Surah 8

Surah 8:49

"(Remember) when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a sickness were saying: ‘Their religion has deceived these (people).’ But whoever puts his trust in God – surely God is mighty, wise."
The Idolators leave Makkah, heading for Badr Verses 8:47-49
Show Full Scripture Context (8:47-49) — 3 Verses
Verse 47

وَلَا تَكُونُواْ كَٱلَّذِينَ خَرَجُواْ مِن دِيَٰرِهِم بَطَرٗا وَرِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا يَعۡمَلُونَ مُحِيطٞ

Do not be like those who went forth from their homes boastfully, and to show off to the people, and to keep (them) from the way of God. God encompasses what they do.

Verse 48

وَإِذۡ زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ وَقَالَ لَا غَالِبَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَإِنِّي جَارٞ لَّكُمۡۖ فَلَمَّا تَرَآءَتِ ٱلۡفِئَتَانِ نَكَصَ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيۡهِ وَقَالَ إِنِّي بَرِيٓءٞ مِّنكُمۡ إِنِّيٓ أَرَىٰ مَا لَا تَرَوۡنَ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ ٱللَّهَۚ وَٱللَّهُ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ

(Remember) when Satan made their deeds appear enticing to them, and said, ‘(There is) no one among the people to defeat you today. Surely I am your neighbor.’ But when the two cohorts saw each other, he turned on his heels, and said, ‘Surely I am free of you, (for) surely I see what you do not see. Surely I fear God, (for) God is harsh in retribution.’

Verse 49

إِذۡ يَقُولُ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ غَرَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ دِينُهُمۡۗ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٞ

(Remember) when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a sickness were saying: ‘Their religion has deceived these (people).’ But whoever puts his trust in God – surely God is mighty, wise.

47. And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men, and hinder (men) from the path of Allah; and Allah is Muhit (encompassing and thoroughly comprehending) all that they do .
48. And (remember) when Shaytan 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 neighbor (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."
49. When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was a disease (of disbelief) said : "These people (Muslims) are deceived by their religion." But whoever puts his trust in Allah, then surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise .

After Allah commanded the believers to fight in His cause sincerely and to be mindful of Him, He commanded not to imitate the idolators, who went out of their homes
<boastfully > to suppress the truth,
<and to be seen of men>, boasting arrogantly with people. When Abu Jahl was told that the caravan escaped safely, so they should return to Makkah, he commented, "No, by Allah! We will not go back until we proceed to the well of Badr, slaughter camels, drink alcohol and female singers sing to us. This way, the Arabs will always talk about our stance and what we did on that day." However, all of this came back to haunt Abu Jahl, because when they proceeded to the well of Badr, they brought themselves to death; and in the aftermath of Badr, they were thrown in the well of Badr, dead, disgraced, humiliated, despised and miserable in an everlasting, eternal torment. This is why Allah said here,
<and Allah is Muhit (encompassing and thoroughly comprehending) all that they do.>
He knows how and what they came for, and this is why He made them taste the worst punishment. Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and As-Suddi commented on Allah's statement,
<And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men,>
"They were the idolators who fought against the Messenger of Allah at Badr." Muhammad bin Ka'b said, "When the Quraysh left Makkah towards Badr, they brought female singers and drums along. Allah revealed this verse,
<And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men, and hinder (men) from the path of Allah; and Allah is Muhit (encompassing and thoroughly comprehending) all that they do.>
Shaytan makes Evil seem fair and deceives the Idolaters
Allah said next,
<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 idolaters' 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 Ju'shum, the chief of Bani Mudlij, so that, as Allah described them,
<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 commented on this Ayah, (8:48) "On the day of Badr, Shaytan, as well as, his flag holder and soldiers, accompanied the idolaters. He whispered to the hearts of the idolaters, 'None can defeat you today! I am your neighbor.' When they met the Muslims and Shaytan witnessed the angels coming to their aid,
<he ran away>, he went away in flight while proclaiming.
<, Verily, I see what you see not.'>
'Ali bin Abi Talhah said, that Ibn 'Abbas said about this Ayah,
<"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 Ju'shum, man from Bani Mudlij, Shaytan said to idolaters, 'None will defeat you this day, and I will help you.' When the two armies stood face to face, the Messenger of Allah took a handful of sand and threw it at the faces of the idolaters, causing them to retreat. Jibril, peace be upon him, came towards Shaytan, but when Shaytan, while holding the hand of a Mushrik 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,
<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."
The Position of the Hypocrites in Badr
Allah said next,
<When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was a disease (of disbelief) said : "These people (Muslims) are deceived by their religion.">
'Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn 'Abbas commented, "When the two armies drew closer to each other, Allah made the Muslims look few in the eyes of the idolators and the idolaters look few in the eyes of the Muslims. The idolators said,
<These people (Muslims) are deceived by their religion.>
because they thought that Muslims were so few. They believed, without doubt, that they would defeat the Muslims. Allah said,
<But whoever puts his trust in Allah, then surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise .>
Qatadah commented, "They saw a group of believers who came in defense of Allah's religion. We were informed that when he saw Muhammad and his Companions, Abu Jahl said, 'By Allah! After this day, they will never worship Allah!' He said this in viciousness and transgression." 'Amir Ash-Sha'bi said, "Some people from Makkah were considering embracing Islam, but when they went with the idolators to Badr and saw how few the Muslims were, they said,
<These people ( Muslims ) are deceived by their religion .>
Allah said next,
<But whoever puts his trust in Allah>, and relies on His grace,
<then surely, Allah is All-Mighty>, and verily, those who take His side [in the dispute] are never overwhelmed, for His side is mighty, powerful and His authority is All-Great,
<All-Wise> in all His actions, for He places everything in its rightful place, giving victory to those who deserve it and defeat to those who deserve it.

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (batch_021)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.