466. Why were the enemies portrayed in reduced numbers?

In verse (8:44) of the Quran it is being said the Almighty created an illusion between the warring factions, to appear the number of enemies in reduced numbers to each other.

Allah made the Muslims appear in reduced numbers to their enemies, and the enemies of Muslims were made to appear in reduced numbers to them.

A question can be posed now: why couldn’t Allah show the number of Muslims in greater numbers so as to scare the enemies to retreat?

If the objective had been to scare the enemies and make them retreat, Allah would have done the same.

But the objective was for the war to take place with the result Muslims tasting victory. When the number of the enemy is reduced, and shown, each side of the warring faction comes to gain confidence they can overcome the other, and enter the battlefield.

If the enemies on either side of the battle are shown in greater numbers than the other, it would prompt them to quit the battle and retreat.

The plan of the Almighty was the war should take place, and the message to both the sides saying the other side is lesser in number than their own, prompting each side to take part in the war and be confident of winning.

This was the situation before the starting of the battle, and once the war started Allah changed the situation to create fear in the hearts of the enemies, and breed confidence in Muslims. The enemies of Muslims appeared small in number for them just as they did in the beginning of the war.

But Allah made the Muslims appear twice the number to the enemies making them lose their self confidence leading to them to their defeat at the hands of he Muslims. This can be seen from the verse 3:13 of the Quran.