Surah Ale-Imran (The Family Of Imran ) 3 : 13

Explanatory Note

This means that those who rejected the faith and dismissed Muĥammad’s call and the message contained in the book God has revealed to him with the truth, lay themselves open to the same fate in both this life and the life to come. The Prophet is instructed to warn them against the same fate in both lives. He is further instructed to give them the recent example of what happened to them in Badr, for they may have forgotten the example of Pharaoh and the unbelievers before him and how they were overwhelmed by God’s stern retribution. “Say to those who disbelieve: You shall be overcome and gathered unto hell, an evil resting place. You have had a sign in the two armies which met in battle. One was fighting for God’s cause, the other an army of unbelievers. They saw with their very eyes that the others were twice their own number. But God strengthens with His succour whom He wills. In this there is surely a lesson for all who have eyes to see.” 
 
The statement, “they saw with their very eyes that the others were twice their own number,” admits of two possible interpretations. The pronoun “they”, preceding the verb “saw” may be taken to refer to the unbelievers, whilst “the others,” in this case, refers to the Muslims. This means that despite their numerical superiority, the unbelievers imagined the much smaller group of Muslims to be “twice their own number”. This was by God’s own design. He led the unbelievers to perceive the Muslims as a very large force when they were indeed few in number, and this put fear into their hearts.
The same statement could be interpreted in the opposite fashion, which suggests that the Muslims saw the unbelievers as “twice their own number” when in actual fact they were three times as many. Nevertheless, the Muslims were steadfast and achieved victory.
 
The most important factor here is the attribution of victory to God’s aid and His planning. This, in itself, serves as a warning to the unbelievers and has a demoralising effect on them. At the same time, it strengthens the believers and decries their enemies, so much so that the believers have no fear. The particulars of the situation pertaining at Badr required both elements. In other words, the Qur’ān was working on both aspects.
 
God’s promise to defeat those unbelievers who swerve from the truth and who reject God’s constitution is valid for all time. Similarly, God’s promise to grant victory to the believers, even though they may be few in number, is also valid for all time. That victory depends, in the last resort, on God’s help, which He grants to whomever He wills. This fact also remains true for the present as for the future.
 
The believers need only to be certain that this is the truth and to be confident that God’s promise will be fulfilled. They must do all in their power and then be patient until God’s will is done. They must not precipitate events, nor should they despair if victory seems long coming. Everything is done in God’s own good time, according to His wisdom which determines the most suitable time for every event. “In this there is surely a lesson for all who have eyes to see.” There must be eyes to see and hearts to understand and minds to reflect, so that the lesson is fully understood. Otherwise, lessons are given at every moment of the day and night, but few pay heed.

Biblical Prophecy 

• There is a prophecy about the Battle of Badr in the Old Testament. In Isiah 21:13-17;
  
  " 13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies [caravans] of Dedanim. 14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled. 15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war. 16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail: 17 And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it." 
  
  Tema - is reportedly the city of Madinah
  Kedar - According to the chapter of Genesis, Kedar was one of the sons of Ishmael through whom the Arabs descended. They lived in Paran [i.e. Makkah]

• أي: إن النصر بمشيئة الله؛ لا بالقلة، ولا بالكثرة؛ فإن فئة المسلمين غلبت فئة الكافرين مع أنهم كانوا أكثر منهم. ابن جزي: 1/138 [Be the first to translate this....]