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
ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۚ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَـٰمَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ
That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muḥammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.
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.
وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.
ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
That is for what your hands have put forth and because Allāh is not ever unjust to [His] servants."