(1โ3) โIn the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Indeed, We have granted you a manifest victory, so that Allah may forgive your earlier and later sins, perfect His favor upon you, guide you along a straight path, and grant you mighty support.โ
The victory mentioned here is the Treaty of al-Hudaybiyyah. The polytheists had barred the Messenger of Allahโpeace and blessings be upon himโwhen he came to perform Umrah. After a lengthy course of events, the matter culminated in the Messenger of Allahโpeace and blessings be upon himโconcluding a treaty with them: hostilities between them would cease for ten years; he would perform Umrah the following year; anyone who wished to enter the covenant and alliance of Quraysh could do so; and anyone who wished to enter the covenant and alliance of the Messenger of Allahโpeace and blessings be upon himโcould likewise do so.
As a result, once people felt safe from one another, the scope for calling to the religion of Allahโglorified and exalted is Heโbroadened. Every believer, wherever he might be in those regions, was able to engage in it, while anyone eager to discover the true nature of Islam was able to do so. During that period, people entered Allahโs religion in multitudes. For this reason, Allah called it a victory and described it as manifestโthat is, evident and unmistakable. This is because the purpose of conquering the lands of the polytheists is to give ascendancy to Allahโs religion and victory to the Muslims, and this was achieved through that (1) victory. Allah then made several things follow from this victory, saying:
โSo that Allah may forgive your earlier and later sins.โ
Thisโand Allah knows bestโwas because it brought about numerous acts of obedience and the entry of many people into the religion, and because the Prophetโpeace and blessings be upon himโendured terms that none but the messengers of firm resolve could patiently bear. One of his greatest virtues and honorsโpeace and blessings be upon himโis that Allah forgave his earlier and later sins.
โAnd perfect His favor upon youโ by giving ascendancy to your religion, granting you victory over your enemies, and spreading your message; โand guide you along a straight pathโ by which you attain everlasting happiness and perpetual success.
โAnd grant you mighty supportโโthat is, strong support under which Islam will not be shaken. Rather, complete triumph will be attained, the disbelievers will be subdued, humiliated, and diminished, while the Muslims grow in strength and numbers and their wealth increases.
Then He mentioned the effects of this victory upon the believers, saying: