Translation of the meanings Ayah 17 Surah Al-Anfāl - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 17

فَلَمۡ تَقۡتُلُوهُمۡ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمۡۚ وَمَا رَمَيۡتَ إِذۡ رَمَيۡتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَمَىٰ وَلِيُبۡلِيَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ مِنۡهُ بَلَآءً حَسَنًاۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٞ

17.So It was not you (believers) who slew them but God slew them (the warring pagans). And you did not threw when you threw (a handful of dust at the enemy)6, but it was God Who threw, and that He might test the believers by a fair trial from Him7. Indeed, Allāh is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

6. God caused it to fill the eyes and nose of every soldier, preventing their advance.
7. So that they would appreciate God's favor to them.