Transliteration:( Summa anzala 'alaikum mim ba'dil ghammi amanatan nu'aasai yaghshaa taaa' ifatam minkum wa taaa'ifatun qad ahammat-hum anfusuhum yazunnoona billaahi ghairal haqqi zannal jaahiliyyati yaqooloona hal lanaa minal amri min shai'; qul innal amra kullahoo lillaah; yukhfoona fee anfusihim maa laa yubdoona laka yaqooloona law kaana lanaa minal amri shai'ummaa qutilnaa haahunaa; qul law kuntum fee buyootikum labarazal lazeena kutiba 'alaihimul qatlu ilaa madaaji'ihim wa liyabtaliyal laahu maa fee sudoorikum wa liyumah hisa maa fee quloobikum; wallaahu 'aleemum bizaatis sudoor )
“Then after the distress, He sent down to you [335] security (in the form of) slumber that had surrounded a faction of you [336], while other factions were anxious about themselves, thinking of Allah unjustly [337]. The suspicion due to ignorance, saying: ‘And have we any power [338] in this affair?’ Please declare: ‘The governance of their affairs is entirely in the hands of Allah.’ They conceal in their hearts what they dare not reveal [339] to you. They say: ‘If we had any power, then we would not have been killed here [340].’ Please declare: ‘Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death had been decreed would have gone to the place of slaughter [341].’ (It was) so that Allah might test what is in your breasts [342], and whatever is in your hearts might purge it. Allah knows well the secrets of your hearts [343].”
This is one of the miracles of the Holy Prophet ﷺ—that despite the extreme anxiety, the Companions on the battlefield of Uhud were overpowered by sleep to such an extent that weapons were falling from their hands. Calm and tranquillity descended upon them. From this we learn that during sorrow and calamity, Allah Almighty provides His true servants with peace and comfort. Even today, such feelings are experienced by the pious.
On that day, there was a clear difference in the sleep experienced by the believers and the hypocrites. Those who were drowsy were the believers, because through the Grace of Allah Almighty, their hearts were at ease. Those who were restless and anxious were the hypocrites, because they were deprived of peace.
By “suspected unjustly” is meant the assumption that the martyrdom of the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions would mark the end of Islam, and that Allah would no longer help the Muslims. Such thoughts arise from ignorance and weak faith.
This is a negative question, meaning: “We participated in the Battle of Uhud against our will.” If it was within their power, they say, they would never have taken part. This is explained in the verse: “If we had any power…”
From this, we learn that difficulties in religious duties must be endured with patience, which is the mark of true believers. In contrast, complaints and impatience are the signs of hypocrites.
The hypocrites thought that Allah’s promise of the conquest of Makkah given to the Prophet ﷺ was false. They believed that if it were true, then the victory at Uhud would have occurred. However, they did not dare say this openly out of fear of the Muslims.
This nonsensical statement was made by Abdullah ibn Ubayy, the chief of the hypocrites, who claimed they came to fight against their will. He said: “Had we not come, our men would not have been slain.” Such thinking denies the reality of divine will and decree.
Just as the time of death is preordained, so is its location. In whatever manner and place a person is to die, it has already been decreed by Allah. Even if someone stayed in their home, death would reach them at its appointed place.
From this emerge two points:
To participate and fight in the Battle of Uhud was the sign of true believers, while not participating or deserting the battlefield was the sign of disbelievers and hypocrites—such as Abdullah ibn Ubayy, who took 300 men away from the battlefield.
Trials and tests are not for Allah’s knowledge (as He is All-Knowing), but for man's awareness—so that he is not deceived about his own reality. This is why Allah says: “Allah knows the thoughts of your hearts.”
From this emerge two more issues:
Defeat or victory, and other forms of battlefield hardship, are tests for the Muslims to distinguish between truth and falsehood, between the sincere and the hypocrites.
This distinction is not for Allah’s knowledge, as He is All-Knowing, but for human awareness. Hence, difficulty is part of divine wisdom and serves a higher purpose in spiritual growth.
154. Then after the distress, He sent down security for you. Slumber overtook a party of you, while another party was thinking about themselves and thought wrongly of Allah — the thought of ignorance. They said, “Have we any part in the affair” Say: “Indeed the affair belongs wholly to Allah.” They hide within themselves what they dare not reveal to you, saying: “If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here.” Say: “Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death,” but that Allah might test what is in your breasts; and to purify that which was in your hearts (sins), and Allah is All-Knower of what is in the breasts. 155. Those of you who turned back on the day the two hosts met, Shaytan only caused them to err because of some of what they had earned. But Allah, indeed, has forgiven them. Surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.
Allah reminds His servants of His favor when He sent down on them tranquillity and slumber that overcame them while they were carrying their weapons and feeling distress and grief. In this case, slumber is a favor and carries meanings of calmness and safety. For instance, Allah said in Surat Al-Anfal about the battle of Badr,
((Remember) when He covered you with a slumber as a security from Him) ﴿8:11﴾.
Al-Bukhari recorded that Anas said that, Abu Talhah said, “I was among those who were overcome by slumber during the battle of Uhud. My sword fell from my hand several times and I would pick it up, then it would fall and I would pick it up again.” Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith in the stories of the battles without a chain of narration, and in the book of Tafsir with a chain of narrators. At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i and Al-Hakim recorded from Anas that Abu Talhah said, “On the day of Uhud, I raised my head and looked around and found that everyone’s head was nodding from slumber.” This is the wording of At-Tirmidhi, who said, “Hasan Sahih”. An-Nasa’i also recorded this Hadith from Anas who said that Abu Talhah said, “I was among those who were overcome by slumber.”
The second group mentioned in the Ayah were the hypocrites who only thought about themselves, for they are the most cowardly people and those least likely to support the truth,
(and thought wrongly of Allah – the thought of ignorance) ﴿3:154﴾, for they are liars and people who have doubts and evil thoughts about Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored. Allah said,
(Then after the distress, He sent down security for you. Slumber overtook a party of you), the people of faith, certainty, firmness and reliance (on Allah) who are certain that Allah shall give victory to His Messenger and fulfill his objective.
(While another party was thinking about themselves), and they were not overcome by slumber because of their worry, fright and fear,
(and thought wrongly of Allah — the thought of ignorance).
Similarly, Allah said in another statement,
(Nay, but you thought that the Messenger and the believers would never return to their families) ﴿48:12﴾.
This group thought that the idolators achieved ultimate victory, when their forces took the upper hand in battle, and that Islam and its people would perish. This is typical of people of doubt and hesitation, in the event of a hardship, they fall into such evil thoughts. Allah then described them that,
(they said) in this situation,
(“Have we any part in the affair”) Allah replied,
(Say: “Indeed the affair belongs wholly to Allah.” They hide within themselves what they dare not reveal to you.) wAllah exposed their secrets, that is,
(saying: “If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here.”) although they tried to conceal this thought from the Messenger of Allah .
Ibn Ishaq recorded that `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr said that Az-Zubayr said, “I was with the Messenger of Allah when fear intensified and Allah sent sleep to us (during the battle of Uhud). At that time, every man among us (except the hypocrites) was nodding off. By Allah! As if in a dream, I heard the words of Mu`attib bin Qushayr, `If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here.’ I memorized these words of his, which Allah mentioned later on,
(saying: “If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here.)”
Ibn Abi Hatim collected this Hadith.
Allah the Exalted said,
(Say: “Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death,”) meaning, this is Allah’s appointed destiny and a decision that will certainly come to pass, and there is no escaping it. Allah’s statement,
(that Allah might test what is in your breasts; and to purify that which was in your hearts,) means, so that He tests you with whatever befell you, to distinguish good from evil and the deeds and statements of the believers from those of the hypocrites,
(and Allah is All-Knower of what is in the breasts), and what the hearts conceal.
Allah then said,
(Those of you who turned back on the day the two hosts met, Shaytan only caused them to err because of some of what they had earned) ﴿3:155﴾,
because of some of their previous errors. Indeed, some of the Salaf said, “The reward of the good deed includes being directed to another good deed that follows it, while the retribution of sin includes committing another sin that follows it.” Allah then said,
(but Allah, indeed, has forgiven them), their giving flight,
(surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing)
He forgives sins, pardons and exonerates His creatures. Imam Ahmad recorded that Shaqiq said, ” `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf met Al-Walid bin `Uqbah, who said to him, `Why did you desert `Uthman, the Leader of the Faithful’ `Abdur-Rahman said, `Tell him that I did not run away during Uhud, remain behind during Badr, nor abandon the Sunnah of `Umar.’ Al-Walid told `Uthman what `Abdur-Rahman said. `Uthman replied, `As for his statement, `I did not run away during Uhud,’ how can he blame me for an error that Allah has already forgiven. Allah said,
(Those of you who turned back on the day the two hosts met, Shaytan only caused them to err because of some of what they had earned. But Allah, indeed, has forgiven them).
As for his statement that I remained behind from participating in Badr, I was nursing Ruqayyah, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah , until she passed away. The Messenger of Allah gave me a share in the booty of Badr, and whoever gets a share in the booty from the Messenger of Allah will have participated in battle. As for his statement that I abandoned the Sunnah of `Umar, neither I nor he are able to endure it. Go and convey this answer to him.”’
(3:154) Then, after inflict-ing this grief, He sent down an inner peace upon you – a sleep which overtook some of you.[112] Those who were concerned merely about themselves, entertaining false notions about Allah – the notions of the Age of Ignorance – asked: ‘Have we any say in the matter?’ Tell them: Truly, all power of decision rests solely with Allah.’ Indeed, they conceal in their hearts what they would not reveal to you, saying: ‘If we had any power of decision, we would not have been slain here.’ Say: ‘Even if you had been in your houses, those for whom slaying had been appointed would have gone forth to the places where they were to be slain.’ And all this happened so that Allah might test your secret thoughts and purge your hearts of all impurities. Allah knows well what is in the breasts of men.
112. A strange phenomenon was then experienced by certain Muslim soldiers. Abu Talhah, who took part in the battle, states that the Muslims were seized by such drowsiness that their swords were slipping from their hands. (For several Traditions stating this incident, including one related by Abu Talhah, see Waqidi, Maghazi, vol. 1, pp. 295-6 – Ed.)
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