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.
Related Ayahs
وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَن يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ فَـَٔاوَىٰكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُم بِنَصْرِهِۦ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, fearing that people might abduct you, but He sheltered you, supported you with His victory, and provided you with good things - that you might be grateful.
يُجَـٰدِلُونَكَ فِى ٱلْحَقِّ بَعْدَ مَا تَبَيَّنَ كَأَنَّمَا يُسَاقُونَ إِلَى ٱلْمَوْتِ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ
Arguing with you concerning the truth after it had become clear, as if they were being driven toward death while they were looking on.
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.