God with Believers
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِن تَسْتَفْتِحُواْ
فَقَدْ جَاءكُمُ
الْفَتْحُ وَإِن
تَنتَهُواْ
فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ
لَّكُمْ...
8: 19. (O unbelievers!) if ye prayed for victory and judgment, now hath the judgment come to you:
C1193. Fath: victory, decision, judgment.
The Quraish in Makkah had prayed for victory: they were confident that their superior numbers, equipment, and experience would be decisive.
With a play on the word, they are told that the decision had come, and the victory-but not in the sense they had hoped for!
if ye desist (from wrong), it will be best for you:
...وَإِن تَعُودُواْ نَعُدْ ...
if ye return (to the attack) so shall We.
...وَلَن تُغْنِيَ عَنكُمْ فِئَتُكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَوْ كَثُرَتْ...
Not the least good will your forces be to you even if they were multiplied:
...وَأَنَّ اللّهَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٩﴾
for verily Allah is with those who believe.
Asad’s Version:
8 : 19 ( O Unbelievers!) if you prayed for victory and judgment, now has the judgment come to you: if you desist (from wrong), it will be best for you: if you return, so shall We. Not the least good will your forces be to you even if they were multiplied: for verily God is with those who believe! - ali