Al Islam

a. 20:57. (close)

2910. Pharaoh was a very powerful monarch. He regarded himself as "the most high lord of the Israelites" (79:25). So the might of the real Omnipotent, Lord of Moses and Aaron was pitted against that self-designated lord, who was completely annihilated. (close)

c. 20:57. (close)

4032. Commentary:

The use in the verse of the word مقتدر (The Powerful) is very significant. Pharaoh was a very powerful monarch. He regarded himself as "the most high lord of the Israelites" (79:25). So the might of the real Omnipotent Lord of Moses and Aaron was pitted against that self-designated lord, and he was completely annihilated. (close)

b. 2:81. (close)

2911. The verse repeats a warning to the pagan Quraish in another form. 'Are you in any way better,' it asks them, 'than those who rejected Noah, Hud, Lot or Moses? Or, have you received a Divine promise recorded in Divine Scriptures that you will not be punished for your rejection of the Holy Prophet?' (close)

a. 2:81. (close)

4033. Important Words:

The verse repeats a warning to the pagan Quraish in another form. "Are you in any way better," it asks them, "than those who rejected Noah, Hud, Lot or Moses. Or have you received a Divine promise recorded in the Divine Scriptures that you will not be punished for your rejection of the Holy Prophet"? (close)

c. 3:13; 8:37; 38:12. (close)

2912. The emphatic prophecy embodied in the verse is definitely about the crushing defeat which the Meccan army suffered in the Battle of Badr. The odds were so heavy against the Muslims that when fighting began the Holy Prophet prayed to God in utmost humility and extreme agony in a tent set up for him for this purpose in the memorable words: 'O Lord, I humbly beseech Thee to fulfil Thy covenant and Thy promise. If this small band of Muslims were destroyed, Thou wilt never be worshipped again on this earth' (Bukhari). After having finished the prayer, the Holy Prophet came out of the tent and facing the field of battle recited the verse, "The hosts shall soon be routed and shall turn their backs in flight." (close)

b. 3:13; 8:37; 38:12. (close)

4034. Commentary:

The emphatic prophecy embodied in the verse is definitely about the crushing defeat which the Meccan army suffered at the hands of Muslims in the Battle of Badr. The odds were so heavy against the Muslims that when fighting began the Holy Prophet prayed to God in utmost humility and extreme agony, in a tent set up for him for this purpose, in the words: "O Lord, I humbly beseech Thee to fulfil Thy covenant and Thy promise. If this small band of Muslims were destroyed, Thou wilt never be worshipped again on this earth" (Bukhari & Muslim). After having finished the prayer, the Holy Prophet came out of the tent and facing the field of battle recited the verse سیھزم الجمع و یولون الدبر i.e. the hosts shall soon be routed and shall turn their backs in flight. (close)

4035. Important Words:

أدھٰی (most calamitous) is derived from دھٰی. They say مادھاک i.e. what has befallen thee. The Arabs say دھته داھیة i.e. acalamity befell him. أدھٰی means, more or most calamitous (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The defeat at Badr was indeed a most formidable and calamitous misfortune for the Quraish. Their power and prestige sustained a crushing blow. Most of their leaders and prominent chiefs were killed. Having suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of a handful of inexperienced and ill-equipped Muslims, they felt deeply humiliated and mortified. The prophecy was fulfilled to the very letter.

The الساعة (Hour) mentioned in this and the opening verse of the Surah refers to the Battle of Badr. (close)

4036. Commentary:

The disbelievers are described in v. 25 above as in the habit of saying in contempt and mockery that it would be madness on their part to give allegiance to or follow an ordinary man from among themselves. In the verse under comment tables are turned upon them, and they are told that rejection and not acceptance of a Divine Messenger is folly and madness. (close)

2913. The defeat at Badr was, indeed, a most formidable and calamitous misfortune for the Quraish. Their power and prestige sustained a crushing blow. Most of their leaders were killed and their dead bodies were dragged along and thrown into a pit. The Holy Prophet went up to its brink and, addressing the dead bodies is reported to have said, 'Have you found true what your Lord had promised you? I have, indeed, found true what my Lord had promised me' (Bukhari, Kitabul-Maghazi). The prophecy was fulfilled to the very letter. (close)

4037. Important Words:

یسحبون (dragged) is derived from سحب. They say سحبه i.e. he dragged or drew it along upon the ground. سحب الریح التراب means the wind drew along the dust upon the ground. One would say جاء یسحب ذیله i.e. he came dragging along his skirt on the ground, i.e. walking haughtily (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

How remarkably and to the very letter the prophecy made in this verse was fulfilled! It is reported that of the Quraishite leaders and chiefs who were killed in the Battle of Badr, 24 were thrown in a pit for burial, and before he left the field of battle, the Holy Prophet went to the pit, and calling each of them by name addressed them in the words: ھل وجدتم ما وعد کم ربکم حقا فانی وجدت ما وعدنی ربی حقا i.e. Have you found true what your Lord promised you; I have indeed, found true what my Lord promised me (Bukhari, Kitabul-Maghazi). He further said: یا أھل القلیب بئس عشیرة النبی کنتم لنبیکم، کذبتمونی و صدقنی الناس و أخرجتمونی وآ وانی الناس و قاتلتمونی ونصرنی الناس i.e. "O fellows of the pit! you proved to be bad relatives of your Prophet. You declared me to be a liar but other people testified to my truth. You expelled me, but other people gave me asylum. You fought against me and other people helped me" (Tabari). (close)

a. 15:22; 25:3. (close)

2914. There is a determined measure for everything. It has an appointed time and place. (close)

a. 15:22; 25:3; 80:20. (close)

4038. Commentary:

The verse purports to say that there is a determined measure for everything. It has an appointed time and place. It is when the cup of iniquities of disbelievers becomes full, that they are seized with Divine punishment. God alone knows when and how to punish the wicked people. For the pagan Quraish, the Day of Badr was the appointed hour of punishment. (close)

b. 7:188; 16:78. (close)

2915. The defeat of the Meccans at the battlefield of Badr came like a bolt from the blue, so sudden and swift it was and so complete and overwhelming. The glory of Kedar departed, as if in the twinkling of an eye. (close)

a. 7:188; 16:78. (close)

4039. Commentary:

The defeat of the Meccans at the battlefield of Badr came like a bolt from the blue, so sudden and swift it was and so complete and destructive. The glory of Kedar departed, as if in the twinkling of an eye. (close)