The Holy Quran 8:42 — Surah Al-Anfal

Arabic text

إِذْ أَنتُم بِٱلْعُدْوَةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُم بِٱلْعُدْوَةِ ٱلْقُصْوَىٰ وَٱلرَّكْبُ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَلَوْ تَوَاعَدتُّمْ لَٱخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِى ٱلْمِيعَـٰدِ ۙ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَقْضِىَ ٱللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا لِّيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنۢ بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَىٰ مَنْ حَىَّ عَنۢ بَيِّنَةٍ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

Translation

(The day of the distinction was the day) When you (the Muslim army) were on the near side (close to Madinah) and they (the Mushrikeen army) were at the far side (further away) while the caravan (of the Mushrikeen) was below you (travelling along the coast). If you (Muslims and Mushrikeen) had promised (arranged a date) to meet each other (in battle), you would have differed with regard to the appointment. However, (without the prior knowledge of either army) Allaah decides a matter that was (destined) to take place so that he who was to be destroyed may be destroyed after a clear proof (after witnessing Allaah assist the Mu'mineen to win victory despite all odds being against them) and so that he who was to live may live after (witnessing) a clear proof (thereby giving him a chance to accept Imaan). Without doubt Allaah is All Hearing (He heard the du'aa of the Muslims before the battle), All Knowing (He knows the outcome of everything).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

Further details of the Battle of Badr: “the near side” means the side of the battlefield that was close to Madinah Tayyibah. Likewise “the far side” would be the one that was distant from Madinah. That is, Abu Sufyan's trade caravan had moved away downwards and was travelling along the seashore.

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