48.

Sura Fat-h (or Victory)

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

(O Muhammad) We have granted to you a clear Victory (truce of Al-

Hudeyblyeh). That God may forgive you of your sins that which in past and
that which is to come, and may perfect His favour to you, may help you with
strong help, and may guide you on a right path. He it is Who sent down peace
of reassurance into the hearts of the believers that they might add faith in their
faith. For to God belongs the forces of the heavens and the earth and He is full
of Knowledge and Wisdom. That He may admit believing men and women to
Gardens beneath which the rivers flow. Such will be their permanent dwelling
place. That, in the sight of your Lord is the highest achievement for the
righteous people. And may punish the hypocritical and idolatrous men and
women who think an evil thought concerning God. For them is the evil turn of
fortune. God’s wrath and curse is upon them. Ready for them is hell, a hapless
journey. To God belongs the forces of the heavens and the earth and He is
exalted in power and is full of wisdom. We have sent you (O Muhammad), as
a witness and a bearer of good tidings and a warner. In order that you (O men)
may believe in God and His Apostle so that you may assist and honour Him
and celebrate His praises morning and evening. Those who swear allegiance to
you swear allegiance to God. The Hand of God is above their hands. So,
whosoever break his oath, break it only to the harm of his own soul. While
whosoever, keep his covenant with God, on him He will bestow immense
reward.

Those of the wandering Arabs who were left behind will tell you: Our
possessions and our households occupied us, so ask forgiveness for us. They
speak with their tongues that which is not in their hearts. Say to them: Who
then has any power to intervene on your behalf with God, if He is to give you
some loss or profit? God is ever aware of what you do. You thought that the
Apostle and the Believers will never return to their families. This seemed
pleasant to your hearts. This was an evil thought as you the wicked people. For
those, who reject God, awaits a blazing fire in the Hereafter. To God belongs
the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He forgives whom He wills, and
He punishes whom He wills. But God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Those
who lagged behind will, at the time when you set forth to capture the booty:
Let us go with you. They actually wish to change the verdict of God. Tell them
(O Muhammad): You shall not go with us. God has already declared this
beforehand. Then they will say: You are envious of us. Little do they
understand such matters. Say to those desert Arabs who lagged behind: You
will be called again to fight against a mighty people till they surrender. If you
obey, God will give you a fair reward. But if you turn away as you did in this
case, definitely God will punish you with a painful doom. But however, there
is no blame on the blind, lame or the sick ones if the do not join the war. But
the one who obeys God and His Apostle will be admitted in the Gardens
beneath which the rivers flow. He who turns his back, God will punish him
with a grevious penalty (in the Hereafter).
 God was well pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance to
you (O Muhammad) beneath the tree. He very well knew what was in their
hearts and sent down peace of reassurance on them and rewarded them with a
speedy Victory. Besides this, they will further acquire many gains. God is
exalted in Power and full of Wisdom. God has promised you many gains
which you will acquire. Some of these have already been bestowed on you in
advance and has put in check your enemies. That it may be a token for the
Believers and that He may guide you on a right path. There are also other
gains for you which are not within your power but which God has compassed.
He has power over all things. If the believers should opt to fight with you, they
will certainly turn their backs. Nevertheless, they shall find no protectors or
helpers anywhere. Such has been the practice of God which has taken course
aforetimes. You will find no change in the practice approved by God. It is He
Who has checked their hands from you and your hands from them, in the
valley of Mecca, after He had made you victors over them. God sees well all
that you do. They are the ones who denied the Message and also blocked your
way to the Sacred Mosque. Further, they detained your sacrificial animals
reaching the place of sacrifice. There were believing men and women among
them of which you had no knowledge. In ignorance you might have harmed
them and thus, commiting crime. God could have allowed you to force your
way, but He held you back. God admits to His Mercy whom He wills. If the
Believers were sagrigated from the Unbelievers, He would have certainly
punished the Unbelievers with a grievous punishment. While the hearts of the
Unbelievers were full of ignorance, heat and cant, God sent down tranquility
to His Apostle and the Believers and equipped them with self-restrain. They,
however very well deserved it and God has full knowledge of all things. In
very truth, God fulfilled the vision of His Massenger. You shall indeed enter
the Sacred Mosque of Worship if He wills, secured from any danger. But He
knows that which you know not, and has given you a near victory beforehand.
He has sent to you His Apostle with guidance and the Religion of Truth. To
proclaim it over all other religions and enough is God for a Witness.
Muhammad is the Apostle of God. Those who are with him are strong against
the Unbelievers but are compassionate amongst each other. In prayer, seeking
grace and good pleasure from their Lord, they prostrate themselves. On their
faces are marks as traces of their prostration. This is their similitude in the
Taurat and their similitude in the Gospel is: That of a seed which sends forth
its blade, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick and it stands on its own
stem, filling the sowers with wonder and delight. As a result, it fills the
unbelievers with rage at them. God has promised those among them who
believe and do righteous deeds forgiveness, and a great Reward.