وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى كَفَّ أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَنكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ عَنْهُم بِبَطْنِ مَكَّةَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَنْ أَظْفَرَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرًا 24
Translations
And it is He who withheld their hands from you and your hands from them within [the area of] Makkah after He caused you to overcome them. And ever is Allāh, of what you do, Seeing.
Transliteration
Wa huwa allathi kaffa aydiyahum 'ankum wa aydiyakum 'anhum bi-batni makkata min ba'da an athfarakum 'alayhim wa kana allahu bima ta'malun basiran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (6 AH) when Allah prevented the Quraysh and Muslims from fighting despite the Muslims being in a position of strength near Mecca. Allah restrained both sides from violence to fulfill His greater wisdom and plan. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this apparent restraint was actually a divine mercy and victory, as the treaty ultimately led to the peaceful conquest of Mecca two years later.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Fath, revealed after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah in 6 AH. The entire surah celebrates this treaty as a 'clear victory' (fath mubin) despite the Muslims not achieving their immediate goal of entering Mecca. The context specifically addresses the moment when fighting was about to break out but Allah intervened to establish the peace treaty.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 2731: Narrated by 'Urwah ibn al-Zubayr detailing the events of Hudaybiyyah where the Prophet and companions were about to engage in battle. Muslim 1783: Describes how the Prophet accepted the seemingly unfavorable treaty terms, demonstrating trust in Allah's plan.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that restraint and patience in difficult circumstances may be Allah's greatest mercy, and that apparent defeats or unfavorable outcomes often contain hidden blessings. It reminds us that Allah sees our deeds and intentions, encouraging us to trust His wisdom even when His plan differs from our immediate desires.