8:65 and 8:66 contradiction

[Almaz]

Hello, I am having a problem reconciling the the verse 865 and 866.

Al-Anfal 865

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ حَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى ٱلْقِتَالِۚ إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَٰبِرُونَ يَغْلِبُوا۟ مِا۟ئَتَيْنِۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّا۟ئَةٌ يَغْلِبُوٓا۟ أَلْفًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ

O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.

Al-Anfal 866

ٱلْـَٰٔنَ خَفَّفَ ٱللَّهُ عَنكُمْ وَعَلِمَ أَنَّ فِيكُمْ ضَعْفًاۚ فَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّا۟ئَةٌ صَابِرَةٌ يَغْلِبُوا۟ مِا۟ئَتَيْنِۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ أَلْفٌ يَغْلِبُوٓا۟ أَلْفَيْنِ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ

Now, Allah has lightened for you, and He knows that among you is weakness. So if there are from you one hundred steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you a thousand, they will overcome two thousand by permission of Allah . And Allah is with the steadfast.

Why is it first 1 muslim can take 10 nonbelievers then 1 muslim can take 2 nonbelievers. Also does it imply that god learned about their weakness? I don’t believe in abrogation. Why does it change from 10 to 2. Wouldn’t god already have known of their weakness and that they could only take 2 from the beginning.

I am a muslim and I want to be of sound faith. I already searched the forum and the explanation I found wasn’t convincing. A response would be much appreciated.

If i can resolve all of the supposed contradictions in the quran I want to write a book in the future on the topic.

[good_logic]

Peace Almaz
Welcome.
when the prophet started his mission the number of followers started in small numbers then the movement was growing slowly, then with pace and many were joining the cause.
865 and 866 are talking about two different situations
865
O you prophet, you shall exhort the believers to fight. If there are twenty of you who are steadfast, they can defeat two hundred, and a hundred of you can defeat a thousand of those who disbelieved. That is because they are people who do not understand.
يٰأَيُّهَا النَّبِىُّ حَرِّضِ المُؤمِنينَ عَلَى القِتالِ إِن يَكُن مِنكُم عِشرونَ صٰبِرونَ يَغلِبوا مِا۟ئَتَينِ وَإِن يَكُن مِنكُم مِا۟ئَةٌ يَغلِبوا أَلفًا مِنَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا بِأَنَّهُم قَومٌ لا يَفقَهونَ

God is talking about the faithful and sincere believers that joined the prophet with 100% commitment to the cause in earlier conflict.

866
Now (that many new people have joined you) God has made it easier for you, for He knows that you are not as strong as you used to be. Henceforth, a hundred steadfast believers can defeat two hundred, and a thousand of you can defeat two thousand by God's leave. God is with those who steadfastly persevere.
الـٰٔنَ خَفَّفَ اللَّهُ عَنكُم وَعَلِمَ أَنَّ فيكُم ضَعفًا فَإِن يَكُن مِنكُم مِا۟ئَةٌ صابِرَةٌ يَغلِبوا مِا۟ئَتَينِ وَإِن يَكُن مِنكُم أَلفٌ يَغلِبوا أَلفَينِ بِإِذنِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصّٰبِرينَ

This time your number is more but some hearts are not with it. some have different motives or are double agents or... .i.e There are "Munafikeen amongst them, people with doubt...etc
The trial of GOD for the believers must continue to weed out the true from the false believer.Hence the change of circumstance.

God knew that this will happen according to His test for the people and generation.

Note GOD s warning to any who wish to betray the prophet , or pretend

O you prophet, tell the prisoners of war in your hands, "If God knew of anything good in your hearts, He would have given you better than anything you have lost, and would have forgiven you. God is Forgiver, Most Merciful."
يٰأَيُّهَا النَّبِىُّ قُل لِمَن فى أَيديكُم مِنَ الأَسرىٰ إِن يَعلَمِ اللَّهُ فى قُلوبِكُم خَيرًا يُؤتِكُم خَيرًا مِمّا أُخِذَ مِنكُم وَيَغفِر لَكُم وَاللَّهُ غَفورٌ رَحيمٌ
And if they want to betray you, they have already betrayed God. This is why He made them the losers. God is Omniscient, Most Wise.
وَإِن يُريدوا خِيانَتَكَ فَقَد خانُوا اللَّهَ مِن قَبلُ فَأَمكَنَ مِنهُم وَاللَّهُ عَليمٌ حَكيمٌ

The two verses are not talking about the same time and situation.

Surely those who believe and give 100% to their submission to GOD and the cause of the truth have ben joined by some weaker /hypocrites when the numbers grew.
This was A lesson and a test from GOD to the last generation and all generations.

Look what happened to true Islam when the majority won. It became a false religion and GOD stopped supporting falsehood all together.

My understanding. The same thing happened to all religions that got mixed up un till eventually the hypocrites and idol worshippers/people who chose men s authority, materials and men s words /systems have prevailed and changed GOD s system into their preferred and false systems/religions.
GOD allows the test . Good and bad must mix so that GOD weeds out the true from the false.
GOD bless you.
Peace.