وَأَنزَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَـٰهَرُوهُم مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مِن صَيَاصِيهِمْ وَقَذَفَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلرُّعْبَ فَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ وَتَأْسِرُونَ فَرِيقًا 26
Translations
And He brought down those who supported them among the People of the Scripture from their fortresses and cast terror into their hearts [so that] a party [i.e., their men] you killed, and you took captive a party [i.e., the women and children].
Transliteration
Wa anzala alladhīna ẓāharū-hum min ahli al-kitāb min ṣiyāṣīhi-m wa qadhafa fī qulūbi-him al-ru'b farīqan taqtulūn wa ta'sirūn farīqā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's aid to the believers against Banu Qurayẓah (a Jewish tribe) who violated their covenant and allied with the Quraysh during the Battle of the Trench. Allah cast terror into their hearts, causing them to descend from their fortified strongholds, resulting in their defeat—some were killed and others were taken captive. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize this as a manifestation of divine support for the believers and justice against those who betrayed their covenants.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the aftermath of the Battle of the Trench (Ghazwat al-Khandaq) in 5 AH, specifically addressing the siege and subsequent surrender of Banu Qurayẓah. The broader context of Surah Al-Ahzab concerns the allied forces' attack on Madinah and the challenges faced by Muslims, demonstrating Allah's protection and the consequences of betrayal.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari narrates from Anas ibn Malik details of the Battle of the Trench and the siege of Banu Qurayẓah's fortress. Additionally, Muslim narrates the account of how the tribe was besieged for twenty-five nights until they surrendered.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that honoring covenants and alliances is essential in Islamic ethics, while breaking them invites divine punishment. It also reassures believers that despite overwhelming odds, trusting in Allah's help and maintaining steadfastness brings victory and protection.
Related Ayahs
وَقَرْنَ فِى بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَأَقِمْنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتِينَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِعْنَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ ٱلرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا
And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance. And establish prayer and give zakāh and obey Allāh and His Messenger. Allāh intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet's] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification.
لِّيَجْزِىَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ بِصِدْقِهِمْ وَيُعَذِّبَ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ إِن شَآءَ أَوْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
That Allāh may reward the truthful for their truth and punish the hypocrites if He wills or accept their repentance. Indeed, Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
وَٱتَّبِعْ مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
And follow that which is revealed to you from your Lord. Indeed Allāh is ever, of what you do, Aware.
مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا۟ مَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّن قَضَىٰ نَحْبَهُۥ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُ ۖ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا۟ تَبْدِيلًا
Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allāh. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to the death], and among them is he who awaits [his chance]. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration -