Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (25) Surah: At-Tawbah
لَقَدۡ نَصَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِي مَوَاطِنَ كَثِيرَةٖ وَيَوۡمَ حُنَيۡنٍ إِذۡ أَعۡجَبَتۡكُمۡ كَثۡرَتُكُمۡ فَلَمۡ تُغۡنِ عَنكُمۡ شَيۡـٔٗا وَضَاقَتۡ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتۡ ثُمَّ وَلَّيۡتُم مُّدۡبِرِينَ
(25) [2056]Indeed Allah granted you victory in many a field[2057], but on the day of Ḥunayn as you gloated over your multitude[2058], it availed you nothing and the land tightened around you despite its vastness[2059] and you fled turning on your heels[2060].
[2056] What is given here is a concrete example of God’s support to those who sacrifice all in His cause (cf. Abū Ḥayyān, Riḍā). Mere worldly considerations are of no use and success lies with God (cf. Ibn Kathīr, al-Rāzī). When people obey God and the Messenger (ﷺ) they will be helped, but they will be left alone when worldly considerations are topmost on their minds (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[2057] That is the battles the Messenger (ﷺ) fought along with his noble Companions (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Wāḥidī, al-Basīṭ, Ibn Kathīr).
[2058] There is a contrast here between fully putting one’s trust in God and relying on mere worldly means. God granted them victory when they fully put their trust in Him. They also acted on the necessary means for engaging in battle, little as they were. By contrast, when they thought that the means would suffice, relished their numbers and said: “We shall not be defeated today because of our number”, they were made to taste retreat (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr, al-Muyassar, al-Mukhtaṣar). Had it not been for Divine intervention, they would have been defeated.
[2059] A vivid description of their psychological state and the hardship that hit them when they saw that their enemy had got the better of them; they could not find in the vastness of the land a place to retreat to for safety (cf. al-Wāḥidī, al-Basīṭ, al-Qurṭubī, al-Saʿdī).
[2060] Not all the army of Believers retreated, especially the hardcore, sincerest early Migrant and Helper Companions, not to mention the noblest Prophet (ﷺ) himself. However, this naturally caused a commotion (for firsthand accounts of this battle see: al-Bukhārī: 2864, 4337, Muslim: 1059, 1775, 1776).
[2057] That is the battles the Messenger (ﷺ) fought along with his noble Companions (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Wāḥidī, al-Basīṭ, Ibn Kathīr).
[2058] There is a contrast here between fully putting one’s trust in God and relying on mere worldly means. God granted them victory when they fully put their trust in Him. They also acted on the necessary means for engaging in battle, little as they were. By contrast, when they thought that the means would suffice, relished their numbers and said: “We shall not be defeated today because of our number”, they were made to taste retreat (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr, al-Muyassar, al-Mukhtaṣar). Had it not been for Divine intervention, they would have been defeated.
[2059] A vivid description of their psychological state and the hardship that hit them when they saw that their enemy had got the better of them; they could not find in the vastness of the land a place to retreat to for safety (cf. al-Wāḥidī, al-Basīṭ, al-Qurṭubī, al-Saʿdī).
[2060] Not all the army of Believers retreated, especially the hardcore, sincerest early Migrant and Helper Companions, not to mention the noblest Prophet (ﷺ) himself. However, this naturally caused a commotion (for firsthand accounts of this battle see: al-Bukhārī: 2864, 4337, Muslim: 1059, 1775, 1776).
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (25) Surah: At-Tawbah
Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an into English - in progress - translated by Dr. Walid Bleihesh Al-Omari.