Surah Al-Anfal, Ayah 19
Quran 8:19 · The Spoils of War · Madani · Para 9 · Page 179
اِنْ تَسْتَفْتِحُوْا فَقَدْ جَآءَكُمُ الْفَتْحُ ۚ وَاِنْ تَنْتَهُوْا فَهُوَ خَیْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۚ وَاِنْ تَعُوْدُوْا نَعُدْ ۚ وَلَنْ تُغْنِیَ عَنْكُمْ فِئَتُكُمْ شَیْـًٔا وَّلَوْ كَثُرَتْ ۙ وَاَنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ ۟۠
Transliteration
In tastaftihoo faqad jaakumualfathu wa-in tantahoo fahuwa khayrun lakum wa-intaAAoodoo naAAud walan tughniya AAankum fi-atukum shay-an walawkathurat waanna Allaha maAAa almu/mineen
Saheeh International
If you [disbelievers] seek the decision [i.e., victory] - the decision [i.e., defeat] has come to you. And if you desist [from hostilities], it is best for you; but if you return [to war], We will return, and never will you be availed by your [large] company at all, even if it should increase; and [that is] because Allāh is with the believers.
Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir
If you ask O idolaters, for the punishment and might of Allah to fall upon the wrongdoers who overstep the limits, then Allah has already made what you asked afflict you, sending down on you what was a lesson for you and for the mindful. If you stop asking for this it would be better for you, so that He might give you time, not giving you what you deserve immediately. But if you return to asking for a judgement and fighting the believers, Allah would also return by afflicting you with punishment and helping the believers. Your people and helpers would not be of any good to you, even if they are many and well prepared and the believers were few in number. Allah is with the believers, helping and supporting them, and whomever Allah assists, then no one will be able to defeat them.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)
(O disbelievers) if you ask for a judgement, now has the judgement come unto you; and if you cease (to do wrong), it will be better for you, and if you return (to the attack), so shall We return, and your forces will be of no avail to you, however numerous they be; and verily, Allah is with the believers (19)
The Response to the Disbelievers Who ask for a Judgement
Allah says to the disbeliever,
إِن تَسْتَفْتِحُوا
(If you ask for a judgement), you invoked Allah for victory, judgement and a decision between you and your believing nemesis, and you got what you asked for. Muhammad bin Ishaq and several others reported from Az-Zuhri from 'Abdullah bin Tha'labah bin Su'ayr who said that Abu Jahl said on the day of Badr, "O Allah! Whichever of the two camps (pagans and Muslims) severed the relation of the womb and brought us what is not familiar, then destroy him this day." This Ayah was later on revealed,
إِن تَسْتَفْتِحُوا فَقَدْ جَاءَكُمُ الْفَتْحُ
(If you ask for a judgement, then now has the judgement come unto you,) until the end of the Ayah. Imam Ahmad recorded that 'Abdullah bin Tha'labah said, "Abu Jahl asked for (Allah's judgment) when he said upon facing the Muslims, 'O Allah! Those among us who severed the relations of the womb and brought forth what we do not recognize, then destroy him this day.'" This was also recorded by An-Nasa'i in the Book of Tafsir (of his Sunan) and Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak, and he said, "It is Sahih according to the criteria of the Two Shaykhs, and they did not record it. ". Similar statements were reported from Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, Yazid bin Ruwman and several others. As-Suddi commented, "Before the idolators left Makkah for Badr, they clung to the curtains covering the Ka'bah and supplicated to Allah for victory, 'O Allah! Give victory to the exalted among the two armies, the most honored among the two groups, and the most righteous among the two tribes.' Allah revealed the Ayah,
إِن تَسْتَفْتِحُوا فَقَدْ جَاءَكُمُ الْفَتْحُ
(If you ask for a judgement, then now has the judgement come unto you.) Allah says here, 'I accepted your supplication and Muhammad gained the victory.'"
Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said; "This is Allah the Most High's answer to their supplication;
وَإِذْ قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ إِن كَانَ هَٰذَا هُوَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ عِندِكَ
(And (remember) when they said: "O Allah! If this is indeed the truth from you..)" [8:32]
Allah said next,
وَإِن تَنتَهُوا
(and if you cease...) from your disbelief and rejection of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ,
فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ
(it will be better for you), in this life and the Hereafter. Allah said,
وَإِن تَعُودُوا نَعُدْ
(and if you return, so shall We return...) This is similar to another Ayah,
وَإِنْ عُدتُّمْ عُدْنَا
(but if you return (to sins), We shall return (to Our punishment).)[17:8] meaning, 'if you persist in your disbelief and misguidance, We shall repeat the defeat that you suffered,'
وَلَن تُغْنِيَ عَنكُمْ فِئَتُكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَوْ كَثُرَتْ
(and your forces will be of no avail to you, however numerous they be...) for even if you gather whatever forces you can, then know that those whom Allah is with cannot be defeated,
وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
(and verily, Allah is with the believers.) in reference to the Prophet's group, the side of the chosen Messenger ﷺ.