قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ سَتُغْلَبُونَ وَتُحْشَرُونَ إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ {12}

12. "Say to those who disbelieve: ' You shall be vanquished, and gathered, unto Hell and it is a terrible abode! "

Commentary:

It is cited in some commentary books, like: Majma'-ul-Bayan, Fakhr Razi, Maraqi, and some other ones, that when the Muslims gained a considerable victory in the Battle of Badr in the second year after Emigration, a group of the Jews said that the victory was counted as a sign to the truthfulness of the Prophet (s)  . They reasoned that they had studied in the Torah that he (s) could win. Another group of the Jews said that they would not haste, since haply t Prophet (s) would fail in the battles thereafter. In the third year when the Uhud Battle came forth, and Muslims were defeated, this group of the Jews became happy. Then, the verse was sent do telling them not to hurry in judgement so soon and they (the Jews would be defeated in near future.

"Say to those who disbelieve: ' You shall be vanquished, and gathered unto Hell and it is a terrible abode! "

Explanations:

1. One of the miracles of the Qur'an is its true prophecies. In this prediction, it happened that, after a short time, Muslims succeeded to defeat two Jewish tribes: Bani Quraydah and Bani An-Nadir in Medina. Also, in the conquest of Mecca, they vanished the pagans successfully.

2. Soothing the believers and threatening the disbelievers is a sign of proper leadership and belief in the goal.

3. Prophets have taken care of both the worldly defeats and the damages that may come forth in the next world together.

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قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ آيَةٌ فِي فِئَتَيْنِ الْتَقَتَا فِئَةٌ تُقَاتِلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَأُخْرَى كَافِرَةٌ يَرَوْنَهُم مِّثْلَيْهِمْ رَأْيَ الْعَيْنِ وَاللّهُ يُؤَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِ مَن يَشَاء إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لَّأُوْلِي الأَبْصَارِ {13}

13. "Indeed there has been a sign for you in the two hosts that encountered: one fighting in the path of Allah and the other disbelieving; they (infidels) saw twice as many as they were with the sight of the eye; and Allah confirms with His aid whom He pleases. Surely there is a lesson herein for those who have insight."

Commentary:

This fact has been recorded in commentary books, including: Majma'-ul-Bayan, Maraqi, Fakhr Razi and many other ones that this verse concerns Battle of Badr. In that fighting, Muslims struggled against infidels. The number of Muslims was 313 men, among whom 77 figures were from the Emigrants and 236 men from the Helpers (Ansar) for whom Sa'd-ibn-'lbadah was the flagman. As military equipment, Muslims had only seventy camels, two horses, six armours, and eight swords; while the opposite army, the pagans, were one thousand men with one hundred horses. The Muslims won the battle wherein twenty two of them became martyrs: 14 martyrs from the Emigrants and 8 martyrs from the helpers, when hostile pagans had to give seventy killed persons and 170 men as captives.

This incident is a lesson for those who have intellect and sight that how a small group of Muslims with little equipment could defeat an equipped army the number of whose fighters was three-fold of Muslims. This shows that mere material possibilities are not the enough cause of victory.

"Indeed there has been a sign for you in the two hosts that encountered: one fighting in the path of Allah and the other disbelieving; they (infidels) saw twice as many as they were with the sight of the eye..."

Explanations:

1. The victory in the Battle of Badr, by a few persons against a larger number of equipped fighters, is the prevalence of Allah's Will over people's will. It is the best example of prevalence of Truth over untruth and Faith over disbelief.

"... and Allah confirms with His aid whom He pleases..."

2. Wherever Allah pleases, visions, recognitions, and thoughts vary: with these very eyes, they see the same crowd twofold.

3. The worth of fight lies in fighting itself;

"In the way of Allah"

4. It is True that Allah helps anyone He wills, but the condition of Allah's aid is mentioned in another occasion where it says that people should assist the religion of Allah:

"... if you help (the cause of Allah), He will help you and make firm your feet." [5]

5. All the Muslim fighters have one goal: "... one fighting in the path of Allah ...", but the disbelieving fighters have various goals and different ways:

"... and the other disbelieving..."

6. Signs are for all, but taking lesson from these sings needs a special insight.

"...surely there is a lesson herein for those who have insight."

7. The Battle of Badr was not performed with formerly preparation. It began with the purpose of confiscation of pagans' properties who had confiscated the emigrant Muslims' properties in Mecca, but it ended with military conflict.

"... the two hosts that encountered...."

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[5] Sura Muhammad, No.47, verse 7.