إِذْ جَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْحَمِيَّةَ حَمِيَّةَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَلْزَمَهُمْ كَلِمَةَ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ وَكَانُوٓا۟ أَحَقَّ بِهَا وَأَهْلَهَا ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًا 26
Translations
When those who disbelieved had put into their hearts chauvinism - the chauvinism of the time of ignorance. But Allāh sent down His tranquility upon His Messenger and upon the believers and imposed upon them the word of righteousness, and they were more deserving of it and worthy of it. And ever is Allāh, of all things, Knowing.
Transliteration
Idh ja'ala alladhina kafaroo fee quloobihimu al-hamiyyah hamiyyat al-jahiliyyah fa-anzala Allahu sakeenatahu ala rasoolihi wa ala al-mu'mineen wa alzamahum kalima al-taqwa wa kanoo ahaqq biha wa ahlaha wa kana Allahu bikulli shay'in alimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah when the disbelievers of Quraysh were filled with pre-Islamic pride (hamiyyah) and refused to acknowledge Prophet Muhammad's prophethood, yet Allah sent down His tranquility (sakinah) upon the Prophet and believers, fortifying them with the word of piety (taqwa). Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that despite outward humiliation in the treaty's terms, the believers' steadfastness through divine support represented their worthiness of taqwa, demonstrating that true honor lies in obedience to Allah rather than worldly pride.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (6 AH), when the Prophet and his companions approached Makkah for 'Umrah but were prevented by Quraysh. The disbelievers' tribal pride (hamiyyah) led them to reject fair terms, yet the believers remained patient and firm, sustained by Allah's divine tranquility during this pivotal moment that later led to Muslim expansion.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Muslim contain accounts of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah where companions complained about the terms, yet the Prophet remained steadfast. Related is the hadith in Tirmidhi regarding sakinah (tranquility): 'Verily, the Most Merciful sends down tranquility into the hearts of the servants of Allah when they mention Him.'
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should understand that real honor and victory come through piety and submission to Allah, not through worldly pride or tribal loyalty, and that divine tranquility sustains the faithful through apparent defeats which often precede greater triumphs.
Related Ayahs
وَلِلَّهِ جُنُودُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
And to Allāh belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth. And ever is Allāh Exalted in Might and Wise.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ يَدُ ٱللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۚ فَمَن نَّكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِمَا عَـٰهَدَ عَلَيْهُ ٱللَّهَ فَسَيُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, [O Muḥammad] - they are actually pledging allegiance to Allāh. The hand of Allāh is over their hands. So he who breaks his word only breaks it to the detriment of himself. And he who fulfills that which he has promised Allāh - He will give him a great reward.
وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
بَلْ ظَنَنتُمْ أَن لَّن يَنقَلِبَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِيهِمْ أَبَدًا وَزُيِّنَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَظَنَنتُمْ ظَنَّ ٱلسَّوْءِ وَكُنتُمْ قَوْمًۢا بُورًا
But you thought that the Messenger and the believers would never return to their families, ever, and that was made pleasing in your hearts. And you assumed an assumption of evil and became a people ruined."