Al-Fath ( ar, الفتح, ; "Victory" , "Triumph") is the 48th chapter (
surah
A ''surah'' (; ar, سورة, sūrah, , ), is the equivalent of "chapter" in the Qur'an. There are 114 ''surahs'' in the Quran, each divided into '' ayats'' (verses). The chapters or ''surahs'' are of unequal length; the shortest surah ('' Al-K ...
) of the
Qur'an
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , sing. ...
with 29 verses (
ayat). The surah was revealed in Madinah in the sixth year of the
Hijrah
The Hijrah or Hijra () was the journey of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina. The year in which the Hijrah took place is also identified as the epoch of the Lunar Hijri and Solar Hijri calendars; its date eq ...
, on the occasion of the
Treaty of Hudaybiyyah
The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah ( ar, صُلح ٱلْحُدَيْبِيَّة, Ṣulḥ Al-Ḥudaybiyyah) was an event that took place during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was a pivotal treaty between Muhammad, representing the state of ...
between the Muslim city-state of Madinah and Makkan polytheists. It mentions this victory, then criticizes the attitudes of the hypocrites, continues with further promises to the Muslims, and ends by mentioning certain important virtues of the Muslim community.
The chapter gets its name from the opening verse, which states "Indeed, We have granted you a clear triumph..." in direct reference to the Treaty which was signed through cooperation between the opposing forces and without bloodshed. The reason this treaty, and therefore chapter, is called a "clear triumph" is largely believed to be because of its peaceful nature.
Summary
*1-3 The
victory (at Ḳhaibar) the earnest of the pardon of the sins of the Prophet
*4-7 The mighty God the comforter of true believers, but the punisher of
hypocrites
*8-10 Loyalty to Muhammad is loyalty to God
*11-14 Bedouin Arabs denounced for their treachery at
Hudaibiyah and their subsequent hypocrisy
*15-16 The Bedouin Arabs refused a share of the booty taken at Ḳhaibar, but encouraged with promises
*17 Those alone excused from going to war who are incapacitated
*18-19 Muslim fidelity at Hudaibiyah rewarded by the victory at Ḳhaibar and much spoil taken there
*20-24 Many spoils assured to the believers though God had prevented the plunder of Makkah
*25-26 God spared Makkah in the
expedition to Hudaibiyah out of
compassion
Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to relieve the physical, mental or emotional pains of others and themselves. Compassion is often regarded as being sensitive to the emotional aspects of the suffering of others. When based on n ...
*27-29 The conquest of Makkah the
divine attestation to Muhammad’s apostleship and the religion of Islam
Details
10 The Soul
focuses on the importance of being dedicated to God. Those who do not dedicate themselves to God and remain that way will have their souls suffer. Those who stay dedicated to God will be rewarded by God.
16 Predictions
contains many predictions in this surah, such as:
* God would help the believers and favor them with great victories;
* those who stayed behind from the Campaign of Minor Pilgrimage would try to excuse themselves with false pretexts;
* they would desire to participate in the campaign against
Khaybar
KhaybarOther standardized Arabic transliterations: / . Anglicized pronunciation: , . ( ar, خَيْبَر, ) is an oasis situated some north of the city of Medina in the Medina Province of Saudi Arabia. Prior to the rise of Islam in the 7t ...
that was to take place following the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah with the aim of taking gains of war;
* the Muslims would have to fight against powerful tribes or states in the future;
* the Muslims would take abundant war-gains in battles to come in the future;
* the Prophet Muhammad and his Companions would visit the Ka'bah in safety, thus completing the Minor Pilgrimage the year after they had intended;
* God would complete His favor upon the Messenger;
* Islam would continue to flourish so powerfully and speedily that it would amaze both Muslims and others.
18-19 Treaty of Hudaybiyyah
is regarding the
Treaty of Hudaybiyyah
The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah ( ar, صُلح ٱلْحُدَيْبِيَّة, Ṣulḥ Al-Ḥudaybiyyah) was an event that took place during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was a pivotal treaty between Muhammad, representing the state of ...
.
27 The first pilgrimage
is regarding
The first pilgrimage.
Al-Fath in the
hadith
Ḥadīth ( or ; ar, حديث, , , , , , , literally "talk" or "discourse") or Athar ( ar, أثر, , literally "remnant"/"effect") refers to what the majority of Muslims believe to be a record of the words, actions, and the silent approval ...
* Upon its revelation, the Prophet remarked, 'Tonight there has been revealed to me a Surah which is dearer to me than that on which the sun shines (i.e. the world).'
![Folio from a Koran (8th-9th century)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Folio_from_a_Koran_%288th-9th_century%29.jpg)
* When consulted to broker peace during a later war,
Sahl ibn Hunaif
Sahl ibn Ḥunayf ( ar, سهل بن حنيف) was one of the Companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He is said to have narrated about forty hadiths from Muhammad.
When Muhammad's cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib arrived in Medina after the migratio ...
said, 'Blame yourselves! I remember how, on the day of
Al-Hudaibiya, if we had been allowed to choose fighting, we would have fought (the pagans). At that time 'Umar came (to the Prophet) and said, "Aren't we on the right (path) and they (pagans) in the wrong? Won't our killed persons go to
Paradise
In religion, paradise is a place of exceptional happiness and delight. Paradisiacal notions are often laden with pastoral imagery, and may be cosmogonical or eschatological or both, often compared to the miseries of human civilization: in paradis ...
, and theirs in the Fire?" The Prophet replied, "Yes." Umar further said, "Then why should we let our
religion
Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...
be degraded and return before
Allah
Allah (; ar, الله, translit=Allāh, ) is the common Arabic word for God. In the English language, the word generally refers to God in Islam. The word is thought to be derived by contraction from '' al- ilāh'', which means "the god", an ...
has settled the matter between us?" The Prophet said, "O the son of Al-Khattab! No doubt, I am Allah's Apostle and Allah will never neglect me." So Umar left the place angrily and he was so impatient that he went to Abu Bakr and said, "O Abu Bakr! Aren't we on the right (path) and they (pagans) on the wrong?"
Abu Bakr
Abu Bakr Abdallah ibn Uthman Abi Quhafa (; – 23 August 634) was the senior companion and was, through his daughter Aisha, a father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, as well as the first caliph of Islam. He is known with the honor ...
said, "O the son of Al-Khattab! He is Allah's Apostle, and Allah will never neglect him." Then Sura Al-Fath (The Victory) was revealed."
* Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mughaffal: I saw Allah's Apostle on the day of the Conquest of Mecca over his she-camel, reciting Surat-al-Fath in a vibrant quivering tone.
References
External links
Q48:2 50+ translations, islamawakened.com
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Fath
Jihad
Hajj