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 )
335. This is one of the miracles of the Holy Prophet that despite their extreme anxiety the Companions on the battlefield of Uhud were overpowered by sleep to such an extent that weapons were falling out of their hands. Calm and tranquillity had descended upon them. From this we learn that during sorrow and calamity, Allah Almighty provides His true servants with peace and tranquillity. Even now, such feelings are experienced.
336. On that day there was a difference in sleep between the believers and the hypocrites. Those who were drowsy were the believers because through the Grace of Allah Almighty their hearts were at ease, while those experiencing anxiety the hypocrites were because they were bereft of peace.
337. By "suspected unjustly" means is that the martyred and Holy Prophet as such Islam would come to an end, and Allah Almighty would not be helping the Muslims.
338. This, is a negative question i.e. participated in the Battle of Uhud against our will. If it was within our power we would never have taken part in it. This is explained in the verse. "If we had any power" From this we learn that if we have to endure difficulties in doing religious work we should bear it with patience, which is the true quality of a believer. While showing impatience through meaningless complaints is the sign of hypocrites.
139 The hypocrites were under the impression that Allah Almighty's promise to the Holy Prophet of conquest of Makkah is false. If it was true the victory at Uhud should have been theirs. But they could not say this openly out of fear for the Muslims.
340. This nonsensical talk was by Abdullah ibn Ubay, the chief of the hypocrites that they had come to fight the non-believers against their wishes. Had we not come, our men would not have been slain.
341. Just as the time of death is pre-ordained, so is its place. In whatever manner and in whichever place a person is to die is pre-arranged.
342. From this emerge two issues:Â
1.To participate and fight in the Battle of Uhud was the sign of believers, while not taking part in it, or quietly deserting from the battlefield to their homes was the sign of disbelievers and hypocrites e.g. Abdullah ibn Ubay took three hundred companions of his from the battlefield.
2. Tests and tribulations are not for Allah Almighty's knowledge but to make man aware of the true situation so that he is not deceived in any way. It is for this reason that Allah Almighty says: "Allah Almighty knows the thoughts of your hearts" (S3 V154)
343. From this emerge two issues:
1. Defeat or victory, as well as other forms of difficulties on the battlefield are a test for the Muslims to distinguish between truth and falsehood, to determine who is sincere and who is a hypocrite
2 This distinction is not for Allah Almighty's knowledge as He is All Knowing. He knows the thoughts in the hearts of man, but for the knowledge of man. Hence, difficulty, too, is part of Divine wisdom
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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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