إِذْ يُوحِى رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ أَنِّى مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۚ سَأُلْقِى فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلرُّعْبَ فَٱضْرِبُوا۟ فَوْقَ ٱلْأَعْنَاقِ وَٱضْرِبُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ 12
Translations
[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."
Transliteration
Idh yūḥī rabbuka ilā al-malā'ikati annī ma'akum fa-thabbitū alladhīna āmanū. Sa-ulqī fī qulūb alladhīna kafarū ar-ru'b fa-ḍribū fawqa al-a'nāq wa-ḍribū minhum kulla banān.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's command to the angels during the Battle of Badr, wherein He assured them of His presence and instructed them to strengthen the believers' hearts while striking fear into the disbelievers' hearts. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the reference to striking 'above the necks' and 'every fingertip' is understood by classical scholars as either metaphorical language emphasizing the severity of the angels' striking, or as literal descriptions of how the angels participated in the battle. The ayah demonstrates Divine assistance (naṣr) and the supernatural support granted to the believers at Badr.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period, specifically relating to the Battle of Badr (2 AH/623 CE), the first major military encounter between the Muslims and the Quraysh. The context describes Allah's angelic reinforcement of the believers during this pivotal battle, where 313 Muslims faced approximately 1000 Meccan polytheists.
Related Hadiths
The Battle of Badr is extensively documented in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. A relevant hadith from Sahih Muslim describes the companions witnessing the effects of angelic assistance, and Ibn Abbas reported that the angels were specifically assigned to fight alongside the believers at Badr.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that believers who stand firm in faith receive supernatural support from Allah and the unseen realm, and that victory comes not merely through material means but through reliance on Divine aid and spiritual steadfastness. It encourages modern believers to trust in Allah's support when facing trials and to understand that righteousness itself is a form of strength.
Related Ayahs
وَإِن يُرِيدُوٓا۟ أَن يَخْدَعُوكَ فَإِنَّ حَسْبَكَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِۦ وَبِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
But if they intend to deceive you - then sufficient for you is Allāh. It is He who supported you with His help and with the believers
فَلَمْ تَقْتُلُوهُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَمَىٰ ۚ وَلِيُبْلِىَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْهُ بَلَآءً حَسَنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And you did not kill them, but it was Allāh who killed them. And you threw not, [O Muḥammad], when you threw, but it was Allāh who threw that He might test the believers with a good test. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ ٱلْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِۦ وَأَنَّهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
O you who have believed, respond to Allāh and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allāh intervenes between a man and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ حَسْبُكَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
O Prophet, sufficient for you is Allāh and for whoever follows you of the believers.