غُلِبَتِ ٱلرُّومُ 2
Translations
The Byzantines have been defeated
Transliteration
Ghulibat ar-Rum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the military defeat of the Byzantine (Roman) Empire by the Persian Sassanid Empire around 615 CE, a historical event that occurred before the promised Muslim victory mentioned in the following verses. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that this ayah establishes the context for the broader miraculous prediction in Surah Ar-Rum 30:4-5, where Allah promises that despite their current defeat, the Romans will triumph again within a few years—a prophecy remarkably fulfilled when the Byzantines defeated Persia around 622 CE, coinciding with the Hijrah.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period when the Byzantine-Persian conflicts were major geopolitical events. The specific context involves the Meccan disbelievers mocking the Muslims after hearing of the Roman defeat, yet this ayah introduces a divine prediction that serves as both a sign of Allah's knowledge of the unseen and an encouragement to the early Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
Abu Bakr As-Siddiq made a wager with the Meccan disbelievers about the Roman victory, betting that the Romans would win within three years—based on his understanding of this Quranic prediction (related in historical sources and tafsir works). The hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah also discusses the significance of the Romans as a people of the Book and their historical importance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that apparent worldly defeats and victories are temporary, and that true knowledge of future events belongs only to Allah, encouraging believers to trust in divine wisdom even when earthly circumstances seem unfavorable.
Related Ayahs
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ يُرِيكُمُ ٱلْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَيُحْىِۦ بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
And of His signs is [that] He shows you the lightning [causing] fear and aspiration, and He sends down rain from the sky by which He brings to life the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed in that are signs for a people who use reason.
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ ۚ وَلَهُ ٱلْمَثَلُ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
And it is He who begins creation; then He repeats it, and that is [even] easier for Him. To Him belongs the highest description [i.e., attribute] in the heavens and earth. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَثَارُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَآ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا وَجَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
Have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? They were greater than them in power, and they plowed [or excavated] the earth and built it up more than they [i.e., the Makkans] have built it up, and their messengers came to them with clear evidences. And Allāh would not ever have wronged them, but they were wronging themselves.
وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يُقْسِمُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ مَا لَبِثُوا۟ غَيْرَ سَاعَةٍ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كَانُوا۟ يُؤْفَكُونَ
And the Day the Hour appears the criminals will swear they had remained but an hour. Thus they were deluded.