Transliteration:( Innal lazeena tawallaw minkum yawmal taqal jam'aani innamas tazallahumush Shaitaanu biba'di maa kasaboo wa laqad 'afal laahu 'anhum; innnal laaha Ghafoorun Haleem )
“No doubt those of you who turned back [344] on the day when the two armies met [345]—it was Shaitan who caused them to slip [346] because of some of their actions [347], and surely Allah forgave them [348]. Verily, Allah is Most Forgiving, Gentle [349].”
In the Battle of Uhud, only fourteen Companions, including Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, Hazrat Umar Farooq, and Hazrat Ali Murtaza (may Allah be pleased with them), stood firm with the Prophet ﷺ. The rest of the Companions fled from the battlefield out of fear and confusion. (Khazainul Irfaan)
This verse hints at the Battle of Uhud. The Holy Prophet ﷺ had appointed 50 Companions at the Uhud Pass, under the leadership of Hazrat Abdullah ibn Jabeer (on whom be peace), with firm instructions not to leave the post under any condition until commanded.
When the first Muslim attack repelled the non-believers, causing them to flee, the archers left their post to gather the spoils of war, despite Hazrat Abdullah's pleas to remain. Believing that victory was already achieved, they thought guarding the Pass was no longer needed.
Upon seeing the unguarded Pass, the Kuffaar regrouped and attacked the Muslims from behind, changing the entire outcome of the battle. This verse relates directly to that moment.
From this emerge two important points:
The fleeing of the Companions from the battlefield is not considered a sin, as Allah referred to it as an unintentional error, similar to the incident of Hazrat Adam (on whom be peace), of whom Allah said: “And the devil made them slip.” The same wording is used here.
Shaitan has no power over the chosen servants of Allah. Allah says: “No doubt, those who are My bondsmen, you have no control over them” (Surah Al-Isra, 17:65). However, even the pious may err, as did Hazrat Adam. So this verse does not contradict the other.
By “their certain actions” is meant the archers’ decision to leave the Uhud Pass due to a misunderstanding. From this incident we learn that even a small error can result in major consequences. Their intentions may not have been bad, but the outcome was serious.
Allah Almighty be praised! What a beautiful declaration. May our obedience be sacrificed on the errors of these pious people. May Allah Almighty forgive our sins for the sake of their honour. This verse declares that Allah has forgiven their error. Therefore, anyone who speaks ill of these Companions after this declaration is bereft of Faith.
(Commentary: Ahmed Yaar Khan)
It should be remembered that:
The error of the archers was leaving their post.
The error of the others was fleeing the battlefield.
The first error is referred to in “because of their certain actions”, and the second in “those of you who turned back”, both followed by the statement: “And surely Allah Almighty forgave them” (Surah Aal-e-Imran, 3:155).
May Allah Almighty also forgive a sinner like myself through the grace of these noble companions.
This also teaches that the mistake of one group can directly affect others—as the archers’ mistake led to the general retreat.
The tafsir of Surah Imran verse 155 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Imran ayat 154 which provides the complete commentary from verse 154 through 155.
(3:155) Surely those of them who turned their backs on the day when the two armies met (at Uhud) did so because Satan made them slip because of some of their lapses. But Allah has pardoned them; He is All-Forgiving, All-Forbearing.
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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