إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَٱسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّى مُمِدُّكُم بِأَلْفٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ 9
Translations
[Remember] when you were asking help of your Lord, and He answered you, "Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another."
Transliteration
Idh tastagh īthūna rabbakum fastajāba lakum annī mumdiddukum bi-alf min al-malā'ikah murdifīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Battle of Badr when the believers called upon Allah for help, and He responded by sending one thousand angels to reinforce them and bring about victory. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this divine assistance was a manifestation of Allah's support for the believers during their most critical moment, while Al-Qurtubi notes that the angels came in successive waves (murdifīn) to ensure continuous support throughout the battle.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Anfal, which was revealed after the Battle of Badr (2 AH), the first major military victory of the Muslims. The ayah specifically references the du'a (supplication) of the believers during this battle when they were vastly outnumbered (approximately 313 Muslims against 1000 Quraysh), establishing the historical and spiritual significance of reliance upon Allah during times of difficulty.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim reports from Ibn Abbas that the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw the angels on the day of Badr, and Jibril informed him of their arrival. Additionally, the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah mentions that the angels were instructed not to kill except in defense, highlighting the divine wisdom in their deployment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that when facing overwhelming challenges, sincere supplication to Allah combined with righteous effort can bring unexpected divine aid and victory. It reinforces the principle that material disadvantage is insignificant when one has Allah's support, encouraging modern Muslims to maintain unwavering faith during difficulties.
Related Ayahs
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِن يَنتَهُوا۟ يُغْفَرْ لَهُم مَّا قَدْ سَلَفَ وَإِن يَعُودُوا۟ فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّتُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return [to hostility] - then the precedent of the former [rebellious] peoples has already taken place.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ حَسْبُكَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
O Prophet, sufficient for you is Allāh and for whoever follows you of the believers.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاوَوا۟ وَّنَصَرُوٓا۟ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
But those who have believed and emigrated and fought in the cause of Allāh and those who gave shelter and aided - it is they who are the believers, truly. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.
إِذْ يُوحِى رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ أَنِّى مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۚ سَأُلْقِى فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلرُّعْبَ فَٱضْرِبُوا۟ فَوْقَ ٱلْأَعْنَاقِ وَٱضْرِبُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ
[Remember] when your Lord inspired to the angels, "I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip."