Sahih al-Bukhari 4653

Arabic

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ السُّلَمِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، أَخْبَرَنَا جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي الزُّبَيْرُ بْنُ خِرِّيتٍ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ ‏{‏إِنْ يَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَابِرُونَ يَغْلِبُوا مِائَتَيْنِ‏}‏ شَقَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ حِينَ فُرِضَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْ لاَ يَفِرَّ وَاحِدٌ مِنْ عَشَرَةٍ، فَجَاءَ التَّخْفِيفُ فَقَالَ رالآنَ خَفَّفَ اللَّهُ عَنْكُمْ وَعَلِمَ أَنَّ فِيكُمْ ضُعْفًا فَإِنْ يَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ مِائَةٌ صَابِرَةٌ يَغْلِبُوا مِائَتَيْنِ‏}‏‏.‏ قَالَ فَلَمَّا خَفَّفَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ مِنَ الْعِدَّةِ نَقَصَ مِنَ الصَّبْرِ بِقَدْرِ مَا خُفِّفَ عَنْهُمْ‏.‏

English translation

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

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 4653, Book of Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh)). English translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan.