وَرَدَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِغَيْظِهِمْ لَمْ يَنَالُوا۟ خَيْرًا ۚ وَكَفَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلْقِتَالَ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ قَوِيًّا عَزِيزًا 25
Translations
And Allāh repelled those who disbelieved, in their rage, not having obtained any good. And sufficient was Allāh for the believers in battle, and ever is Allāh Powerful and Exalted in Might.
Transliteration
Wa radda Allahu alladhina kafaru bighaydhihim lam yanalu khayran wa kafa Allahu al-mu'minina al-qital wa kana Allahu qawiyyan azizzan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Battle of the Confederates (Ahzab), where Allah turned back the disbelievers in their rage and fury without achieving their objective of destroying the Muslim community. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that despite the massive coalition against Medina, Allah sufficed the believers against fighting through divine intervention (including a miraculous windstorm), demonstrating that victory comes from Allah's strength and might, not from military superiority. The ayah emphasizes that Allah's power ('Izzah) and strength (Quwwah) are absolute, and He protects His believers even when they face overwhelming odds.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah Al-Ahzab, which discusses the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq) that occurred in 5 AH. The battle saw the Quraysh, Ghatafan, and Jewish tribes unite against Medina; the Muslims defended themselves by digging a trench. This ayah specifically addresses the failure of the confederates' mission and the divine protection granted to the believers.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 4672: The hadith of the Battle of the Trench describes how the Muslims faced extreme hardship and cold, yet Allah granted them victory. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the wind (Rih al-Sabaha) that Allah sent to disperse the confederates' forces.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that regardless of external threats or the numerical strength of enemies, Allah's protection and support are sufficient when one maintains faith and righteousness. It offers reassurance that victory ultimately depends on divine will rather than material circumstances, encouraging Muslims to trust in Allah during trials and difficulties.