بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalamu Alaikum.

[Here are Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. ]

After the Night Journey, two important events took place: the two pledges of Aqabah where the Madinans came to give a pledge to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). The Muslims of Makkah started to then slowly emigrate to Madinah.

All of this put the Makkan pagans in full blown anxiety mode and they eventually made a plan to kill the Prophet (sallallallahu alaihi wasallam).

Jibreel (alaihissalaam) came to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to warn him of a murder plot and to inform him to leave Makkah

Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri states in ‘The Sealed Nectar’: “When the criminals made the wicked decision to kill the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), Jibreel (alaihissalaam) was sent down to Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to reveal the plot of the Quraish and give him his Lord’s Permission to leave Makkah.”

And leave Makkah he did, along with Abu Bakr. As we know, he migrated to Madinah.

The Angels came to help the Muslims in the Battle of Badr

Badr (named after the place in which it took place) was the first battle in Islamic history and was in the second year after the migration to Madinah. Now, it did not actually start out as a battle but ended up becoming one.

Prior to the battle, the following event took place:

“Ibn Ishaq stated, “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) went out to urge his men on to the well, and when he reached the nearest source at Badr, he stopped there.

“It was related to me by some men of the Banu Salama, that they had been told that al-Hubab ibn Mundhir ibn al-Jamih (radiallahu anhu) said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, is this the place about which Allah revealed to you that we should not advance beyond nor stop before? Or is this a question of opinion, warfare and tactics?’ “He replied, ‘It’s one of opinion, warfare and tactics.’ “Al-Huhab then said, ‘Well, O Messenger of Allah, this isn’t a place to stop. We should go ahead till we get to the well nearest to their force and stop there. We should then stop up the wells behind it and build a cistern and fill it with water. Then we can fight them and have water to drink, while they’ll have none.’ “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) commented, ‘You’ve had a good idea!'”

Al-Umawi stated, “My father related to us as follows: ‘Al-Kalbi claimed, quoting Abu Salih, from Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhuma), who said, “As the Messenger of Allah (sallallahi alaihi wasallam) was gathering the men into groups with Jibreel (alaihissalaam) on his right, an angel came to him and said, ‘O Muhammad, Allah greets you with peace.’ The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied, ‘He is peace; from Him comes peace, and to Him peace goes.’ The angel then said, ‘You are to do as al-Hubab ibn Mundhir told you.”‘ “‘The Messenger of Allah (sallallahi alaihi wasallam) then asked, “O Jibreel, do you know this man?” He replied, “I don’t know all the people of heaven, but he is truthful. He is no devil.” “‘The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and those with him arose and proceeded onto the well nearest to the Quraysh force, where they halted. He then ordered that the other wells be blocked and built a cistern at the well where he had stopped and filled it with water. They then threw the water jugs into it.'”

Some say that when al-Hubab ibn al-Mundhir (radiallahu anhu) made his suggestion to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), an angel descended from the sky while Jibreel (alaihissalaam) was there with him. The angel said, “O Muhammad, your Lord greets you with peace and says to you that you are to do what al-Hubab advised you.” The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) looked up at Jibreel (alaihissalaam) who said, “I don’t know all the angels, but he is an angel, not a devil.””

The battle began and the Muslims were outnumbered by a pagan army three times its size. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) prayed to Allah for help.

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ مَا كَانَ فِينَا فَارِسٌ يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ غَيْرَ الْمِقْدَادِ وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنَا وَمَا فِينَا إِلَّا نَائِمٌ إِلَّا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ يُصَلِّي، وَيَبْكِي، حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ

Ali (radiallahu anhu) reported: “None among us was upon a horse on the day of Badr other than Al-Miqdad. We saw, although everyone else was sleeping, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) under a tree praying and weeping until dawn.” [Sahih Ibn Al-Khuzaimah, Hadeeth No. 899. Mustafa Al-Adhami said that its isnaad (chains of narrators) was sahih (authentic).]

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ فِي قُبَّةٍ ‏”‏ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَنْشُدُكَ عَهْدَكَ وَوَعْدَكَ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ شِئْتَ لَمْ تُعْبَدْ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ ‏”‏‏.‏ فَأَخَذَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِيَدِهِ فَقَالَ حَسْبُكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، فَقَدْ أَلْحَحْتَ عَلَى رَبِّكَ، وَهْوَ فِي الدِّرْعِ، فَخَرَجَ وَهْوَ يَقُولُ ‏{‏سَيُهْزَمُ الْجَمْعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ الدُّبُرَ * بَلِ السَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَالسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَى وَأَمَرُّ ‏}‏‏.‏ وَقَالَ وُهَيْبٌ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ

Then, Allah sent the angels to help them. Shaikh Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri states in “The Sealed Nectar”:

“The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), in his trellis, dozed off a little and then raised his head calling loudly in joy and said, “O Abu Bakr! Glad tidings are there for you: Allah’s victory has approached. By Allah, I can see Jibreel on his mare in the thick of a sandstorm.” “

He then swiftly came upon the ground reciting aloud:

سَیُہۡزَمُ الْجَمْعُ وَ یُوَلُّوۡنَ الدُّبُرَ

“Their multitude will be put to flight, and they will show their backs.” [Surah Al-Qamar (54) : 45]

“One of the Ansar captured Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib, who said, “O Messenger of Allah, by Allah this man did not capture me. I was captured by a man who was bald and had the most handsome face, and who was riding a piebald horse, I cannot see him here among the people.” The Ansari interrupted, “I captured him, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “Be quiet, Allah  the All-Mighty strengthened you with the help of a noble angel.”

One of the Sahabah even heard an angel:

إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّي مُمِدُّكُم بِأَلْفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ ‎

وَمَا جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ بِهِ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۚ وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ النُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةً مِّنْهُ وَيُنَزِّلُ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً لِّيُطَهِّرَكُم بِهِ وَيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمْ رِجْزَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَلِيَرْبِطَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتَ بِهِ الْأَقْدَامَ

إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۚ سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُوا فَوْقَ الْأَعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُوا مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ شَاقُّوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ ‎

ذَٰلِكُمْ فَذُوقُوهُ وَأَنَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابَ النَّارِ‎

(Remember) when you sought help of your Lord and He answered you (saying): “I will help you with a thousand of the angels each behind the other (following one another) in succession.” 

Allah made it only as glad tidings, and that your hearts be at rest therewith. And there is no victory except from Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

(Remember) when He covered you with a slumber as a security from Him, and He caused water (rain) to descend on you from the sky, to clean you thereby and to remove from you the Rijz (whispering, evil-suggestions, etc.) of Shaitan (Satan), and to strengthen your hearts, and make your feet firm thereby.

(Remember) when your Lord inspired the angels, “Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes.”

This is because they defied and disobeyed Allah and His Messenger. And whoever defies and disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.

 This is the torment, so taste it, and surely for the disbelievers is the torment of the Fire.

[Surah Al-Anfal (8) : 9 – 14]

Imam Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah) states in his explanation of the above ayaat (verses):

“Allah’s statement,

بِأَلْفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَـئِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ

(with a thousand of the angels Murdifin) means, they follow each other in succession, according to Harun bin Hubayrah who narrated this from Ibn Abbas about,

مُرْدِفِينَ

(Murdifin), meaning each behind the other in succession. Ali bin Abi Talhah Al-Walibi reported that Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhuma) said, “Allah supported His Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and the believers with a thousand angels, five hundred under the leadership of Jibreel on one side and five hundred under the leadership of Mikaeel on another side.””

He stated a while later:

“Allah said next,

وَمَا جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بُشْرَى

(Allah made it only as glad tidings. ..)

Allah made sending down the angels and informing you of this fact as glad tidings,

وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ بِهِ قُلُوبُكُمْ

(and that your hearts be at rest therewith.)

Surely, Allah is able to give you (O Muslims) victory over your enemies, and victory only comes from Him, without need to send the angels,

وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلاَّ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ

(And there is no victory except from Allah.)“

A while later, he stated:

“Allah said next,

إِذْ يُوحِى رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلَـئِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُواْ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ

((Remember) when your Lord revealed to the angels, “Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed.”)

This is a hidden favor that Allah has made known to the believers, so that they thank Him and are grateful to Him for it. Allah, glorified, exalted, blessed and praised be He, has revealed to the angels – whom He sent to support His Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), religion and believing group – to make the believers firmer. Allah’s statement,

سَأُلْقِى فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ الرُّعْبَ

(I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved.) means, `you – angels – support the believers, strengthen their (battle) front against their enemies, thus, implementing My command to you. I will cast fear, disgrace and humiliation over those who defied My command and denied My Messenger, 

فَاضْرِبُواْ فَوْقَ الأَعْنَـقِ وَاضْرِبُواْ مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ

(so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes.) strike them on their foreheads to tear them apart and over the necks to cut them off, and cut off their limbs, hands and feet. It was said that,

فَوْقَ الأَعْنَـقِ

(over the necks) refers to striking the forehead, or the neck, according to Ad-Dahhak and Atiyyah Al-Awfi. In support of the latter, Allah commanded the believers,

فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ حَتَّى إِذَآ أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّواْ الْوَثَاقَ

(So, when you meet (in fight Jihad in Allah’s cause) those who disbelieve, smite (their) necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, take them as captives).) 47:4

Ar-Rabi bin Anas said, “In the aftermath of Badr, the people used to recognize whomever the angels killed from those whom they killed, by the wounds over their necks, fingers and toes, because those parts had a mark as if they were branded by fire.” Allah said,

وَاضْرِبُواْ مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ

(and smite over all their fingers and toes.)

Ibn Jarir commented that this Ayah (verse) commands, “O believers! Strike every limb and finger on the hands and feet of your (disbelieving) enemies.” Al-Awfi reported, that Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhuma) said about the battle of Badr that Abu Jahl said, “Do not kill them (the Muslims), but capture them so that you make known to them what they did, their ridiculing your religion and shunning Al-Lat and Al-Uzza (two idols).” Allah than sent down to the angels,

أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُواْ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ سَأُلْقِى فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ الرُّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُواْ فَوْقَ الأَعْنَـقِ وَاضْرِبُواْ مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ

(Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes.)

In that battle, Abu Jahl (may Allah curse him) was killed along with sixty-nine men. Uqbah bin Abu Muait was captured and then killed, thus bring the death toll of the pagans to seventy,

ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ شَآقُّواْ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ

(This is because they defied and disobeyed Allah and His Messenger.) joining the camp that defied Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) not including themselves in the camp of Allah’s Law and faith in Him. Allah said,

وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

(And whoever defies and disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then verily, Allah is severe in punishment.) for He will crush whoever defies and disobeys Him. Nothing ever escapes Allah’s grasp nor can anything ever stand against His anger. Blessed and exalted He is, there is no true deity or Lord except Him.

ذَلِكُمْ فَذُوقُوهُ وَأَنَّ لِلْكَـفِرِينَ عَذَابَ النَّارِ

(This is (the torment), so taste it; and surely, for the disbelievers is the torment of the Fire.)

This Ayah (verse) addresses the disbeliever, saying, taste this torment and punishment in this life and know that the torment of the Fire in the Hereafter is for the disbelievers.”

One more incident from Badr is also mentioned in Surah Al-Anfal:

 وَإِذْ زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ وَقَالَ لَا غَالِبَ لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَإِنِّي جَارٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا تَرَاءَتِ الْفِئَتَانِ نَكَصَ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ وَقَالَ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّنكُمْ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ مَا لَا تَرَوْنَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ ۚ وَاللَّهُ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

And (remember) when Shaitan (the devil) made their (evil) deeds seem fair to them and said, “No one of mankind can overcome you this Day (of the battle of Badr) and verily, I am your neighbour (for each and every help).” But when the two forces came in sight of each other, he ran away and said “Verily, I have nothing to do with you. Verily! I see what you see not. Verily! I fear Allah for Allah is Severe in punishment.” [Surah Al-Anfal (8) : 48]

Imam Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah) states in his explanation of the above ayah (verse):

“Allah said next,

وَإِذْ زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَـنُ أَعْمَـلَهُمْ وَقَالَ لاَ غَالِبَ لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَإِنِّي جَارٌ لَّكُمْ

(And (remember) when Shaytan made their (evil) deeds seem fair to them and said, “No one of mankind can overcome you today and verily, I am your neighbor.”)

Shaytan, may Allah curse him, made the idolators’ purpose for marching seem fair to them. He made them think that no other people could defeat them that day. He also ruled out the possibility that their enemies, the tribe of Bani Bakr, would attack Makkah, saying, “I am your neighbor.” Shaytan appeared to them in the shape of Suraqah bin Malik bin Jushum, the chief of Bani Mudlij, so that, as Allah described them,

يَعِدُهُمْ وَيُمَنِّيهِمْ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمْ الشَّيْطَـنُ إِلاَّ غُرُوراً

(He Shaytan makes promises to them, and arouses in them false desires; and Shaytan’s promises are nothing but deceptions) 4:120.

Ibn Jurayj said that Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhu) commented on this Ayah, (8:48) “On the day of Badr, Shaytan, as well as, his flag holder and soldiers, accompanied the idolators. He whispered to the hearts of the idolators, `None can defeat you today! I am your neighbor.’ When they met the Muslims and Shaytan witnessed the angels coming to their aid,

نَكَصَ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ

(he ran away), he went away in flight while proclaiming,

إِنِّي أَرَى مَا لاَ تَرَوْنَ

(Verily, I see what you see not.)“

Ali bin Abi Talhah said, that Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhuma) said about this Ayah,

لاَ غَالِبَ لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَإِنِّي جَارٌ لَّكُمْ

(“No one of mankind can overcome you today and verily, I am your neighbor’)

“Shaytan, as well as, his devil army and flag holders, came on the day of Badr in the shape of a Suraqah bin Malik bin Jushum, man from Bani Mudlij, Shaytan said to idolators, `None will defeat you this day, and I will help you.’ When the two armies stood face to face, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihiwasallam)  took a handful of sand and threw it at the faces of the idolators, causing them to retreat. Jibreel (alaihissalaam) came towards Shaytan, but when Shaytan, while holding the hand of a Mushrik (polytheist) man, saw him, he withdrew his hand and ran away with his soldiers. That man asked him, `O Suraqah! You claimed that you are our neighbor’ He said,

إِنِّي أَرَى مَا لاَ تَرَوْنَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ وَاللَّهُ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

(Verily, I see what you see not. Verily, I fear Allah for Allah is severe in punishment)

Shaytan said this when he saw the angels.””

This battle is also mentioned in Surah Aal-Imran.

وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَأَنتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

إِذْ تَقُولُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَلَن يَكْفِيَكُمْ أَن يُمِدَّكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِثَلَاثَةِ آلَافٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُنزَلِينَ

بَلَىٰ ۚ إِن تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا وَيَأْتُوكُم مِّن فَوْرِهِمْ هَٰذَا يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِخَمْسَةِ آلَافٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ 

وَمَا جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ لَكُمْ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُكُم بِهِ ۗ وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ ‎

And Allah has already made you victorious at Badr, when you were a weak little force. So fear Allah much that you may be grateful. 

(Remember) when you (Muhammad) said to the believers, “Is it not enough for you that your Lord should help you with three thousand angels; sent down?” 

“Yes, if you hold on to patience and piety, and the enemy comes rushing at you; your Lord will help you with five thousand angels having marks (of distinction).”

Allah made it not but as a message of good news for you and as an assurance to your hearts. And there is no victory except from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. 

[Surah Aal-Imraan (3) : 123 – 126]

Ibn Kathir states in his explanation of the above ayaat (verses):

“The scholars of Tafsir differ over whether the promise contained in these Ayaat (verses) referred to the battle of Badr or Uhud. 

There are two opinions about this, one of them saying that Allah’s statement,

إِذْ تَقُولُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

((Remember) when you said to the believers) 3:124, is related to His statement,

وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍ

(And Allah has already made you victorious at Badr) 3:123.

This was reported from Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Amr Ash-Shabi, Ar-Rabi bin Anas and several others, Ibn Jarir also agreed with this opinion. Abbad bin Mansur said that Al-Hasan said that Allah’s statement,

إِذْ تَقُولُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَلَنْ يَكْفِيكُمْ أَن يُمِدَّكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ بِثَلاَثَةِ ءَالاَفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَـئِكَةِ

((Remember) when you said to the believers, “Is it not enough for you that your Lord should help you with three thousand angels”) 3:124, is about the battle of Badr; Ibn Abi Hatim also recorded this statement.

Ibn Abi Hatim then reported that Amr Ash-Shabi said, “On the day of Badr, the Muslims received information that Kurz bin Jabir (a prominent tribe chief) was aiding the idolators, and this news was hard on them, so Allah revealed;

أَلَنْ يَكْفِيكُمْ أَن يُمِدَّكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ بِثَلاَثَةِ ءَالاَفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَـئِكَةِ مُنزَلِينَ

(“Is it not enough for you that your Lord (Allah) should help you with three thousand angels sent down”), until,

مُسَوِّمِينَ

(having marks (of distinction)) 3:124,125.

The news of the defeat of the idolators at Badr reached Kurz and he did not reinforce them, and thus, Allah did not reinforce the Muslims with the five (thousands of angels).”

As for Ar-Rabi bin Anas, he said, “Allah supported the Muslims with one thousand (angels), then the number reached three thousand, then five thousand.” If one asks, according to this opinion, how can we combine between this Ayah (verse) and Allah’s statement about Badr,

إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّي مُمِدُّكُمْ بِأَلْفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَـئِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ

((Remember) when you sought help of your Lord and He answered you (saying): “I will help you with a thousand angels, each behind the other (following one another) in succession.”) 8:9, until,

أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

(Verily! Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise) We say that the one thousand mentioned here does not contradict the three thousand mentioned in the above Ayah 3:124. The word “in succession” means they follow each other and thus indicates that thousands more will follow them. The two Ayaat (verses) above 8:9 and 3:124 are similar in meaning and it appears that they both were about the battle of Badr, because the angels did fight in the battle of Badr, as the evidence indicates. Allah knows best. Allah’s statement,

بَلَى إِن تَصْبِرُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ

(But if you hold on to patience and have Taqwa,) 3:125 means, if you observe patience while fighting the enemy, all the while fearing Me and obeying My command. Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi and As-Suddi said that Allah’s statement,

وَيَأْتُوكُمْ مِّن فَوْرِهِمْ هَـذَا

(and they will come rushing) means, they (angels) will rush to you instantaneously. Al-Awfi said that Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhuma) said that the Ayah (verse) means, “All at once”. It is also said that it means, before their anger subsides (against the disbelievers). 

The second opinion stipulates that the promise mentioned here concerning the angels participating in battle is related to Allah’s statement,

وَإِذْ غَدَوْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ تُبَوِّىءُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَقَاعِدَ لِلْقِتَالِ

(And (remember) when you left your household in the morning to post the believers at their stations for the battle) of Uhud. However, we should add, the angels did not come to the aid of Muslims at Uhud, because Allah made it conditional,

بَلَى إِن تَصْبِرُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ

(But if you hold on to patience and have Taqwa) 3: 125.

The Muslims were not patient at Uhud. Rather, they ran away and, consequently, did not receive the support of even one angel.

Allah’s statement,

يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ بِخَمْسَةِ ءَالافٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَـئِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ

(your Lord will help you with five thousand angels having marks), of distinction.

Abu Ishaq As-Subayi said; from Harithah bin Mudarrib said that Ali bin Abi Talib (radiallahu anhu) said, “The angels were distinguished by wearing white wool at Badr.” The angels also had special markings distinguishing their horses.

Allah said “Allah made it not but as a message of good news for you and as an assurance to your hearts”. This Ayah (verse) means, “Allah sent down angels and told you about their descent to encourage you and to comfort and reassure your hearts. You should know that victory only comes from Allah and that if He willed, He would have defeated your enemy without you having to fight them.”

[To be continued]

angelsbadrislamramadan