Surah 8. Al-Anfal, Ayah 44
| وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ الْتَقَيْتُمْ فِي أَعْيُنِكُمْ قَلِيلًا وَيُقَلِّلُكُمْ فِي أَعْيُنِهِمْ لِيَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا ۗ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الْأُمُورُ |
| Transliteration | : | wa- 'idh yure -kum -hum 'idh iltaqaytum fe acyun -kum qalel(an) wa- yuqallil -kum fe acyun -him li- yaqd.iya 'allaah 'amr(an) kaana mafcol(an) wa- 'ilaa 'allaah turjac al- 'umor |
| 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. |
| Asad | : | And so, when you met in battle, He made them appear as few in your eyes - just as He made you appear as of little account in their eyes - so that God might accomplish a thing [which He willed] to be done:49 for all things go back to God [as their source]. |
| Malik | : | And remember when you met them in the encounter, He showed them to you as few in number in your eyes and He made you appear as a few in number in their eyes so that Allah might accomplish what He had ordained: for ultimately all affairs return to Allah for decision. |
| 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). 1214 |
Note - 49See note [45] above. Since at the time of the actual
encounter the Muslims could no longer be in doubt as to
the great number of the enemy force, the phrase "He made
them appear as few in your eyes" has obviously a
metaphorical meaning: it implies that, by that time, the
Prophet's followers were so full of courage that the
enemy appeared insignificant to them. The Quraysh, on the
other hand, were so conscious of their own power and
numerical superiority that the Muslims appeared but of
little account to them - a mistake which ultimately cost
them the battle and a great number of lives.
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Note - 1214The Muslim army though they knew their worldly
disadvantage, did not realise the full odds against them.
The Makkans came exulting in any case, and they despised
the contemptible little force, opposed to them. Even
though they thought the Muslim force was twice as great
as it was (iii. 13), still that number was contemptible,
when taken with its poor equipment. Both these
psychological visions subserved the main Plan, which was
to bring the matter to a decisive issue, whether the
Pagans of Makkah were to continue their arrogant
oppression, or the religion of Allah was to be
established in freedom and honour.
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See note [45] above. Since at the time of the actual encounter the Muslims could no longer be in doubt as to the great number of the enemy force, the phrase "He made them appear as few in your eyes" has obviously a metaphorical meaning: it implies that, by that time, the Prophet's followers were so full of courage that the enemy appeared insignificant to them. The Quraysh, on the other hand, were so conscious of their own power and numerical superiority that the Muslims appeared but of little account to them - a mistake which ultimately cost them the battle and a great number of lives. |
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The Muslim army though they knew their worldly disadvantage, did not realise the full odds against them. The Makkans came exulting in any case, and they despised the contemptible little force, opposed to them. Even though they thought the Muslim force was twice as great as it was (iii. 13), still that number was contemptible, when taken with its poor equipment. Both these psychological visions subserved the main Plan, which was to bring the matter to a decisive issue, whether the Pagans of Makkah were to continue their arrogant oppression, or the religion of Allah was to be established in freedom and honour. |
