إِن تَسْتَفْتِحُوا۟ فَقَدْ جَآءَكُمُ ٱلْفَتْحُ ۖ وَإِن تَنتَهُوا۟ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تَعُودُوا۟ نَعُدْ وَلَن تُغْنِىَ عَنكُمْ فِئَتُكُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَلَوْ كَثُرَتْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 19
Translations
If you [disbelievers] seek the decision [i.e., victory] - the decision [i.e., defeat] has come to you. And if you desist [from hostilities], it is best for you; but if you return [to war], We will return, and never will you be availed by your [large] company at all, even if it should increase; and [that is] because Allāh is with the believers.
Transliteration
In tastaftihoo faqad jaa'akum al-fath. Wa in tantahoo fahuwa khayrun lakum. Wa in ta'oodoo na'ud wa lan tughni 'ankum fi'atukum shay'an wa lau kathurat wa anna Allaha ma'a al-mu'mineen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the disbelievers of Makkah who sought judgment (istiftah) from Allah regarding their dispute with the Muslims at Badr. Allah responds that the judgment has already come in the form of the Muslim victory—a decisive sign of Allah's support for the believers. The verse then presents conditional warnings: if the disbelievers cease their hostility, it is better for them; if they return to aggression, Allah will return to aid His believers, and their numbers will avail them nothing, for Allah is with the believers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes divine justice and the futility of opposing Allah's help for His faithful servants.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period within Surah Al-Anfal, which addresses the aftermath of the Battle of Badr (2 AH). The context concerns the Quraysh's continued hostility toward the Muslims despite their defeat at Badr. The 'istiftah' (seeking judgment) likely refers to the Makkans' prayers for victory, which were answered by Allah's judgment in favor of the believers at Badr.
Related Hadiths
The Battle of Badr itself is extensively documented in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Related is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed before Badr: 'O Allah, if You destroy this group of people, no one will worship You on earth.' This reflects the divine promise affirmed in this ayah that Allah supports the believers.
Themes
Key Lesson
True strength lies not in military might or numbers, but in alignment with Allah's will and maintaining faith during trials. This ayah teaches that rejecting divine guidance repeatedly invites punishment, while cessation of wrongdoing and acceptance of truth remains the better path even for those who have opposed the truth.
Related Ayahs
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.
وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allāh has with Him a great reward.
وَلَوْ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا لَّأَسْمَعَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ أَسْمَعَهُمْ لَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
Had Allāh known any good in them, He would have made them hear. And if He had made them hear, they would [still] have turned away, while they were refusing.
وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَنَـٰزَعُوا۟ فَتَفْشَلُوا۟ وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ ۖ وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And obey Allāh and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allāh is with the patient.