Surah Al-Qamar (54) — Ayah 45

On {سَيُهْزَمُ الْجَمْعُ وَ يُوَلُّوْنَ الدُّبُرَ: ’’ الْجَمْعُ ‘‘}, the "alif lam" is for external specification, meaning the group mentioned in the previous verse by the word {’’ جَمِيْعٌ ‘‘}. Therefore, the translation is "this group." That is, if this is what they say, then remember that this group, no matter how powerful they consider themselves, will soon be defeated and these people will turn their backs and flee. The word {’’ الدُّبُرَ ‘‘} is singular, but it means the whole kind: {’’أَيْ يُوَلِّيْ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمْ دُبُرَهُ‘‘} "That is, each one of them will turn his back and flee." This is for the correspondence of the last letters of the verses. These verses were revealed in Mecca, when the Muslims were oppressed and subdued, and no one could even imagine that the Quraysh of Mecca, who possessed such power and strength, could ever be defeated by these weak and helpless Muslims and would turn their backs and flee. Some of these Muslims had taken refuge in Abyssinia to save their lives, some were besieged in the valley of Abu Talib, and due to the boycott and siege of the Quraysh, they were dying of hunger. But according to Allah’s promise, that time came, and indeed, in a short period, at Badr, Ahzab, and other battles, this prophecy was fulfilled. Before the battle of Badr began, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) recited this verse, and then the Companions realized that this was the defeat which Allah had warned the disbelievers of Mecca about. Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that on the day of Badr, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was in his tent, and at that time he said: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَنْشُدُكَ عَهْدَكَ وَوَعْدَكَ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنْ تَشَأْ لاَ تُعْبَدْ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ ] "O Allah! I beseech You by Your covenant and Your promise. O Allah! If You will, after today You will not be worshipped (so if You wish, leave this small group helpless to be destroyed, otherwise surely help them)." Then Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) took hold of his hand and said, "O Messenger of Allah! That is enough, you have supplicated to your Lord with great insistence." Then the Prophet (peace be upon him), wearing his armor, came out leaping and reciting this verse: « سَيُهْزَمُ الْجَمْعُ وَ يُوَلُّوْنَ الدُّبُرَ » "Soon this group will be defeated and they will turn their backs and flee." [ بخاري، التفسیر، باب قولہ: {سیھزم الجمع } : ۴۸۷۵ ]

45. 1. By "group" is meant the disbelievers of Makkah. Thus, at Badr, they were defeated and turned their backs and fled.

45. Their assembly will soon be defeated, and they will turn their backs and flee [31].

[31]
The Migration to Abyssinia:

It is surmised that this Surah was revealed about one and a half to two years after Surah An-Najm. In the order of revelation, Surah An-Najm is number 23 and this Surah is number 37. Surah An-Najm was revealed between Rajab 5 Nabawi and Shawwal 5 Nabawi. From this, it is understood that this Surah was revealed in 7 Nabawi. At that time, the situation was such that, compelled by the oppression and persecution of the disbelievers, 83 Muslim men and women had gone to Abyssinia. The rest were besieged in Sha‘b Abi Talib. They had been subjected to both social and economic boycott. Strict restrictions were imposed on these besieged people from the outside, and the Muslims were falling victim to hunger and poverty. Sometimes, it came to the point where they had to eat the leaves of trees, and all this oppression and persecution was inflicted by these very chiefs of Quraysh, who were proud of their numbers, thinking that they could fully take revenge on the Muslims for the "crime" of accepting Islam. This is alluded to in verse 44 of this Surah. And in verse 45, such a prophecy was made, which at that time seemed impossible even to imagine. But how can the plans of others succeed against the plan of Allah? Just seven years after the revelation of this Surah, circumstances changed so dramatically that the prophecy, which had seemed impossible, became a concrete reality in the Battle of Badr. This is also made clear by the following hadith.

This Prophecy Was Made When the Muslims Were Besieged in Sha‘b Abi Talib and Was Fulfilled on the Day of Badr:

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrates that on the day of Badr, the Prophet ﷺ was staying in a tent. He ﷺ supplicated thus: "O Allah! I beseech You by Your covenant and promise. O Allah! If You will, (You may destroy these few Muslims), then after today there will be none left to worship You." Then Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه took hold of the Prophet’s ﷺ hand and said: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, that is enough for you; you have pleaded with your Lord to the utmost." On that day, the Prophet ﷺ was walking about wearing armor. He came out of the tent reciting this verse: ﴿سَيُهْزَمُ الْجَمْعُ وَيُوَلُّوْنَ الدُّبُرَ﴾ [بخاري، كتاب التفسير]
The result of this battle was that those who sought revenge themselves became the victims of Allah’s retribution. Seventy of the prominent disbelievers were killed, and as many were captured while fleeing.