Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)

67. “It is not (fit) for any prophet to have captives unless he has thoroughly triumphed in the land. You desire the transitory world, while Allah desires (for you) the Hereafter; and Allah is the Mighty the Wise.”

Allah has allowed no prophet to take the members of the enemy as captives and to keep them as pledge in order to take money from them, or hold them under obligation and let them go; unless that he exaggerates in killing the heathens an destroying them so that it becomes as a warning to others and that he gains authority. The verse says:

“It is not (fit) for any prophet to have captives unless he has thoroughly triumphed in the land...”

The next phrase of the verse addresses the Muslims, not the Prophet (S) because their desire was that they could take money from the captives and let them go. The purpose is that, in the first battle, i.e. the Battle of Badr, before gaining authority on the earth, they took ransom.

The Arabic phrase: /’arad-ad-dunya/ means the property of the world which is something vanishable. The verse continues saying:

“...you desire the transitory world...”

You pursue the wealth of the world while Allah desires the rewards of the Hereafter for you. The verse says:

“...while Allah desires (for you) the Hereafter...”

The helpers of Allah will never be defeated, and verily Allah acts wisely; then, do perform whatever He commands you, so that you enjoy the help of Allah. The verse ends:

“...and Allah is the Mighty the Wise.”