Transliteration:( Latublawunna feee amwaalikum wa anfusikum wa latasma'unna minal lazeena ootul Kitaaba min qablikum wa minal lazeena ashrakooo azan kaseeraa; wa in tasbiroo wa tattaqoo fa inna zaalika min 'azmil umoor )
“Surely you will be tested in your possessions and your lives [424], and you shall surely hear many insulting things [425] from the people who were given the Book before you and from the polytheists. But if you endure and guard yourselves (against evil), then it is work of strong determination [426].”
This verse is a divine warning and consolation: believers will definitely face trials in the form of:
Loss of wealth (property, earnings, material comfort),
And loss of life (illness, grief, personal hardship).
These trials are part of the obligations like Jihad and Zakat. Allah informs believers in advance so that, when these hardships occur, they can bear them with strength and preparation, rather than despair.
Believers are warned that they will hear many hurtful and insulting words from:
The People of the Book (i.e., Jews and Christians), and
The polytheists.
These may include:
False accusations,
Mockery, and
Unjustified taunts.
This teaches us that every disbeliever harbors enmity towards the believer, whether overtly or subtly. However, Allah encourages patience, not retaliation.
The verse concludes with a powerful message:
“If you endure and guard yourselves (against evil), then it is work of strong determination.”
Two interpretations are presented:
If the verse is taken to mean “bear their harm and don’t retaliate”, then it may be abrogated by later verses of Jihad, which command defending the faith physically.
But if it means “while seeking justice, do not speak ill of the Prophets and pious figures of the People of the Book”, then the verse remains firm and permanent.
In short: even if provoked, Muslims should not insult or degrade any of the past Prophets, because they are also honored Prophets in Islam. The true strength of character is shown when a believer responds with patience and dignity.
The tafsir of Surah Imran verse 186 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Imran ayat 185 which provides the complete commentary from verse 185 through 186.
(3:186) (Believers!) You will certainly be put to test in respect of your properties and lives, and you will certainly hear many hurtful things from those who were granted the Book before you and those who have associated others with Allah in His divinity. If you remain patient and God-fearing[131] this indeed is a matter of great resolution.
131. Muslims should not lose their self-control in the face of the Jews’ invidious taunts and slander. The Jews’ accusations, debased talk and false propaganda should not provoke the Muslims into adopting a posture either inconsistent with truth and justice or with the dignity, decorum and high standards of moral conduct that become men of faith.
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