Edward Palmer, The Qur’ân (1880)
though they were being driven on to death and looked thereon; and when God promised you that one of the two troops should be yours, and ye would fain have had those who had no arms. God wished to prove the truth true by His words, and to cut off the hindermost parts of those who misbelieve — to prove the truth true, and to make vain the vain, although the sinners are averse 1.
When ye asked for succour from your Lord, and He answered you, ‘I will assist you with a thousand angels, with others in reserve.’
[10] God made it only glad tidings to quiet your hearts therewith; for victory is only from God! verily, God is mighty and wise.
When drowsiness covered you as a security from Him, and He sent down upon you from the heavens water to purify you withal, and to take away from you the plague of Satan, and to tie up your hearts and to make firm your footsteps 2.
When your Lord inspired the angels — ‘Verily, I am with you; make ye firm then those who believe; I will cast dread into the hearts of those who misbelieve, — strike off their necks then, and strike off from them every finger tip.’
1 The occasion alluded to was one when Mohammed had made preparations for attacking an unarmed caravan on its way from Syria to Mecca, when Abu Sufiân, who was in charge of it, sent to Mecca and obtained an escort of nearly a thousand men; many of Mohammed’s followers wished to attack the caravan only, but the prophet and his immediate followers were for throwing themselves on the escort.
2 The Muslims were fewer in number than the enemy, and the latter had command of the water, at both of which circumstances their hearts sank. In the night, however, rain fell, refreshed them and supplied their wants.
