يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَآءَتْكُمْ جُنُودٌ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا وَجُنُودًا لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرًا 9
Translations
O you who have believed, remember the favor of Allāh upon you when armies came to [attack] you and We sent upon them a wind and armies [of angels] you did not see. And ever is Allāh, of what you do, Seeing.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu idhkuru ni'mata Allahi alaikum idh jaat kum junudun fa arsalna alaikum rihan wa junudan lam tarawha wa kana Allahu bima ta'malun basira
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Battle of the Confederates (Ghazwat al-Ahzab) in 5 AH, reminding believers to recall Allah's favor when allied tribes attacked Madinah and Allah sent a miraculous wind (rih al-sabiyyah) and unseen angels to scatter the enemy forces. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret the 'wind' as a literal divine intervention and the 'unseen soldiers' as the angels fighting alongside the Muslims, demonstrating Allah's complete awareness and supervision of human actions.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah Al-Ahzab, which primarily addresses events surrounding the Battle of the Confederates (Ahzab) when approximately 10,000 confederate troops besieged Madinah. The ayah specifically recalls this critical moment in Islamic history when the Muslim community's survival seemed uncertain, emphasizing Allah's direct intervention as a test of faith and gratitude.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that during the Battle of Ahzab, the believers were in great distress, and their hearts reached their throats from fear. The Prophet (SAW) assured them of victory. Additionally, hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah and Sunan al-Tirmidhi mention that Allah sent strong winds that damaged the confederates' siege equipment and scattered their camp.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should cultivate gratitude for Allah's hidden blessings and divine protections during hardships, recognizing that deliverance often comes through means unseen and understanding that Allah is constantly aware of our actions and intentions—encouraging us to maintain sincere conduct even in moments of despair.