وَمَا جَعَلَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ لَكُمْ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُكُم بِهِۦ ۗ وَمَا ٱلنَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ 126
Translations
And Allāh made it not except as [a sign of] good tidings for you and to reassure your hearts thereby. And victory is not except from Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Wise -
Transliteration
Wa maa ja'alahu allahu illa bushran lakum wa lita'tatma'inna quloobukum bihi wa man-nasru illa min 'indi allahi al-'azizi al-hakimi
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Battle of Badr, where Allah granted the believers a miraculous victory with a small force against the larger Meccan army. The verse emphasizes that Allah made this victory a glad tiding (good news) for the believers to strengthen their hearts and faith, clarifying that all victory ultimately comes from Allah alone, the Mighty and the Wise. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this divine assurance was meant to console the believers and reinforce their trust in Allah's power and wisdom, regardless of worldly circumstances.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ali 'Imran, which extensively discusses the Battle of Badr (fought in 2 AH). The verse directly follows the account of the angels sent to aid the believers in battle (3:124-125), addressing the believers' hearts after their miraculous victory to remind them of Allah's role in their success.
Related Hadiths
The battle of Badr is extensively detailed in the Sirah (biography of the Prophet). Sahih Bukhari records that the Prophet (peace be upon him) reported seeing the angels at Badr, confirming the divine support mentioned in this surah. Additionally, hadiths in Sunan Ibn Majah discuss how believers should attribute all victories to Allah's will.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true victory comes not from numbers, weapons, or human strength, but from Allah's divine will and support—a profound lesson for believers to place their trust in Allah rather than material means, and to recognize that hardships and trials are opportunities for Allah to demonstrate His power and wisdom in our lives.