal

And know that whatever of war booty that you may gain, verily, one-fifth of it is assigned to Allah, and to the Messenger, and to the near relatives (of the Messenger), the orphans, the poor, and the wayfarer, if you have believed in Allah and in that which We sent down to Our servant on the Day of Criterion, the Day when the two forces met; and Allah is able to do all things (41)

Ruling on the Spoils of War (Ghanimah and Fai')

Allah explains the spoils of war in detail, as He has specifically allowed it for this honorable Ummah over all others. We should mention that the 'Ghanimah' refers to war spoils captured from the disbelievers, using armies and instruments of war. As for 'Fai', it refers to the property of the disbelievers that they forfeit in return for peace, what they leave behind when they die and have no one to inherit from them, and the Jizyah (tribute tax) and Khiraj (property tax). Allah said,

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَأَنَّ لِلَّهِ خُمُسَهُ

(And know that whatever of war booty that you may gain, verily, one-fifth of it is assigned to Allah) indicating that the one-fifth should be reserved and paid in full [to Muslim leaders] whether it was little or substantial, even a yarn and needle.

وَمَن يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۚ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

(And whosoever deceives (his companions over the booty), he shall bring forth on the Day of Resurrection that which he took (illegally). Then every person shall be paid in full what he has earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.)[3:161]

Allah's statement,

فَأَنَّ لِلَّهِ خُمُسَهُ وَلِلرَّسُولِ

(verily, one-fifth of it is assigned to Allah, and to the Messenger,) was explained by Ibn 'Abbas, as Ad-Dahhak reported from him, "Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent an army, he used to divide the war booty they collected into five shares, reserving one-fifth and divided it into five shares." Then he recited;

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَأَنَّ لِلَّهِ خُمُسَهُ وَلِلرَّسُولِ

(And know that whatever of war booty that you may gain, verily, one-fifth of it is assigned to Allah, and to the Messenger,)

Ibn Abbas said, "Allah's statement,

فَأَنَّ لِلَّهِ خُمُسَهُ

(verily, one-fifth of it is assigned to Allah) is inclusive [of the Messenger's share], just as the following Ayah is inclusive [of Allah owning whatever is on the earth also],

لِّلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ

(To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on the earth)[2:284]." So He addressed the share of Allah and the share of His Messenger ﷺ in the same statement.

Ibrahim An-Nakha'i, Al-Hasan bin Muhammad bin Al-Hanifiyyah, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Ash-Sha'bi, 'Ata' bin Abi Rabah, 'Abdullah bin Buraydah, Qatadah, Mughirah and several others, all said that the share designated for Allah and the Messenger is one and the same. Supporting this is what Imam Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Bayhaqi recorded, with a Sahih chain of narrators, that 'Abdullah bin Shaqiq said that a man from Bilqin said, "I came to the Prophet ﷺ when he was in Wadi Al-Qura inspecting a horse. I asked, 'O Allah's Messenger! What about the …

(And remember) when you (the Muslim army) were on the near side of the valley, and they on the farther side, and the caravan on the ground lower than you. Even if you had made a mutual appointment to meet, you would certainly have failed in the appointment, but (you met) that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained (in His knowledge), so that those who were to be destroyed (for rejecting the faith) might be destroyed after a clear evidence, and those who were to live (believers) might live after a clear evidence. And surely, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower (42)

Some Details of the Battle of Badr

Allah describes Yawm Al-Furqan, (i.e. the day of Badr),

إِذْ أَنتُم بِالْعُدْوَةِ الدُّنْيَا

((And remember) when you (the Muslim army) were on the near side of the valley,) camping in the closest entrance of the valley towards Al-Madinah,

وَهُم

(and they), the idolators, who were camped,

بِالْعُدْوَةِ الْقُصْوَىٰ

(on the farther side), from Al-Madinah, towards Makkah.

وَالرَّكْبُ

(and the caravan), that was under the command of Abu Sufyan, with the wealth that it contained,

أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ

(on the ground lower than you), closer to the sea,

وَلَوْ تَوَاعَدتُّمْ

(even if you had made a mutual appointment to meet,) you and the idolators,

لَاخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِي الْمِيعَادِ

(you would certainly have failed in the appointment)

Muhammad bin Ishaq said, "Yahya bin 'Abbad bin 'Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr narrated to me from his father about this Ayah "Had there been an appointed meeting set between you and them and you came to know of their superior numbers and your few forces, you would not have met them,

وَلَٰكِن لِّيَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا

(but (you met) that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained,)

Allah had decreed that He would bring glory to Islam and its people, while disgracing Shirk and its people. You [the companions] had no knowledge this would happen, but it was out of Allah's compassion that He did that." In a Hadith, Ka'b bin Malik said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Muslims marched to intercept the Quraysh caravan, but Allah made them meet their (armed) enemy without appointment." Muhammad bin Ishaq said that Yazid bin Ruwman narrated to him that 'Urwah bin Az-Zubayr said, "Upon approaching Badr, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent 'Ali bin Abi Talib, Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas, Az-Zubayr bin Al-'Awwam and several other Companions to spy the pagans. They captured two boys, a servant of Bani Sa'id bin Al-'As and a servant of Bani Al-Hajjaj, while they were bringing water for Quraysh. So they brought them to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, but found him praying. The Companions started interrogating the boys, asking them to whom they belonged. Both of them said that they were employees bringing water for Quraysh (army). The Componions were upset with that answer, since they thought that the boys belonged to Abu Sufyan (who was commanding the caravan). So they beat the two boys vehemently, who said finally that they belonged to Abu Sufyan. Thereupon companions left them alone. When the Prophet ﷺ ended the prayer, he said,

إَذَا صَدَّقَاكُمْ ضَرَبْتُمُوهُمَا، وَإِذَا كَذَّبَاكُمْ تَرَكْتُمُوهُمَا، صَدَقَا …

(And remember) when Allah showed them to you as few in your dream; if He had shown them to you as many, you would surely have been discouraged, and you would surely have disputed in making a decision. But Allah saved (you). Certainly, He is the All-Knower of that is in the breasts (43)And (remember) when you met, He showed them to you as few in your eyes and He made you appear as few in their eyes, so that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained, and to Allah return all matters (for decision)(44)

Allah made each Group look few in the Eye of the Other

Mujahid said, "In a dream, Allah showed the Prophet ﷺ the enemy as few. The Prophet ﷺ conveyed this news to his Companions and their resolve strengthened." Similar was said by Ibn Ishaq and several others. Allah said,

وَلَوْ أَرَاكَهُمْ كَثِيرًا لَّفَشِلْتُمْ

(If He had shown them to you as many, you would surely, have been discouraged,) you would have cowardly abstained from meeting them and fell in dispute among yourselves,

وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ سَلَّمَ

(But Allah saved), from all this, when He made you see them as few,

إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ

(Certainly, He is the All-Knower of that is in the breasts.)[8:43].

Allah knows what the heart and the inner-self conceal,

يَعْلَمُ خَائِنَةَ الْأَعْيُنِ وَمَا تُخْفِي الصُّدُورُ

(Allah knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the breasts conceal)[40:19].

Allah's statement,

وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ الْتَقَيْتُمْ فِي أَعْيُنِكُمْ قَلِيلًا

(And (remember) when you met, He showed them to you as few in your eyes) demonstrates Allah's compassion towards the believers. Allah made them see few disbelievers in their eyes, so that they would be encouraged and feel eager to meet them. Abu Ishaq As-Subai'i said, that Abu 'Ubaydah said that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said, "They were made to seem few in our eyes during Badr, so that I said to a man who was next to me, 'Do you think they are seventy?' He said, 'Rather, they are a hundred.' However, when we captured one of them, we asked him and he said, 'We were a thousand.'" Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir recorded it. Allah said next,

وَيُقَلِّلُكُمْ فِي أَعْيُنِهِمْ

(and He made you appear as few in their eyes,) Allah said,

وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ الْتَقَيْتُمْ

(And (remember) when you met. He showed them to you...), He encouraged each of the two groups against the other, according to 'Ikrimah, as recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim. This statement has a Sahih chain of narrators. Muhammad bin Ishaq said that Yahya bin 'Abbad bin 'Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr narrated to him that his father said about Allah's statement,

لِيَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا

(so that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained,)

"In order for the war to start between them, so that He would have revenge against those whom He decided to have revenge (pagans), and grant and complete His favor upon those He decided to grant favor to, His supporters." The meaning of this, is that Allah encouraged each group against the other and made them look few in each other's eyes, so that they were eager to meet them. This occurred before the battle started, but when it started and Allah supported the believers with a …

(And remember) when Allah showed them to you as few in your dream; if He had shown them to you as many, you would surely have been discouraged, and you would surely have disputed in making a decision. But Allah saved (you). Certainly, He is the All-Knower of that is in the breasts (43)And (remember) when you met, He showed them to you as few in your eyes and He made you appear as few in their eyes, so that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained, and to Allah return all matters (for decision)(44)

Allah made each Group look few in the Eye of the Other

Mujahid said, "In a dream, Allah showed the Prophet ﷺ the enemy as few. The Prophet ﷺ conveyed this news to his Companions and their resolve strengthened." Similar was said by Ibn Ishaq and several others. Allah said,

وَلَوْ أَرَاكَهُمْ كَثِيرًا لَّفَشِلْتُمْ

(If He had shown them to you as many, you would surely, have been discouraged,) you would have cowardly abstained from meeting them and fell in dispute among yourselves,

وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ سَلَّمَ

(But Allah saved), from all this, when He made you see them as few,

إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ

(Certainly, He is the All-Knower of that is in the breasts.)[8:43].

Allah knows what the heart and the inner-self conceal,

يَعْلَمُ خَائِنَةَ الْأَعْيُنِ وَمَا تُخْفِي الصُّدُورُ

(Allah knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the breasts conceal)[40:19].

Allah's statement,

وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ الْتَقَيْتُمْ فِي أَعْيُنِكُمْ قَلِيلًا

(And (remember) when you met, He showed them to you as few in your eyes) demonstrates Allah's compassion towards the believers. Allah made them see few disbelievers in their eyes, so that they would be encouraged and feel eager to meet them. Abu Ishaq As-Subai'i said, that Abu 'Ubaydah said that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said, "They were made to seem few in our eyes during Badr, so that I said to a man who was next to me, 'Do you think they are seventy?' He said, 'Rather, they are a hundred.' However, when we captured one of them, we asked him and he said, 'We were a thousand.'" Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir recorded it. Allah said next,

وَيُقَلِّلُكُمْ فِي أَعْيُنِهِمْ

(and He made you appear as few in their eyes,) Allah said,

وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ الْتَقَيْتُمْ

(And (remember) when you met. He showed them to you...), He encouraged each of the two groups against the other, according to 'Ikrimah, as recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim. This statement has a Sahih chain of narrators. Muhammad bin Ishaq said that Yahya bin 'Abbad bin 'Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr narrated to him that his father said about Allah's statement,

لِيَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا

(so that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained,)

"In order for the war to start between them, so that He would have revenge against those whom He decided to have revenge (pagans), and grant and complete His favor upon those He decided to grant favor to, His supporters." The meaning of this, is that Allah encouraged each group against the other and made them look few in each other's eyes, so that they were eager to meet them. This occurred before the battle started, but when it started and Allah supported the believers with a …

O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them and remember Allah much, so that you may be successful (45)And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength departs, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with the patients (46)

Manners of War

Allah instructs His faithful servants in the manners of fighting and methods of courage when meeting the enemy in battle,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمْ فِئَةً فَاثْبُتُوا

(O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them)

In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that 'Abdullah bin Abi Awfa said that during one battle, Allah's Messenger ﷺ waited until the sun declined, then stood among the people and said,

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ لَا تَتَمَنَّوْا لِقَاءَ الْعَدُوِّ، واسْأَلُوا اللهَ الْعَافِيَةَ فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ فَاصْبِرُوا وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ تَحْتَ ظِلَالِ السُّيُوفِ

(O people! Do not wish to face the enemy (in a battle) and ask Allah to save you (from calamities). But if you should face the enemy, then be patient and let it be known to you that Paradise is under the shadows of the swords.)

He then stood and said,

اللَّهُمَّ مُنْزِلَ الْكِتَابِ، وَمُجْرِي السَّحَابِ، وَهَازِمَ الْأَحْزَابِ، اهْزِمْهُمْ وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَيْهِم

(O Allah! Revealer of the (Holy) Book, Mover of the clouds, and Defeater of the Confederates, defeat them and grant us victory over them.)

The Command for Endurance when the Enemy Engaging

Allah commands endurance upon meeting the enemy in battle and ordains patience while fighting them. Muslims are not allowed to run or shy away, or show cowardice in battle. They are commanded to remember Allah while in that condition and never neglect His remembrance. They should rather invoke Him for support, trust in Him and seek victory over their enemies from Him. They are required to obey Allah and His Messenger ﷺ in such circumstances adhering to what He commanded them, and abstaining from what He forbade them. They are required to avoid disputing with each other, for this might lead to their defeat and failure,

وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ

(lest your strength departs), so that your strength, endurance and courage do not depart from you,

وَاصْبِرُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ

(and be patient. Surely, Allah is with the patients.)

In their courage, and obedience to Allah and His Messenger, the Companions reached a level never seen before by any nation or generation before them, or any nation that will ever come. Through the blessing of the Messenger ﷺ and their obedience to what he commanded, the Companions were able to open the hearts, as well as, the various eastern and western parts of the world in a rather short time. This occurred even though they were few, compared to the armies of the various nations at that time. For example, the Romans, Persians, Turks, Slavs, Berbers, Ethiopians, Sudanese tribes, the Copts and the rest of the Children of Adam. They defeated all of these nations, until Allah's Word became the highest and His religion became dominant above all religions. The Islamic state spread over the eastern and western …

O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them and remember Allah much, so that you may be successful (45)And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength departs, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with the patients (46)

Manners of War

Allah instructs His faithful servants in the manners of fighting and methods of courage when meeting the enemy in battle,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمْ فِئَةً فَاثْبُتُوا

(O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them)

In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that 'Abdullah bin Abi Awfa said that during one battle, Allah's Messenger ﷺ waited until the sun declined, then stood among the people and said,

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ لَا تَتَمَنَّوْا لِقَاءَ الْعَدُوِّ، واسْأَلُوا اللهَ الْعَافِيَةَ فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ فَاصْبِرُوا وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ تَحْتَ ظِلَالِ السُّيُوفِ

(O people! Do not wish to face the enemy (in a battle) and ask Allah to save you (from calamities). But if you should face the enemy, then be patient and let it be known to you that Paradise is under the shadows of the swords.)

He then stood and said,

اللَّهُمَّ مُنْزِلَ الْكِتَابِ، وَمُجْرِي السَّحَابِ، وَهَازِمَ الْأَحْزَابِ، اهْزِمْهُمْ وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَيْهِم

(O Allah! Revealer of the (Holy) Book, Mover of the clouds, and Defeater of the Confederates, defeat them and grant us victory over them.)

The Command for Endurance when the Enemy Engaging

Allah commands endurance upon meeting the enemy in battle and ordains patience while fighting them. Muslims are not allowed to run or shy away, or show cowardice in battle. They are commanded to remember Allah while in that condition and never neglect His remembrance. They should rather invoke Him for support, trust in Him and seek victory over their enemies from Him. They are required to obey Allah and His Messenger ﷺ in such circumstances adhering to what He commanded them, and abstaining from what He forbade them. They are required to avoid disputing with each other, for this might lead to their defeat and failure,

وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ

(lest your strength departs), so that your strength, endurance and courage do not depart from you,

وَاصْبِرُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ

(and be patient. Surely, Allah is with the patients.)

In their courage, and obedience to Allah and His Messenger, the Companions reached a level never seen before by any nation or generation before them, or any nation that will ever come. Through the blessing of the Messenger ﷺ and their obedience to what he commanded, the Companions were able to open the hearts, as well as, the various eastern and western parts of the world in a rather short time. This occurred even though they were few, compared to the armies of the various nations at that time. For example, the Romans, Persians, Turks, Slavs, Berbers, Ethiopians, Sudanese tribes, the Copts and the rest of the Children of Adam. They defeated all of these nations, until Allah's Word became the highest and His religion became dominant above all religions. The Islamic state spread over the eastern and western …

And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men, and hinder (men) from the path of Allah; and Allah is 'Muhīt' (eneompassing and thoroughly comprehending) all that they do (47)And (remember) when Shaytan made their (evil) deeds seem fair to them and said, "No one of mankind can overcome you this day (of the battle of Badr) and verily, I am your neighbor (for each and every help)." But when the two forces came in sight of each other, he ran away and said "Verily, I have nothing to do with you. Verily, I see what you see not. Verily, I fear Allah for Allah is severe in punishment. (48)When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was a disease (of disbelief) said: "These people (Muslims) are deceived by their religion." But whoever puts his trust in Allah, then surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise (49)

The Idolators leave Makkah, heading for Badr

After Allah commanded the believers to fight in His cause sincerely and to be mindful of Him, He commanded not to imitate the idolators, who went out of their homes

بَطَرًا

(boastfully) to suppress the truth,

وَرِئَاءَ النَّاسِ

(and to be seen of men), boasting arrogantly with people. When Abu Jahl was told that the caravan escaped safely, so they should return to Makkah, he commented, "No, by Allah! We will not go back until we proceed to the well of Badr, slaughter camels, drink alcohol and female singers sing to us. This way, the Arabs will always talk about our stance and what we did on that day." However, all of this came back to haunt Abu Jahl, because when they proceeded to the well of Badr, they brought themselves to death; and in the aftermath of Badr, they were thrown in the well of Badr, dead, disgraced, humiliated, despised and miserable in an everlasting, eternal torment. This is why Allah said here,

وَاللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ

(and Allah is 'Muhīt' (encompassing and thoroughly comprehending) all that they do.)

He knows how and what they came for, and this is why He made them taste the worst punishment. Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and As-Suddi commented on Allah's statement,

وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِم بَطَرًا وَرِئَاءَ النَّاسِ

(And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men,)

"They were the idolators who fought against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at Badr." Muhammad bin Ka'b said, "When the Quraysh left Makkah towards Badr, they brought female singers and drums along. Allah revealed this verse,

وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِم بَطَرًا وَرِئَاءَ النَّاسِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ

(And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men, and hinder (men) from the path of Allah; and Allah is 'Muhīt' (encompassing and thoroughly comprehending) all that they do.)

Shaytan makes Evil seem fair and deceives the Idolators

Allah said next,

وَإِذْ زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ وَقَالَ لَا غَالِبَ لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَإِنِّي جَارٌ لَّكُمْ

(And (remember) when Shaytan made their (evil) deeds seem fair to them and said, "No one of mankind can overcome you …

And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men, and hinder (men) from the path of Allah; and Allah is 'Muhīt' (eneompassing and thoroughly comprehending) all that they do (47)And (remember) when Shaytan made their (evil) deeds seem fair to them and said, "No one of mankind can overcome you this day (of the battle of Badr) and verily, I am your neighbor (for each and every help)." But when the two forces came in sight of each other, he ran away and said "Verily, I have nothing to do with you. Verily, I see what you see not. Verily, I fear Allah for Allah is severe in punishment. (48)When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was a disease (of disbelief) said: "These people (Muslims) are deceived by their religion." But whoever puts his trust in Allah, then surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise (49)

The Idolators leave Makkah, heading for Badr

After Allah commanded the believers to fight in His cause sincerely and to be mindful of Him, He commanded not to imitate the idolators, who went out of their homes

بَطَرًا

(boastfully) to suppress the truth,

وَرِئَاءَ النَّاسِ

(and to be seen of men), boasting arrogantly with people. When Abu Jahl was told that the caravan escaped safely, so they should return to Makkah, he commented, "No, by Allah! We will not go back until we proceed to the well of Badr, slaughter camels, drink alcohol and female singers sing to us. This way, the Arabs will always talk about our stance and what we did on that day." However, all of this came back to haunt Abu Jahl, because when they proceeded to the well of Badr, they brought themselves to death; and in the aftermath of Badr, they were thrown in the well of Badr, dead, disgraced, humiliated, despised and miserable in an everlasting, eternal torment. This is why Allah said here,

وَاللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ

(and Allah is 'Muhīt' (encompassing and thoroughly comprehending) all that they do.)

He knows how and what they came for, and this is why He made them taste the worst punishment. Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and As-Suddi commented on Allah's statement,

وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِم بَطَرًا وَرِئَاءَ النَّاسِ

(And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men,)

"They were the idolators who fought against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at Badr." Muhammad bin Ka'b said, "When the Quraysh left Makkah towards Badr, they brought female singers and drums along. Allah revealed this verse,

وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِم بَطَرًا وَرِئَاءَ النَّاسِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ

(And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men, and hinder (men) from the path of Allah; and Allah is 'Muhīt' (encompassing and thoroughly comprehending) all that they do.)

Shaytan makes Evil seem fair and deceives the Idolators

Allah said next,

وَإِذْ زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ وَقَالَ لَا غَالِبَ لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَإِنِّي جَارٌ لَّكُمْ

(And (remember) when Shaytan made their (evil) deeds seem fair to them and said, "No one of mankind can overcome you …

And if you could see when the angels take away the souls of those who disbelieve (at death); they smite their faces and their backs, (saying): "Taste the punishment of the blazing Fire. (50)"This is because of that which your hands forwarded. And verily, Allah is not unjust to His servants. (51)

The Angels smite the Disbelievers upon capturing Their Souls

Allah says, if you witnessed the angels capturing the souls of the disbelievers, you would witness a tremendous, terrible, momentous and awful matter,

يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ

(they smite their faces and their backs), saying to them,

وَذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ

("Taste the punishment of the blazing Fire.")

Ibn Jurayj said that Mujahid said that,

وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ

(and their backs), refers to their back sides, as happened on the day of Badr. Ibn Jurayj also reported from Ibn 'Abbas, "When the idolators faced the Muslims [in Badr], the Muslims smote their faces with swords. When they gave flight, the angels smote their rear ends."

Although these Ayat are describing Badr, they are general in the case of every disbeliever. This is why Allah did not make His statement here restrictive to the disbelievers at Badr,

وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذْ يَتَوَفَّى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۙ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ

(And if you could see when the angels take away the souls of those who disbelieve (at death); they smite their faces and their backs,)

In Surat Al-Qitāl (or Muhammad chapter 47) there is a similar Ayah, as well as in Surat Al-An'am,

وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذِ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَاسِطُو أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوا أَنفُسَكُمُ

(And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the agonies of death, while the angels are stretching forth their hands (saying): "Deliver your souls!")[6:93]

The angels stretch their hands and smite the disbelievers by Allah's command, since their souls refuse to leave their bodies, so they are taken out by force. This occurs when the angels give them the news of torment and Allah's anger. There is a Hadith narrated from Al-Bara' that when the angel of death attends the disbeliever at the time of death, he comes to him in a terrifying and disgusting shape, saying, "Get out, O wicked soul, to fierce hot wind, boiling water and a shadow of black smoke." The disbeliever's soul then scatters throughout his body, but the angels retrieve it, just as a needle is retrieved from wet wool. In this case, veins and nerve cells will be still attached to the soul. Allah states here that angels bring news of the torment of the Fire to the disbelievers. Allah said next,

ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ

(This is because of that which your hands forwarded.) meaning, this punishment is the recompense of the evil deeds that you have committed in the life of the world. This is your reckoning from Allah for your deeds,

وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ

(And verily, Allah is not unjust to His servants.)

Certainly, Allah does not wrong any of His creatures, for He is the Just, who never puts anything in an inappropriate place. Honored, Glorified, Exalted and Praised be He, the All-Rich, Worthy of all …