And [remember] when He showed them to you, when you met, as few in your eyes, and He made you [appear] as few in their eyes so that Allāh might accomplish a matter already destined. And to Allāh are [all] matters returned.
وَيُقَلِّلُكُمۡand He made you (appear) as fewwayuqallilukum
فِيٓinfī
أَعۡيُنِهِمۡtheir eyesaʿyunihim
لِيَقۡضِيَthat might accomplishliyaqḍiya
ٱللَّهُAllah might accomplishl-lahu
أَمۡرٗاa matteramran
كَانَ(that) waskāna
مَفۡعُولٗاۗ(already) destinedmafʿūlan
وَإِلَىAnd towa-ilā
ٱللَّهِAllahl-lahi
تُرۡجَعُreturntur'jaʿu
ٱلۡأُمُورُ(all) the mattersl-umūru
Tafsir
Remember, O believers, when Allah showed the idolaters to you, when you met them, as few and made you bravely go forward towards fighting them; and He made you seem few in their eyes, so that they came forward to fight you, without thinking of leaving. This was so that Allah could bring about a matter that was predetermined by taking retribution from the idolaters by them being killed or taken prisoners, and by favouring the believers with victory and defeat of their enemies. All matters are returned to Allah alone and He will repay the one who does evil for his wrongdoing and the one who does good for his good deeds.