فَإِمَّا تَثْقَفَنَّهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَرْبِ فَشَرِّدْ بِهِم مَّنْ خَلْفَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ 57
Translations
So if you, [O Muḥammad], gain dominance over them in war, disperse by [means of] them those behind them that perhaps they will be reminded.
Transliteration
Fa-imma tathqafannuhum fil-harbi fasharrid bihim man khalfahum lalaahum yathadhakkarun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah instructs believers that when they encounter disbelievers in battle, they should decisively defeat them and make an example of them for those who come after, as a deterrent and a reminder. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'sharrid' (scatter/disperse) as referring to inflicting decisive military defeat that serves as a warning to enemy reinforcements and allies. The phrase 'those behind them' refers to other enemies or potential aggressors who might be deterred by witnessing the consequences of opposing the believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Anfal, a Medinan surah revealed after the Battle of Badr (2 AH), the first major military engagement between the Muslims and the Quraysh. The surah addresses military strategy and conduct during warfare, providing guidance to the Muslim community as they transitioned from a persecuted minority to a state defending itself militarily. The context concerns proper conduct in warfare and the deterrent effect of resolute military response.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), relating to the purpose of 'dhikr' (remembrance/reminder). Additionally, the Prophet's military expeditions exemplified strategic decisiveness—when enemies were defeated conclusively at Badr and Hunayn, it deterred subsequent aggression (Sirat Ibn Hisham).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that strength and compassion are not mutually exclusive—decisive action against oppressors serves both justice and mercy by preventing future bloodshed through deterrence. For believers today, it emphasizes that standing firm against injustice and evil, when necessary, ultimately serves the greater good of protecting the innocent and deterring would-be aggressors.
Related Ayahs
يُجَـٰدِلُونَكَ فِى ٱلْحَقِّ بَعْدَ مَا تَبَيَّنَ كَأَنَّمَا يُسَاقُونَ إِلَى ٱلْمَوْتِ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ
Arguing with you concerning the truth after it had become clear, as if they were being driven toward death while they were looking on.
إِذْ أَنتُم بِٱلْعُدْوَةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُم بِٱلْعُدْوَةِ ٱلْقُصْوَىٰ وَٱلرَّكْبُ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَلَوْ تَوَاعَدتُّمْ لَٱخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِى ٱلْمِيعَـٰدِ ۙ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَقْضِىَ ٱللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا لِّيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنۢ بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَىٰ مَنْ حَىَّ عَنۢ بَيِّنَةٍ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
[Remember] when you were on the near side of the valley, and they were on the farther side, and the caravan was lower [in position] than you. If you had made an appointment [to meet], you would have missed the appointment. But [it was] so that Allāh might accomplish a matter already destined - that those who perished [through disbelief] would perish upon evidence and those who lived [in faith] would live upon evidence; and indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَن يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ فَـَٔاوَىٰكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُم بِنَصْرِهِۦ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, fearing that people might abduct you, but He sheltered you, supported you with His victory, and provided you with good things - that you might be grateful.
وَقَـٰتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ ٱلدِّينُ كُلُّهُۥ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنِ ٱنتَهَوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
And fight against them until there is no fitnah and [until] the religion [i.e., worship], all of it, is for Allāh. And if they cease - then indeed, Allāh is Seeing of what they do.