Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)

9. “(Remember) when you were calling upon your Lord for succor, and He answered you (saying): ‘I shall assist you with a thousand of the angels following one another’.”

The Qur'anic term /murdif/, mentioned at the end of the verse, is derived from the Arabic term /'irdaf/ in the sense of ‘row’, and ‘following one after another’. Here in this verse, it means that these helps are continued. These very helps are also referred to in Surah Al-i-‘Imran, verse124 as ‘three thousand of angels’ and in its following verse, the words about the Divine help are said:

“with five thousand of angels distinguished”.

Perhaps, these divine helps had been bestowed upon them because of their perseverance. That is, the more Muslims persevered in that Battle, the more unseen helps were added for them.

As it was said before, (verse 7 of the current Surah), the number of Muslim strivers in the Battle of Badr was one third of that of pagans. Moreover, their war-equipments as well as their spiritual preparation were very little. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (S) invoked, saying:

“O’ Allah! do manifest whatever You promised me. O’ Allah! If this group (of Muslims) be killed, You will not be worshipped in the earth.”

Explanations

This holy verse attracts our attention to several points as follows:

1 - Allah (s.w.t) is the key of answering supplications. The verse says:

“(Remember) when you were calling upon your Lord for succor, and He answered you…”

2- Allah may remit without any invocation, but invocation is one training way out of divine ways.

3 - The supplications and invocations which are offered by strivers in the midst of battlefields are effective, because their invocations will be answered.

4 - Do not forget the days of affliction and the helps of Allah (s.w.t), since; the remembrance of Allah's bounties elevates the spirit of thanksgiving in man. The verse concludes:

“… (saying): ‘I shall assist you with a thousand of the angels following one another’.”