فَلَمْ تَقْتُلُوهُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَمَىٰ ۚ وَلِيُبْلِىَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْهُ بَلَآءً حَسَنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ 17
Translations
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.
Transliteration
Falam taqtuluhum wa lākin nallāhu qatalahum wa mā ramayita idh ramayita wa lākin nallāhu ramā wa liyublī al-mu'minīna minhu balā'an hasanan inna nallāha samī'un 'alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah was revealed regarding the Battle of Badr, clarifying that while the Muslims physically fought and threw arrows at the polytheists, the ultimate victory and cause of death belonged to Allah alone. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize this teaches the principle of tawakkul (reliance on Allah) alongside human effort—Muslims are commanded to take means while recognizing that Allah is the true cause of all outcomes. The verse concludes by noting that Allah's purpose in granting this victory was to test and strengthen the believers' faith through a noble trial.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Battle of Badr (2 AH), the first major military confrontation between the Muslims and the Meccan polytheists. The Muslims were outnumbered but achieved a decisive victory, and this verse addresses the spiritual reality behind that victory, redirecting the believers' understanding from human agency to divine will.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3974): The Prophet ﷺ threw a handful of dust toward the Quraysh during Badr saying 'May their faces be shameful,' and every polytheist struck by that dust was killed or harmed, relating to the 'throwing' mentioned in this verse. Also relevant is the general principle from Sahih Muslim about reliance on Allah while taking means: 'Trust in Allah, but tie your camel.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to balance active effort and responsibility with complete trust in Allah's will and wisdom—we must strive diligently in our endeavors while understanding that all true power and success belong to Allah alone, freeing us from arrogance and despair.