Spoils of War
IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE
[8:48]
And, lo, Satan made all their doings seem goodly to them, and said, "No one can overcome you this day, for, behold, I shall be your protector!" – but as soon as the two hosts came within sight of one another, he turned on his heels and said, "Behold, I am not responsible for you: behold, I see something that you do not see: behold, I fear God – for God is severe in retribution!"


* v.48 : Lit., “your neighbour” – an expression derived from the ancient Arabian principle that a man is honour-bound to aid and protect his neighbours.
* This allegory of Satan’s blandishments and of his subsequent abandonment of the sinner occurs, in a more general form, in 59:16.