The Quran

سورة الإسرَاء

Surah Al-Isrâ’ 17:6

The Night-Journey · Verse 6 of 111

ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ الْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَاكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا

Abdul Mannan Omar

Then We gave you back the power to prevail over these (enemies of yours through Cyrus and Zerubbabel), and We helped you with (various) possessions and sons and We increased your man-power (militarily).

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Then did We grant you the Return as against them: We gave you increase in resources and sons, and made you the more numerous in man-power.

Ahmed Ali

Then We gave you a chance against them, and strengthened you with wealth and children, and increased your numbers (and said):

12 more translations

Ali Unal

Then We gave the turn back to you to prevail over them, and strengthened you with resources and children, and made you the more numerous in human power (than before).

Daryabadi

Thereafter We gave you a return of victory over them, and We supported you with riches and children, and We made you a numerous concourse.

Faridul Haque

We then reversed your attack upon them, and aided you with wealth and sons and increased your numbers.

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Then We gave you back the turn against them, and aided you with wealth and children and made you a numerous band.

Maulvi Sher Ali

Then WE gave you back the power against them and aided you with wealth and children and also made you larger in numbers than before.

Muhammad Asad

And after a time We allowed you to prevail against them once again, and aided you with wealth and offspring, and made you more numerous [than ever].

Muhammad Musin Khan

Then We gave you once again, a return of victory over them. And We helped you with wealth and children and made you more numerous in man power.

Muhammad Pickthall

Then we gave you once again your turn against them, and We aided you with wealth and children and made you more in soldiery.

Muhammad Sarwar

Our Mighty servants, who will chase you from house to house. This is a decree already ordained. We, then, gave you a chance to defeat your enemies with the help of increasing your wealth and offspring.

Muhammed ali Shakir

Then We gave you back the turn to prevail against them, and aided you with wealth and children and made you a numerous band.

Rashad Khalifa

Afterwards, we will give you a turn over them, and will supply you with a lot of wealth and children; we will give you the upper hand.

Shabbir Ahmed

Then, We granted you victory over them (when King Cyrus of Persia defeated the Babylonians and brought you back to your country in 520 BC). We then, helped you with wealth and children and made you numerous in soldiery.

Commentary 17:6 The reference here is to the return of Israelites from Babylonian captivity. In the last quarter of the sixth century B.C., they made a secret agreement…

ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ الْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَاكُم بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا

17:6 The reference here is to the return of Israelites from Babylonian captivity. In the last quarter of the sixth century B.C., they made a secret agreement with Cyrus, King of Persia and assisted him in occupying Babylon. Babylon surrendered to his army in 539 B.C. As a reward for their services, Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and helped them rebuild the Temple of Solomon. The Jew Sheshbazzer, the governor under Cyrus, returned vessels to the temple, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away. A large body of exiled Jews were permitted to return to Jerusalem. The rebuilding was completed in 516 B.C. during the time of Prophet Nehemiah (see also 2:59). Ten tribes of Jews, as history and the Bible tell us, were “lost” during the occupation of the Babylonians. They escaped the pogroms and persecutions and were scattered within the vast lands of other nations. Contemporary Jews are traced back mostly to the two tribes who were able to return to the Palestinian lands under Cyrus. Later, they too were scattered into the lands of other nations who gave them shelter and refuge. This diaspora is mentioned in 17:105.