Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: Allah Almighty made it obligatory upon the people that one man would face ten. This matter became a great source of distress for them and was very burdensome. Allah Almighty then made it easier for them so that one man would face two, and regarding this Allah Almighty revealed the verse: "If there are twenty steadfast among you..." until the end of the verse. Then Allah Almighty said: "If it had not been for a prior decree from Allah, a great punishment would have seized you for what you have done." (The narrator states) This refers to the spoils of the Battle of Badr, and the meaning is that if I had not already decided that I would not punish the one who disobeys Me, then I would have punished you.