( فَلَمْ تَقْتُلُوهُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمْ ) (And you did not kill them, but it was Allah who killed them): Human beings do not have the power to kill or cause death; shooting at or striking another person is a mere action, but the taking of a soul happens only by the command of Allah (swt). In the Battle of Badr, the Muslims did not kill the polytheists, rather their death was according to Allah’s will. The outcome of the battle would be victory for Muslims and the defeat of these aggressor enemies, the polytheists who persecuted them in Mecca.

( وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ رَمَىٰ) (And you threw not, [O Muhammad], when you threw, but it was Allah who threw): The believers initially believe what they perceived with their eyes but there is more beyond the truth that meets the eye. The person who threw is the Prophet (saws) but indeed Allah (swt) has guided this throw. So, outwardly, we see the action of Prophet’s (saws), and the victory comes from Allah (swt). Imagine this divine support for the Prophet (saws) during the Battle of Badr – with Allah (swt) supporting him (saws) in each throw he made. If Allah (swt) is with someone, then no one can stand against him.

( وَلِيُبْلِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْهُ بَلَاءً حَسَنًا) (that He might test the believers with a good test): (Test) is the trial. Allah (swt) says:

 وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ

(And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.) (Al-Anbiyaa: 35)

Here, the (good test) refers to the believers’ obedience to the command of the Prophet Muhammad (swt), joining the battle, fighting fiercely during it, and facing a large number of well-equipped polytheists from the Quraysh.

( إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ) (Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing): It is the True Lord (swt) Who hears and knows everything that takes place. He (swt) perceives every sound and encompasses all things in this worldly life.