Quran Universe
8:26

وَٱذۡكُرُوٓاْ إِذۡ أَنتُمۡ قَلِيلٞ مُّسۡتَضۡعَفُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ تَخَافُونَ أَن يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ فَـَٔاوَىٰكُمۡ وَأَيَّدَكُم بِنَصۡرِهِۦ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ

Waothkuroo ith antum qaleelun mustadAAafoona fee alardi takhafoona an yatakhattafakumu alnnasu faawakum waayyadakum binasrihi warazaqakum mina alttayyibati laAAallakum tashkuroona

And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, fearing that people might abduct you, but He sheltered you, supported you with His victory, and provided you with good things - that you might be grateful.

Word by word
  1. وَٱذۡكُرُوٓاْAnd remember
  2. إِذۡwhen
  3. أَنتُمۡyou
  4. قَلِيلٞ(were) few
  5. مُّسۡتَضۡعَفُونَ(and) deemed weak
  6. فِيin
  7. ٱلۡأَرۡضِthe earth
  8. تَخَافُونَfearing
  9. أَنthat
  10. يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُmight do away with you
  11. ٱلنَّاسُthe men
  12. فَـَٔاوَىٰكُمۡthen He sheltered you
  13. وَأَيَّدَكُمand strengthened you
  14. بِنَصۡرِهِۦwith His help
  15. وَرَزَقَكُمand provided you
  16. مِّنَof
  17. ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِthe good things
  18. لَعَلَّكُمۡso that you may
  19. تَشۡكُرُونَ(be) thankful
Al-Anfal · 8:26Madinah

Remember when you were few and afraid.

Looking back to see how far He brought you

Then and now
few, weakafraid of being seized
He gave
sheltera safe home in Madinah
helpvictory
good thingsprovision
Why remember
I got here myselfforget the past
so you might be gratefulremembering is thanks

In Makkah the believers were few, practicing in secret, afraid of being snatched away. Allah gave them a safe home in Madinah, with the people there sheltering and supporting them. Qatadah said: your Lord gives favors and loves to be praised, and those who thank Him are given more.

The first tiny apartment. The year you could not pay the bills. The months you had no one. Now you have a steady job, a home, people. It is easy to forget the beginning. Remembering it is how gratitude stays alive.

That hard time is behind me. Better not to think about it.

Remembering where I started shows me how much Allah has given me.

Try this

Write down three things you have now that you didn't have five years ago. Thank Allah for each.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

And remember when you were few and were reckoned weak in the land, and were afraid that men might kidnap you, but He provided a safe place for you, strengthened you with His help, and provided you with good things (for livelihood) so that you might be grateful (26)

Reminding Muslims of Their previous State of Weakness and Subjugation which changed into Might and Triumph

Allah, the Exalted, reminds His believing servants of His blessings and favors on them. They were few and He made them many, weak and fearful and He provided them with strength and victory. They were meek and poor, and He granted them sustenance and livelihood. He ordered them to be grateful to Him, and they obeyed Him and implemented what He commanded.

When the believers were still in Makkah they were few, practicing their religion in secret, oppressed, fearing that pagans, fire worshippers or Romans might kidnap them from the various parts of Allah's earth, for they were all enemies of the Muslims, especially since Muslims were few and weak. Later on, Allah permitted the believers to migrate to Al-Madinah, where He allowed them to settle in a safe resort. Allah made the people of Al-Madinah their allies, giving them refuge and support during Badr and other battles. They helped the Migrants with their wealth and gave up their lives in obedience of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. Qatadah bin Di'amah As-Sadusi commented,

وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ

(And remember when you were few and were reckoned weak in the land,)

"Arabs were the weakest of the weak, had the toughest life, the emptiest stomachs, the barest skin and the most obvious misguidance. Those who lived among them lived in misery; those who died went to the Fire. They were being eaten up, but unable to eat up others! By Allah! We do not know of a people on the face of the earth at that time who had a worse life than them. When Allah brought Islam, He made it dominant on the earth, thus bringing provisions and leadership for them over the necks of people. It is through Islam that Allah granted all what you see, so thank Him for His favors, for your Lord is One Who bestows favors and likes praise. Verily, those who thank Allah enjoy even more bounties from Him."