The Quran

Preface

إِن تَستَفتِحوا فَقَد جاءَكُمُ الفَتحُ ۖ وَإِن تَنتَهوا فَهُوَ خَيرٌ لَكُم ۖ وَإِن تَعودوا نَعُد وَلَن تُغنِيَ عَنكُم فِئَتُكُم شَيئًا وَلَو كَثُرَت وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ المُؤمِنينَ

Yusuf Ali

(O Unbelievers!) if ye prayed for victory and judgment,¹ now hath the judgment come to you: if ye desist (from wrong), it will be best for you: if ye return (to the attack), so shall We. Not the least good will your forces be to you even if they were multiplied: for verily God is with those who believe!

Path = victory, decision, judgment. The Quraish in Mecca had prayed for victory; they were confident that their superior numbers, equipment, and experience would be decisive. With a play on the word, they are told that the decision had come, and the victory-but not in the sense they had hoped for!