3.Sura al-Imran, Medina 89

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِذْ تَقُولُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَلَن يَكْفِيكُمْ أَن يُمِدَّكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِثَلاَثَةِ آلاَفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلآئِكَةِ مُنزَلِينَ ﴿١٢٤﴾

3: 124. Remember thou saidst to the faithful: is it not enough for you that Allah should help you with three thousand angels (specially) sent down?

C445. Read verse 124 with the following five verses, to get its full signification.

بَلَى إِن تَصْبِرُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ وَيَأْتُوكُم مِّن فَوْرِهِمْ هَـذَا...

3: 125. "Yea -- if ye remain firm, and act aright, even if the enemy should rush here on you in hot haste,

...يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِخَمْسَةِ آلافٍ مِّنَ الْمَلآئِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ ﴿١٢٥﴾

your Lord would help you with five thousand angels making a terrific onslaught."

C446. Musawwim: this is the active voice of the verb, not to be confused with the passive voice in 3:14, which has a different signification.

وَمَا جَعَلَهُ اللّهُ إِلاَّ بُشْرَى لَكُمْ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُكُم بِهِ...

3: 126. Allah made it but a message of hope for you; and an assurance to your hearts:

...وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلاَّ مِنْ عِندِ اللّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ ﴿١٢٦﴾

(in any case) there is no help except from Allah the Exalted, the Wise.

C447. Whatever happens, whether there is a miracle or not, all help proceeds from Allah. Man should not be so arrogant as to suppose that his own resources will change the current of the world plan.

Allah helps those who show constancy, courage, and discipline, and use all the human means at their disposal, not those who fold their hands and have no faith. But Allah's help is determined on considerations exalted far above our petty human motive, and by perfect wisdoms, of which we can have only faint glimpses.

Other versions:

3: 124

Pickthall And when thou didst say unto the believers: Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should support you with three thousand angels sent down (to your help)?

Transliteration Iz taqu_lu lilmu'minina alay yakfiyakum ay yumiddakum rabbukum bi sala_sati a_la_fim minal mala_'ikati munzalin(a).

3: 125

Asad Nay, but if you are patient in adversity and conscious of Him, and the enemy should fall upon you of a sudden, your Sustainer will aid you with five thousand angels swooping down!” [note 93]

Pickthall Nay, but if ye persevere, and keep from evil, and (the enemy) attack you suddenly, your Lord will help you with five thousand angels sweeping on.

Transliteration Bala_, in tasbiru_ wa tattaqu_ wa ya'tu_kum min faurihim ha_za_ yumdidkum rabbukum rabbukum bi khamsati a_la_fim minal mala_'ikati musawwimin(a).

3: 126

Asad And God ordained this [to be said by His Apostle (note 94) only as a glad tiding for you, and that your hearts should thereby be set at rest – since no succor can come from any save God, the Almighty, the Truly Wise

Pickthall Allah ordained this only as a message of good cheer for you, and that thereby your hearts might be at rest--Victory cometh only from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise--

Transliteration Wa ma_ ja'alahulla_hu illa_ bsyra_ lakum wa litatma'inna qulu_bukum bih(i), wa man nasru illa_ min 'indilla_hil'azizil hakim(i).