The Holy Quran 8:15 — Surah Al-Anfal

Arabic text

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ زَحْفًا فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ ٱلْأَدْبَارَ

Translation

O you who have Imaan! When you meet the Kuffaar in battle, do not turn your backs to them (do not desert the battlefield, especially if the enemy are less than twice your number).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The question of turning one's back in jihad: فرار مِنَ الزَّحف (“fleeing from the advancing army”: running away from jihad (striving in the path of Allah) and turning one's back on the kafirs in battle) is a very grave sin, one of the greatest of the major sins.

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