وَمَا جَعَلَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ بِهِۦ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۚ وَمَا ٱلنَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ 10
Translations
And Allāh made it not but good tidings and so that your hearts would be assured thereby. And victory is not but from Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Transliteration
Wa mā jaa'alahu Allāhu illā bushrā wa litaṭma'inna bihi qulūbukum. Wa mā an-naṣru illā min 'indi Allāh. Inna Allāha 'azīzun ḥakīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the angels sent to support the believers at the Battle of Badr, which Allah made as a glad tiding (bushra) to strengthen their hearts and faith. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Allah intended this divine assistance to provide reassurance and psychological strengthening to the Muslims during their critical moment. The ayah concludes with a fundamental principle: victory comes only from Allah, the Mighty and Wise, emphasizing complete dependence upon His aid rather than material means alone.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah Al-Anfal, which addresses the Battle of Badr (2 AH)—the first major military engagement between Muslims and Quraysh. The immediate context concerns Allah's dispatch of angels to assist the believers, which occurred during this pivotal battle when Muslims were outnumbered but emerged victorious through divine intervention.
Related Hadiths
The Battle of Badr is extensively documented in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, where companions describe witnessing the angels. Imam Ahmad records that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Gabriel came to me and said, I have been sent with the news of victory and support.'
Themes
Key Lesson
True victory in any struggle—whether spiritual, personal, or collective—comes exclusively from Allah, not from material strength or numbers; therefore, believers should prioritize seeking divine pleasure and support above all earthly means. This teaches us that Allah's help often comes in ways we do not perceive, and faith must be rooted in absolute trust in His wisdom and power rather than visible circumstances.
Related Ayahs
ذَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُوهِنُ كَيْدِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
That [is so], and [also] that Allāh will weaken the plot of the disbelievers.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تَتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
O you who have believed, if you fear Allāh, He will grant you a criterion and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.
لَّوْلَا كِتَـٰبٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِيمَآ أَخَذْتُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
If not for a decree from Allāh that preceded, you would have been touched for what you took by a great punishment.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاوَوا۟ وَّنَصَرُوٓا۟ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَمْ يُهَاجِرُوا۟ مَا لَكُم مِّن وَلَـٰيَتِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰ يُهَاجِرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِنِ ٱسْتَنصَرُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ فَعَلَيْكُمُ ٱلنَّصْرُ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍۭ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَـٰقٌ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
Indeed, those who have believed and emigrated and fought with their wealth and lives in the cause of Allāh and those who gave shelter and aided - they are allies of one another. But those who believed and did not emigrate - for you there is no support of them until they emigrate. And if they seek help of you for the religion, then you must help, except against a people between yourselves and whom is a treaty. And Allāh is Seeing of what you do.