فِىٓ أَدْنَى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ غَلَبِهِمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ 3
Translations
In the nearest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome
Transliteration
Fī adnā al-arḍi wa-hum min baʿdi ghalabihin sayaghlebūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Romans (Byzantines) being defeated in the lowest lands (near the Dead Sea region) by the Persians, yet they will be victorious again in the future—a prophecy fulfilled within 10 years. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this miraculous prediction demonstrates divine knowledge, as the Quran proclaimed Byzantine victory at a time when they were utterly defeated, which later came to pass historically around 622 CE when the Romans reconquered Persian-held territories.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period when the pagan Quraysh mocked the Muslims. The historical context involves the Byzantine-Persian wars (602-628 CE), where Byzantium suffered severe defeats. This ayah's accurate prophecy served as a sign of prophethood and provided hope to early Muslims during persecution, demonstrating that just as the Romans would be restored after defeat, the Muslims would ultimately prevail.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly comments on this verse, the theme of divine promise and ultimate victory for believers is reinforced in Hadith Qudsi: 'My mercy precedes My wrath' (Sahih Muslim 2751). Additionally, the historical fulfillment is documented in Islamic and Byzantine historical records by scholars like Al-Tabari.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that apparent defeat and hardship are not permanent, and that Allah's promises will be fulfilled according to His divine timeline. It encourages patience and faith during trials, reminding us that history follows divine patterns where the righteous ultimately prevail.