Sūrat al-Fatḥ

Classification: Medinan (revealed on the road while returning from al-Ḥudaybiyyah). Verses: 29 (revealed after [Sūrat] al-Jumuʿah).

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

{ Indeed, We have granted you a clear victory * That God may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow, and complete His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path * And [that] God may aid you with a mighty victory }

"Indeed, We have granted you a clear victory" It is said that this refers to the Treaty of al-Ḥudaybiyyah, for it was the key to the conquest of Mecca and the cause of the great increase in Islam and the humiliation of the polytheists.

"That God may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow" This is a consequence of the victory. It means: We have granted you this victory so that the reward for your struggle and your patience in the cause of God may be the forgiveness of your sins—those that occurred before this victory and those that might occur after it.

"And complete His favor upon you" By granting you victory over your enemies, establishing your religion, and elevating your mention.

"And guide you to a straight path" By confirming you upon the truth and the path of guidance that leads to Paradise.

"And [that] God may aid you with a mighty victory" An invincible victory, one that is not followed by defeat, referring to the conquest of Mecca or the ultimate triumph of the religion.

The Interpretation of "Conquest" (al-Fath): It refers to the conquest of Mecca. It was revealed upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as he returned from the year of al-Hudaybiyya, as a promise of the conquest to come. It is phrased in the past tense, consistent with the habit of the Lord of Might (Exalted is He) in His reports; for in His certainty and inevitability, they are as if they have already occurred and exist. This carries a grandeur and an indication of the exalted status of the Informer that is self-evident.

If you ask: How is the conquest of Mecca made the cause for forgiveness? I say: It is not made the cause for forgiveness alone. Rather, it is due to the gathering of the four things mentioned: forgiveness, the completion of favor, guidance to the straight path, and mighty victory. It is as if it were said: "We have facilitated for you the conquest of Mecca and granted you victory over your enemy, so that We may combine for you the honor of both worlds and the objectives of the present and the future."

It is also possible that the conquest of Mecca—insofar as it is a struggle against the enemy—is a cause for forgiveness and reward. A "conquest" (fath) is the overcoming of a city, whether by force or peace, by war or without war, because it is "closed" until it is overcome; once it is overcome and in hand, it is "conquered."

Other Opinions:

• Al-Hudaybiyya: Some say it refers to the conquest of al-Hudaybiyya. There was no intense fighting there, but arrows and stones were exchanged. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "They pelted the polytheists until they drove them back into their homes." Al-Kalbi said: "They prevailed over them until they asked for peace."
• If you ask: How can it be a "conquest" when they were prevented [from the Ka'bah], sacrificed their animals, and shaved their heads at al-Hudaybiyya?
• I say: That was before the truce. Once they requested it and it was concluded, it became a "clear conquest."

Historical Accounts:

• Musa ibn Uqba: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) returned from al-Hudaybiyya, and a man from his companions said: "This is no conquest; they blocked us from the House and blocked our offerings." The Prophet (ﷺ) heard this and said: "What a poor statement this is! Rather, it is the greatest of conquests. The polytheists have agreed to push you away from their lands with peace, to ask you for a settlement, and to desire safety from you, after they have seen from you what they disliked."
• Al-Sha'bi: It was revealed at al-Hudaybiyya, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) attained in that expedition what he had not attained in any other: the Pledge of Ridwan was taken, his past and future sins were forgiven, the Romans prevailed over the Persians, the sacrificial animals reached their destination, and they were fed from the palms of Khaybar. There was also a great sign at the conquest of al-Hudaybiyya: its water had dried up until not a drop remained. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) rinsed his mouth and spat into it, and it gushed with water until everyone with him drank. It is said it surged until it was full and never ran dry again.
• Other views: Some say it refers to the conquest of Khaybar, or the conquest of the Romans.
• The Comprehensive View: Some say it refers to Allah granting him victory through Islam, Prophethood, and the call—by argument and the sword. There is no conquest clearer or greater than this; it is the head of all conquests, for there is no conquest in Islam that is not beneath it and branching out from it.
• Linguistic view: Some say it means "We have decreed for you a clear decree against the people of Mecca that you and your companions shall enter it next year to circumambulate the House," derived from fataha (to judge/govern).

Regarding "What preceded of your sin and what followed":

• Qatada: It means everything that transpired from you.
• Muqatil: What preceded in the Age of Ignorance and what followed it.
• Others: It refers to the incident of Mariyah and the wife of Zayd.

Regarding "A mighty victory": It contains honor and protection, or it is a description of the one who is victorious (a metaphorical attribution), or it is a victory whose possessor is mighty.

[The Quranic Text] It is He who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers that they would increase in faith along with their faith. And to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth, and ever is Allah Knowing and Wise. [That He may admit the believing men and the believing women to gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein eternally and remove from them their misdeeds - and ever is that, in the sight of Allah, a great attainment. And [that] He may punish the hypocrite men and hypocrite women, and the polytheist men and polytheist women - those who assume about Allah an assumption of evil. Upon them is a misfortune of evil; and Allah has become angry with them and has cursed them and prepared for them Hell, and evil it is as a destination. And to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.]