سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 13
قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ ءَايَةٌ فِى فِئَتَيْنِ ٱلْتَقَتَا ۖ فِئَةٌ تُقَـٰتِلُ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَأُخْرَىٰ كَافِرَةٌ يَرَوْنَهُم مِّثْلَيْهِمْ رَأْىَ ٱلْعَيْنِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ ﴿13﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
There has already been a sign for you (O Jews) in the two armies that met (in combat i.e. the battle of Badr). One was fighting in the Cause of Allâh, and as for the other, (they) were disbelievers. They (the believers) saw them (the disbelievers) with their own eyes twice their number (although they were thrice their number). And Allâh supports with His Victory whom He wills. Verily, in this is a lesson for those who understand. (See Verse 8:44). (Tafsir At-Tabarî)
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَدْ
qad
Surely
كَانَ
kāna
it was
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
ءَايَةٌۭ
āyatun
a sign
فِى
fī
in
فِئَتَيْنِ
fi-atayni
(the) two hosts
ٱلْتَقَتَا ۖ
l-taqatā
which met
فِئَةٌۭ
fi-atun
one group
تُقَـٰتِلُ
tuqātilu
fighting
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَأُخْرَىٰ
wa-ukh'rā
and another
كَافِرَةٌۭ
kāfiratun
disbelievers
يَرَوْنَهُم
yarawnahum
They were seeing them
مِّثْلَيْهِمْ
mith'layhim
twice of them
رَأْىَ
raya
with the sight
ٱلْعَيْنِ ۚ
l-ʿayni
(of) their eyes
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
يُؤَيِّدُ
yu-ayyidu
supports
بِنَصْرِهِۦ
binaṣrihi
with His help
مَن
man
whom
يَشَآءُ ۗ
yashāu
He wills
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
فِى
fī
in
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
لَعِبْرَةًۭ
laʿib'ratan
surely (is) a lesson
لِّأُو۟لِى
li-ulī
for the owners
ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
l-abṣāri
(of) vision
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 13) ➊ {قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ اٰيَةٌ … :} That is, regarding the prophecy mentioned above about the defeat of the (Jewish) disbelievers and their being destined for Hell, there was a great sign (proof) in the Battle of Badr for its truthfulness.
➋ {يَّرَوْنَهُمْ مِّثْلَيْهِمْ : } This can have two meanings: one is that the Muslims were seeing the disbelievers as only twice their own number, even though they were three times as many, so that the Muslims would remain steadfast, and thus the Muslims achieved victory. The second is that the disbelievers were seeing the Muslims as twice their own number, even though their number was close to one thousand and the Muslims were only 313 in total, but the Muslims appeared double because Allah sent angels to help them, and Allah grants strength with His help to whomever He wills. Most commentators have preferred the first meaning, and some have preferred the second. (Ibn Kathir, Shawkani) See also Surah Al-Anfal (43, 44).
➋ {يَّرَوْنَهُمْ مِّثْلَيْهِمْ : } This can have two meanings: one is that the Muslims were seeing the disbelievers as only twice their own number, even though they were three times as many, so that the Muslims would remain steadfast, and thus the Muslims achieved victory. The second is that the disbelievers were seeing the Muslims as twice their own number, even though their number was close to one thousand and the Muslims were only 313 in total, but the Muslims appeared double because Allah sent angels to help them, and Allah grants strength with His help to whomever He wills. Most commentators have preferred the first meaning, and some have preferred the second. (Ibn Kathir, Shawkani) See also Surah Al-Anfal (43, 44).
