۞ Assuredly well-pleased was Allah with the believers when they sware fealty unto thee under the tree, and He knew that which was in their hearts, wherefore He sent down tranquillity on them, and rewarded them with a victory near at hand. 18 And abundant spoils that they will capture. And Allah is Ever All-Mighty, All-Wise. 19 Allah has promised you abundant spoils which you shall acquire. He has instantly granted you this (victory) and has restrained the hands of people from you that it may be a Sign for the believers and He may guide you to a Straight Way. 20 And one more, not within your capacity, is within Allah’s hold; and Allah is Able to do all things. 21 If the unbelievers had fought you, they would have turned their backs, and then found neither protector nor helper; 22 That has been the Way of Allah already with those who passed away before. And you will not find any change in the Way of Allah. 23 And it is He Who has restrained their hands from you and your hands from them in the midst of Makka, after that He gave you the victory over them. And Allah sees well all that ye do. 24 [It was not for your enemies sake that He stayed your hands from them: for] it was they who were bent on denying the truth, and who debarred you from the Inviolable House of Worship and prevented your offering from reaching its destination. And had it not been for the believing men and believing women [in Mecca,] whom you might have unwittingly trampled underfoot, and on whose account you might have become guilty, without knowing it, of a grievous wrong: [had it not been for this, you would have been allowed to fight your way into the city: but you were forbidden to fight] so that [in time] God might admit to His grace whomever He wills. Had they [who deserve Our mercy and they whom We have condemned] been clearly discernible [to you,] We would indeed have imposed grievous suffering [at your hands] on such of them as were bent on denying the truth. 25 Since the disbelievers held zealous ignorance in their hearts, like that of the pre-Islamic age of darkness, God gave confidence to His Messenger and to the believers, binding them to the principle of piety which they deserve. God has the knowledge of all things. 26