Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

There had been a proof for you in the two hosts which met: one host fighting in the cause of God, and another denying; they saw them as twice their like by the sight of the eye. But God strengthens with His help whom He wills; in that is a lesson for those of vision.

قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ اٰيَةٌ ف۪ي فِئَتَيْنِ الْتَقَتَاۜ فِئَةٌ تُقَاتِلُ ف۪ي سَب۪يلِ اللّٰهِ وَاُخْرٰى كَافِرَةٌ يَرَوْنَهُمْ مِثْلَيْهِمْ رَأْيَ الْعَيْنِۜ وَاللّٰهُ يُؤَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِه۪ مَنْ يَشَٓاءُۜ اِنَّ ف۪ي ذٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِاُو۬لِي الْاَبْصَارِ
Qad kana lakum ayatun feefi-atayni iltaqata fi-atun tuqatilu fee sabeeli Allahiwaokhra kafiratun yarawnahum mithlayhim ra/yaalAAayni wallahu yu-ayyidu binasrihi manyashao inna fee thalika laAAibratan li-olee al-absar
#wordmeaningroot
1qadSurely
2kānait wasكون
3lakumfor you
4āyatuna signايي
5in
6fi-atayni(the) two hostsفاي
7l-taqatāwhich met لقي
8fi-atunone groupفاي
9tuqātilufightingقتل
10in
11sabīli(the) wayسبل
12l-lahi(of) Allah
13wa-ukh'rāand anotherاخر
14kāfiratundisbelieversكفر
15yarawnahumThey were seeing themراي
16mith'layhimtwice of themمثل
17rayawith the sightراي
18l-ʿayni(of) their eyesعين
19wal-lahuAnd Allah
20yu-ayyidusupportsايد
21binaṣrihiwith His helpنصر
22manwhom
23yashāuHe willsشيا
24innaIndeed
25in
26dhālikathat
27laʿib'ratansurely (is) a lessonعبر
28li-ulīfor the ownersاول
29l-abṣāri(of) visionبصر
  • Aisha Bewley

    Say to those who are kafir: ‘You will be overwhelmed and crowded into Hell. What an evil resting-place!’

  • Progressive Muslims

    There was a sign for you in the two groups that met. One was fighting in the cause of God, and the other was rejecting. They thus saw them as twice their number with their eyes. And God supports with His victory whom He wills. In this is a lesson for those with vision.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (Only recently at Badr), there was a Sign for you in the two armies that met in combat. One was fighting in the Cause of Allah, the other denying Him. With their own eyes the two armies saw each other as twice their number. (The believers in their motivation saw the manifold enemy just twice their own numbers, while the deniers saw the smaller opponents twice the size they actually were). But Allah strengthens people with His support according to His Laws. (Allah helps those who help themselves). This must be a lesson for people of vision for all times.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    There had been a proof for you in the two hosts which met: one host fighting in the cause of God, and another denying; they saw them as twice their like by the sight of the eye. But God strengthens with His help whom He wills; in that is a lesson for those of vision.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    There was a sign for you in the two groups that met. One was fighting in the cause of God, and the other was rejecting. They thus saw them as twice their number with their eyes. And God supports with His victory whom He wills. In this is a lesson for those with vision.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    There was a sign for you in the two groups that met. One was fighting in the cause of God, and the other was ingrate. They thus saw them as twice their number with their eyes. God supports with His victory whomever He wills. In this is a lesson for those with vision.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    An example has been set for you by the two armies who clashed - one army was fighting in the cause of GOD, while the other was disbelieving. They saw with their own eyes that they were twice as many. GOD supports with His victory whomever He wills. This should provide an assurance for those who possess vision.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    There was a token for you in the two armies which clashed (in the battle of Badr), one fighting for God, the other of unbelievers who saw with their own eyes the faithful to be two times as many as they, for God reinforces with His help whomsoever He will. In this is a lesson for those who have eyes.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    Already there has been for you a sign in the two armies which met - one fighting in the cause of Allah and another of disbelievers. They saw them twice their number by eyesight. But Allah supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed in that is a lesson for those of vision.

  • Muhammad Asad

    You have already had a sign in the two hosts that met in battle, one host fighting in God's cause and the other denying Him; with their own eyes saw the others as twice their own number: but God strengthens with His succour whom He wills. In this, behold, there is indeed a lesson for all who have eyes to see.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    There was a token for you in two hosts which met: one army fighting in the way of Allah, and another disbelieving, whom they saw as twice their number, clearly, with their very eyes. Thus Allah strengtheneth with His succour whom He will. Lo! herein verily is a lesson for those who have eyes.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    You have already come across an instructive sign in the two hosts that encountered each other in battle (at Badr): one host fighting in the way of Allah, and the other that of unbelievers. They saw with their own eyes that one host was twice the number of the other. But (the result of the battle has proved that) Allah succours with His victory whomsoever He wills. In this there is surely a lesson for all who have eyes to see.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    There is an intellectual and spiritual lesson to comprehend. Two forces met, one fighting in favour of Allah and the other against Allah. The pursuit of an end and the unwavering and positive stand merited the Muslims aid at the hands of Allah to the end that the enemy of faith was divinely induced to form witness a mirage of the Muslims portraying them to be twice as the enemy. Allah confirms whom He will and gives them supremacy and superiority and bestows victory. This is indeed an instructive example to those who have opened their minds’ eyes.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    You recently witnessed how your troop defeated the disbelievers in spite of the fact that as you saw with your own eyes they were twice as big as your troop! Indeed God strengthens with his aid whom he pleases. Here there is an important lesson for those who are open-minded thinkers.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    There has already been a sign for you (O Jews) in the two armies that met (in combat i.e. the battle of Badr). One was fighting in the Cause of Allâh, and as for the other, (they) were disbelievers. They (the believers) saw them (the disbelievers) with their own eyes twice their number (although they were thrice their number). And Allâh supports with His Victory whom He wills. Verily, in this is a lesson for those who understand. (See Verse 8:44). (Tafsir At-Tabarî)

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    "There has already been for you a Sign in the two armies that met (in combat): One was fighting in the cause of Allah, the other resisting Allah; these saw with their own eyes Twice their number. But Allah doth support with His aid whom He pleaseth. In this is a warning for such as have eyes to see."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Indeed, there was a sign for you in the two armies that met in battle—one fighting for the cause of Allah and the other in denial. The believers saw their enemy twice their number. But Allah supports with His victory whoever He wills. Surely in this is a lesson for people of insight.

  • Taqi Usmani

    "There was a sign for you in the two groups who confronted each other: One group fighting in the way of Allah, and the other disbelieving, seeing themselves as twice their number, with open eyes. And Allah gives strength with His help to whomsoever He wills. Indeed, there is a lesson therein for those who have eyes."

  • Abdul Haleem

    You have already seen a sign in the two armies that met in battle, one fighting for God’s cause and the other made up of disbelievers. With their own eyes saw to be twice their number, but God helps whoever He will. There truly is a lesson in this for all with eyes to see.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    There has already been a sign for you in the two companies that encountered, one company fighting in the way of God and another unbelieving; they saw them twice the like of them, as the eye sees, but God confirms with His help whom He will. Surely in that is a lesson for men possessed of eyes.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    'Ye have had a sign in the two parties who met; one party fighting in the way of God, the other misbelieving; these saw twice the same number as themselves to the eye-sight, for God aids with His help those whom He pleases. ' Verily, in that is a lesson for those who have perception.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    "You already have had a sign in the two parties who met (at the battle of Badr); one party fighting in the way of Allah, the other disbelieving; these saw, with their very eyes, twice the number as themselves. Thus Allah strengthens with His help those whom He pleases." Verily, in that is a lesson for those who have perception.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    There has already been a sign for you in the two communities that encountered, (The reference is to the Battle of Badr) one community fighting in the way of Allah and another disbelieving. They saw them twice the like of them, as the eye sees, (Literally: as the sight of the eye) and Allah aids with His victory whomever He decides. Surely in that is indeed a lesson for the ones endowed with beholdings. (Literally: eyesights).

  • George Sale

    Ye have already had a miracle shewn you in two armies which attacked each other: One army fought for God's true religion, but the other were infidels; they saw the faithful twice as many as themselves in their eye-sight; for God strengtheneth with his help whom he pleaseth. Surely herein was an example unto men of understanding.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    "There has already been for you a Sign in the two armies that met (in battle): One was fighting in the Cause of Allah, and another resisting Allah; Whom they saw with their own eyes as twice their number. But Allah does support with His help whom He pleases. Surely, in this is a warning for those who have eyes to see."

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    There has already been for you a remarkable sign in the two armies that encountered each other (- in the Battle of Badr). (Behold!) one army is fighting in the cause of Allâh and the other is (an army of) disbelievers, whom they (- the Muslims) saw with their naked eyes twice as many (and not thrice as the actual figure was so that the believers did not lose their hearts). And Allâh strengthens with His help whomsoever He will. Verily, in this is a lesson for those who have eyes.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    There was certainly a sign for you in the two hosts that met: one host fighting in the way of Allah and the other faithless, who saw them visibly twice as many. Allah strengthens with His help whomever He wishes. There is indeed a moral in that for those who have insight.