178 Page Notes

08 Surah Al-Anfal (continued)

Page 178 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

8:9

8:10

8:11

8:12

8:13

8:14

8:15

8:16

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 178 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 178 of the Quran covers Surah Al-Anfal (Chapter 8), verses 9 through 16.

Continuing directly from the events of the Battle of Badr, this page moves from the political and strategic buildup of the battle to the actual supernatural and psychological intervention of Allah on the battlefield. It details the sending of angelic reinforcements, the miraculous rain, the divine slumber that gripped the fearful Muslim army, and the strict martial laws concerning retreating from the frontline.

1. Hadiths Related to Verse 9 (The Angelic Reinforcements)

"And [remember] when you sought help of your Lord and He answered you, 'Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another.'"

As noted previously, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) spent the night before the battle in intense supplication, weeping for divine assistance. Verse 9 is the direct response to that prayer. The Sunnah records first-hand accounts of the companions actually witnessing and hearing these angels fighting alongside them.

Witnessing the Angelic Cavalry

The companions reported that the angels did not just provide moral support; they actively participated in the engagement.

Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Hadith 70: Ibn Abbas reported: "On that day, a Muslim was hot on the heels of a polytheist ahead of him when he suddenly heard the crack of a whip above him and the voice of a rider saying, 'Charge, Hayzum!' He looked at the polytheist in front of him, who immediately fell flat on his back, his nose smashed and his face split open as if he had been struck by a whip. The companion came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and related this to him, and the Prophet said: 'You have spoken the truth. That was help from the third heaven.'"

The Rank of the Veterans of Badr

Because Allah sent angels to fight alongside the men at Badr, the Sunnah holds both the human veterans of Badr and the specific angels who participated in the highest theological regard.

Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 64, Hadith 3992: Mu'adh bin Rifa'ah narrated that the Angel Gabriel came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked: "How do you look upon the warriors of Badr among you?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: "As the best of the Muslims." Gabriel then said: "And similarly, those among the angels who participated in Badr are regarded as the best of the angels."

2. Hadiths Related to Verse 11 (The Divine Slumber and the Rain)

"[Remember] when He overwhelmed you with drowsiness as security from Him and sent down upon you from the sky, rain by which to purify you and remove from you the evil [whispers] of Satan and to strengthen your hearts and fasten firmly thereby your feet."

Before the battle commenced, the Muslims were severely outnumbered, anxious, and sleep-deprived. Allah caused a miraculous drowsiness (Nu'as) to fall over them right on the battlefield, which instantly reset their nervous systems and replaced their terror with absolute tranquility.

Slumber as a Sign of Tranquility

The Sunnah clarifies that falling asleep out of peace during a crisis is a gift from Allah, whereas feeling drowsy during acts of voluntary worship or daily safety is from worldly lethargy.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Chapters on Tafsir, Hadith 3081: Ali ibn Abi Talib narrated: "There was no cavalryman among us on the day of Badr except Al-Miqdad. I saw that every single one of us was sleeping except the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who was under a tree, praying and weeping until the morning arrived."

The early scholars of Tafsir, echoing the companions, stated: "Drowsiness in the midst of battle is a sign of safety and faith from Allah, while drowsiness during prayer is from Satan."

3. Hadiths Related to Verse 12 (Striking the Necks)

"[Remember] when your Lord inspired to the angels, 'I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.'"

This verse gave the combat tactical instructions to the angels on how to incapacitate the enemy forces.

Signs of Angelic Strikes

The companions were able to identify which enemy combatants were slain by human swords versus those struck down by the angelic reinforcements based on the distinct markings left on the bodies.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Authentic narration via Ibn Abbas): Ibn Abbas stated: "On the day of Badr, a man would be chasing a polytheist, and before his sword could even reach him, the enemy’s head would fly off his body. The Muslims recognized the strikes of the angels by the burn marks left at the site of the wounds on the necks and fingertips, resembling a strike of fire."

4. Hadiths Related to Verses 15–16 (The Severity of Fleeing the Battlefield)

"O you who have believed, when you meet those who disbelieve advancing for battle, do not turn your backs to them [in flight]. And whoever turns his back to them on such a day... has certainly returned with anger from Allah, and his refuge is Hell..."

To prevent a fragile, outnumbered army from collapsing, these verses instituted a strict military law: fleeing the frontline out of cowardice (Al-Tawalli yawm al-Zahf) was classified as a catastrophic, major sin. The only exceptions permitted by the text are tactical maneuvering (Mutaharrifan li-qital) or retreating to regroup with a larger division (Mutahayyizan ila fi'ah).

One of the Seven Destructive Sins

The Prophet (ﷺ) explicitly categorized fleeing from the battlefield alongside the worst possible sins a human can commit in Islamic jurisprudence.

Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 55, Hadith 2766: Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Avoid the seven destructive sins." The companions asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what are they?" He replied: "Associating partners with Allah (Shirk), sorcery, killing a soul unjustly, consuming riba (interest), consuming the wealth of an orphan, fleeing from the battlefield on the day of battle, and falsely accusing chaste, believing women."