Surah 8

Surah 8:75

"But those who have believed after that, and emigrated, and struggled (along) with you, they (too) belong to you. Yet those related by blood are closer to one another in the Book of God. Surely God has knowledge of everything."
Believers in Truth Verses 8:74-75
Show Full Scripture Context (8:74-75) — 2 Verses
Verse 74

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَهَاجَرُواْ وَجَٰهَدُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاوَواْ وَّنَصَرُوٓاْ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ حَقّٗاۚ لَّهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٞ وَرِزۡقٞ كَرِيمٞ

But those who have believed, and emigrated, and struggled in the way of God, and those who have given refuge and help, those – they are the true believers. For them (there is) forgiveness and generous provision.

Verse 75

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدُ وَهَاجَرُواْ وَجَٰهَدُواْ مَعَكُمۡ فَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ مِنكُمۡۚ وَأُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَرۡحَامِ بَعۡضُهُمۡ أَوۡلَىٰ بِبَعۡضٖ فِي كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمُۢ

But those who have believed after that, and emigrated, and struggled (along) with you, they (too) belong to you. Yet those related by blood are closer to one another in the Book of God. Surely God has knowledge of everything.

After Allah affirmed the ruling of loyalty and protection between the believers in this life, He then mentioned their destination in the Hereafter. Allah also affirmed the faith of the believers, just as mentioned in the beginning of this Surah, and that He will reward them with forgiveness and by erasing their sins, if they have any. He also promised them honorable provisions that are abundant, pure, everlasting and eternal; provisions that never end or run out, nor will they ever cause boredom, for they are delightful and come in great varieties. Allah then mentioned that those who follow the path of the believers in faith and performing good deeds, will be with them in the Hereafter. Just as Allah said,
And the foremost to embrace Islam...} (9:100), until the end of the Ayah. He also said,
And those who came after them ...} (59:10).
A Hadlth that is in the Two Sahihs, which is Mutawatir and has several authentic chains of narrations, mentions that the Messenger of Allah said,
“One will be in the company of those whom he loves.”
Another Hadith states,
«He zoho loves a people is one of them», and in another narration, he said,
“...will be gathered with them (on the Day of Resurrection)”

Inheritance is for Designated Degrees of Relatives
Allah said,
4Buf kindred by blood are nearer to one another (regarding inheritance) in the decree ordained by Allah},
meaning, in Allah’s decision. This Ayah encompasses all relatives, not only the degrees of relative who do not have a fixed, designated share in the inheritance, as some people claim and use this Ayah to argue. According to Ibn ‘Abbas, Mujahid, Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and several others, this Ayah abrogated inheriting from those with whom one had ties of treaties or brotherhood, as was the case in the beginning of Islam. So it applies to all relatives, and as for those who do not inherit, then this is supported by the Hadith,
«Indeed Allah had alloted every right to the one who deserves it, so there may be no will for an heir.»
Therefore, this Ayah also includes those who have a fixed share of inheritance. Allah knows best.
This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Al-Anfal, all praise and thanks are for Allah, in Him we trust, and He is sufficient for us, what an excellent supporter He is.

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 4, Page 367-368)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.