أَم يَقولونَ نَحنُ جَميعٌ مُنتَصِرٌ
Or do they say: ‘We are a host allied together to help each other?’
EXEGESIS
Am (or) is to give another reason for their defiance and their negligence of past history.
Jamʿ (host allied) here means majmūʿ (group) and is a reference to a community united based on shared ideals and actions[1] that has the capability to fulfil certain goals together.[2]
Muntaṣir (help each other) comes from the infinitive intiṣār, which means reprisal and overpowering,[3] and has been used in a similar meaning in 37:25 in the context of the Day of Judgement. In this sense, it could mean ‘none shall overpower us and we shall be victorious’ or it could mean ‘we shall help each other’ in the meaning of mutanāṣir.[4]
EXPOSITION
This is the third excuse that could be presented by the polytheists for not fearing the predicament of the past nations. They were under the impression that since they were a united block as a confederate with tribal alliances, they could help each other, and none could overpower them.
This claim of theirs was nothing but an illusion. In fact, the previous nations were much stronger than them and had more power (see 6:6, 28:78, 30:9, 35:44, 40:21, 40:82, 47:13, and 50:36), but could not defend themselves when destruction fell upon them.[5] Those who were before them denied [the apostles], and these have not received one-tenth of what We had given them. But they denied My apostles, so how was My rebuttal? (34:45).
This kind of false arrogance was something seen in previous nations as well where they would believe that large numbers could protect them against their Creator (41:15).
Some exegetes also understand this verse as indicating that the polytheists were proud of their numbers in comparison to the Muslims who were a minority at the time.[6]
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS
- There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.[7]
[1] Mizan, 19/84.
[2] Amthal, 17/341.
[3] Amthal, 17/341.
[4] Daqaiq, 12/549.
[5] Amthal, 17/341.
[6] Fadlallah, 21/294; Mudarrisi, 14/261.
[7] Psalms 33:16-17.