003:147

The Holy Qor-aan                                                                                                        003:147

وَكَاَيِّنۡ مِّنۡ نَّبِىٍّ قٰتَلَ ۙ مَعَهٗ رِبِّيُّوۡنَ كَثِيۡرٌ ۚ فَمَا وَهَنُوۡا لِمَاۤ اَصَابَهُمۡ فِىۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ وَمَا ضَعُفُوۡا وَمَا اسۡتَكَانُوۡا ‌ؕ  وَاللّٰهُ يُحِبُّ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَ‏

Wa-ka-auy-yim-min-na-bee-yin-qaa-ta-la                                                                                Ma-aa-hoo-rib-bee-yoo-na-ka-thee-r                                                                                            Fa-maa-wa-ha-noo-lay-maa-aa-saa-ba-hoom                                                                            Fee-sa-bee-lil-laa-hay                                                                                                                        Wa-maa-dza-o-foo-wa-mus-ta-kaa-noo                                                                                    Wul-laa-ho-yo-hib-boos-sua-bay-ree-n

And how often a prophet retaliated                                                                                And along with him were many devotees.                                                                          And yet they never slackened for what struck them                                                     In the cause of Allah.                                                                                                              And they did not show weakness.                                                                                      And they did not make excuses.                                                                                      And by God Allah loves the steadfast.

• وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
• كَاَيِّنۡ — Ka-auy-yin(m) —  How often (= How many of the events, occasions or times)
• مِّنۡ — Min — Among (= Among, from or out of the class or category or several articles, counts, kind, things, persons or phenomenon)
• نَّبِىٍّ — Na-be-yin — A prophet (= n., s., Apostle; God’s messenger; saint; sage. One who  brings, gives or reveals new news, makes forecasts, or foretells the coming events. See the Note blow for some who have translated this singular word into a plural)
• قٰتَلَ — Qaa-ta-la — Retaliated (= v., past., s., 3^rd person. Fought. The contents of this  verse justify interpreting this word as follows.  Being attacked, battled or combated led them to take up arms.  Cause of long persecution, oppression and suppression  resulted in their fighting back.   Drawn into fighting.  Engaged in battles. Destruction of life and property left them no alternative but to push back.  They strove, they            struggled, they suffered, but eventually they resisted aggression and went to war.  The rampant carnage, killing, massacre, mayhem, murder, slaughter and slaying they suffered finally compelled them to defend themselves. See Commentary titled as  ‘Jihad – Is it Fighting?)
• مَعَ — Ma-aa — Along with (= adv., Also; as well; besides; following; furthermore; in addition; in the company of; likewise; moreover)
• هٗ — Hoo — Him (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person. Refers to the aforesaid prophet. A/t/a, ‘them’ which is not accurate)
• رِبِّيُّوۡنَ — Rib-bee-yoo-na — Devotees (= n., pl., Companions. (= n., pl., Companions. Devout.  Disciples.  Supporters.  Hosts.  The worshipers of the Almighty God who  really, sincerely, totally, truly and wholly are dedicated godly people, obedient and subservient to Him.  Loyal followers and practitioners of the religion who preach others what they do themselves as exhorted in the verses 061:003/004. Religiously learned men who are pious and righteous)
• كَثِيۡرٌ — Ka-thee-roon — Large number (= Big, great or large number; large bands; many; several)
• فَ — Fa — Yet (= After all this; as a result; at the end; consequently; then; hence; so; thereafter; therefore. in conclusion)
• مَاۤ — Maa — (Did) not (= Absolutely no; never; not at all)
• وَهَنُوۡا — Wa-ha-noo — They slacked (= v., past., pl., 3^rd person. Became halfhearted and slow; lost heart; quailed; showed cowardice or weakness; slowed down; slackened; turned out to be of a faint and weak heart; unnerved; weakened. Also, awed; daunted; feared; frightened; intimidated; overcome)
• لِ — Lay — For (= Because of; concerning; due to; for the reason of; on account of; regarding; relative to; so that; to; towards)
• مَاۤ — Maa — What (= All that; whatever; whatsoever. A/t/a ‘aught’)
• اَصَا بَ — Aa-saa-ba — Struck (= v., past., m., 3^rd person. Affected; arrived; befallen; befell; came to; fell on; hit; landed on; overcame; overtook; reached; smut; struck; suffered by; touched; was delivered)
• هُمۡ‌ — Hoom — Them (= pro., pl., m., 3 ^rd person. Refers to aforesaid devotees)
• فِىۡ  — Fee — In (= In; concerning; regarding; in reference; relative to. Also, amidst, during or inside a time, place or event)
• سَبِيۡلِ — Sa-bee-l … (il) — Cause (= n., s., Action; alternative; cause, course; escape; line;  means; measure; method; path; pretext; remedy; road; way. See Note 004:089  & Phrase fee-sa-be-lil-laa-hay)
• اللّٰهِ‌ — Laa-hay — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
• وَ  — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• مَاۤ — Maa — (Did) not (= Absolutely no; never; not at all)
• ضَعُفُوۡا — Dza-o-foo — Show weakness (= v., past., pl., 3^rd person. Became afraid, feeble, frightened, incapable to fend, or unable to take care of themselves. Became vulnerable or weak; weakened)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
• مَاۤ — Maa…(us) — (Did) not (= Absolutely no; never; not at all)
• اسۡتَكَانُوۡا — Us-ta-kaa-noo — Make excuses (= v., past., pl., 3^rd person.   Abased.   Argued and brought shame to their side.   Became argumentative, broken down, crushed, and failed or faltered to take a stand.  Degraded, humiliated or lowered themselves. Expressed resentment.   Fell on their knees.   Felt sorry.   Made excuses saying, “We wish we had such and such tools or equipment’ or ‘such and such thing was there’ reflecting the typical American expression conveyed by the phrase ‘Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda.’ A/t/a, ‘gave in,’  ‘showed inconsistency (against their adversary)’ and ‘cringed abjectly’)
• وَ — Wa…(ul) — And (= This vaao is tantamount to taking oath; solemn declaration or calling as a witness. Normally a Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; also; and;  but; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
• اللّٰهُ —  Laa-ho –Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
• يُحِبُّ — Yo-hib-bo..(l) — Loves (= v., pres., s., 3^rd person. Admires; adores; appreciates;  approves; cherishes; is attached; likes very much; prefers. A/t/a covets; craves; desires; wants; wishes)
• الصّٰبِرِيۡنَ — Saa-bay-ree-na —  Steadfast (= n., Consistent; constant; insistent; patient; persistent; perseverant; pursuant; ; who patiently persevere with continuity, endurance, fortitude and regular repetitions and show above characteristics with no failing, flailing, falling or faltering; unwavering. Those who are patient in the adversity, tribulations and times of stress. A/t/a, ‘patiently-persevering-ones’)

** Note 003:147. This site prefers a simple and straightforward translation as given above compared with the following of various other translations of the first clause of this verse

• “Many large armies have fought by the side of their prophet.“
• “How many of the Prophets fought (in God’s way) and with them (fought) large bands of godly men?”
• “And many a prophet there has been beside whom fought numerous companies of their followers.” 
• “Many a Prophet (i.e. many from among the Prophets) fought (in Allah’s Cause) and along with whom (fought) large bands of religious learned men.”
• “Many Prophets have here been along with whom large number of their followers went into battle.”