وَمَا جَعَلَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ بِهِۦ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۚ وَمَا ٱلنَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ 10
Translations
And Allāh made it not but good tidings and so that your hearts would be assured thereby. And victory is not but from Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Transliteration
Wa mā jaa'alahu Allāhu illā bushrā wa litaṭma'inna bihi qulūbukum. Wa mā an-naṣru illā min 'indi Allāh. Inna Allāha 'azīzun ḥakīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the angels sent to support the believers at the Battle of Badr, which Allah made as a glad tiding (bushra) to strengthen their hearts and faith. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Allah intended this divine assistance to provide reassurance and psychological strengthening to the Muslims during their critical moment. The ayah concludes with a fundamental principle: victory comes only from Allah, the Mighty and Wise, emphasizing complete dependence upon His aid rather than material means alone.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah Al-Anfal, which addresses the Battle of Badr (2 AH)—the first major military engagement between Muslims and Quraysh. The immediate context concerns Allah's dispatch of angels to assist the believers, which occurred during this pivotal battle when Muslims were outnumbered but emerged victorious through divine intervention.
Related Hadiths
The Battle of Badr is extensively documented in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, where companions describe witnessing the angels. Imam Ahmad records that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Gabriel came to me and said, I have been sent with the news of victory and support.'
Themes
Key Lesson
True victory in any struggle—whether spiritual, personal, or collective—comes exclusively from Allah, not from material strength or numbers; therefore, believers should prioritize seeking divine pleasure and support above all earthly means. This teaches us that Allah's help often comes in ways we do not perceive, and faith must be rooted in absolute trust in His wisdom and power rather than visible circumstances.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
The believers are only those who, when Allāh is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely -
فَلَمْ تَقْتُلُوهُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَمَىٰ ۚ وَلِيُبْلِىَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْهُ بَلَآءً حَسَنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And you did not kill them, but it was Allāh who killed them. And you threw not, [O Muḥammad], when you threw, but it was Allāh who threw that He might test the believers with a good test. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
إِن تَسْتَفْتِحُوا۟ فَقَدْ جَآءَكُمُ ٱلْفَتْحُ ۖ وَإِن تَنتَهُوا۟ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تَعُودُوا۟ نَعُدْ وَلَن تُغْنِىَ عَنكُمْ فِئَتُكُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَلَوْ كَثُرَتْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
If you [disbelievers] seek the decision [i.e., victory] - the decision [i.e., defeat] has come to you. And if you desist [from hostilities], it is best for you; but if you return [to war], We will return, and never will you be availed by your [large] company at all, even if it should increase; and [that is] because Allāh is with the believers.
وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُنَا قَالُوا۟ قَدْ سَمِعْنَا لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَقُلْنَا مِثْلَ هَـٰذَآ ۙ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
And when Our verses are recited to them, they say, "We have heard. If we willed, we could say [something] like this. This is not but legends of the former peoples."