وَأُخْرَىٰ لَمْ تَقْدِرُوا۟ عَلَيْهَا قَدْ أَحَاطَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرًا 21
Translations
And [He promises] other [victories] that you were [so far] unable to [realize] which Allāh has already encompassed. And ever is Allāh, over all things, competent.
Transliteration
Wa-akhraà lam taqdiroo 'alayha qad ahata Allahu biha wa-kana Allahu 'ala kulli shay'in qadiran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to other future victories and conquests that the Muslims will achieve, which they could not accomplish at the time of revelation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as referring to the conquests of Khaybar, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and other lands that Allah had decreed for the Muslim ummah. The ayah emphasizes that Allah encompasses all things with His knowledge and power, assuring the believers that what seems impossible to them is fully within Allah's capability to bring about.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes Surah Al-Fath, which was revealed after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (6 AH). Though the treaty appeared as a temporary setback to the Companions, Allah promised them greater victories ahead. The surah was revealed to console the believers and assure them of imminent and future triumphs, fulfilling Allah's promise made in verse 48:20.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 2731: The Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, 'We have won' - affirming that what appeared as compromise was actually a victory. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the Prophet's prophecy of the ummah conquering Persia, Rome, and the Treasure of the Kasr (palaces).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should trust that Allah's plans extend beyond what they can perceive or accomplish in the present moment; what seems impossible to human effort is entirely possible through Allah's infinite power and wisdom. This teaches resilience during apparent setbacks and confidence that Allah's promises will be fulfilled in His perfect timing.
Related Ayahs
قُل لِّلْمُخَلَّفِينَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ سَتُدْعَوْنَ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ أُو۟لِى بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ تُقَـٰتِلُونَهُمْ أَوْ يُسْلِمُونَ ۖ فَإِن تُطِيعُوا۟ يُؤْتِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ۖ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ كَمَا تَوَلَّيْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ يُعَذِّبْكُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
Say to those who remained behind of the bedouins, "You will be called to [face] a people of great military might; you may fight them, or they will submit. So if you obey, Allāh will give you a good reward; but if you turn away as you turned away before, He will punish you with a painful punishment."
وَيُعَذِّبَ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَٱلْمُشْرِكَـٰتِ ٱلظَّآنِّينَ بِٱللَّهِ ظَنَّ ٱلسَّوْءِ ۚ عَلَيْهِمْ دَآئِرَةُ ٱلسَّوْءِ ۖ وَغَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَنَهُمْ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
And [that] He may punish the hypocrite men and hypocrite women, and the polytheist men and polytheist women - those who assume about Allāh an assumption of evil nature. Upon them is a misfortune of evil nature; and Allāh has become angry with them and has cursed them and prepared for them Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
لِّيُدْخِلَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَيُكَفِّرَ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا
[And] that He may admit the believing men and the believing women to gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein eternally and remove from them their misdeeds - and ever is that, in the sight of Allāh, a great attainment
وَيَنصُرَكَ ٱللَّهُ نَصْرًا عَزِيزًا
And [that] Allāh may aid you with a mighty victory.