The Quran: Sūra VIII.: Anfāl, or the Spoils of War.: Section 9 (65-69)
The Holy Quran, tr. by Yusuf Ali, [1934]
65. Ya ayyuha alnnabiyyu harridi almu/mineena AAala alqitali in yakun minkum AAishroona sabiroona yaghliboo mi-atayni wa-in yakun minkum mi-atun yaghliboo alfan mina allatheena kafaroo bi-annahum qawmun la yafqahoona
65. O Apostle! rouse the Believers
To the fight. If there are
Twenty amongst you, patient
And persevering, they will
Vanquish two hundred: if a hundred,
They will vanquish a thousand
Of the Unbelievers: for these
Are a people without understanding.
66. Al-ana khaffafa Allahu AAankum waAAalima anna feekum daAAfan fa-in yakun minkum mi-atun sabiratun yaghliboo mi-atayni wa-in yakun minkum alfun yaghliboo alfayni bi-ithni Allahi waAllahu maAAa alssabireena
66. For the present, God
Hath lightened your (task),
For He knoweth that there is
A weak spot in you:
But (even so), if there are
A hundred of you, patient
And persevering, they will
Vanquish two hundred, and if
A thousand, they will vanquish
Two thousand, with the leave
Of God: for God is with those
Who patiently persevere.
67. Ma kana linabiyyin an yakoona lahu asra hatta yuthkhina fee al-ardi tureedoona AAarada alddunya waAllahu yureedu al-akhirata waAllahu AAazeezun hakeemun
67. It is not fitting
For an Apostle
That he should have
Prisoners of war until
He hath thoroughly subdued
The land. Ye look
For the temporal goods
Of this world; but God
Looketh to the Hereafter:
And God is Exalted in might, Wise.
68. Lawla kitabun mina Allahi sabaqa lamassakum feema akhathtum AAathabun AAatheemun
68. Had it not been for
A previous ordainment
From God, a severe penalty
Would have reached you
For the (ransom) that ye took.
69. Fakuloo mimma ghanimtum halalan tayyiban waittaqoo Allaha inna Allaha ghafoorun raheemun
69. But (now) enjoy what ye took
In war, lawful and good:
But fear God: for God
Is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.