بَلَىٰٓ ۚ إِن تَصْبِرُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ وَيَأْتُوكُم مِّن فَوْرِهِمْ هَـٰذَا يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِخَمْسَةِ ءَالَـٰفٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ 125
Translations
Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allāh and they [i.e., the enemy] come upon you [attacking] in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction]."
Transliteration
Balā, in tasbiru wa tattaqū wa yā'tūkum min fawrihim hādhā yumdidkum rabbukum bikhamsati ālāfi min al-malā'ikati musawwimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah responds affirmatively to the believers' concern about facing an overwhelming enemy force at the Battle of Uhud, assuring them that if they exercise patience (sabr) and piety (taqwā), Allah will reinforce them with five thousand marked angels. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this refers to divine support contingent upon the Muslims' righteousness, though some interpret 'musawwimin' (marked/distinguished) as angels identifiable by their appearance or purpose. The condition emphasizes that victory is not merely military but spiritual, dependent on the believers' steadfastness and God-consciousness.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period regarding the Battle of Uhud (3 AH / 625 CE), where the Muslims faced a Meccan force of approximately 3,000 men with 700 Muslim warriors. The verse occurs within a passage addressing the believers' fears about numerical disadvantage and encouraging them with the promise of angelic assistance, contingent upon their obedience and trust in Allah.
Related Hadiths
Sunan Ibn Majah and other sources contain reports that at Uhud, the angels did indeed fight alongside the believers, though the promised five thousand angels came conditionally based on the Muslims maintaining their positions. The hadith in Sahih Muslim mentions that the Prophet (ﷺ) placed an archer contingent with strict orders not to leave their position, directly relating to the theme of patience and discipline in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that victory and divine aid are not determined solely by material strength or numbers, but by spiritual preparation through patience and God-consciousness; modern readers should recognize that facing life's challenges requires both practical effort and unwavering faith, knowing that help comes to those who remain steadfast in righteousness.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "If you should love Allāh, then follow me, [so] Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful."
يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تَلْبِسُونَ ٱلْحَقَّ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُونَ ٱلْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
O People of the Scripture, why do you mix [i.e., confuse] the truth with falsehood and conceal the truth while you know [it]?
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.
وَإِذْ غَدَوْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ تُبَوِّئُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَقَـٰعِدَ لِلْقِتَالِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And [remember] when you, [O Muḥammad], left your family in the morning to post the believers at their stations for the battle [of Uḥud] - and Allāh is Hearing and Knowing -