Whats the understanding of 8:67?

[Aijaz]

8:67  مَا كَانَ لِنَبِيٍّ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُ أَسْرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يُثْخِنَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ تُرِيدُونَ عَرَضَ الدُّنْيَا وَاللَّهُ يُرِيدُ الْآخِرَةَ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

Salam,
Whats your understanding of Ayat 67 of Anfal.
What could يُثْخِنَ mean?
The spelling of word أَسْرَىٰ used here and in 17:1 are exactly the same, although they are different words. Can there be some connection?

Will appreciate your comments.

Thanks

[Athman]

Dear Aijaz,

In my humble opinion, in 8:67, ‘yuthkhina’ would simply mean ‘having battled strenuously against /subdued’ (enemies) as in 47:4, ‘athkhantumuhum’ (having subdued them). ‘asra’ here is used as a plural ‘noun’ (singular ‘asir’ - captive, prisoner of war) as in 8:70 (al-‘asra’). Also see 2:85 (usara). Its verbal root being ‘Alif-Sin-Ra,’ - to make captive, prisoner, joint/ligament etc. [1], as a verb, it is used in its imperfect active form in 33:26 - ‘wata’siruna’ (and you took captive of).

With 17:1, ‘asra’ is used as a ‘verb’ in its perfect active form meaning - ‘to make anyone to travel by night, repair to an upland,’ It roots from the verbal root ‘Sa-Ra-Ya’ which means ‘to travel during the night, to depart/pass’ [2].

Also, while in 89:4 it is used in its imperfect active form - idha ‘yasri’ (as it passes/recedes), it is used in the imperative in 44:23 - fa ‘asri’ (set out/depart!). Also see 20:77.

Noun derivatives of the root verb include ‘sariyyan’ (stream, rivulet, fountain, chief of the nation) as in 19:24 and ‘sarat’ (summit, highest point) among others.

Therefore, ‘asra’ as a noun in 8:67 has a literal meaning of ‘captives/prisoners of war’ with a verbal root ‘Alif-Sin-Ra’ while ‘asra’ as a verb in 17:1 has a different meaning of ‘to repair somebody to some place’ with a different verbal root ‘Sa-Ra-Ya.’

8:67 simply reads:

“It is not for a prophet to take captives/ prisoners (of war) until he subdues - through strenuous battling (Allah's enemies) in the land (battlefield). Some Muslims desire the commodities of this world, but Allah desires [for you] the Hereafter. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.”

Hopefully that somehow helps God willing.

Regards,
Athman.


REFERENCES:

[1]. Lane’s Lexicon Volume 1, Pp 94 & 95.

[2]. Ibid Volume 4, Pp 79 & 80.

[Aijaz]

Thanks a lot. However, shouldn't  يُثْخِنَ Yuskhina, mean that the Prophet PBUH, is himself subdued instead of him subduing the land.

Traditional interpretation seems too violent considering the peaceful message of Islam.

Looking at this Ayat and few more till 8:71, seems like a prophet can only have Isra's when he is thoroughly subdued in the land i.e is not able to accomplish much. Isra's seems sort of financers who provide funding to prophet's cause. However, in contrast to 'Muhajereen' who have already migrated in belief from their previous belief system to the path of to Allah's and Messenger's, the 'Isras' are those, who are captives in that path, i.e they have not yet completely adopted the path although they have been thoroughly outwitted and their previous belief system destroyed in ideological fight by  believers in the light of Ayas of Allah.

The fighting could be ideological and non-physical as given in the below link to a post:

https://topicsfromquran.wordpress.com/2018/03/30/non-physical-fighting-1/

[Athman]

Dear Aijaz,

Salaamun alaikum,

‘asra’ in 8:67 just hints on those that the Prophet (pbuh) is instructed to address in 8:70 thus establishing them to be ‘prisoners of war’ possibly as promised in 8:7. That which would have been taken from them (8:70 - ukhidha minkum, 8:68 - akhadhtum) could possibly be those ‘spoils’ - anfal in 8:1 after the promised  victory (8:7) that was bound to happen (8:42,44) and that same 'spoils' the believers are allowed to consume in 8:69.
In addition, 8:72-75 just try to elaborate on the different classes of the believers and their true positions with Allah as regards fighting in Allah’s cause, broadly, ‘Muhajireen’ and ‘Answar.’ See also verses 59:8-9 and 9:100 touching on the two groups.

Hopefully that somehow helps in sha Allah.

Regards,
Athman.

[Wakas]

peace,

For some background, see link in:
http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=2339.msg12325#msg12325