Surah Al-Anfal — Verse 61

Word Meanings:

• Janahu (جَنَحُوا) — They inclined, leaned, or tended toward something.
• Al-Salm (السَّلْم) — Peace, reconciliation, or cessation of hostilities; it denotes the state of making peace and ending conflict.
• Fajnah (فَاجْنَحْ) — So incline yourself toward it, i.e., respond positively and accept the offer of peace.
• Tawakkul (تَوَكَّلْ) — To place complete trust and reliance upon Allah, entrusting all affairs to Him.

Explanation of the Verse:

This noble verse comes as a divine directive from Allah to His Messenger ﷺ and, by extension, to the entire Muslim community. After the previous verses addressed the conditions of warfare and the need for preparedness against enemies, Allah now teaches a profound principle of Islamic ethics: the inclination toward peace.

When the enemies of Islam show a genuine tendency toward peace and reconciliation—when they stretch out their hands for a truce or a peace treaty—the believer is commanded to respond positively. The word "janahu" conveys the image of someone leaning or bending toward peace, and the command "fajnah laha" instructs the Prophet ﷺ to meet that inclination with a similar inclination. This is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is a sign of strength and wisdom, for Islam is a religion of mercy and harmony. War is only a last resort, and peace is the preferred path whenever it is sincerely offered.

The verse uses the feminine pronoun "laha" for peace because "al-salm" carries the meaning of "al-musalamah" (peaceful reconciliation), emphasizing that the peace being referred to is a comprehensive state of mutual safety and goodwill.

Then comes the essential condition: "And put your trust in Allah." This is the anchor of the believer's heart. When you accept peace, do not rely solely on the promises of others or on your own calculations. Place your complete trust in Allah, for He is the One who knows what is in the hearts of all people. He is "Al-Samee'" (The All-Hearing) — He hears every word spoken, whether sincere or deceptive, and "Al-'Aleem" (The All-Knowing) — He knows every intention, every hidden motive, and every future outcome.

This verse carries a timeless lesson for Muslims today: Islam does not seek perpetual conflict. It embraces peace when peace is genuinely offered, while maintaining vigilance and complete reliance on Allah. The believer's heart should always be open to reconciliation, never arrogant or aggressive, but always wise and trusting in Allah's perfect knowledge and justice.

A Da'wah Reflection:

How beautiful is this teaching! The Qur'an does not command Muslims to be warmongers or to reject peace out of pride. Rather, it commands them to be peacemakers, to respond to genuine calls for peace with open hearts, and to place their ultimate trust in Allah alone. This is the character of the true believer: strong in defense, but gentle in peace; cautious of deception, but hopeful of harmony; and always, always reliant upon Allah, the All-Hearing and All-Knowing. Let this verse inspire you to be a person who loves peace, who responds to goodwill with goodwill, and who places every affair—whether war or peace—in the hands of the Most Wise. For indeed, Allah never abandons those who trust in Him.