Language: The power and fracture in هزم
- يُهْزَمُ comes from هَزَمَ, conveying the breaking up of something—pressing it until it’s dented, depressed, or crushed.
- هَزْمَة: something squeezed and broken into bits; also used for a depression in the ground or chest.
- هَزِيمَة: a defeat associated with being crushed and broken.
- اِهْتَزَمَ (re: a sheep): slaughtered due to the neck being pressed with a knife.
- Usage: هَزَمَنا جَيْشَ العَدُو — implies breaking and blunting the enemy such that retreats happen and “cavities” form in their ranks.
- Thus, سَيُهْزَمُ الْجَمْعُ indicates the collective will be crushed, broken, and suppressed.
Who is “Al‑Jam’” (الجمع)?
A gathering/collective (here: the Quraishi collective). The explanation contrasts:
- جَمِيعٌ: a group unified in purpose (how they described themselves previously).
- الْجَمْعُ: after defeat, not a unified body—just a gathering that is broken and dispersed.
“They will turn the back” (وَيُوَلُّونَ الدُّبُرَ)
- Literally: “they will turn the back,” i.e., they will flee and retreat.
- Elsewhere the plural أَدْبَار appears; here the singular الدُّبُر is used with the sense “they will turn the back.”
- They fancied themselves one undefeatable unit; in reality, they will turn their backs in retreat “as one.”
The prefixed Seen (س) and certainty
As highlighted by Al‑Alūsī, the prefixed سـ in سَيُهْزَمُ is emphatic: their multitude will most certainly be defeated.
Tafsir Al‑Alūsī: Context and rebuttal
- “Al‑Jam’ will be defeated” is a rebuttal of their claim.
- Revealed before Jihad was prescribed; no battle had yet taken place.
- ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked at the verse’s revelation: “Which Jam’ will be defeated?”—no fighting had occurred yet.
Report at Badr (Sahih al‑Bukhari)
It has been reported that on the Day of Badr the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited this verse which had been revealed many years prior to that. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) relates: While in his tent on the day of the Battle of Badr, the Prophet ﷺ said: “I implore You by Your covenant and Your promise! O Allah, if You willed it, You shall never be worshipped after today (i.e. if the Muslims are defeated)!” Then Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) took hold of his hand and said: Enough, O Messenger of Allah! You have pleaded earnestly with your Lord. The Prophet ﷺ was wearing his armour, so He emerged (from his tent), reciting: سَيُهْزَمُ الْجَمْعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ الدُّبُرَ “The multitude will be defeated, and they will turn their backs. Nay, but rather the Hour is their appointed time, and the Hour will be more calamitous and more bitter”.
As cited in the provided explanation.
Reading the structure
- سَيُهْزَمُ is in the passive: “will be defeated.”
- الْجَمْعُ: the collective/gathering (not necessarily unified in purpose).
- وَيُوَلُّونَ الدُّبُرَ: “and they will turn the back”—fleeing in retreat.
From the explanation: insights and themes
- Claims of undefeatable unity are overturned; their “unity” collapses under defeat.
- Defeat here is not merely loss—it is crushing and breaking, with ranks indented and collapsing.
- Retreat is depicted as “turning the back” collectively—as if the very boast of being one unit is inverted against them.
- The declaration of defeat preceded any fighting—underscoring certainty.
Glossary (from the analysis)
هَزَمَ breaking/pressing to dent or crush
يُهْزَمُ will be defeated (passive)
هَزْمَة squeezed/broken; depression/indent
هَزِيمَة crushing defeat
اِهْتَزَمَ slaughtering (neck pressed with a knife)
الْجَمْعُ gathering/collective
جَمِيعٌ unified group in purpose
الدُّبُر the back (singular); أَدْبَار backs (plural)
Visual summary
- Crushing defeat: هَزِيمَة with the sense of being broken up and indented.
- Collective undone: الْجَمْعُ reduced from proud unity (جَمِيعٌ) to a dispersed gathering.
- Backs turned: singular الدُّبُر underscores their retreat “as one.”
- Proclaimed beforehand: a rebuttal declared before any battle—sealed with the emphatic س.