إِذْ تَقُولُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَلَن يَكْفِيَكُمْ أَن يُمِدَّكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِثَلَـٰثَةِ ءَالَـٰفٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ مُنزَلِينَ 124
Translations
[Remember] when you said to the believers, "Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down?
Transliteration
Idh taqoolu lilmu'minina alan yakfiyakum an yuMiddakum rabbukum bithalaathati alafin minal-mala'ikati munzalin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Battle of Badr when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reassured the believers by informing them that Allah would aid them with three thousand angels sent down from heaven. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this was a divine promise of supernatural support during a critical moment when the Muslims were vastly outnumbered. The ayah emphasizes Allah's direct intervention on behalf of the faithful and His promise to strengthen those who believe in Him.
Revelation Context
This ayah is specifically related to the Battle of Badr (2 AH), the first major military confrontation between the Muslims of Medina and the Quraysh of Mecca. The context occurs as the Prophet encourages his followers before battle, reminding them of divine assistance. The subsequent ayah (3:125) conditions this aid upon the believers maintaining taqwa (God-consciousness) and patience.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari records that during the Battle of Badr, the Prophet made du'a (supplication) asking Allah for help, and angels were indeed sent to assist the Muslims. Additionally, Jami' at-Tirmidhi contains reports about the role of angels at Badr in strengthening the believers' resolve and causing confusion among the enemy ranks.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that believers need not fear overwhelming odds when they place their trust in Allah, for divine support transcends physical limitations; it reminds modern Muslims that spiritual resources and divine assistance are available to those who remain steadfast in faith.
Related Ayahs
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جَمَعْنَـٰهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ وَوُفِّيَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
So how will it be when We assemble them for a Day about which there is no doubt? And each soul will be compensated [in full for] what it earned, and they will not be wronged.
وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَآءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِۦٓ إِخْوَٰنًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
And hold firmly to the rope of Allāh all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allāh upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.
رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ ٱلنَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ
Our Lord, surely You will gather the people for a Day about which there is no doubt. Indeed, Allāh does not fail in His promise."
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ
They are the ones whose deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and for them there will be no helpers.