Overall meaning : Allah Almighty addresses His Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying: Remember, Muhammad, when Allah showed the unbelieving forces at Badr to you in a dream as few in number, and you informed your companions about what you had seen, so that they were stimulated to fight against them. Had He shown them to you as many in number and you informed Muslims about that, they would surely have lost heart and would surely have disagreed with one another about fighting against the idolaters. But this Allah spared you. He has knowledge of people’s innermost thoughts.
To confirm the glad tidings overshadowed by the vision, Allah made you see the unbelieving forces when both your armies met in battle as few in number so you may pluck up courage to fight against them, and He made you appear as few in their eyes so they would make light of you and proceed into battle, so that would accomplish a matter He had already ordained, namely to fight against each other at Badr and grant Muslims’ victory over the unbelievers; for ultimately to Allah alone are all matters referred for decision.