يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ حَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى ٱلْقِتَالِ ۚ إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَـٰبِرُونَ يَغْلِبُوا۟ مِا۟ئَتَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّا۟ئَةٌ يَغْلِبُوٓا۟ أَلْفًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ 65
Translations
O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are steadfast], they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha an-nabiyyu harrid al-mu'minina ala al-qital. In yakun minkum ishrun sabihrun yaghlibuh mi'atayn. Wa in yakun minkum mi'ah yaghlibuh alfan min alladhina kafaru bi-annahum qawmun la yafqahun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad to motivate the believers to fight, assuring them of victory through divine support and the believers' moral superiority. The ayah establishes a ratio of combat strength: twenty steadfast believers can overcome two hundred disbelievers, and one hundred can overcome one thousand, because the disbelievers lack understanding (fiqh) and spiritual comprehension. This verse emphasizes that victory depends not merely on numbers but on faith, patience, and obedience to Allah, as noted by Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period during the early Islamic wars, specifically concerning the Battle of Badr and subsequent encounters. It was revealed to strengthen the believers' resolve when facing numerically superior enemy forces, establishing the principle that divine aid and moral fortitude outweigh material disadvantage. The surah Al-Anfal deals comprehensively with the etiquette and ethics of warfare in Islam.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Jihad) where the Prophet said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' relates to the character that produces steadfast believers. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records that the Prophet emphasized reliance on Allah during battles, which connects to the 'sabihrun' (steadfast/patient) quality mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
For believers today, this ayah teaches that true strength lies not in material resources or numerical advantage but in unwavering faith, moral character, and understanding of one's principles. It encourages Muslims to trust in Allah's support when facing adversity and to cultivate patience and spiritual awareness, knowing that these qualities constitute a form of power that transcends worldly measurements.