Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Anfal Verse 44

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And when, at the time you met each other, He showed them to you few in number in your eyes, and reduced your number in their eyes, so that Allah might accomplish what was destined to be done. And to Allah all matters are returned.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Then when your armies met, Allah made them appear as few in your eyes, and made you appear as few in theirs, so Allah may establish what He had destined. And to Allah ˹all˺ matters will be returned ˹for judgment˺.

Ruwwad Translation Center

And [remember] when you met, He made them appear as few in your eyes, and made you appear as few in their eyes, so that Allah may accomplish what was already decreed. And to Allah will return all matters.

A. J. Arberry

When God showed you them in your eyes as few, when you encountered, and made you few in their eyes, that God might determine a matter that was done; and unto God all matters are returned.

Abdul Haleem

When you met He showed them to you as few, and He made you few in their eyes, so that He might bring about what has been ordained: everything goes back to God.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And recall what time He shewed them few in your eyes when ye met and lessened you in their eyes in order that Allah might decree an affair already enacted; and unto Allah are all affairs returned.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And remember when ye met, He showed them to you as few in your eyes, and He made you appear as contemptible in their eyes; that Allah might accomplish a matter already enacted. For to Allah do all questions go back (for decision).

Abul Ala Maududi

And recall when He made them appear as few in your eyes when you met them in the battle just as He lessened you in their eyes so that Allah might accomplish what had been decreed. To Allah are all matters referred for decision.

Ahmed Ali

When you faced them He made (the enemy) seem few to you in numbers, and made you appear fewer in their eyes, (it was) so that God could accomplish what had been decreed; for all things rest with God.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And when at the time of fighting He made the disbelievers seem few to you, and you as few in their sight, in order for Allah to conclude the matter that must be done; and towards Allah is the return of all matters.

Ali Quli Qarai

And when He showed them to you as few in your eyes, when you met them [on the battlefield], and He made you [appear] few in their eyes, [it was] in order that Allah may carry through a matter that was bound to be fulfilled, and to Allah all matters are returned.

Ali Ünal

And when He made them appear as few in your eyes when you met them in the battle just as He lessened you in their eyes, so that God might accomplish a thing that He had already decreed. And to God are all affairs ultimately referred, (and whatever He wills occurs).

Amatul Rahman Omar

And when you encountered (them), He made them appear as a few in your eyes and He made you appear as a few in their eyes, in order that Allâh might bring about the thing that had already been decreed. And to Allâh all matters stand referred (for decision).

English Literal

When He shows them to you when you met/found (them) in your eyes/sights (as) few/little, and He lessens/reduces you (P) in their eyes/sights, (it is for) God to execute/order an order/command (that) was made/done, and to God the matters/affairs are returned.

Faridul Haque

And when at the time of fighting He made the disbelievers seem few to you, and you as few in their sight, in order for Allah to conclude the matter that must be done; and towards Allah is the return of all matters.

Hamid S. Aziz

And when He showed them to you (Muslims), when you encountered them, as few in your eyes; and made you seem weak (or contemptible) in their eyes, it was that Allah might accomplish a thing that must be done (or was fore-ordained); for unto Allah do all things return!

Hilali & Khan

appear And (remember) when you met (the army of the disbelievers on the Day of the battle of Badr), He showed them to you as few in your eyes and He made you as few in their eyes, so that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained (in His Knowledge), and to Allah return all matters (for decision).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

When Allah showed them to thee in thy dream as few -- and if He had shown them to thee as many, you would certainly have become weak-hearted and you would have disputed about the matter, but Allah saved (you). Surely He is Knower of what is in the breasts.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when He showed them to you, when you met, as few in your eyes and He made you to appear little in their eyes, in order that Allah might bring about a matter which was to be done, and to Allah are all affairs returned.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And when He made you (Muslims), when ye met (them), see them with your eyes as few, and lessened you in their eyes, (it was) that Allah might conclude a thing that must be done. Unto Allah all things are brought back.

Muhammad Sarwar

When you met the pagans' army, God made them appear fewer in your eyes and you appear fewer in their eyes so that His miracle of granting you (an incredible) victory could easily be fulfilled. To God do all things return.

Qaribullah & Darwish

And when you met them, He showed them in your eyes as being few, and decreased (your number) in their eyes so that Allah might determine what was ordained. To Allah all matters return.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And (remember) when you met, He showed them to you as few in your eyes and He made you appear as few in their eyes, so that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained, and to Allah return all matters (for decision).

Wahiduddin Khan

When at the time of your encounter He made them appear few in your eyes, and made you appear few in their eyes, it was so that God might bring about that which had been decreed. Everything returns to God.

Talal Itani

When you met, He made them appear as few in your eyes, and made you appear fewer in their eyes, so that God may conclude a predetermined matter. To God all matters revert.

Tafsir jalalayn

And when God made you see them, O believers, when you met -- in your eyes as few, as 70 or 100, when they were [in fact] 1000, so that you would advance against them; and He made you seem as few in their eyes, so that they would advance and not turn back from fighting you -- this was before close combat had begun, but when it began, He made them [the disbelievers] see these [believers] as twice their number, as stated in srat l `Imrn [Q. 3;13] -- so that God might conclude a matter that was to be done; and to God all things are returned, reverting.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ الْتَقَيْتُمْ فِي أَعْيُنِكُمْ قَلِيلً

And (remember) when you met, He showed them to you as few in your eyes,

demonstrates Allah's compassion towards the believers. Allah made them see few disbelievers in their eyes, so that they would be encouraged and feel eager to meet them.

Abu Ishaq As-Subai`i said, that Abu Ubaydah said that Abdullah bin Mas`ud said,

"They were made to seem few in our eyes during Badr, so that I said to a man who was next to me, `Do you think they are seventy?'

He said, `Rather, they are a hundred.'

However, when we captured one of them, we asked him and he said, `We were a thousand."'

Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir recorded it.

Allah said next,

وَيُقَلِّلُكُمْ فِي أَعْيُنِهِمْ
.

and He made you appear as few in their eyes,

According to Ikrimah, as recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim,

Allah said,
وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ الْتَقَيْتُمْ
(And (remember) when you met. He showed them to you...),

He encouraged each of the two groups against the other.

This statement has a Sahih chain of narrators.

..
لِيَقْضِيَ اللّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولاً وَإِلَى اللّهِ تُرْجَعُ الامُورُ



so that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained, and to Allah return all matters (for decision).

Muhammad bin Ishaq said that Yahya bin Abbad bin Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr narrated to him that his father said about Allah's statement,
لِيَقْضِيَ اللّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولاً
(so that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained),

"In order for the war to start between them, so that He would have revenge against those whom He decided to have revenge (pagans), and grant and complete His favor upon those He decided to grant favor to, His supporters."

The meaning of this, is that Allah encouraged each group against the other and made them look few in each other's eyes, so that they were eager to meet them. This occurred before the battle started, but when it started and Allah supported the believers with a thousand angels in succession, the disbelieving group saw the believers double their number.

Allah said,

قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ ءَايَةٌ فِي فِيَتَيْنِ الْتَقَتَا فِيَةٌ تُقَـتِلُ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَأُخْرَى كَافِرَةٌ يَرَوْنَهُمْ مِّثْلَيْهِمْ رَأْىَ الْعَيْنِ وَاللَّهُ يُوَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِ مَن يَشَأءُ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لاوْلِى الاٌّبْصَـرِ

There has already been a sign for you (O Jews) in the two armies that met (in combat, the battle of Badr). One was fighting in the cause of Allah, and as for the other, (they) were disbelievers. They (disbelievers) saw them (believers) with their own eyes twice their number. And Allah supports with His aid whom He wills. Verily, in this is a lesson for those who understand. (3;13)

This is how we combine these two Ayat, and certainly, each one of them is true, all the thanks are due to Allah and all the favors are from Him