The Spoils of War
8. Al-Anfāl
الأنفال
Page #182
8:42
إِذْ
أَنتُم
بِالْعُدْوَةِ
الدُّنْيَا
وَهُم
بِالْعُدْوَةِ
الْقُصْوَى
وَالرَّكْبُ
أَسْفَلَ
مِنكُمْ
وَلَوْ
تَوَاعَدتُّمْ
لَاخْتَلَفْتُمْ
فِي
الْمِيعَادِ
وَلَكِن
لِّيَقْضِيَ
اللَّهُ
أَمْرًا
كَانَ
مَفْعُولًا
لِّيَهْلِكَ
مَنْ
هَلَكَ
عَن
بَيِّنَةٍ
وَيَحْيَى
مَنْ
حَيَّ
عَن
بَيِّنَةٍ
وَإِنَّ
اللَّهَ
لَسَمِيعٌ
عَلِيمٌ
ʾidh ʾantum bi-l-ʿudwati d-dunyā wa-hum bi-l-ʿudwati l-quṣwā wa-r-rakbu ʾasfala minkum wa-law tawāʿadtum la-khtalaftum fī l-mīʿādi wa-lākin li-yaqḍiya llāhu ʾamran kāna mafʿūlan li-yahlika man halaka ʿan bayyinatin wa-yaḥyā man ḥayya ʿan bayyinatin wa-ʾinna llāha la-samīʿun ʿalīmun
Remember ye were on the hither side of the valley, and they on the farther side, and the caravan on lower ground than ye. Even if ye had made a mutual appointment to meet, ye would certainly have failed in the appointment: But (thus ye met), that Allah might accomplish a matter already enacted; that those who died might die after a clear Sign (had been given), and those who lived might live after a Clear Sign (had been given). And verily Allah is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things).
— Abdullah Yusufali
When you were on the nearer side, and they on the farther side, while the caravan was below you, and had you agreed together on an encounter, you would have certainly failed to keep the tryst, but in order that Allah may carry through a matter that was bound to be fulfilled, so that he who perishes might perish by a manifest proof, and he who lives may live on by a manifest proof, and Allah is indeed all-hearing, all-knowing.
