A Few Basic Believes, Re. Surah Al-Anfal:

1. Tauheed (Or Oneness of Allah):              Respect and fear can run shivers through body. If such sensation is felt when Allah SWT’s name or signs are mentioned, it means that we strongly believe in HIM and then HE can guide us towards the true path.                  
2. Surah Al-Anfal, verse no. 2:          “Only they are believers whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, and when His Signs are recited to them, their faith get increased and upon their Lord, they put their trust” (8/2).
3. Salah & Zakat:                     ‘Salah’ (or prayers) and ‘Zakat’ (mandatory charity) are often mentioned together in Al-Quran. Former is ‘Sadqa’ (charity) of body and latter is Sadqa of wealth. Unlike the worldly believes; wealth increases when spent in path of Allah SWT. Similarly, we witness that physical exercise or putting the body under stress increases its efficiency or productive life and Salah is a good example to explain virtues of charity.
4. Surah Al-Anfal, verse no. 3:          “Those who establish prayer and spend something of what We have provided them” (8/3).
5. Forgiveness and Grading:                Humans are not like angels and they are bound to make mistakes during their life time, but those who repent towards Allah SWT openly show two traits; (i) that HE is our Lord and (ii) we want to wash our sins. This quality along with performing religious duties, good manners, social responsibility etc place us in different categories.   
6. Surah Al-Anfal, verse no. 4:          “It is these the true Muslims. For them are grades with their Lord and forgiveness and an honorable provision” (8/4).
7. Shun Hypocrisy:                             Although, the truth was revealed centuries years ago and many of us believe in Allah SWT and the Holy Books. But amongst us there are fragments and groups, which are not willing to sacrifice the worldly benefits, thus cannot fully comply to the commandments. 
8. Surah Al-Anfal, verse no. 5:                    “As (O beloved Prophet)! Your Lord brought you forth from your house with truth, and undoubtedly, a group of Muslim was unhappy over it” (8/5).
9. Call Spade, a Spade:                      In basic believes there are no grey areas. The things which are forbidden will remain forbidden forever and no new theory (or Fatwa) can make it permissible to legitimately earn worldly gains. The litmus test is; ‘thinking about death’, which makes everything (worldly attractions) immaterial and irrelevant.
10. Surah Al-Anfal, verse no. 6:                    “They were disputing with you about the truth after it has become clear, as if they are being driven towards death with their eyes open” (8/6).

May Allah SWT give us the courage to sacrifice worldly attractions (Aameen).