وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى كَفَّ أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَنكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ عَنْهُم بِبَطْنِ مَكَّةَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَنْ أَظْفَرَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرًا 24
Translations
And it is He who withheld their hands from you and your hands from them within [the area of] Makkah after He caused you to overcome them. And ever is Allāh, of what you do, Seeing.
Transliteration
Wa huwa allathi kaffa aydiyahum 'ankum wa aydiyakum 'anhum bi-batni makkata min ba'da an athfarakum 'alayhim wa kana allahu bima ta'malun basiran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (6 AH) when Allah prevented the Quraysh and Muslims from fighting despite the Muslims being in a position of strength near Mecca. Allah restrained both sides from violence to fulfill His greater wisdom and plan. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this apparent restraint was actually a divine mercy and victory, as the treaty ultimately led to the peaceful conquest of Mecca two years later.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Fath, revealed after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah in 6 AH. The entire surah celebrates this treaty as a 'clear victory' (fath mubin) despite the Muslims not achieving their immediate goal of entering Mecca. The context specifically addresses the moment when fighting was about to break out but Allah intervened to establish the peace treaty.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 2731: Narrated by 'Urwah ibn al-Zubayr detailing the events of Hudaybiyyah where the Prophet and companions were about to engage in battle. Muslim 1783: Describes how the Prophet accepted the seemingly unfavorable treaty terms, demonstrating trust in Allah's plan.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that restraint and patience in difficult circumstances may be Allah's greatest mercy, and that apparent defeats or unfavorable outcomes often contain hidden blessings. It reminds us that Allah sees our deeds and intentions, encouraging us to trust His wisdom even when His plan differs from our immediate desires.
Related Ayahs
أَنِ ٱقْذِفِيهِ فِى ٱلتَّابُوتِ فَٱقْذِفِيهِ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ فَلْيُلْقِهِ ٱلْيَمُّ بِٱلسَّاحِلِ يَأْخُذْهُ عَدُوٌّ لِّى وَعَدُوٌّ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةً مِّنِّى وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيْنِىٓ
[Saying], 'Cast him into the chest and cast it into the river, and the river will throw it onto the bank; there will take him an enemy to Me and an enemy to him.' And I bestowed upon you love from Me that you would be brought up under My eye [i.e., observation and care].
وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ ۖ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِى وَلَا تَحْزَنِىٓ ۖ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
And We inspired to the mother of Moses, "Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers."
إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
If you do not aid him [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ)] - Allāh has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allāh is with us." And Allāh sent down His tranquility upon him and supported him with soldiers [i.e., angels] you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allāh - that is the highest. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.