إِن تَسْتَفْتِحُوا۟ فَقَدْ جَآءَكُمُ ٱلْفَتْحُ ۖ وَإِن تَنتَهُوا۟ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تَعُودُوا۟ نَعُدْ وَلَن تُغْنِىَ عَنكُمْ فِئَتُكُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَلَوْ كَثُرَتْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 19
Translations
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.
Transliteration
In tastaftihoo faqad jaa'akum al-fath. Wa in tantahoo fahuwa khayrun lakum. Wa in ta'oodoo na'ud wa lan tughni 'ankum fi'atukum shay'an wa lau kathurat wa anna Allaha ma'a al-mu'mineen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the disbelievers of Makkah who sought judgment (istiftah) from Allah regarding their dispute with the Muslims at Badr. Allah responds that the judgment has already come in the form of the Muslim victory—a decisive sign of Allah's support for the believers. The verse then presents conditional warnings: if the disbelievers cease their hostility, it is better for them; if they return to aggression, Allah will return to aid His believers, and their numbers will avail them nothing, for Allah is with the believers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes divine justice and the futility of opposing Allah's help for His faithful servants.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period within Surah Al-Anfal, which addresses the aftermath of the Battle of Badr (2 AH). The context concerns the Quraysh's continued hostility toward the Muslims despite their defeat at Badr. The 'istiftah' (seeking judgment) likely refers to the Makkans' prayers for victory, which were answered by Allah's judgment in favor of the believers at Badr.
Related Hadiths
The Battle of Badr itself is extensively documented in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Related is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed before Badr: 'O Allah, if You destroy this group of people, no one will worship You on earth.' This reflects the divine promise affirmed in this ayah that Allah supports the believers.
Themes
Key Lesson
True strength lies not in military might or numbers, but in alignment with Allah's will and maintaining faith during trials. This ayah teaches that rejecting divine guidance repeatedly invites punishment, while cessation of wrongdoing and acceptance of truth remains the better path even for those who have opposed the truth.