The Family of Imran, The House of Imran — Verse 166

The Reason and Wisdom Behind the Defeat at Uhud Allah said, أَوَ لَمَّا أَصَـبَتْكُمْ مُّصِيبَةٌ (When a single disaster smites you), in reference to when the Muslims suffered seventy fatalities during the battle of Uhud, قَدْ أَصَبْتُمْ مِّثْلَيْهَا (although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great,) during Badr, when the Muslims killed seventy Mushriks and captured seventy others, قُلْتُمْ أَنَّى هَـذَا (you say: "From where does this come to us") why did this defeat happen to us قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنْفُسِكُمْ (Say, "It is from yourselves.") Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said, "When Uhud occurred, a year after Badr, Muslims were punished for taking ransom from the disbelievers at Badr in return for releasing the Mushriks whom they captured in that battle. Thus, they suffered the loss of seventy fatalities and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah gave flight and abandoned him. The Messenger suffered a broken tooth, the helmet was smashed on his head and blood flowed onto his face. Allah then revealed, أَوَ لَمَّا أَصَـبَتْكُمْ مُّصِيبَةٌ قَدْ أَصَبْتُمْ مِّثْلَيْهَا قُلْتُمْ أَنَّى هَـذَا قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنْفُسِكُمْ (When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: "From where does this come to us" Say, "It is from yourselves".), because you took the ransom." Furthermore, Muhammad bin Ishaq, Ibn Jurayj, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and As-Suddi said that the Ayah, قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنْفُسِكُمْ (Say, "It is from yourselves.") means, because you, the archers, disobeyed the Messenger's command to not abandon your positions. إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (And Allah has power over all things.) and He does what He wills and decides what He wills, and there is none who can resist His decision. Allah then said, وَمَآ أَصَـبَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ فَبِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ (And what you suffered on the day the two armies met, was by the leave of Allah), for when you ran away from your enemy, who killed many of you and injured many others, all this occurred by Allah's will and decree out of His perfect wisdom, وَلِيَعْلَمَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (in order that He might test the believers.) who were patient, firm and were not shaken, وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ نَافَقُواْ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْاْ قَاتِلُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوِ ادْفَعُواْ قَالُواْ لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالاً لاَّتَّبَعْنَـكُمْ (And that He might test the hypocrites, it was said to them: "Come, fight in the way of Allah or defend yourselves." They said: "Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you.") 3:167, This refers to the Companions of `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul who went back (to Al-Madinah) with him before the battle. Some believers followed them and encouraged them to come back and fight, saying, أَوِ ادْفَعُواْ (or defend), so that the number of Muslims increases, as Ibn `Abbas, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ad-Dahhak, Abu Salih, Al-Hasan and As-Suddi stated. Al-Hasan bin Salih said that this part of the Ayah means, help by supplicating for us, while others said it means, man the posts. However, they refused, saying, لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالاً لاَّتَّبَعْنَـكُمْ ("Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you.") meaning, according to Mujahid, if we knew that you would fight today, we would join you, but we think you will not fight. Allah said, هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلإِيمَـنِ (They were that day, nearer to disbelief than to faith,) This Ayah indicates that a person passes through various stages, sometimes being closer to Kufr and sometimes closer to faith, as evident by, هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلإِيمَـنِ (They were that day, nearer to disbelief than to faith,) Allah then said, يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَهِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ (saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts.) for they utter what they do not truly believe in, such as, لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالاً لاَّتَّبَعْنَـكُمْ ("Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you.") They knew that there was an army of idolators that came from a far land raging against the Muslims, to avenge their noble men whom the Muslims killed in Badr. These idolators came in larger numbers than the Muslims, so it was clear that a battle will certainly occur. Allah said; وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَكْتُمُونَ (And Allah has full knowledge of what they conceal.) الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ لإِخْوَنِهِمْ وَقَعَدُواْ لَوْ أَطَاعُونَا مَا قُتِلُوا ((They are) the ones who said about their killed brethren while they themselves sat (at home): "If only they had listened to us, they would not have been killed.") had they listened to our advice and not gone out, they would not have met their demise. Allah said, قُلْ فَادْرَءُوا عَنْ أَنفُسِكُمُ الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ (Say: "Avert death from your own selves, if you speak the truth.") meaning, if staying at home saves one from being killed or from death, then you should not die. However death will come to you even if you were hiding in fortified castles. Therefore, fend death off of yourselves, if you are right. Mujahid said that Jabir bin `Abdullah said, "This Ayah 3:168 was revealed about `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul (the chief hypocrite)."

And what afflicted you the day the two hosts encountered at Uhud was by God’s leave by His will and that He might know through knowledge manifested outwardly the true believers.

and that He might know the believers.

and that He might know the believers.

And what afflicted you the day the two hosts encountered was by God's leave and that He might know the believers. And that He might also know the hypocrites when it was said to them �Come now fight in the way of God or defend [yourselves]� they said �If we knew how to fight we would follow you.� That day they were nearer to unbelief than to belief saying with their mouths that which was not in their hearts. And God knows best what they hide. He lightened the grave calamity met by the believers and possessors of insight on the Day of Uḥud by saying that the encounter was by God's leave. Surely a trial that afflicts [one] by God's leave is sweeter than honey and more desirable than any blessing. Then He spoke of those who were not sincere comrades how they offered excuses and were lazy. Similarly when the one who is tired wants to break things off he becomes weary of being together and says �That was that.� Saying with their mouths that which was not in their hearts: Verily they gave honey to drink [to their enemies] but He plotted to put poison in it for them. And they schemed; and God schemed; and God is the best of schemers [3:54].

And what afflicted you the day the two hosts encountered was by God's leave and that He might know the believers. And that He might also know the hypocrites when it was said to them �Come now fight in the way of God or defend [yourselves]� they said �If we knew how to fight we would follow you.� That day they were nearer to unbelief than to belief saying with their mouths that which was not in their hearts. And God knows best what they hide. He lightened the grave calamity met by the believers and possessors of insight on the Day of Uḥud by saying that the encounter was by God's leave. Surely a trial that afflicts [one] by God's leave is sweeter than honey and more desirable than any blessing. Then He spoke of those who were not sincere comrades how they offered excuses and were lazy. Similarly when the one who is tired wants to break things off he becomes weary of being together and says �That was that.� Saying with their mouths that which was not in their hearts: Verily they gave honey to drink [to their enemies] but He plotted to put poison in it for them. And they schemed; and God schemed; and God is the best of schemers [3:54].

وما وقع بكم مِن جراح أو قتل في غزوة "أُحد" يوم التقى جَمْعُ المؤمنين وجمع المشركين فكان النصر للمؤمنين أولا ثم للمشركين ثانيًا، فذلك كله بقضاء الله وقدره، وليظهر ما علمه الله في الأزل؛ ليميز المؤمنين الصادقين منكم.

قال تعالى "وما أصابكم يوم التقى الجمعان فبإذن الله" أي فراركم بين يدي عدوكم وقتلهم لجماعة منكم وجراحتهم لآخرين كان بقضاء الله وقدره وله الحكمة فى ذلك "وليعلم المؤمنين" أي الذين صبروا وثبتوا ولم يتزلزلوا.

{ وَمَآ أَصَابَكُمْ يَوْمَ التقى الجمعان فَبِإِذْنِ الله وَلِيَعْلَمَ المؤمنين } .أى : وما أصابكم - أيها المؤمنون - من قتل وجراح وآلام يوم التقى جمعكم وجمع أعدائكم فى أحد ، { فَبِإِذْنِ الله } أى فبإرادته وعلمه ، إذ ما من شىء يقع فى هذا الكون إلا بتقدير الله وعلمه ، فعليكم أن تستسلموا لإرادة الله ، وأن تعودوا إلى أنفسكم فتهذبوها وتروضوها على تقوى الله وطاعته ، حتى تكونوا أهلا لنصرته وعونه .و " ما " موصولة بمعنى الذى فى محل رفع بالابتداء ، وجملة { أَصَابَكُمْ } صلة الموصولة ، وقوله { فَبِإِذْنِ الله } هو الخبر . ودخلت الفاء فى الخبر لشبه المبتدأ بالشرط . وقوله { وَلِيَعْلَمَ المؤمنين } بيان لبعض الحكم التى من أجلها حدث ما حدث فى غزوة أحد .والعلم هنا كناية عن الظهور والتقرر فى الخارج لما قدره - سبحانه - فى الأزل أى أراد الله أن يحدث ما حدث فى غزوة أحد ليظهر للناس ويميز لهم المؤمنين من غيرهم .

القول في تأويل قوله : وَمَا أَصَابَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ فَبِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (166) وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ نَافَقُواقال أبو جعفر: يعني تعالى ذكره بذلك: والذي أصابكم " يوم التقى الجمعان "، وهو يوم أحد، حين التقى جمع المسلمين والمشركين. ويعني بـ" الذي أصابهم "، ما نال من القتل مَنْ قُتِل منهم، ومن الجراح من جرح منهم =" فبإذن الله،" يقول: فهو بإذن الله كان = يعني: بقضائه وقدَره فيكم. (1) .* * *وأجاب " ما " بالفاء، لأن " ما " حرف جزاء، وقد بينت نظير ذلك فيما مضى قبل (2) .* * *=" وليعلم المؤمنين * وليعلم الذين نافقوا "، بمعنى: وليعلم الله المؤمنين، وليعلم الذين نافقوا، أصابكم ما أصابكم يوم التقى الجمعان بأحد، ليميِّز أهلُ الإيمان بالله ورسوله المؤمنين منكم من المنافقين فيعرفونهم، لا يخفى عليهم أمر الفريقين.وقد بينا تأويل قوله: " وليعلم المؤمنين " فيما مضى، وما وجه ذلك، بما أغنى عن إعادته في هذا الموضع. (3) .* * *وبنحو ما قلنا في ذلك قال ابن إسحاق.8192- حدثنا ابن حميد قال، حدثنا سلمة، عن ابن إسحاق: " وما أصابكم يوم التقى الجمعان فبإذن الله وليعلم المؤمنين "، أي: ما أصابكم حين التقيتم أنتم وعدوّكم، فبإذني كان ذلك حين فعلتم ما فعلتم، بعد أن جاءكم نصري، وصدقتكم وعدي، (4) ليميز بين المنافقين والمؤمنين، وليعلم الذين نافقوا منكم، أي: ليظهروا ما فيهم. (5)----------------الهوامش :(1) انظر تفسير"الإذن" فيما سلف 2: 449 ، 450 / 4: 286 / 5 : 355 ، 395 / 7 : 289.(2) انظر ما سلف 5: 585.(3) انظر ما سلف 3: 160 / 7 : 246 ، 325.(4) في المطبوعة: "وصدقتم وعدي" ، والصواب من المخطوطة وسيرة ابن هشام.(5) الأثر: 8192- سيرة ابن هشام 3: 125 ، وهو تتمة الآثار التي آخرها: 8187.

( وما أصابكم يوم التقى الجمعان ) بأحد من القتل والجرح والهزيمة ، ( فبإذن الله ) أي : بقضائه وقدره ، ( وليعلم المؤمنين ) أي : ليميز وقيل ليرى .

عطف على قوله : { أو لما أصابتكم مصيبة } [ آل عمران : 165 ] وهو كلام وارد على معنى التسليم أي : هَبُوا أنّ هذه مصيبة ، ولم يكن عنها عوض ، فهي بقدر الله ، فالواجب التسليم ، ثم رَجَع إلى ذكر بعض ما في ذلك من الحكمة .وقوله : { وما أصابكم } أرادَ به عين المراد بقوله : { أصابكم مصيبة } وهي مصيبة الهزيمة . وإنّما أعيد ما أصابكم لِيعيّن اليوم بأنّه يومَ التقى الجمعان . وما موصولة مضمّنة معنى الشرط كأنّه قيل : وأمّا ما أصابكم ، لأنّ قوله : { وما أصابكم } معناه بيانُ سببه وحكمته ، فلذلك قرن الخبر بالفاء . و { يوم التقى الجمعان } هو يوم أُحُد . وإنَّما لم يقل وهي بإذن الله لأنَّ المقصود إعلان ذكر المصيبة وأنّها بإذن الله إذ المقام مقام إظهار الحقيقة ، وأمّا التعبير بلفظ { ما أصابكم } دون أن يعاد لفظ المصيبة فتفنّن ، أو قُصد الإطناب .والإذن هنا مستعمل في غير معناه إذ لا معنى لتوجّه الإذن إلى المصيبة فهو مجاز في تخلية الله تعالى بين أسباب المصيبة وبين المصابين ، وعدم تدارك ذلك باللطف . ووجه الشبه أنّ الإذن تخلية بين المأذون ومطلوبِه ومراده ، ذلك أنّ الله تعالى رتّب الأسباب والمسبّبات في هذا العالم على نظام ، فإذا جاءت المسبّبات من قِبَل أسبابها فلا عجب ، والمسلمون أقلّ من المشركين عدداً وعُدداً فانتصار المسلمين يومَ بدر كرامة لهم ، وانهزامهم يوم أُحُد عادة وليس بإهانة . فهذا المراد بالإذن .وقَوله : { وليعلم المؤمنين } عطف على { فإذن الله } عذفَ العلّة على السبب . والعلم هنا كناية عن الظهور والتقرّر في الخارج كقول إياس بن قبيصة الطائي: ... وأقْبَلْتُ والخَطِّيُّ يَخْطر بيننالأَعْلَمَ مَنْ جَبَانُها مِن شجاعها ... أراد لتظهر شجاعتي وجبن الآخرين . وقد تقدّم نظيره قريباً .

ثم أخبر أن ما أصابهم يوم التقى الجمعان، جمع المسلمين وجمع المشركين في "أحد"" من القتل والهزيمة، أنه بإذنه وقضائه وقدره، لا مرد له ولا بد من وقوعه. والأمر القدري -إذا نفذ، لم يبق إلا التسليم له، وأنه قدره لحكم عظيمة وفوائد جسيمة، وأنه ليتبين بذلك المؤمن من المنافق"

قوله تعالى : وما أصابكم يوم التقى الجمعان فبإذن الله وليعلم المؤمنينيعني يوم أحد من القتل والجرح والهزيمة . فبإذن الله أي بعلمه . وقيل : بقضائه وقدره . قال القفال : أي فبتخليته بينكم وبينهم ، لا أنه أراد ذلك . وهذا تأويل المعتزلة . ودخلت الفاء في فبإذن الله لأن " ما " بمعنى الذي . أي والذي أصابكم يوم التقى الجمعان فبإذن الله ; فأشبه الكلام معنى الشرط ، كما قال سيبويه : الذي قام فله درهم . وليعلم المؤمنين

In the confrontation between truth and untruth, truth is always destined to have the final victory, because truth always has God on its side. However, this world being a world of trial, mischief-mongers too have full freedom of action. That is why at times, by exploiting some weakness of the believers—for instance, mutual dissension—they are able to inflict temporary harm on them. Yet such happenings, though tragic in appearance, have a good side to them as well, for in this way Muslims are put to the test. In the face of unfavourable situations, the insincere fall away, while the true believers persevere because of their total trust in God. In this way, it becomes clear who are the trustworthy and who are not. Furthermore, God’s mercy is all the more focussed upon them, when, after incurring loss due to their inadvertent mistakes, the believers turn to God once again in all patience and humility.

Immediately later, in verse 166, the words fa bi idhnillahi: فَبِإِذْنِ اللَّـه indicate that whatever happened there was with the leave and will of Allah Almighty operating behind which are many wise divine arrangements, some of them having been explained earlier. One such wise arrangement is that Allah will 'see' His true believers, and the hypocrites too, that is, the sincerity of Muslims and the hypocrisy of the hypocrites will become so clear that everybody could see it for himself. Here, the reference to Allah's knowing or seeing means seeing in the perspective of our own sense-experience in the mortal world. Otherwise, as far as Allah is concerned, He knows and sees everything, all the time. So, the wise arrangement became all the more clear when, at the time of the trial, the hypocrites bowed out of the harm's way while true Muslims stood undaunted' in the middle of the battle front.

(That which befell you) of deaths and injuries, (on the day when the two armies) the army of Muhammad and that of Abu Sufyan (met, was by permission of Allah) by His will and decree; (that He might know the true believers) that He might see the believers in jihad;