وَأَعِدُّوا۟ لَهُم مَّا ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ ٱلْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِۦ عَدُوَّ ٱللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَءَاخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ 60
Translations
And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allāh and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allāh knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allāh will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.
Transliteration
Wa-a'iddoo lahum maa istata'tum min quwwatin wa min ribati al-khayil turhiboon bihi 'aduwwa Allahi wa 'aduwwakum wa akhareena min doonihim la ta'lamoonhum Allahu ya'lamuhum wa maa tunfiqoo min shay'in fee sabeel Allahi yuwaffa ilaykum wa antum la tudlamoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands Muslims to prepare military strength and cavalry to deter enemies of Allah and their own enemies, including those unknown threats Allah is aware of. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret 'quwwah' (strength) broadly to include all forms of military preparedness available to the community. The final clause emphasizes that all expenditures in Allah's cause will be repaid in full without any loss, encouraging sacrifice in defense of the faith.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina after the Battle of Badr, this ayah addresses the nascent Muslim community's need to strengthen military defenses against multiple adversaries. It reflects the strategic period when Muslims transitioned from persecution to establishing a state capable of self-defense, with the reference to 'enemies you do not know' suggesting awareness of future threats from surrounding powers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), though not directly about military preparation. More relevant: 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are far better' (Quran 18:46), reflecting the theme of sacrifice. The hadith on maintaining readiness appears in various forms across collections emphasizing constant preparedness.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims are obligated to develop strength and readiness within their means as a means of protecting their faith and community, understanding that such preparations serve as deterrence rather than aggression. The promise of divine recompense encourages believers to invest resources in legitimate defense without fear of loss, trusting in Allah's knowledge of seen and unseen threats.