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
إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمُ ۗ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allāh is Islām. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allāh, then indeed, Allāh is swift in [taking] account.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ وَأَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَا خَلَـٰقَ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا يَنظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Indeed, those who exchange the covenant of Allāh and their [own] oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter, and Allāh will not speak to them or look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them; and they will have a painful punishment.
وَلَقَدْ كُنتُمْ تَمَنَّوْنَ ٱلْمَوْتَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَلْقَوْهُ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ
And you had certainly wished for death [i.e., martyrdom] before you encountered it, and you have [now] seen it [before you] while you were looking on.
وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِمَن تَبِعَ دِينَكُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْهُدَىٰ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ أَن يُؤْتَىٰٓ أَحَدٌ مِّثْلَ مَآ أُوتِيتُمْ أَوْ يُحَآجُّوكُمْ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And do not trust except those who follow your religion." Say, "Indeed, the [true] guidance is the guidance of Allāh. [Do you fear] lest someone be given [knowledge] like you were given or that they would [thereby] argue with you before your Lord?" Say, "Indeed, [all] bounty is in the hand of Allāh - He grants it to whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Wise."