إِن يَنصُرْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَنصُرُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ ۗ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ 160
Translations
If Allāh should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allāh let the believers rely.
Transliteration
In yansurkumullahu fala ghaliба lakum wa-in yakhdhulkum faman dha alladhī yansurkum min ba'dihi wa-'ala allahi falyatawakkal al-mu'minun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that divine support is the ultimate determinant of victory and defeat in all affairs; if Allah grants victory, none can overcome the believers, and if He withdraws His aid, no one else can help them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a comprehensive statement that human effort alone is insufficient without Allah's support, and conversely, that Allah's help guarantees success regardless of numerical or material disadvantage. The ayah concludes by commanding the believers to place complete trust (tawakkul) in Allah as the foundation of their reliance.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran (a Medinan chapter), following discussions about the Battle of Uhud and related trials of the early Muslim community. It serves to console the believers after setbacks and reinforce the principle that worldly outcomes depend entirely on Allah's will, not on human strength or numbers alone.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Trust in Allah, but tie your camel' (Tirmidhi) - emphasizing that tawakkul combines reliance on Allah with appropriate human effort. Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet taught: 'The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer,' highlighting the balance between trust in Allah and taking necessary means.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true security and success come not from material resources, military strength, or human allies, but from maintaining a conscious relationship with Allah and placing absolute trust in His wisdom and providence. In modern life, this encourages Muslims to pursue righteous means while maintaining complete psychological and spiritual dependence on Allah, understanding that outcomes ultimately rest in His hands alone.