8:1
They ask thee concerning (things taken as) spoils of war. Say: “(such) spoils are at the disposal of Allah and the Messenger: So fear Allah, and keep straight the relations between yourselves: Obey Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe.”
According to Ünal, the Qur’ānic term anfāl, commonly translated as “war-gains,” derives from nafl, which conveys the meaning of something additional or voluntary. In relation to human action, it signifies extra service offered beyond obligation, whereas in relation to God it denotes an added reward granted by divine grace. Although many scholars interpret anfāl primarily as spoils of war, Ünal notes that the term carries a broader semantic range than ghanāʾim (spoils explicitly mentioned in Qur’ān 8:41), as it may also encompass fayʾ—wealth obtained without direct combat (Qur’ān 59:6). Within this framework, material gains acquired during struggle in God’s cause are viewed as incidental outcomes rather than the believer’s primary objective.
Ünal further explains that Islamic teachings emphasize sincerity of intention, asserting that believers engage in struggle solely to attain God’s pleasure and uphold divine guidance, not for fame, power, or material benefit. Consequently, any war-gains are considered a collective trust belonging to God and His Messenger, to be distributed according to established authority and communal justice. The opening of Sūrat al-Anfāl thus seeks to shape believers’ ethical outlook by discouraging attachment to worldly rewards and by instructing them to surrender all captured property—no matter how minor—to legitimate leadership before its lawful distribution.
References:
Unal, Ali (2006). The Quran with Annotated Interpretation in Modern English. (surah 8 verse 1)