إِذْ يُرِيكَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى مَنَامِكَ قَلِيلًا ۖ وَلَوْ أَرَىٰكَهُمْ كَثِيرًا لَّفَشِلْتُمْ وَلَتَنَـٰزَعْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَلَّمَ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ 43
Translations
[Remember, O Muḥammad], when Allāh showed them to you in your dream as few; and if He had shown them to you as many, you [believers] would have lost courage and would have disputed in the matter [of whether to fight], but Allāh saved [you from that]. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
Transliteration
Idh yurīkahum-Allāhu fī manāmika qalīlan wa law arāka-hum kathīran la-fashiltum wa la-tanāza'tum fī al-amri wa lākin-Allāhu sallam innahu 'alīmun bi-dhāt as-sudūr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Prophet Muhammad's vision before the Battle of Badr, in which Allah showed him the Quraysh army as small in numbers to strengthen the Muslims' resolve and prevent despair. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that had Allah shown them the actual large number of enemies, the Muslims would have lost courage (fashiltum) and quarreled among themselves about the decision to fight. Allah's wisdom in controlling what the Prophet perceived demonstrates His perfect knowledge of human nature and what hearts contain.
Revelation Context
This ayah is specifically about the night before the Battle of Badr (2 AH), Islam's first major military engagement, where approximately 313 Muslims faced around 1,000 Quraysh polytheists. The surah Al-Anfal was revealed in the Medinan period and comprehensively addresses the rules of warfare, division of spoils, and divine assistance during this pivotal battle that became a turning point for the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3953): Narrated by Ibn Abbas regarding the Battle of Badr - the Prophet made du'a (supplication) and Allah granted him victory despite the numerical disadvantage. Also, Jami' at-Tirmidhi contains reports about the Prophet's vision before Badr and how it strengthened the companions' determination.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah knows what is best for His servants even when we cannot perceive it, and that apparent weakness combined with reliance on Allah can lead to victory over seemingly insurmountable odds. For modern readers, it emphasizes trusting Allah's wisdom in difficult circumstances and recognizing that our limited perception should not diminish our faith or resolve.