(17–19) “It was not you who killed them, but Allah killed them. Nor was it you who threw when you threw, but Allah threw, so that He might test the believers with a goodly trial from Himself. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. * Such was the case, and Allah surely weakens the schemes of the disbelievers. * If you sought a decisive judgment, the decisive judgment has now come to you. If you desist, it is better for you; but if you return, We will return. Your force will be of no avail to you, however numerous it may be, for Allah is with the believers.”
Allah Most High says—after the polytheists were defeated on the Day of Badr and the Muslims killed them—“It was not you who killed them” through your own power and strength, “but Allah killed them,” for He assisted you in this through the means previously mentioned.
“Nor was it you who threw when you threw, but Allah threw.” During the battle, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) entered the shelter and began supplicating to Allah and imploring Him for victory. He then emerged, took a handful of dust, and threw it into the polytheists’ faces. Allah caused it to reach their faces, and not one of them was left without some of it striking his face, mouth, and eyes. Their edge was then blunted, their resolve faltered, and weakness and failure became manifest among them, so they fled.
Allah Most High says to His Prophet: When you threw the dust, it was not through your own power that you caused it to reach their eyes; rather, We caused it to reach them through Our power and might. “So that He might test the believers with a goodly trial from Himself.” That is, Allah Most High is able to grant the believers victory over the disbelievers without their directly engaging in battle. However, Allah wished to test the believers, bring them through jihad to the highest ranks and most exalted stations, and grant them a fine reward and abundant recompense.
“Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” He hears what a servant conceals and what he declares, and He knows the righteous intentions within his heart and their opposites. He therefore ordains for His servants decrees consistent with His knowledge, wisdom, and their welfare, and rewards each according to his intention and deeds.
(18) “Such was the case”—that is, Allah granted you this victory—“and Allah surely weakens the schemes of the disbelievers.” That is, He weakens every plot and scheme they devise against Islam and its people, and causes their schemes to recoil upon them.
(19) “If you sought a decisive judgment,” O polytheists—that is, if you asked Allah to inflict His might and punishment upon the transgressing wrongdoers—“the decisive judgment has now come to you,” for Allah inflicted upon you a punishment that served as a deterrent for you and a lesson for those mindful of Him. “If you desist” from seeking such a judgment, “it is better for you,” for you may then be granted respite and punishment may not be hastened upon you. “But if you return” to seeking judgment and fighting Allah’s party—the believers—“We will return” to granting them victory over you.
“Your force will be of no avail to you”—that is, your helpers and supporters upon whom you rely when waging war and fighting—“in the least, however numerous it may be. And Allah is with the believers.”
Whoever has Allah with him will be victorious, even if he is weak and few in number. Allah’s being with them—by which He has stated that He supports the believers—is commensurate with the deeds of faith they uphold. ⦗318⦘
Thus, whenever the enemy gains the upper hand over the believers, it is only because of negligence on their part and their failure to fulfill the obligations and demands of faith. Otherwise, had they upheld everything Allah commanded in every respect, none of their banners would ever suffer [a lasting defeat] (1), nor would their enemy ever gain the upper hand over them.