Exposition & virtues of prayer:
In these verses Allah Kareem encourages His Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his Companions to fight against disbelievers. Allah affirms that He will suffice, aid, support, and help the believers against their enemies, even if their enemies are numerous and have sufficient supplies, while the believers are few.
Allah said next, commanding the believers and conveying good news to them,
إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَـبِرُونَ يَغْلِبُواْ مِاْئَتَيْنِ وَإِن يَكُنْ مُّنكُمْ مِّاْئَةٌ يَغْلِبُواْ أَلْفًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ
(If there are twenty steadfast persons among you, they will overcome two hundred, and if there be a hundred steadfast persons, they will overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve.)
Imam Ibn Kathir writes in the commentary of this verse that, From Ibn `Abbas, “When this verse was revealed,
إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَـبِرُونَ يَغْلِبُواْ مِاْئَتَيْنِ
(If there are twenty steadfast persons among you, they will overcome two hundred…) it became difficult for the Muslims, when Allah commanded that one Muslim is required to endure ten idolaters. Soon after, this matter was made easy. Imam Bukhari reports from Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) about the revelation of this verse;
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
When the Verse:–‘If there are twenty steadfast amongst you (Muslims), they will overcome two hundred (non-Muslims).’ was revealed, it became hard on the Muslims when it became compulsory that one Muslim ought not to flee (in war) before ten (non-Muslims). So (Allah) lightened the order by revealing: ‘(But) now Allah has lightened your (task) for He knows that there is weakness in you. So if there are of you one-hundred steadfast, they will overcome (two-hundred (non-Muslims).’ (8.66) So when Allah reduced the number of enemies which Muslims should withstand, their patience and perseverance against the enemy decreased as much as their task was lightened for them. (Sahih Bukhari: 4653)
How to recite the prayer:
- Recite Salawat upon Muhammad (pbuh)
- Recite this prayer 11 times
- Recite Salawat upon Muhammad (pbuh)
- Recite it regularly before going to your job or work
