The Holy Quran 8:68 — Surah Al-Anfal

Arabic text

لَّوْلَا كِتَـٰبٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِيمَآ أَخَذْتُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

Translation

If it were not for an order that Allaah had already been preordained (written before that some of the prisoners were to become Muslims), a great punishment would have afflicted you on account of what (ransom) you took (in exchange for the freedom of the prisoners).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The expected punishment shown to the Prophet ﷺ: that is, this error was in itself such that a severe punishment would have been given to those who offered such counsel with worldly goods in mind. But what prevents the punishment is that which Allah has already written and decreed beforehand. And that could be several things. (1)

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