Virtues of the Martyrs
Allah states that even though the martyrs were killed in this life, their souls are alive and receiving provisions in the Dwelling of Everlasting Life. In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Masruq said, "We asked `Abdullah about this Ayah,
وَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَتاً بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ
(Think not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allah. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.)
He said, `We asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the same question and he said,
«أَرْوَاحُهُمْ فِي جَوْفِ طَيْرٍ خُضْرٍ، لَهَا قَنَادِيلُ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِالْعَرْشِ، تَسْرَحُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ شَاءَتْ، ثُمَّ تَأْوِي إِلَى تِلْكَ الْقَنَادِيلِ، فَاطَّلَعَ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمُ اطِّلَاعَةً فَقَالَ: هَلْ تَشْتَهُونَ شَيْئًا؟ فَقَالُوا: أَيَّ شَيْءٍ نَشْتَهِي وَنَحْنُ نَسْرَحُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ شِئْنَا؟ فَفَعَلَ ذَلِكَ بِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ، فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا أَنَّهُمْ لَنْ يُتْرَكُوا مِنْ أَنْ يُسْأَلُوا، قَالُوا: يَا رَبِّ نُرِيدُ أَنْ تَرُدَّ أَرْوَاحَنَا فِي أَجْسَادِنَا حَتَّى نُقْتَلَ فِي سَبِيلِكَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى، فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ حَاجَةٌ، تُرِكُوا»
(Their souls are inside green birds that have lamps, which are hanging below the Throne (of Allah), and they wander about in Paradise wherever they wish. Then they return to those lamps. Allah looks at them and says, `Do you wish for anything' They say, `What more could we wish for, while we go wherever we wish in Paradise' Allah asked them this question thrice, and when they realize that He will keep asking them until they give an answer, they say, `O Lord! We wish that our souls be returned to our bodies so that we are killed in Your cause again.' Allah knew that they did not have any other wish, so they were left.)"' There are several other similar narrations from Anas and Abu Sa`id.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«مَا مِنْ نَفْسٍ تَمُوتُ، لَهَا عِنْدَ اللهِ خَيْرٌ، يَسُرُّهَا أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا، إِلَّا الشَّهِيدُ، فَإِنَّهُ يَسُرُّهُ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا فَيُقْتَلَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى، لِمَا يَرَى مِنْ فَضْلِ الشَهَادَة»
(No soul that has a good standing with Allah and dies would wish to go back to the life of this world, except for the martyr. He would like to be returned to this life so that he could be martyred again, for he tastes the honor achieved from martyrdom.) Muslim collected this Hadith
In addition, Imam Ahmad recorded that, Ibn `Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَمَّا أُصِيبَ إِخْوَانُكُمْ بِأُحُدٍ، جَعَلَ اللهُ أَرْوَاحَهُمْ فِي أَجْوَافِ طَيْرٍ خُضْرٍ، تَرِدُ أَنْهَارَ الْجَنَّـةِ، وَتَأْكُلُ مِنْ ثِمَارِهَا، وَتَأْوِي إِلى قَنَادِيلَ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فِي ظِلِّ الْعَرْشِ، فَلَمَّا وَجَدُوا طِيبَ مَشْرَبِهِمْ وَمَأْكَلِهِمْ، وَحُسْنَ مُتَقَلَّبِهِمْ قَالُوا: يَا لَيْتَ إِخْوَانَنَا يَعْلَمُونَ مَا صَنَعَ اللهُ لَنَا، لِئَلَّا يَزْهَدُوا فِي الْجِهَادِ، وَلَا يَنْكُلُوا عَنِ الْحَرْبِ، فَقَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: أَنْا أُبَلِّغُهُمْ عَنْكُم»
(When your brothers were killed in Uhud, Allah placed their souls inside green birds that tend to the rivers of Paradise and eat from its fruits. They then return to golden lamps hanging in the shade of the Throne. When they tasted the delight of their food, drink and dwelling, they said, `We wish that our brothers knew what Allah gave us so that they will not abandon Jihad or warfare.' Allah said, `I will convey the news for you.') Allah revealed these and the following Ayat,
وَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَتاً بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ
(Think not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allah. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.)
Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` and Ad-Dahhak said that these Ayat were revealed about the martyrs of Uhud.
Abu Bakr Ibn Marduwyah recorded that Jabir bin `Abdullah said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ looked at me one day and said, `O Jabir! Why do I see you sad' I said, `O Messenger of Allah! My father was martyred and left behind debts and children.' He said,
«أَلَا أُخْبِرُكَ؟ مَا كَلَّمَ اللهُ أَحَدًا قَطُّ إِلَّا مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ، وَإِنَّه كَلَّمَ أَبَاكَ كِفَاحًا»
، قال علي: الكفاح: المواجهة
«قَالَ: سَلْنِي أُعْطِكَ. قَالَ: أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ أُرَدَّ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا فَأُقْتَلَ فِيكَ ثَانِيَةً، فَقَالَ الرَّبُّ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: إِنَّهُ قَدْ سَبَقَ مِنِّي الْقَوْلُ: إِنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهَا لَا يَرْجِعُونَ. قَالَ: أَيْ رَبِّ فَأَبْلِغْ مَنْ وَرَائِي»
(Should I tell you that Allah never spoke to anyone except from behind a veil However, He spoke to your father directly. He said, `Ask Me and I will give you.' He said, `I ask that I am returned to life so that I am killed in Your cause again.' The Lord, Exalted He be, said, `I have spoken the word that they shall not be returned back to it (this life). ' He said, `O Lord! Then convey the news to those I left behind.') Allah revealed,
وَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَتاً
(Think not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allah...)"
Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«الشُّهَدَاءُ عَلى بَارِقِ نَهْرٍ بِبَابِ الْجَنَّـةِ، فِي قُبَّةٍ خَضْرَاءَ، يَخْرُجُ عَلَيْهِمْ رِزْقُهُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّـةِ بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا»
(The martyrs convene at the shore of a river close to the door of Paradise, in a green tent, where their provisions are brought to them from Paradise day and night.)
Ahmad and Ibn Jarir collected this Hadith, which has a good chain of narration. It appears that the martyrs are of different types, some of them wander in Paradise, and some remain close to this river by the door of Paradise. It is also possible that the river is where all the souls of the martyrs convene and where they are provided with their provision day and night, and Allah knows best. UImam Ahmad narrated a Hadith that contains good news for every believer that his soul will be wandering in Paradise, as well, eating from its fruits, enjoying its delights and happiness and tasting the honor that Allah has prepared in it for him. This Hadith has a unique, authentic chain of narration that includes three of the Four Imams. Imam Ahmad narrated this Hadith from Muhammad bin Idris Ash-Shafi`i who narrated it from Malik bin Anas Al-Asbuhi, from Az-Zuhri, from `Abdur-Rahman bin Ka`b bin Malik that his father said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«نَسَمَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ طَائِرٌ يَعْلُقُ فِي شَجَرِ الْجَنَّـةِ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَهُ اللهُ إِلى جَسَدِهِ يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُه»
(The soul of the believer becomes a bird that feeds on the trees of Paradise, until Allah sends him back to his body when He resurrects him.)
This Hadith states that the souls of the believers are in the shape of a bird in Paradise. As for the souls of martyrs, they are inside green birds, like the stars to the rest of the believing souls. We ask Allah the Most Generous that He makes us firm on the faith.
Allah's statement,
فَرِحِينَ بِمَآ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ
(They rejoice in what Allah has bestowed upon them) indicates that the martyrs who were killed in Allah's cause are alive with Allah, delighted because of the bounty and happiness they are enjoying. They are also awaiting their brethren, who will die in Allah's cause after them, for they will be meeting them soon. These martyrs do not have fear about the future or sorrow for what they left behind. We ask Allah to grant us Paradise. The Two Sahihs record from Anas, the story of the seventy Ansar Companions who were murdered at Bir Ma`unah in one night. In this Hadith, Anas reported that the Prophet used to supplicate to Allah in Qunut in prayer against those who killed them. Anas said, "A part of the Qur'an was revealed about them, but was later abrogated, `Convey to our people that we met Allah and He was pleased with us and made us pleased."'
Allah said next,
يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
(They rejoice in a grace and a bounty from Allah, and that Allah will not waste the reward of the believers) 3:171.
Muhammad bin Ishaq commented, "They were delighted and pleased because of Allah's promise that was fulfilled for them, and for the tremendous rewards they earned." `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "This Ayah encompasses all the believers, martyrs and otherwise. Rarely does Allah mention a bounty and a reward that He granted to the Prophets, without following that with what He has granted the believers after them."
The Battle of Hamra' Al-Asad
Allah said,
الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُواْ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ مِن بَعْدِ مَآ أَصَـبَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ
(Those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger after being wounded) 3:172.
This occurred on the day of Hamra' Al-Asad. After the idolators defeated the Muslims (at Uhud), they started on their way back home, but soon they were concerned because they did not finish off the Muslims in Al-Madinah, so they set out to make that battle the final one. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ got news of this, he commanded the Muslims to march to meet the disbelievers, to bring fear to their hearts and to demonstrate that the Muslims still had strength to fight. The Prophet only allowed those who were present during Uhud to accompany him, except for Jabir bin `Abdullah Al-Ansari, as we will mention. The Muslims mobilized, even though they were still suffering from their injuries, in obedience to Allah and His Messenger .
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ikrimah said, "When the idolators returned towards Makkah after Uhud, they said, `You neither killed Muhammad nor collected female captives. Woe to you for what you did. Let us go back.' When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ heard this news, he mobilized the Muslim forces, and they marched until they reached Hamra Al-Asad. The idolators said, `Rather, we will meet next year', and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went back to Al-Madinah, and this was considered a Ghazwah (battle). Allah sent down,
الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُواْ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ مِن بَعْدِ مَآ أَصَـبَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُواْ مِنْهُمْ وَاتَّقَوْاْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
(Those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger after being wounded; for those of them who did good deeds and feared Allah, there is a great reward.)
Al-Bukhari recorded that `A'ishah said to `Urwah about the Ayah;
الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُواْ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ
(Those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger)
"My nephew! Your fathers Az-Zubayr and Abu Bakr were among them. After the Prophet suffered the calamity at Uhud and the idolators went back, he feared that the idolators might try to come back and he said, `Who would follow them' Seventy men, including Az-Zubayr and Abu Bakr, volunteered." This was recorded by Al-Bukhari alone.
As for Allah's statement,
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُواْ لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَـناً
(Those unto whom the people said, "Verily, the people have gathered against you, therefore, fear them." But it (only) increased them in faith) 3:173, it means, those who threatened the people, saying that the disbelievers have amassed against them, in order to instill fear in them, but this did not worry them, rather, they trusted in Allah and sought His help,
وَقَالُواْ حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
(and they said: "Allah is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.")
Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said,
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
("Allah Alone is Sufficient for us and He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us.")
"Ibrahim said it when he was thrown in fire. Muhammad said it when the people said, `Verily, the people have gathered against you, therefore, fear them.' But it only increased them in faith, and they said, `Allah is Sufficient for us and He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us."' Abu Bakr Ibn Marduwyah recorded that Anas bin Malik said that the Prophet was told on the day of Uhud, "Verily, the people have gathered against you, therefore, fear them." Thereafter, Allah sent down this Ayah 3:173.
This is why Allah said,
فَانْقَلَبُواْ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَّمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوءٌ
(So they returned with grace and bounty from Allah. No harm touched them;) for when they relied on Allah, Allah took care of their worries, He confounded the plots of their enemies, and the Muslims returned to their land,
بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَّمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوءٌ
(with grace and bounty from Allah. No harm touched them;) safe from the wicked plots of their enemies,
وَاتَّبَعُواْ رِضْوَنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَظِيمٍ
(and they followed the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is the Owner of great bounty.)
Al-Bayhaqi recorded that Ibn `Abbas said about Allah's statement,
فَانْقَلَبُواْ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ
(So they returned with grace and bounty from Allah,) "The `Grace' was that they were saved. The `Bounty' was that a caravan passed by, and those days were Hajj season days. Thus the Messenger of Allah ﷺ bought and sold and made a profit, which he divided between his Companions."
Allah then said,
إِنَّمَا ذَلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَـنُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ
(It is only Shaytan that suggests to you the fear of his friends,) 3:175 meaning, Shaytan threatens you with his friends and tries to pretend they are powerful and fearsome. Allah said next,
فَلاَ تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِينَ
(so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are indeed believers.) meaning, "If Shaytan brings these thoughts to you, then depend on Me and seek refuge with Me. Indeed, I shall suffice you and make you prevail over them." Similarly, Allah said,
أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبْدَهُ وَيُخَوِّفُونَكَ بِالَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِ
(Is not Allah Sufficient for His servant Yet they try to frighten you with those besides Him!) 39: 36, until,
قُلْ حَسْبِىَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ يَتَوَكَّـلُ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
(Say: "Sufficient for me is Allah; in Him those who trust must put their trust.") 39:38. Allah said,
فَقَـتِلُواْ أَوْلِيَاءَ الشَّيْطَـنِ إِنَّ كَيْدَ الشَّيْطَـنِ كَانَ ضَعِيفاً
(So fight you against the friends of Shaytan; ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaytan.) 4:76 and
أُوْلَـئِكَ حِزْبُ الشَّيْطَـنِ أَلاَ إِنَّ حِزْبَ الشَّيْطَـنِ هُمُ الخَـسِرُونَ
(They are the party of Shaytan. Verily, it is the party of Shaytan that will be the losers!) 58:19,
كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لاّغْلِبَنَّ أَنَاْ وَرُسُلِى إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ
(Allah has decreed: "Verily, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious." Verily, Allah is All-Powerful, All-Mighty.) 58:21 and
وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ
(Verily, Allah will help those who help His (cause).) 22:40 and
يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِن تَنصُرُواْ اللَّهَ يَنصُرْكُمْ
(O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you) 47:7, and,
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ فِى الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الاٌّشْهَـدُ - يَوْمَ لاَ يَنفَعُ الظَّـلِمِينَ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ وَلَهُمُ الْلَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوءُ الدَّارِ
(Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe, in this world's life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth. The Day when their excuses will be of no profit to wrongdoers. Theirs will be the curse, and theirs will be the evil abode.) 40:51,52
Those who alladhīna is the subject responded to God and the Messenger to his call to set out for battle when Abū Sufyān and his companions wanted to resume hostilities they agreed with the Prophet s that the encounter would be at the annual market-fair of Badr a year from the date of Uhud; after the wounds had afflicted them at Uhud — the predicate of the subject alladhīna is what follows for all those who were virtuous by obeying him and feared to disobey him shall be a great wage namely Paradise.
They rejoice in blessings from God and bounty, and that God does not leave to waste the wage of the faithful, those who answered God and the Messenger after the wound had befallen them. Those who bow their heads before the command of God and the Messenger in passion for the religion made their own dear spirits the target of the enemy's arrows. They made their spirits a gift, their bodies a path, and their hearts a sacrifice. They bought that suffering and wounding with spirit and heart. Sarī SaqaṬī said, “God appeared to me in a dream saying, 'O Sarī! We created the creatures. Some of them saw this world and clung to it. Some of them saw trial, and they fled to paradise and well-being. Some of them thought nothing of trial and took the tribulation into their spirits and hearts, asking for union with Us. Which one of these are you? What do you want?'” Sarī said, “I answered, 'You know what I desire.'” How often will you ask, why do you make me suffer? In truth you know my state better than I. “He said, 'O Sarī! By the majesty of Our measure, We will strike your head with the whip of trial, and We will make the millstone of tribulation revolve on your head.'” Sarī said, “I replied with the light of recognition by lordly inspiration, 'Are You not the one who sends trials?'” The lover's soul is patient with illness- perhaps He who made him ill will one day make him well. * Since the healing, O Heart-taker, is from Your wound and pain, make no balm for the wounded, don't cure the pain!
They rejoice in blessings from God and bounty, and that God does not leave to waste the wage of the faithful, those who answered God and the Messenger after the wound had befallen them. Those who bow their heads before the command of God and the Messenger in passion for the religion made their own dear spirits the target of the enemy's arrows. They made their spirits a gift, their bodies a path, and their hearts a sacrifice. They bought that suffering and wounding with spirit and heart. Sarī SaqaṬī said, “God appeared to me in a dream saying, 'O Sarī! We created the creatures. Some of them saw this world and clung to it. Some of them saw trial, and they fled to paradise and well-being. Some of them thought nothing of trial and took the tribulation into their spirits and hearts, asking for union with Us. Which one of these are you? What do you want?'” Sarī said, “I answered, 'You know what I desire.'” How often will you ask, why do you make me suffer? In truth you know my state better than I. “He said, 'O Sarī! By the majesty of Our measure, We will strike your head with the whip of trial, and We will make the millstone of tribulation revolve on your head.'” Sarī said, “I replied with the light of recognition by lordly inspiration, 'Are You not the one who sends trials?'” The lover's soul is patient with illness- perhaps He who made him ill will one day make him well. * Since the healing, O Heart-taker, is from Your wound and pain, make no balm for the wounded, don't cure the pain!
They rejoice in blessings from God and bounty, and that God does not leave to waste the wage of the faithful, those who answered God and the Messenger after the wound had befallen them. Those who bow their heads before the command of God and the Messenger in passion for the religion made their own dear spirits the target of the enemy's arrows. They made their spirits a gift, their bodies a path, and their hearts a sacrifice. They bought that suffering and wounding with spirit and heart. Sarī SaqaṬī said, “God appeared to me in a dream saying, 'O Sarī! We created the creatures. Some of them saw this world and clung to it. Some of them saw trial, and they fled to paradise and well-being. Some of them thought nothing of trial and took the tribulation into their spirits and hearts, asking for union with Us. Which one of these are you? What do you want?'” Sarī said, “I answered, 'You know what I desire.'” How often will you ask, why do you make me suffer? In truth you know my state better than I. “He said, 'O Sarī! By the majesty of Our measure, We will strike your head with the whip of trial, and We will make the millstone of tribulation revolve on your head.'” Sarī said, “I replied with the light of recognition by lordly inspiration, 'Are You not the one who sends trials?'” The lover's soul is patient with illness- perhaps He who made him ill will one day make him well. * Since the healing, O Heart-taker, is from Your wound and pain, make no balm for the wounded, don't cure the pain!
They rejoice in blessings from God and bounty, and that God does not leave to waste the wage of the faithful, those who answered God and the Messenger after the wound had befallen them. Those who bow their heads before the command of God and the Messenger in passion for the religion made their own dear spirits the target of the enemy's arrows. They made their spirits a gift, their bodies a path, and their hearts a sacrifice. They bought that suffering and wounding with spirit and heart. Sarī SaqaṬī said, “God appeared to me in a dream saying, 'O Sarī! We created the creatures. Some of them saw this world and clung to it. Some of them saw trial, and they fled to paradise and well-being. Some of them thought nothing of trial and took the tribulation into their spirits and hearts, asking for union with Us. Which one of these are you? What do you want?'” Sarī said, “I answered, 'You know what I desire.'” How often will you ask, why do you make me suffer? In truth you know my state better than I. “He said, 'O Sarī! By the majesty of Our measure, We will strike your head with the whip of trial, and We will make the millstone of tribulation revolve on your head.'” Sarī said, “I replied with the light of recognition by lordly inspiration, 'Are You not the one who sends trials?'” The lover's soul is patient with illness- perhaps He who made him ill will one day make him well. * Since the healing, O Heart-taker, is from Your wound and pain, make no balm for the wounded, don't cure the pain!
They rejoice in blessings from God and bounty, and that God does not leave to waste the wage of the faithful, those who answered God and the Messenger after the wound had befallen them.Those who bow their heads before the command of God and the Messenger in passion for the religion made their own dear spirits the target of the enemy's arrows. They made their spirits a gift, their bodies a path, and their hearts a sacrifice. They bought that suffering and wounding with spirit and heart.Sarī SaqaṬī said, �God appeared to me in a dream saying, 'O Sarī! We created the creatures. Some of them saw this world and clung to it. Some of them saw trial, and they fled to paradise and well-being. Some of them thought nothing of trial and took the tribulation into their spirits and hearts, asking for union with Us. Which one of these are you? What do you want?'�Sarī said, �I answered, 'You know what I desire.'�How often will you ask, why do you make me suffer?In truth you know my state better than I.�He said, 'O Sarī! By the majesty of Our measure, We will strike your head with the whip of trial, and We will make the millstone of tribulation revolve on your head.'�Sarī said, �I replied with the light of recognition by lordly inspiration, 'Are You not the one who sends trials?'�The lover's soul is patient with illness-perhaps He who made him ill will one day make him well.*Since the healing, O Heart-taker, is from Your wound and pain, make no balm for the wounded, don't cure the pain!
الذين لبُّوا نداء الله ورسوله وخرجوا في أعقاب المشركين إلى "حمراء الأسد" بعد هزيمتهم في غزوة "أُحد" مع ما كان بهم من آلام وجراح، وبذلوا غاية جهدهم، والتزموا بهدي نبيهم، للمحسنين منهم والمتقين ثواب عظيم.
قوله تعالى "الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح". هذا كان يوم حمراء الأسد وذلك أن المشركين لما أصابوا ما أصابوا من المسلمين كروا راجعين إلى بلادهم فلما استمروا في سيرهم ندموا لم لاتمموا على أهل المدينة وجعلوها الفيصلة فلما بلغ ذلك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ندب المسلمين إلى الذهاب وراءهم ليرعبهم ويريهم أن بهم قوة وجلدا ولم يأذن لأحد سوى من حضر الوقعة يوم أحد سوى جابر بن عبدالله رضي الله عنه لما سنذكره فانتدب المسلمون على ما بهم من الجراح والإثخان طاعة لله ولرسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا محمد بن عبدالله بن يزيد حدثنا سفيان بن عينة عن عمرو عن عكرمة قال: لما رجع المشركون عن أحد قالوا: لا محمدا قتلتم ولا الكواعب أردفتم: بئس ما صنعتم ارجعوا فسمع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بذلك فندب المسلمين فانتدبوا حتى بلغوا حمراء الأسد - أو بئر أبي عيينة - الشك من سفيان - فقال المشركون: نرجع من قابل فرجع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فكانت تعد غزوة فأنزل الله تعالى "الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح للذين أحسنوا منهم واتقوا أجر عظيم". وروى ابن مردويه من حديث محمد بن منصور عن سفيان بن عيينة عن عمرو عن عكرمة عن ابن عباس فذكره- وقال محمد بن إسحق: كان يوم أحد يوم السبت النصف من شوال فلما كان الغد من يوم الأحد لست عشرة ليلة مضت من شوال أذن مؤذن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في الناس بطلب العدو وأذن مؤذنه أن لا يخرجن معنا أحد إلا من حضر يومنا بالأمس فكلمه جابر بن عبدالله بن عمرو بن حرام فقال يا رسول الله إن أبي كان خلفني على أخوات لي سبع وقال: يا بني إنه لا ينبغي لي ولا لك أن نترك هؤلاء النسوة لا رجل فيهن ولست بالذي أوثرك بالجهاد مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على نفسي فتخلف على أخواتك فتخلفت عليهن فأذن له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فخرج معه وإنما خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مرهبا للعدو وليبلغهم أنه خرج في طلبهم ليظنوا به قوة وأن الذي أصابهم لم يوهنهم عن عدوهم. قال محمد بن إسحق: فحدثني عبدالله بن خارجة بن زيد بن ثابت عن أبي السائب مولى عائشة بنت عثمان أن رجلا من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من بني عبدالأشهل كان قد شهد أحدا قال: شهدنا أحدا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنا وأخى فرجعنا جريحين فلما أذن مؤذن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بالخروج في طلب العدو وفلت لأخي -أو قال لي -: أتفوتنا غزوة مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم؟ والله ما لنا من دابة نركبها وما منا إلا جريح ثقيل فخرجنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وكنت أيسر جراحا منه فكان إذا غلب حملته عقبة حتى انتهينا إلى ما انتهى إليه المسلمون. وقال البخاري: حدثنا محمد بن سلام حدثنا أبو معاوية عن هشام عن أبيه عن عائشة رضي الله عنها "الذين استجابوا لله والرسول" الآية. قلت لعروة: يا ابن أختي كان أبوك منهم الزبير وأبو بكر رضي الله عنهما لما أصاب نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ما أصابه يوم أحد وانصرف عنه المشركون خاف أن يرجعوا فقال "من يرجع في أثرهم" فانتدب منهم سبعون رجلا فيهم أبو بكر والزبير هكذا رواه البخاري منفردا به بهذا السياق وهكذا رواه الحاكم في مستدركه عن الأصم عن أبي العباس الدوري عن أبي النضر عن أبى سعيد المؤدب عن هشام بن عروة به: ثم قال صحيح الإسناد ولم يخرجاه كذا قال: ورواه ابن ماجه عن هشام بن عمار وهدبة بن عبدالوهاب عن سفيان بن عيينة عن هشام بن عروة به وهكذا رواه سعيد بن منصور وأبو بكر الحميدي في مسنده عن سفيان به وقد رواه الحاكم أيضا من حديث إسماعيل بن أبي خالد عن التيمي عن عروة وقال: قالت لي عائشة إن أباك من الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح ثم قال صحيح على شرط الشيخين ولم يخرجاه- وقال أبو بكر بن مردويه حدثنا عبدالله بن جعفر من أصل كتابه أنبأنا سمويه أنبانا عبدالله بن الزبير أنبأنا سفيان أنبأنا هشام عن أبيه عن عائشة رضي الله عنهما قالت: قال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "إن كان أبواك لمن الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح أبو بكر والزبير" ورفع هذا الحديث خطأ محض من جهة إسناده لمخالفته رواية الثقات من وقفه على عائشة رضي الله عنها كما قدمناه ومن جهة معناه فإن الزبير ليس هو من آباء عائشة وإنما قالت ذلك عائشة لعروة بن الزبير لأنه ابن أختها أسماء بنت أبي بكر الصديق رضي الله عنهم - وقال ابن جرير: حدثني محمد بن سعد حدثني عمي حدثني أبي عن أبيه عن ابن عباس قال: إن الله قذف في قلب أبي سفيان الرعب يوم أحد بعدما كان منه ما كان فرجع إلى مكة فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم "إن أبا سفيان قد أصاب منكم طرفا وقد رجع وقد قذف الله في قلبه الرعب" وكانت وقعة أحد في شوال وكان التجار يقدمون المدينة في ذي القعدة فينزلون ببدر الصغرى في كل سنة مرة وإنهم قدموا بعد وقعة أحد وكان أصاب المؤمنين القرح واشتكوا ذلك إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم واشتد عليهم الذي أصابهم وأن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ندب الناس لينطلقوا معه ويتبعوا ما كانوا متبعين وقال " إنما يرتحلون الآن فيأتون الحج ولا يقدرون على مثلها حتى عام مقبل" فجاء الشيطان يخوف أولياءه فقال: إن الناس قد جمعوا لكم فأبى عليه الناس أن يتبعوه وقال "إني ذاهب وإن لم يتبعني أحد لأحضض الناس" فانتدب معه الصديق وعمر وعثمان وعلي والزبير وسعد وطلحة وعبدالرحمن بن عوف وعبدالله بن مسعود وحذيفة بن اليمان وأبو عبيدة بن الجراح في سبعين رجلا فساروا في طلب أبي سفيان فطلبوه حتى بلغوا الصفراء فأنزل الله تعالى "الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح" الآية. ثم قال ابن إسحق فخرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حتى انتهى إلى حمراء الأسد وهي من المدينة على ثمانية أميال قال ابن هشام: واستعمل على المدينة ابن أم مكتوم فأقام بها الاثنين والثلاثاء والأربعاء ثم رجع إلى المدينة وقد مر به كما حدثني عبدالله بن أبي بكر معبد بن أبي معبد الخزاعي وكانت خزاعة مسلمهم ومشركهم عيبة نصح لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بتهامة صفقتهم معه لا يخفون عنه شيئا كان بها ومعبد يومئذ كان مشركا فقال: يا محمد أما والله لقد عز علينا ما أصابك في أصحابك ولوددنا أن الله عافاك فيهم ثم خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بحمراء الأسد حتى لقي أبا سفيان بن حرب ومن معه بالروحاء وقد أجمعوا الرجعة إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه وقالوا أصبنا محمدا وأصحابه وقادتهم وأشرافهم ثم نرجع قبل أن نستأصلهم؟ لنكرن على بقيتهم ثم لنفرغن منهم فلما رأى أبو سفيان معبدا قال: ما وراءك يا معبد؟ قال: محمد وأصحابه يطلبكم في جمع لم أر مثله يتحرقون عليكم تحرقا قد اجتمع معه من كان تخلف عنه في يومكم وندموا على ما صنعوا فهم من الحنق عليكم بشيء لم أر مثله قط قال: ويلك ما تقوله؟ قال والله ما أرى أن ترتحل حتى ترى نواصي الخيل قال فوالله لقد أجمعنا الكرة عليهم لنستأصل بقيتهم قال فإني أنهاك عن ذلك ووالله لقد حملني ما رأيت على أن قلت فيهم أبياتا من شعر قال وما قلت؟ قال قلت: كادت تهد من الأصوات راحلتـي إذ سالت الأرض بالجرد الأبابيل تردى بأسد كرام لا تنابـــلة عند اللقاء ولا ميل معازيــــل فظلت أعدو أظن الأرض مائلـــة لما سموا برئيس غير مخــــذول فقلت ويل ابن حرب من لقائكــم إذا تغطمت البطحاء بالخيــــل إني نذير لأهل السيل ضاحيـــة لكل ذي إربة منهم ومعقــــــول من جيش أحمد لا وخش تنابلـــة وليس يوصف ما أنذرت بالقيــــل قال فثنى ذلك أبا سفيان ومن معه ومر به ركب من عبدالقيس فقال أين تريدون؟ قالوا نريد المدينة قال ولم؟ قالوا نريد الميرة؟ قال فهل أنتم مبلغون عني محمدا رسالة أرسلكم بها إليه وأحمل لكم هذه غدا زبيبا بعكاظ إذا وافيتمونا؟ قالوا نعم قال فإذا وافيتموه فأخبروه أنه قد أجمعنا المسير إليه وإلى أصحابه لنستأصل بقيتهم فمر الركب برسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو بحمراء الأسد فأخبروه بالذي قال أبو سفيان وأصحابه فقالوا "حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل" وذكر ابن هشام عن أبي عبيدة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حين بلغه رجوعهم والذي نفسي بيده لقد سومت لهم حجارة لو أصبحوا بها لكانوا كأمس الذاهب" وقال الحسن البصري في قوله "الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح" إن أبا سفيان وأصحابه أصابوا من المسلمين ما أصابوا ورجعوا فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إن أبا سفيان قد رجع وقد قذف الله في قلبه الرعب فمن ينتدب فى طلبه فقام النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأبو بكر وعمر وعثمان وعلي وناس من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فتبعوهم فبلغ أبا سفيان أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يطلبه فلقي عيرا من التجار فقال ردوا محمدا ولكم من الجعل كذا وكذا وأخبروهم أني قد جمعت جموعا وأني راجع إليهم فجاء التجار فأخبروا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بذلك فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم "حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل "فأنزل الله هذه الآية وهكذا قال عكرمة وقتادة وغير واحد إن هذا السياق نزل في شأن غزوة حمراء الأسد وقيل نزلت في بدر الموعد والصحيح الأول.
ثم مدح - سبحانه - المؤمنين الصادقين الذين لم تمنعهم جراحهم وآلامهم عن الاستجابة لأمر رسولهم - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فقال - تعالى - : { الذين استجابوا للَّهِ والرسول مِن بَعْدِ مَآ أَصَابَهُمُ القرح لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُواْ مِنْهُمْ واتقوا أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ } .قال الفخر الرازى ما ملخصه : اعلم أن الله - تعالى - مدح المؤمنين على غزوتين تعرف إحداهما : بغزوة حمراء الأسد ، والثانية : بغزوة بدر الصغرى . وكلاهما متصلة بغزوة أحد .أما غزوة حمراء الأسد فهى المرادة من هذه الآية ، فإن الأصح فى سبب نزولها أن أبا سفيان وأصحابه بعد أن انصرفوا من أحد وبلغوا الروحاء ، ندموا وقالوا : إنا قتلنا أكثرهم ولم يبق منهم إلا القليل فَلِم تركناهم؟ بل الواجب أن نرجع ونستأصلهم ، فهموا بالرجوع .فبلغ ذلك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فأراد أن يرهب الكفار ويريهم من نفسه ومن أصحابه قوة . فندب أصحابه إلى الخروج فى طلب أبى سفيان وقال : لا اريد أن يخرج الآن معى إلا من كان معى فى القتال - فى أحد - .فخرج الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم مع قوم من أصحابه حتى بلغوا حمراء الأسد .وهى مكان على بعد ثمانية أميال من المدينة .فألقى الله الرعب فى قلوب المشركين فانهزموا .وروى أنه كان فيهم من يحمل صاحبه على عنقه ساعة ، ثم كان المحمول يحمل الحامل ساعة أخرى . وكان كل ذلك لإثخان الجراح فيهم ، وكان فيهم من يتوكأ على صاحبه ساعة ويتوكأ عليه صاحبه ساعة .وقوله { استجابوا } بمعنى أجابوا . وقيل : استجابوا ، أصلها طلبوا الإجابة لأن الأصل فى الاستفعال طلب الفعل . والقرح : الجراح الشديدة .والمعنى : أن الله - تعالى - لا يضيع أجر هؤلاء المؤمنين الصادقين ، الذين أجابوا داعى الله وأطاعوا رسوله ، بأن خرجوا للجهاد فى سبيل عقيدتهم بدون وهن أو ضعف أو استكانة مع ما بهم من جراح شديدة ، وآلام مبرحة .ثم بين - سبحانه - جزاءهم فقال : { لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُواْ مِنْهُمْ واتقوا أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ } أى للذين أحسنوا منهم بأن أدوا جميع المأمورات ، واتقوا الله فى كل أحوالهم بأن صانوا أنفسهم عن جميع المنهيات ، لهؤلاء أجر عظيم لا يعلم كنهه إلا الله - تعالى - .وقوله { الذين استجابوا } فى موضع رفع على الابتداء وخبره قوله { لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُواْ } ويجوز أن يكون فى موضع جر على أنه صفة للمؤمنين فى قوله : { وَأَنَّ الله لاَ يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ المؤمنين } .قال صاحب الكشاف : و " من " فى قوله { لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُواْ مِنْهُمْ } للتبيين مثلها فى قوله - تعالى - { وَعَدَ الله الذين آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصالحات مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْراً عَظِيماً } لأن الذين استجابوا لله والرسول قد أحسنوا كلهم واتقوا لا بعضهم .
القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا مِنْهُمْ وَاتَّقَوْا أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ (172)قال أبو جعفر: يعني بذلك جل ثناؤه: وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ، المستجيبين لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم الجرح والكلوم. (50) .* * *وإنما عنى الله تعالى ذكره بذلك: الذين اتبعوا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى حَمْراء الأسد في طلب العدّو -أبي سفيان ومن كان معه من مشركي قريش- مُنصَرَفهم عن أحد. وذلك أن أبا سفيان لما انصرف عن أحد، خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في أثره حتى بلغ حمراء الأسد، وهي على ثمانية أميال من المدينة، ليرى الناسُ أنّ به وأصحابِه قوةً على عدوهم. كالذي:-8233- حدثنا ابن حميد قال، حدثنا سلمة، عن محمد بن إسحاق قال، حدثني حسين بن عبدالله، (51) عن عكرمة قال: كان يوم أحد [يوم] السبت للنصف من شوال، (52) فلما كان الغد من يوم أحد، يوم الأحد لست عشرة ليلة مضت من شوال، أذَّن مؤذِّن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في الناس بطلب &; 7-400 &; العدو، وأذَّن مؤذِّنه أن: " لا يخرجنَّ معنا أحد إلا من حضر يومنا بالأمس ". فكلمه جابر بن عبدالله بن عمرو بن حرام فقال: يا رسول الله، إنّ أبي كان خلَّفني على أخوات لي سبع، وقال لي: " يا بني، إنه لا ينبغي لي ولا لك أن نترك هؤلاء النسوة لا رجل فيهن، ولستُ بالذي أوثرك بالجهاد مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على نفسي! فتخلَّف على أخواتك "، فتخلفت عليهن. فأذن له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فخرج معه. وإنما خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مرهبًا للعدوّ، ليبلغهم أنه خرج في طلبهم، ليظنوا به قوة، وأنّ الذي أصابهم لم يوهنهم عن عدوهم. (53) .8234- حدثنا ابن حميد قال، حدثنا سلمة، عن محمد بن إسحاق قال، فحدثني عبدالله بن خارجة بن زيد بن ثابت، عن أبي السائب مولى عائشة بنت عثمان: أن رجلا من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من بني عبد الأشهل، كان شهد أحدًا قال: شهدتُ مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أحدًا، أنا وأخ لي، فرجعنا جريحين: فلما أذَّن [مؤذِّن] رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بالخروج في طلب العدوّ، (54) قلت لأخي -أو قال لي-: أتفوتنا غزوةٌ مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم؟ والله ما لنا من دابة نركبها، وما منا إلا جريح ثقيل! فخرجنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وكنت أيسر جرحًا منه، فكنتُ إذا غُلب حملته عُقبة ومشى عقبة، (55) حتى انتهينا إلى ما انتهى إليه المسلمون، فخرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حتى انتهى إلى حمراء الأسد، وهي من المدينة على ثمانية أميال، فأقام بها ثلاثًا، الاثنين والثلاثاء والأربعاء، ثم رجع إلى المدينة. (56)8235- حدثنا ابن حميد قال، حدثنا سلمة، عن ابن إسحاق قال: فقال الله تبارك وتعالى: " الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرحُ"، أي: الجراح، وهم الذين سارُوا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الغدَ من يوم أحد إلى حمراء الأسد، على ما بهم من ألم الجراح =" للذين أحسنوا منهم واتقوا أجر عظيم ". (57)8236- حدثنا بشر قال، حدثنا يزيد قال، حدثنا سعيد، عن قتادة، قوله: " الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح " الآية، وذلك يوم أحد، بعد القتل والجراح، وبعد ما انصرف المشركون -أبو سفيان وأصحابه- فقال صلى الله عليه وسلم لأصحابه: " ألا عِصابة تنتدبُ لأمر الله، (58) تطلب عدوّها؟ فإنه أنكى للعدو، وأبعد للسَّمع! فانطلق عصابة منهم على ما يعلم الله تعالى من الجَهد.8237- حدثنا محمد بن الحسين قال، حدثنا أحمد بن المفضل قال، حدثنا أسباط، عن السدي: انطلق أبو سفيان منصرفًا من أحد، حتى بلغ بعض الطريق، ثم إنهم ندموا وقالوا: بئسما صنعتم! (59) إنكم قتلتموهم، حتى إذا لم يبق إلا الشريد تركتموهم! ارجعوا واستأصلوهم. فقذف الله في قلوبهم الرعب، فهزموا، فأخبر الله رسوله، فطلبهم حتى بلغ حمراء الأسد، ثم رجعوا من حمراء الأسد، فأنـزل الله جل ثناؤه فيهم: " الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح ". (60)8238- حدثني محمد بن سعد قال، حدثني أبي قال، حدثني عمي قال، &; 7-402 &; حدثني أبي، عن أبيه، عن ابن عباس قال: إن الله جل وعز قذف في قلب أبي سفيان الرعب -يعني يوم أحد- بعد ما كان منه ما كان، فرجع إلى مكة، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: " إن أبا سفيان قد أصاب منكم طرّفًا، وقد رجع وقذف الله في قلبه الرعب "! وكانت وقعة أحد في شوال، وكان التجار يقدَمون المدينة في ذي القعدة، فينـزلون ببدر الصغرى في كل سنة مرة، وإنهم قدموا بعد وقعة أحد، وكان أصاب المؤمنين القرح، واشتكوا ذلك إلى نبيّ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، واشتد عليهم الذي أصابهم. وإنّ رسول الله ندب الناس لينطلقوا معه، ويتَّبعوا ما كانوا متَّبعين، وقال: إنما يرتحلون الآن فيأتون الحج، ولا يقدرون على مثلها حتى عام مقبل، فجاء الشيطان فخوَّف أولياءه، فقال: " إن الناس قد جمعوا لكم "! فأبى عليه الناس أن يتبعوه، فقال: " إني ذاهبٌ وإن لم يتبعني أحد "، لأحضِّضَ الناس. (61) فانتدب معه أبو بكر الصديق، وعمر، وعثمان، وعلي، والزبير، وسعد، وطلحة، وعبد الرحمن بن عوف، وعبدالله بن مسعود، وحذيفة بن اليمان، وأبو عبيدة بن الجراح، في سبعين رجلا فساروا في طلب أبي سفيان، فطلبوه حتى بلغوا الصفراء، فأنـزل الله تعالى: " الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح للذين أحسنوا منهم واتقوا أجرٌ عظيم ".8239- حدثني يعقوب بن إبراهيم قال، حدثنا هاشم بن القاسم قال، حدثنا أبو سعيد، عن هشام بن عروة، عن أبيه، عن عائشة أنها قالت لعبدالله بن الزبير: يا ابن أختي، أما والله إن أباك وجدك -تعني أبا بكر والزبير- لممن قال الله تعالى فيهم: " الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح ". (62) .8240- حدثنا القاسم قال، حدثنا الحسين قال، حدثني حجاج، عن ابن جريج قال: أخبرتُ أن أبا سفيان بن حرب لما راح هو وأصحابه يوم أحد، قال المسلمون للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: إنهم عامدون إلى المدينة! فقال: إن ركبوا الخيل وتركوا الأثقال، فإنهم عامدون إلى المدينة، وإن جلسوا على الأثقال وتركوا الخيل، فقد رَعَبهم الله، (63) وليسوا بعامديها ". فركبوا الأثقال، فرعبهم الله. ثم ندب ناسًا يتبعونهم ليروا أن بهم قوة، فاتبعوهم ليلتين أو ثلاثًا، فنـزلت: " الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح ".8241- حدثني سعيد بن الربيع قال، حدثنا سفيان، عن هشام بن عروة، عن أبيه قال: قالت لي عائشة: إنْ كان أبواك لمن الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح - تعني أبا بكر والزبير. (64) .&; 7-404 &;8242- حدثنا ابن حميد قال، حدثنا جرير، عن مغيرة، عن إبراهيم قال: كان عبدالله من الذين استجابوا لله والرسول.* * *قال أبو جعفر: فوعد تعالى ذكره، مُحسنَ من ذكرنا أمره من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح، إذا اتقى الله فخافه، فأدى فرائضه وأطاعه في أمره ونهيه فيما يستقبل من عمره =" أجرًا عظيما "، وذلك الثواب الجزيل، والجزاء العظيم على ما قدم من صالح أعماله في الدنيا.------------------الهوامش :(50) انظر تفسير"القرح" فيما سلف 7: 237.(51) في المطبوعة والمخطوطة: "حسان بن عبد الله" ، وهو خطأ ، والصواب من تاريخ الطبري. وهو"حسين بن عبد الله بن عبيد الله بن عباس بن عبد المطلب". روي عن عكرمة ، وروي عنه هشام ابن عروة ، وابن جريج ، وابن المبارك ، وابن إسحاق. وهو ضعيف الحديث. مترجم في التهذيب.(52) ما بين القوسين زيادة من سيرة ابن هشام ومن تاريخ الطبري.(53) الأثر: 8233- سيرة ابن هشام 3: 106 ، 107 ، وتاريخ الطبري 3: 29.(54) ما بين القوسين زيادة من سيرة ابن هشام وتاريخ الطبري.(55) "العقبة": قدر ما يسره الماشي ما استطاع المشي ، يريد: حملته شوطًا ، وسار شوطًا.(56) الأثر: 8234- سيرة ابن هشام 3: 107 - 108 ، وتاريخ الطبري 3: 29.(57) الأثر: 8235- سيرة ابن هشام 3: 128.(58) في المطبوعة: "ألا عصابة تشد لأمر الله" ، ولا معنى له ، وفي المخطوطة: ألا عصابة تشدد لأمر الله" ، وهو بلا ريب تصحيف ما أثبت."ندب القوم إلى الأمر فانتدبوا": دعاهم إليه وحثهم ، فأسرعوا إليه واستجابوا. وفضلا عن ذلك ، فهذا هو اللفظ الذي كثر وروده في أخبار حمراء الأسد.(59) في المخطوطة: "بئس ما صنعنا صنعتم" ، وهو سهو ، والصواب ما في المطبوعة. وانظر ما سلف رقم: 8003.(60) الأثر: 8237- مضى برقم: 8003 ، وانظر التعليق هناك.(61) هكذا في المخطوطة والمطبوعة"وتفسير ابن كثير 2: 298. أما الدر المنثور 2: 101 ، فقد أسقط"لأحضض الناس" ، وأنا أرجح أن صوابه هو: "ليحضض الناس" ، ولا أشك أن هذه الكلمة ليس من لفظه صلى الله عليه وسلم.(62) الحديث: 8239- هاشم بن القاسم: هو أبو النضر الإمام الحافظ ، شيخ الإمام أحمد ، وإسحاق ، وابن المديني. وهو ثقة ثبت حجة. كان أهل بغداد يفخرون به. أبو سعيد: هو المؤدب ، واسمه"محمد بن مسلم بن أبي الوضاح القضاعي". وهو ثقة مأمون.والحديث رواه الحاكم في المستدرك 2: 298 ، من طريق العباس بن محمد الدوري ، عن هاشم بن القاسم ، بهذا الإسناد. ووقع في مطبوعة المستدرك"هشام بن القاسم" ، وهو خطأ مطبعي لا شك فيه.وقال الحاكم: "هذا حديث صحيح على شرط الشيخين ، ولم يخرجاه" ، ووافقه الذهبي.والحديث في الصحيحين ، كما سيأتي في الرواية الآتية: 8241. ولعلهما اعتبراه من المستدرك لقوله في هذه الرواية"أنها قالت لعبد الله بن الزبير". والذي في الرواية الآتية أنها قالت لعروة بن الزبير. وهما أخوان ، والكلام لهما واحد. ومع ذلك فإن الحاكم رواه مرة أخرى ، كرواية مسلم ، كما سيأتي.(63) في المطبوعة: "قد أرعبهم الله" ، وفي المخطوطة"فقد رعبهم" كما أثبته وهو الصواب. يقال"رعبه يرعبه" (على وزن فتح) ، و"رعبه" (مشدد العين) ، وقد نص أهل اللغة أنه لا يقال: "أرعبه". وستأتي على الصواب في السطر التالي.(64) الحديث: 8241- سعيد بن الربيع الرازي - شيخ الطبري: مضت له رواية عنه في: 3791 ، ولم نجد له ترجمة. والحديث تكرار للحديث السابق: 8239. ولكن في هذا أن خطاب عائشة لعروة بن الزبير ، وهناك خطابها لأخيه عبد الله ، وهما ابنا أختها أسماء بنت أبي بكر.ورواه مسلم 2: 241 ، بأسانيد ، من طريق هشام بن عروة ، عن أبيه ، ومن رواية إسماعيل بن أبي خالد ، عن البهي - وهو: عبد الله البهي مولى مصعب بن الزبير - عن عروة ، به ، نحوه.ورواه البخاري 7: 287 ، مطولا ، من طريق أبي معاوية ، عن هشام بن عروة. ومع ذلك فإن الحاكم رواه مرة أخرى 3: 363 ، من طريق إسماعيل بن أبي خالد ، عن البهي ، عن عروة - كرواية مسلم. ثم قال: "هذا حديث صحيح على شرط الشيخين ، ولم يخرجاه"! وسقطت هذه الرواية من تلخيص الذهبي ، مخطوطًا ومطبوعًا.وذكره ابن كثير 2: 297 - 298 رواية البخاري ، ثم أشار إلى رواية الحاكم الأولى ، وتعقبه في دعواه أن الشيخين لم يخرجاه ، بقوله: "كذا قال". ثم أشار إلى أنه رواه ابن ماجه ، وسعيد بن منصور ، وأبو بكر الحميدي في مسنده. ثم أشار إلى رواية الحاكم الثانية.وذكره السيوطي 2: 102 ، مطولا. وزاد نسبته لابن أبي شيبة ، وأحمد ، وابن المنذر ، وابن أبي حاتم ، والبيهقي في الدلائل.
قوله تعالى : ( الذين استجابوا لله والرسول ) الآية ، وذلك أن أبا سفيان وأصحابه لما انصرفوا من أحد فبلغوا الروحاء ندموا على انصرافهم وتلاوموا وقالوا : لا محمدا قتلتم ولا الكواعب أردفتم ، قتلتموهم حتى إذا لم يبق إلا الشريد تركتموهم؟ ارجعوا فاستأصلوهم فبلغ ذلك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فأراد أن يرهب العدو ويريهم من نفسه وأصحابه قوة فندب أصحابه للخروج في طلب أبي سفيان ، فانتدب عصابة منهم مع ما بهم من الجرح والقرح الذي أصابهم يوم أحد ونادى منادي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : ألا لا يخرجن معنا أحد إلا من حضر يومنا بالأمس فكلمه جابر بن عبد الله ، فقال : يا رسول الله إن أبي كان قد خلفني على أخوات لي سبع ، وقال لي يا بني إنه لا ينبغي لي ولا لك أن نترك هؤلاء النسوة لا رجل فيهن ولست بالذي أوثرك على نفسي في الجهاد مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فتخلف على أخواتك ، فتخلفت عليهن فأذن له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فخرج معه .وإنما خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مرهبا للعدو وليبلغهم أنه خرج في طلبهم فيظنوا به قوة وأن الذي أصابهم لم يوهنهم فينصرفوا .فخرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ومعه أبو بكر وعمر وعثمان وعلي وطلحة والزبير وسعد وسعيد وعبد الرحمن بن عوف وعبد الله بن مسعود وحذيفة بن اليمان وأبو عبيدة بن الجراح في سبعين رجلا رضي الله عنهم حتى بلغوا حمراء الأسد وهي من المدينة على ثمانية أميال .وروي عن عائشة رضي الله عنها أنها قالت لعبد الله بن الزبير : يا ابن أختي أما والله إن أباك وجدك - تعني أبا بكر والزبير - لمن الذين قال الله عز وجل فيهم : ( الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح ) فمر برسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم معبد الخزاعي بحمراء الأسد وكانت خزاعة - مسلمهم وكافرهم - عيبة نصح رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بتهامة صفقتهم معه لا يخفون عنه شيئا كان بها ، ومعبد يومئذ مشرك فقال : يا محمد والله لقد عز علينا ما أصابك في أصحابك ولوددنا أن الله تعالى كان قد أعفاك منهم ، ثم خرج من عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حتى لقي أبا سفيان ومن معه بالروحاء قد أجمعوا الرجعة إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وقالوا : لقد أصبنا جل أصحابه وقادتهم لنكرن على بقيتهم فلنفرغن منهم ، فلما رأى أبو سفيان معبدا قال : ما وراءك يا معبد ؟ قال : محمد قد خرج في أصحابه يطلبكم في جمع لم أر مثله قط يتحرقون عليكم تحرقا ، قد اجتمع معه من كان تخلف عنه في يومكم وندموا على صنيعهم ، وفيهم من الحنق عليكم شيء لم أر مثله قط ، قال : ويلك ما تقول ؟ قال : والله ما أراك ترحل حتى ترى نواصي الخيل ، قال : فوالله لقد أجمعنا الكرة عليهم لنستأصل بقيتهم ، قال : فإني والله أنهاك عن ذلك فوالله لقد حملني ما رأيت على أن قلت فيه أبياتا :كادت تهد من الأصوات راحلتي إذ سالت الأرض بالجرد الأبابيلفذكر أبياتا فرد ذلك أبا سفيان ومن معه .ومر به ركب من عبد القيس فقال : أين تريدون؟ قالوا : نريد المدينة قال : ( ولم؟ قالوا : نريد الميرة ) قال : فهل أنتم مبلغون عني محمدا رسالة وأحمل لكم إبلكم هذه زبيبا بعكاظ غدا إذا وافيتمونا؟ قالوا : نعم ، قال : فإذا جئتموه فأخبروه أنا قد أجمعنا السير إليه وإلى أصحابه لنستأصل بقيتهم وانصرف أبو سفيان إلى مكة ، ومر الركب برسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهم بحمراء الأسد فأخبروه بالذي قال أبو سفيان فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه : " حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل " ثم انصرف رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى المدينة بعد الثالثة . هذا قول أكثر المفسرين .وقال مجاهد وعكرمة : نزلت هذه الآية في غزوة بدر الصغرى وذلك أن أبا سفيان يوم أحد حين أراد أن ينصرف قال : يا محمد موعد ما بيننا وبينك موسم بدر الصغرى لقابل إن شئت ، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : " ذلك بيننا وبينك إن شاء الله " فلما كان العام المقبل خرج أبو سفيان في أهل مكة حتى نزل مجنة من ناحية مر الظهران ثم ألقى الله الرعب في قلبه فبدا له الرجوع فلقي نعيم بن مسعود الأشجعي وقد قدم معتمرا فقال له أبو سفيان : يا نعيم إني واعدت محمدا وأصحابه أن نلتقي بموسم بدر الصغرى وإن هذه عام جدب ولا يصلحنا إلا عام نرعى فيه الشجر ونشرب فيه اللبن ، وقد بدا لي أن لا أخرج إليها وأكره أن يخرج محمد ولا أخرج أنا فيزيدهم ذلك جرأة ولأن يكون الخلف من قبلهم أحب إلي من أن يكون من قبلي فالحق بالمدينة فثبطهم وأعلمهم أني في جمع كثير لا طاقة لهم بنا ، ولك عندي عشرة من الإبل أضعها لك على يدي سهيل بن عمرو ويضمنها قال : فجاء سهيل فقال له نعيم يا أبا يزيد : أتضمن لي هذه القلائص وأنطلق إلى محمد وأثبطه؟ قال : نعم . فخرج نعيم حتى أتى المدينة فوجد الناس يتجهزون لميعاد أبي سفيان فقال : أين تريدون؟ فقالوا : واعدنا أبو سفيان بموسم بدر الصغرى أن نقتتل بها فقال : بئس الرأي رأيتم ، أتوكم في دياركم وقراركم فلم يفلت منكم إلا الشريد ، فتريدون أن تخرجوا وقد جمعوا لكم عند الموسم ، والله لا يفلت منكم أحد ، فكره أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الخروج فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : " والذي نفس محمد بيده لأخرجن ولو وحدي " فأما الجبان فإنه رجع وأما الشجاع فإنه تأهب للقتال وقال : " حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل " .فخرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في أصحابه حتى وافوا بدرا الصغرى فجعلوا يلقون المشركين ويسألونهم عن قريش فيقولون قد جمعوا لكم يريدون أن يرعبوا المسلمين فيقول المؤمنون : حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل ، حتى بلغوا بدرا وكانت موضع سوق لهم في الجاهلية يجتمعون إليها في كل عام ثمانية أيام فأقام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ببدر ينتظر أبا سفيان وقد انصرف أبو سفيان من مجنة إلى مكة فلم يلق رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه أحدا من المشركين ووافقوا السوق وكانت معهم تجارات ونفقات فباعوا وأصابوا بالدرهم درهمين وانصرفوا إلى المدينة سالمين غانمين فذلك قوله تعالى : ( الذين استجابوا لله والرسول ) أي أجابوا ومحل " الذين " خفض على صفة المؤمنين تقديره : إن الله لا يضيع أجر المؤمنين المستجيبين لله والرسول ، ( من بعد ما أصابهم القرح ) أي : ( نالتهم الجراح ) تم الكلام هاهنا ثم ابتداء فقال : ( للذين أحسنوا منهم ) بطاعة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وإجابته إلى الغزو ، ( واتقوا ) معصيته ( أجر عظيم ) .
وجملة { الذين استجابوا لله والرسول } صفة للمؤمنين أو مبتدأ خبره { للذين أحسنوا منهم واتقوا أجر عظيم } وهذه الاستجابة تشير إلى ما وقع إثر أُحُد من الأرجاف بأنّ المشركين ، بعد أن بلغوا الرّوحاء ، خطر لهم أنْ لو لحقوا المسلمين فاستأصلوهم . وقد مرّ ذكر هذا وما وقع لمعبد بن أبي معبد الخزاعي عند قوله تعالى : { يأيها الذين ءامنوا إن تطيعوا الذين كفروا يردوكم على أعقابكم } [ آل عمران : 149 ] . وقد تقدّم القول في القرح عند قوله : { إن يمسسكم قرح } [ آل عمران : 140 ] . والظاهر أنَّه هنا للقرح المجازي ، ولذلك لم يجمع فيقال القروح .
لما رجع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم من "أحد"" إلى المدينة، وسمع أن أبا سفيان ومن معه من المشركين قد هموا بالرجوع إلى المدينة، ندب أصحابه إلى الخروج، فخرجوا -على ما بهم من الجراح- استجابة لله ولرسوله، وطاعة لله ولرسوله، فوصلوا إلى ""حمراء الأسد"" وجاءهم من جاءهم وقال لهم: { إن الناس قد جمعوا لكم } وهموا باستئصالكم، تخويفا لهم وترهيبا، فلم يزدهم ذلك إلا إيمانا بالله واتكالا عليه. { وقالوا حسبنا الله } أي: كافينا كل ما أهمنا { ونعم الوكيل } المفوض إليه تدبير عباده، والقائم بمصالحهم."
قوله تعالى : الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح للذين أحسنوا منهم واتقوا أجر عظيمالذين في موضع رفع على الابتداء ، وخبره من بعد ما أصابهم القرح . ويجوز أن يكون في موضع خفض ، بدلا من المؤمنين ، أو من الذين لم يلحقوا . استجابوا بمعنى أجابوا والسين والتاء زائدتان . ومنه قوله :فلم يستجبه عند ذاك مجيبوفي الصحيحين عن عروة بن الزبير قال : قالت لي عائشة رضي الله عنها : كان أبوك من الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح . لفظ مسلم . وعنه عن عائشة : يا ابن أختي كان أبواك - تعني الزبير وأبا بكر - من الذين استجابوا لله والرسول من بعد ما أصابهم القرح . وقالت : لما انصرف المشركون من أحد وأصاب النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وأصحابه ما أصابهم خاف [ ص: 261 ] أن يرجعوا فقال : ( من ينتدب لهؤلاء حتى يعلموا أن بنا قوة ) قال فانتدب أبو بكر والزبير في سبعين ; فخرجوا في آثار القوم ، فسمعوا بهم وانصرفوا بنعمة من الله وفضل . وأشارت عائشة رضي الله عنها إلى ما جرى في غزوة حمراء الأسد ، وهي على نحو ثمانية أميال من المدينة ; وذلك أنه لما كان في يوم الأحد ، وهو الثاني من يوم أحد ، نادى رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - في الناس باتباع المشركين ، وقال : ( لا يخرج معنا إلا من شهدها بالأمس ) فنهض معه مائتا رجل من المؤمنين . في البخاري فقال : ( من يذهب في إثرهم ) فانتدب منهم سبعون رجلا . قال : كان فيهم أبو بكر والزبير على ما تقدم ، حتى بلغ حمراء الأسد ، مرهبا للعدو ; فربما كان فيهم المثقل بالجراح لا يستطيع المشي ولا يجد مركوبا ، فربما يحمل على الأعناق ; وكل ذلك امتثال لأمر رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ورغبة في الجهاد . وقيل : إن الآية نزلت في رجلين من بني عبد الأشهل كانا مثخنين بالجراح ; يتوكأ أحدهما على صاحبه ، وخرجا مع النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ; فلما وصلوا حمراء الأسد ، لقيهم نعيم بن مسعود فأخبرهم أن أبا سفيان بن حرب ومن معه من قريش قد جمعوا جموعهم ، وأجمعوا رأيهم على أن يأتوا إلى المدينة فيستأصلوا أهلها ; فقالوا ما أخبرنا الله عنهم : حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل " . وبينا قريش قد أجمعوا على ذلك إذ جاءهم معبد الخزاعي ، وكانت خزاعة حلفاء النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وعيبة نصحه ، وكان قد رأى حال أصحاب النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وما هم عليه ; ولما رأى عزم قريش على الرجوع ليستأصلوا أهل المدينة احتمله خوف ذلك ، وخالص نصحه للنبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وأصحابه على أن خوف قريشا بأن قال لهم : قد تركت محمدا وأصحابه بحمراء الأسد في جيش عظيم ، قد اجتمع له من كان تخلف عنه ، وهم قد تحرقوا عليكم ; فالنجاء النجاء ! فإني أنهاك عن ذلك ، فوالله لقد حملني ما رأيت أن قلت فيه أبياتا من الشعر . قال : وما قلت ؟ قال : قلت :كادت تهد من الأصوات راحلتي إذ سالت الأرض بالجرد الأبابيلتردي بأسد كرام لا تنابلة عند اللقاء ولا ميل معازيلفظلت عدوا أظن الأرض مائلة لما سموا برئيس غير مخذولفقلت ويل ابن حرب من لقائكم إذا تغطمطت البطحاء بالخيل[ ص: 262 ] إني نذير لأهل البسل ضاحية لكل ذي إربة منهم ومعقولمن جيش أحمد لا وخش قنابله وليس يوصف ما أنذرت بالقيلقال : فثنى ذلك أبا سفيان ومن معه ، وقذف الله في قلوبهم الرعب ، ورجعوا إلى مكة خائفين مسرعين ، ورجع النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - في أصحابه إلى المدينة منصورا ; كما قال الله تعالى : فانقلبوا بنعمة من الله وفضل لم يمسسهم سوء أي قتال ورعب . واستأذن جابر بن عبد الله إلى النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - في الخروج معه فأذن له . وأخبرهم تعالى أن الأجر العظيم قد تحصل لهم بهذه القفلة . وقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ( إنها غزوة ) . هذا تفسير الجمهور لهذه الآية . وشذ مجاهد وعكرمة رحمهما الله تعالى فقالا : إن هذه الآية من قوله : الذين قال لهم الناس إلى قوله : عظيم إنما نزلت في خروج النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - إلى بدر الصغرى . وذلك أنه خرج لميعاد أبي سفيان في أحد ، إذ قال : موعدنا بدر من العام المقبل . فقال النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : ( قولوا نعم ) فخرج النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قبل بدر ، وكان بها سوق عظيم ، فأعطى رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - أصحابه دراهم ; وقرب من بدر فجاءه نعيم بن مسعود الأشجعي ، فأخبره أن قريشا قد اجتمعت وأقبلت لحربه هي ومن انضاف إليها ، فأشفق المسلمون من ذلك ، لكنهم قالوا : حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل فصمموا حتى أتوا بدرا فلم يجدوا أحدا ، ووجدوا السوق فاشتروا بدراهمهم أدما وتجارة ، وانقلبوا ولم يلقوا كيدا ، وربحوا في تجارتهم ; فذلك قوله تعالى : فانقلبوا بنعمة من الله وفضل أي وفضل في تلك التجارات ، والله أعلم .
The martyrdom of the believers was derided by the hypocrites. They said that Muslims were being slain meaninglessly at the instance of their leader—the Prophet. God says that, on the contrary, what they call death is in fact the true, real life, which they have entered through the gateway of death. The non-believers know only the profit and loss of this world. That is why sacrificing their lives for the cause of the Hereafter appears to them as self-destruction. But they ought to know that the believers’ ‘dead’ have a far better ‘life’ than those among the non-believers who are alive: in the Hereafter, they rejoice in the bliss they have attained through sacrifice for the cause of God. Satan’s way is to take in hand those people whom he finds closer to him, and prevent them from advancing towards religion, by showing them the ‘dreadful’ consequences of such a step. People who give in to Satan’s influences thus become his agents. They exaggerate the power and the resources of the opponents of Islam in order to awe the believers. But such kinds of propaganda only serve to benefit the believers. Their conviction is strengthened all the more that their God will not abandon them in a difficult situation.
Commentary:
The subject of the previous verse was the battle of Uhud connected with which is the battle of Hamra' al-Asad which forms the subject of the present verse. Hamra' al-Asad is a place eight miles away from Madinah.
The background of this event, mentioned briefly under introductory remarks about verse 151, is that the disbelievers of Makkah left the battlefield of Uhud, reached a certain distance where they realized that they had made a mistake by retreating. Since they had almost won the battle, they should have gone for the final assault and finished off the Muslim forces. The thought so gripped them that they started getting ready to march back to Madinah. But, Allah Almighty cast such awe and fear in their hearts that they found it more convenient to march back home to Makkah. They still left a message with a passing group of travellers to Madinah asking them to give a warning to Muslims that they were coming back after them with all their awesome strength. The Holy Prophet ﷺ found this out through a revelation and he reached Hamra' al-Asad in hot pursuit (Ibn Jarir, cited by Ruh al-Ma'ani).
It appears in Tafsir al-Qurtubi that, on the second day of Uhud, the Holy Prophet ﷺ made an announcement before his mujahidin that they have to pursue the disbelievers but the attacking company will be composed of those who were active participants in yesterday's battle. Two hundred مجاھدین mujahidin rose following this announcement.
A report in Sahih al-Bukhari states that seventy people stood up following the announcement by the Holy Prophet ﷺ as to who was ready to go after the disbelievers. Among those were people who had been severely wounded in the battle a day earlier, some even had to be helped in walking. This blessed company marched to apprehend the disbelievers. When they reached Hamra' al-Asad, they met Nu'aym ibn Masud who told them that Abu Sufyan has assembled together a much larger force once again and he is all set to invade Madinah and eliminate its people. Injury-ridden and much weakened Companions ؓ heard this disturbing news yet it was in one voice that they said: We do not know him حَسْبُنَا اللَّـهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ (Allah is sufficient for us and He is the best caretaker.)
On the one hand there was this news broken to Muslims so they get terrorized, but nothing of this sort happened to them. On the other hand, there was the instance of Ma'bad al-Khuza` i, a man from the tribe of Bahl Khuza` ah. He was on his way to Makkah. Though not a Muslim, he was a well-wisher of Muslims - his tribe was an ally of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . So, when he saw Abu Sufyan repenting his retreat from Madinah and all too resolved to go back and fight, he told Abu Sufyan: 'You are making a mistake by thinking that Muslim forces have become weak. I have just passed by a huge army of theirs camped at Hamra' al-Asad. Armed with an array of men and materials, they are about to set out in hot pursuit against you.' This report from him put the awe of Muslim forces in his (Abu Sufyan) heart.
This event has been related in three verses (172-174) given above. It has been said in the first verse (172) that despite injuries and hardships from the Battle of Uhud, when Allah and His Messenger called them up for another Jihad, they were ready for that too. Worth noticing at this point is the fact that the Muslims being praised here had two distinguishing features. The first one appears in مِن بَعْدِ مَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ (even after they had received the wound) which means that those who responded to the call of Allah and His Messenger were people wounded at the Battle of Badr. Seventy of their brave companions had met their martyrdom on the battlefield while they themselves were riddled with injuries all over their bodies, yet when they were called to serve again, they immediately agreed to join the Jihad.
The second distinctive feature has been mentioned in the words: them who did good and feared Allah) which established that these people were not simply some great achievers on the battlefield striving incessantly and staking their lives for a noble cause, but they also imbibed in their person the highest virtues of Ihsan (righteous conduct) and Taqwa (fear of Allah). Thus, this very blessed combination of virtues is the cause of their great reward.
Removing a doubt
Let there be no doubt about the word: مِنْهُمْ (literally of them' ) used here. It should not be taken to mean that all these people were not armed with the virtues of Ihsan and Taqwa - only some of them were. The simple reason is that the preposition: مِن min (of, some of) used here is not divisive or partitive. It is, rather, doubtlessly narrative which is confirmed by the very opening words of this very verse: الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا (Those who responded to the call). From this, it is clear that such response and submission simply cannot materialize without having the qualities of Ihsan and Taqwa ingrained in one's personality. That is why most commentators have declared that the preposition: مِن min (of, some of) has been used here in the narrative sense. In short, the essential meaning of the verse is that all these people had rewards waiting for them.
Striving to achieve something good even at the cost of one's life is not enough unless there is total sincerity behind it
Anyway, this particular mode of address leads us to an essential rule of conduct which is: No matter how good is an effort made and no matter how many sacrifices of wealth and life one makes to achieve that end, it can be reward-worthy in the sight of Allah only when it is simultaneously backed by Ihsan and Taqwa. Therefore, the essence of the observation is that the deed undertaken must be for the good pleasure of Allah alone. Otherwise simple feats of bravery, some of which come even at the cost of one's dear life, are just about no lesser among disbelievers as well.
In its ultimate reality, the command of the Messenger of Allah is the command of Allah.
In this event, it will be recalled that the command to pursue the disbelievers was given by the Holy Prophet ﷺ . This does not find mention in any verse of the Holy Qur'an. But, in this particular verse, when the obedience of those people is praised, the command was attributed to both Allah and His Messenger as evident from the words of the text: الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِلَّـهِ وَالرَّسُولِ (172): 'Those who responded to the call of Allah and the Messenger. This proves very clearly that the command which the Holy Prophet ﷺ gives is also the command of Allah even though it has not been mentioned in the Book of Allah.
As for those irreligious deviants who reject Hadith and belittle the status of the Messenger of Allah by restricting it to that of a courier (God forbid), a simple statement, that Allah Almighty has openly declared the command of the Messenger as His own, should be enough to understand the truth - if understanding is what they seek. This statement, moreover, also makes it clear that the Messenger can also by himself and at his discretion, set up rules in accordance with expedient considerations, and all such rules have the same status as that enjoyed by the commandments of Allah.
The Definition of Ihsan
Mentioned several times during the comments given above, the word Ihsan generally means the performance of good deeds with the best of effort and discretion. However, the basic definition of Ihsan was given by the Holy Prophet ﷺ himself as reported in the well-known 'hadith of Jibra'il'. The actual words are:
اَن تَعبُد اللہ کاَنَّکَ تَرَاہُ فانِ لَّم تکُن تَرَاہُ فَاِنَّہُ یَرَاک
That is, worship Allah as if you are seeing Him; and if it is not possible for you to (imagine that you) see Him, then, (imagine that) He sees you anyway.
The Definition of Taqwa
The word, Taqwa, has been interpreted variously but the most comprehensive definition is what was given by the blessed Companion Ubayy ibn Ka'b ؓ when Sayyidna ` Umar ؓ asked him as to what Taqwa really was. Sayyidna Ubayy ibn Ka'b ؓ said: '0 Commander of the Faithful, you may have certainly passed by pathways full of thorns, have you not?' Sayyidna ` Umar ؓ said, 'Several times, of course.' Sayyidna Ubayy ibn Ka'b ؓ asked, 'What did you do at that time?' Sayyidna ` Umar ؓ said, 'I folded the hang of my dress and walked carefully.' Sayyidna Ubayy ibn Ka'b ؓ said, 'Enough. You said it. This is what Taqwa means. This mortal world of ours is a bed of thorns, full of the thorns of sins, therefore, one should live in this world in a way that one does not get entangled in the thorns of sin. The name of this attitude to life is Taqwa, the highest capital gain one can dream of.' The blessed Companion, Sayyidna Abu al-Darda' ؓ used to recite the following verse quite often:
یقولُ المَرُٔ فایٔدَتی ، و تقوَی اللہِ اَفضَلُ ما استَفَادا
"People say, ` my gain' and 'my money' while, really, the fear of Allah (Taqwa) is the best of what is gained."
Allah then mentioned their accompaniment of the Prophet (pbuh) in the lesser Badr (Badr al-Sughra), saying: (As for those who heard the call of Allah) answered Allah by obeying Him (and His messenger) by accompanying him in the lesser Badr (after the harm) on the Day of Uhud (befell them (in the fight); for such of them as do right) by accompanying the Prophet (pbuh) at the lesser Badr (and ward off (evil)) ward off contravention against Allah and disobeying the Messenger, (there is great reward) abundant reward in Paradise,
Virtues of the Martyrs
Allah states that even though the martyrs were killed in this life, their souls are alive and receiving provisions in the Dwelling of Everlasting Life. In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Masruq said, "We asked `Abdullah about this Ayah,
وَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَتاً بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ
(Think not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allah. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.)
He said, `We asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the same question and he said,
«أَرْوَاحُهُمْ فِي جَوْفِ طَيْرٍ خُضْرٍ، لَهَا قَنَادِيلُ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِالْعَرْشِ، تَسْرَحُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ شَاءَتْ، ثُمَّ تَأْوِي إِلَى تِلْكَ الْقَنَادِيلِ، فَاطَّلَعَ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمُ اطِّلَاعَةً فَقَالَ: هَلْ تَشْتَهُونَ شَيْئًا؟ فَقَالُوا: أَيَّ شَيْءٍ نَشْتَهِي وَنَحْنُ نَسْرَحُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ شِئْنَا؟ فَفَعَلَ ذَلِكَ بِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ، فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا أَنَّهُمْ لَنْ يُتْرَكُوا مِنْ أَنْ يُسْأَلُوا، قَالُوا: يَا رَبِّ نُرِيدُ أَنْ تَرُدَّ أَرْوَاحَنَا فِي أَجْسَادِنَا حَتَّى نُقْتَلَ فِي سَبِيلِكَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى، فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ حَاجَةٌ، تُرِكُوا»
(Their souls are inside green birds that have lamps, which are hanging below the Throne (of Allah), and they wander about in Paradise wherever they wish. Then they return to those lamps. Allah looks at them and says, `Do you wish for anything' They say, `What more could we wish for, while we go wherever we wish in Paradise' Allah asked them this question thrice, and when they realize that He will keep asking them until they give an answer, they say, `O Lord! We wish that our souls be returned to our bodies so that we are killed in Your cause again.' Allah knew that they did not have any other wish, so they were left.)"' There are several other similar narrations from Anas and Abu Sa`id.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«مَا مِنْ نَفْسٍ تَمُوتُ، لَهَا عِنْدَ اللهِ خَيْرٌ، يَسُرُّهَا أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا، إِلَّا الشَّهِيدُ، فَإِنَّهُ يَسُرُّهُ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا فَيُقْتَلَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى، لِمَا يَرَى مِنْ فَضْلِ الشَهَادَة»
(No soul that has a good standing with Allah and dies would wish to go back to the life of this world, except for the martyr. He would like to be returned to this life so that he could be martyred again, for he tastes the honor achieved from martyrdom.) Muslim collected this Hadith
In addition, Imam Ahmad recorded that, Ibn `Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَمَّا أُصِيبَ إِخْوَانُكُمْ بِأُحُدٍ، جَعَلَ اللهُ أَرْوَاحَهُمْ فِي أَجْوَافِ طَيْرٍ خُضْرٍ، تَرِدُ أَنْهَارَ الْجَنَّـةِ، وَتَأْكُلُ مِنْ ثِمَارِهَا، وَتَأْوِي إِلى قَنَادِيلَ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فِي ظِلِّ الْعَرْشِ، فَلَمَّا وَجَدُوا طِيبَ مَشْرَبِهِمْ وَمَأْكَلِهِمْ، وَحُسْنَ مُتَقَلَّبِهِمْ قَالُوا: يَا لَيْتَ إِخْوَانَنَا يَعْلَمُونَ مَا صَنَعَ اللهُ لَنَا، لِئَلَّا يَزْهَدُوا فِي الْجِهَادِ، وَلَا يَنْكُلُوا عَنِ الْحَرْبِ، فَقَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: أَنْا أُبَلِّغُهُمْ عَنْكُم»
(When your brothers were killed in Uhud, Allah placed their souls inside green birds that tend to the rivers of Paradise and eat from its fruits. They then return to golden lamps hanging in the shade of the Throne. When they tasted the delight of their food, drink and dwelling, they said, `We wish that our brothers knew what Allah gave us so that they will not abandon Jihad or warfare.' Allah said, `I will convey the news for you.') Allah revealed these and the following Ayat,
وَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَتاً بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ
(Think not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allah. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.)
Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` and Ad-Dahhak said that these Ayat were revealed about the martyrs of Uhud.
Abu Bakr Ibn Marduwyah recorded that Jabir bin `Abdullah said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ looked at me one day and said, `O Jabir! Why do I see you sad' I said, `O Messenger of Allah! My father was martyred and left behind debts and children.' He said,
«أَلَا أُخْبِرُكَ؟ مَا كَلَّمَ اللهُ أَحَدًا قَطُّ إِلَّا مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ، وَإِنَّه كَلَّمَ أَبَاكَ كِفَاحًا»
، قال علي: الكفاح: المواجهة
«قَالَ: سَلْنِي أُعْطِكَ. قَالَ: أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ أُرَدَّ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا فَأُقْتَلَ فِيكَ ثَانِيَةً، فَقَالَ الرَّبُّ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: إِنَّهُ قَدْ سَبَقَ مِنِّي الْقَوْلُ: إِنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهَا لَا يَرْجِعُونَ. قَالَ: أَيْ رَبِّ فَأَبْلِغْ مَنْ وَرَائِي»
(Should I tell you that Allah never spoke to anyone except from behind a veil However, He spoke to your father directly. He said, `Ask Me and I will give you.' He said, `I ask that I am returned to life so that I am killed in Your cause again.' The Lord, Exalted He be, said, `I have spoken the word that they shall not be returned back to it (this life). ' He said, `O Lord! Then convey the news to those I left behind.') Allah revealed,
وَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَتاً
(Think not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allah...)"
Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«الشُّهَدَاءُ عَلى بَارِقِ نَهْرٍ بِبَابِ الْجَنَّـةِ، فِي قُبَّةٍ خَضْرَاءَ، يَخْرُجُ عَلَيْهِمْ رِزْقُهُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّـةِ بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا»
(The martyrs convene at the shore of a river close to the door of Paradise, in a green tent, where their provisions are brought to them from Paradise day and night.)
Ahmad and Ibn Jarir collected this Hadith, which has a good chain of narration. It appears that the martyrs are of different types, some of them wander in Paradise, and some remain close to this river by the door of Paradise. It is also possible that the river is where all the souls of the martyrs convene and where they are provided with their provision day and night, and Allah knows best. UImam Ahmad narrated a Hadith that contains good news for every believer that his soul will be wandering in Paradise, as well, eating from its fruits, enjoying its delights and happiness and tasting the honor that Allah has prepared in it for him. This Hadith has a unique, authentic chain of narration that includes three of the Four Imams. Imam Ahmad narrated this Hadith from Muhammad bin Idris Ash-Shafi`i who narrated it from Malik bin Anas Al-Asbuhi, from Az-Zuhri, from `Abdur-Rahman bin Ka`b bin Malik that his father said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«نَسَمَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ طَائِرٌ يَعْلُقُ فِي شَجَرِ الْجَنَّـةِ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَهُ اللهُ إِلى جَسَدِهِ يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُه»
(The soul of the believer becomes a bird that feeds on the trees of Paradise, until Allah sends him back to his body when He resurrects him.)
This Hadith states that the souls of the believers are in the shape of a bird in Paradise. As for the souls of martyrs, they are inside green birds, like the stars to the rest of the believing souls. We ask Allah the Most Generous that He makes us firm on the faith.
Allah's statement,
فَرِحِينَ بِمَآ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ
(They rejoice in what Allah has bestowed upon them) indicates that the martyrs who were killed in Allah's cause are alive with Allah, delighted because of the bounty and happiness they are enjoying. They are also awaiting their brethren, who will die in Allah's cause after them, for they will be meeting them soon. These martyrs do not have fear about the future or sorrow for what they left behind. We ask Allah to grant us Paradise. The Two Sahihs record from Anas, the story of the seventy Ansar Companions who were murdered at Bir Ma`unah in one night. In this Hadith, Anas reported that the Prophet used to supplicate to Allah in Qunut in prayer against those who killed them. Anas said, "A part of the Qur'an was revealed about them, but was later abrogated, `Convey to our people that we met Allah and He was pleased with us and made us pleased."'
Allah said next,
يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
(They rejoice in a grace and a bounty from Allah, and that Allah will not waste the reward of the believers) 3:171.
Muhammad bin Ishaq commented, "They were delighted and pleased because of Allah's promise that was fulfilled for them, and for the tremendous rewards they earned." `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "This Ayah encompasses all the believers, martyrs and otherwise. Rarely does Allah mention a bounty and a reward that He granted to the Prophets, without following that with what He has granted the believers after them."
The Battle of Hamra' Al-Asad
Allah said,
الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُواْ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ مِن بَعْدِ مَآ أَصَـبَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ
(Those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger after being wounded) 3:172.
This occurred on the day of Hamra' Al-Asad. After the idolators defeated the Muslims (at Uhud), they started on their way back home, but soon they were concerned because they did not finish off the Muslims in Al-Madinah, so they set out to make that battle the final one. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ got news of this, he commanded the Muslims to march to meet the disbelievers, to bring fear to their hearts and to demonstrate that the Muslims still had strength to fight. The Prophet only allowed those who were present during Uhud to accompany him, except for Jabir bin `Abdullah Al-Ansari, as we will mention. The Muslims mobilized, even though they were still suffering from their injuries, in obedience to Allah and His Messenger .
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ikrimah said, "When the idolators returned towards Makkah after Uhud, they said, `You neither killed Muhammad nor collected female captives. Woe to you for what you did. Let us go back.' When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ heard this news, he mobilized the Muslim forces, and they marched until they reached Hamra Al-Asad. The idolators said, `Rather, we will meet next year', and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went back to Al-Madinah, and this was considered a Ghazwah (battle). Allah sent down,
الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُواْ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ مِن بَعْدِ مَآ أَصَـبَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُواْ مِنْهُمْ وَاتَّقَوْاْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
(Those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger after being wounded; for those of them who did good deeds and feared Allah, there is a great reward.)
Al-Bukhari recorded that `A'ishah said to `Urwah about the Ayah;
الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُواْ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ
(Those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger)
"My nephew! Your fathers Az-Zubayr and Abu Bakr were among them. After the Prophet suffered the calamity at Uhud and the idolators went back, he feared that the idolators might try to come back and he said, `Who would follow them' Seventy men, including Az-Zubayr and Abu Bakr, volunteered." This was recorded by Al-Bukhari alone.
As for Allah's statement,
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُواْ لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَـناً
(Those unto whom the people said, "Verily, the people have gathered against you, therefore, fear them." But it (only) increased them in faith) 3:173, it means, those who threatened the people, saying that the disbelievers have amassed against them, in order to instill fear in them, but this did not worry them, rather, they trusted in Allah and sought His help,
وَقَالُواْ حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
(and they said: "Allah is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.")
Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said,
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
("Allah Alone is Sufficient for us and He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us.")
"Ibrahim said it when he was thrown in fire. Muhammad said it when the people said, `Verily, the people have gathered against you, therefore, fear them.' But it only increased them in faith, and they said, `Allah is Sufficient for us and He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us."' Abu Bakr Ibn Marduwyah recorded that Anas bin Malik said that the Prophet was told on the day of Uhud, "Verily, the people have gathered against you, therefore, fear them." Thereafter, Allah sent down this Ayah 3:173.
This is why Allah said,
فَانْقَلَبُواْ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَّمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوءٌ
(So they returned with grace and bounty from Allah. No harm touched them;) for when they relied on Allah, Allah took care of their worries, He confounded the plots of their enemies, and the Muslims returned to their land,
بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَّمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوءٌ
(with grace and bounty from Allah. No harm touched them;) safe from the wicked plots of their enemies,
وَاتَّبَعُواْ رِضْوَنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَظِيمٍ
(and they followed the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is the Owner of great bounty.)
Al-Bayhaqi recorded that Ibn `Abbas said about Allah's statement,
فَانْقَلَبُواْ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ
(So they returned with grace and bounty from Allah,) "The `Grace' was that they were saved. The `Bounty' was that a caravan passed by, and those days were Hajj season days. Thus the Messenger of Allah ﷺ bought and sold and made a profit, which he divided between his Companions."
Allah then said,
إِنَّمَا ذَلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَـنُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ
(It is only Shaytan that suggests to you the fear of his friends,) 3:175 meaning, Shaytan threatens you with his friends and tries to pretend they are powerful and fearsome. Allah said next,
فَلاَ تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِينَ
(so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are indeed believers.) meaning, "If Shaytan brings these thoughts to you, then depend on Me and seek refuge with Me. Indeed, I shall suffice you and make you prevail over them." Similarly, Allah said,
أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبْدَهُ وَيُخَوِّفُونَكَ بِالَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِ
(Is not Allah Sufficient for His servant Yet they try to frighten you with those besides Him!) 39: 36, until,
قُلْ حَسْبِىَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ يَتَوَكَّـلُ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
(Say: "Sufficient for me is Allah; in Him those who trust must put their trust.") 39:38. Allah said,
فَقَـتِلُواْ أَوْلِيَاءَ الشَّيْطَـنِ إِنَّ كَيْدَ الشَّيْطَـنِ كَانَ ضَعِيفاً
(So fight you against the friends of Shaytan; ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaytan.) 4:76 and
أُوْلَـئِكَ حِزْبُ الشَّيْطَـنِ أَلاَ إِنَّ حِزْبَ الشَّيْطَـنِ هُمُ الخَـسِرُونَ
(They are the party of Shaytan. Verily, it is the party of Shaytan that will be the losers!) 58:19,
كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لاّغْلِبَنَّ أَنَاْ وَرُسُلِى إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ
(Allah has decreed: "Verily, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious." Verily, Allah is All-Powerful, All-Mighty.) 58:21 and
وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ
(Verily, Allah will help those who help His (cause).) 22:40 and
يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِن تَنصُرُواْ اللَّهَ يَنصُرْكُمْ
(O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you) 47:7, and,
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ فِى الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الاٌّشْهَـدُ - يَوْمَ لاَ يَنفَعُ الظَّـلِمِينَ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ وَلَهُمُ الْلَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوءُ الدَّارِ
(Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe, in this world's life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth. The Day when their excuses will be of no profit to wrongdoers. Theirs will be the curse, and theirs will be the evil abode.) 40:51,52
They rejoice in blessings from God and bounty, and that God does not leave to waste the wage of the faithful, those who answered God and the Messenger after the wound had befallen them. Those who bow their heads before the command of God and the Messenger in passion for the religion made their own dear spirits the target of the enemy's arrows. They made their spirits a gift, their bodies a path, and their hearts a sacrifice. They bought that suffering and wounding with spirit and heart. Sarī SaqaṬī said, “God appeared to me in a dream saying, 'O Sarī! We created the creatures. Some of them saw this world and clung to it. Some of them saw trial, and they fled to paradise and well-being. Some of them thought nothing of trial and took the tribulation into their spirits and hearts, asking for union with Us. Which one of these are you? What do you want?'” Sarī said, “I answered, 'You know what I desire.'” How often will you ask, why do you make me suffer? In truth you know my state better than I. “He said, 'O Sarī! By the majesty of Our measure, We will strike your head with the whip of trial, and We will make the millstone of tribulation revolve on your head.'” Sarī said, “I replied with the light of recognition by lordly inspiration, 'Are You not the one who sends trials?'” The lover's soul is patient with illness- perhaps He who made him ill will one day make him well. * Since the healing, O Heart-taker, is from Your wound and pain, make no balm for the wounded, don't cure the pain!
They rejoice in blessings from God and bounty, and that God does not leave to waste the wage of the faithful, those who answered God and the Messenger after the wound had befallen them. Those who bow their heads before the command of God and the Messenger in passion for the religion made their own dear spirits the target of the enemy's arrows. They made their spirits a gift, their bodies a path, and their hearts a sacrifice. They bought that suffering and wounding with spirit and heart. Sarī SaqaṬī said, “God appeared to me in a dream saying, 'O Sarī! We created the creatures. Some of them saw this world and clung to it. Some of them saw trial, and they fled to paradise and well-being. Some of them thought nothing of trial and took the tribulation into their spirits and hearts, asking for union with Us. Which one of these are you? What do you want?'” Sarī said, “I answered, 'You know what I desire.'” How often will you ask, why do you make me suffer? In truth you know my state better than I. “He said, 'O Sarī! By the majesty of Our measure, We will strike your head with the whip of trial, and We will make the millstone of tribulation revolve on your head.'” Sarī said, “I replied with the light of recognition by lordly inspiration, 'Are You not the one who sends trials?'” The lover's soul is patient with illness- perhaps He who made him ill will one day make him well. * Since the healing, O Heart-taker, is from Your wound and pain, make no balm for the wounded, don't cure the pain!
They rejoice in blessings from God and bounty, and that God does not leave to waste the wage of the faithful, those who answered God and the Messenger after the wound had befallen them. Those who bow their heads before the command of God and the Messenger in passion for the religion made their own dear spirits the target of the enemy's arrows. They made their spirits a gift, their bodies a path, and their hearts a sacrifice. They bought that suffering and wounding with spirit and heart. Sarī SaqaṬī said, “God appeared to me in a dream saying, 'O Sarī! We created the creatures. Some of them saw this world and clung to it. Some of them saw trial, and they fled to paradise and well-being. Some of them thought nothing of trial and took the tribulation into their spirits and hearts, asking for union with Us. Which one of these are you? What do you want?'” Sarī said, “I answered, 'You know what I desire.'” How often will you ask, why do you make me suffer? In truth you know my state better than I. “He said, 'O Sarī! By the majesty of Our measure, We will strike your head with the whip of trial, and We will make the millstone of tribulation revolve on your head.'” Sarī said, “I replied with the light of recognition by lordly inspiration, 'Are You not the one who sends trials?'” The lover's soul is patient with illness- perhaps He who made him ill will one day make him well. * Since the healing, O Heart-taker, is from Your wound and pain, make no balm for the wounded, don't cure the pain!
They rejoice in blessings from God and bounty, and that God does not leave to waste the wage of the faithful, those who answered God and the Messenger after the wound had befallen them. Those who bow their heads before the command of God and the Messenger in passion for the religion made their own dear spirits the target of the enemy's arrows. They made their spirits a gift, their bodies a path, and their hearts a sacrifice. They bought that suffering and wounding with spirit and heart. Sarī SaqaṬī said, “God appeared to me in a dream saying, 'O Sarī! We created the creatures. Some of them saw this world and clung to it. Some of them saw trial, and they fled to paradise and well-being. Some of them thought nothing of trial and took the tribulation into their spirits and hearts, asking for union with Us. Which one of these are you? What do you want?'” Sarī said, “I answered, 'You know what I desire.'” How often will you ask, why do you make me suffer? In truth you know my state better than I. “He said, 'O Sarī! By the majesty of Our measure, We will strike your head with the whip of trial, and We will make the millstone of tribulation revolve on your head.'” Sarī said, “I replied with the light of recognition by lordly inspiration, 'Are You not the one who sends trials?'” The lover's soul is patient with illness- perhaps He who made him ill will one day make him well. * Since the healing, O Heart-taker, is from Your wound and pain, make no balm for the wounded, don't cure the pain!
They rejoice in blessings from God and bounty, and that God does not leave to waste the wage of the faithful, those who answered God and the Messenger after the wound had befallen them.Those who bow their heads before the command of God and the Messenger in passion for the religion made their own dear spirits the target of the enemy's arrows. They made their spirits a gift, their bodies a path, and their hearts a sacrifice. They bought that suffering and wounding with spirit and heart.Sarī SaqaṬī said, �God appeared to me in a dream saying, 'O Sarī! We created the creatures. Some of them saw this world and clung to it. Some of them saw trial, and they fled to paradise and well-being. Some of them thought nothing of trial and took the tribulation into their spirits and hearts, asking for union with Us. Which one of these are you? What do you want?'�Sarī said, �I answered, 'You know what I desire.'�How often will you ask, why do you make me suffer?In truth you know my state better than I.�He said, 'O Sarī! By the majesty of Our measure, We will strike your head with the whip of trial, and We will make the millstone of tribulation revolve on your head.'�Sarī said, �I replied with the light of recognition by lordly inspiration, 'Are You not the one who sends trials?'�The lover's soul is patient with illness-perhaps He who made him ill will one day make him well.*Since the healing, O Heart-taker, is from Your wound and pain, make no balm for the wounded, don't cure the pain!
Commentary:
The subject of the previous verse was the battle of Uhud connected with which is the battle of Hamra' al-Asad which forms the subject of the present verse. Hamra' al-Asad is a place eight miles away from Madinah.
The background of this event, mentioned briefly under introductory remarks about verse 151, is that the disbelievers of Makkah left the battlefield of Uhud, reached a certain distance where they realized that they had made a mistake by retreating. Since they had almost won the battle, they should have gone for the final assault and finished off the Muslim forces. The thought so gripped them that they started getting ready to march back to Madinah. But, Allah Almighty cast such awe and fear in their hearts that they found it more convenient to march back home to Makkah. They still left a message with a passing group of travellers to Madinah asking them to give a warning to Muslims that they were coming back after them with all their awesome strength. The Holy Prophet ﷺ found this out through a revelation and he reached Hamra' al-Asad in hot pursuit (Ibn Jarir, cited by Ruh al-Ma'ani).
It appears in Tafsir al-Qurtubi that, on the second day of Uhud, the Holy Prophet ﷺ made an announcement before his mujahidin that they have to pursue the disbelievers but the attacking company will be composed of those who were active participants in yesterday's battle. Two hundred مجاھدین mujahidin rose following this announcement.
A report in Sahih al-Bukhari states that seventy people stood up following the announcement by the Holy Prophet ﷺ as to who was ready to go after the disbelievers. Among those were people who had been severely wounded in the battle a day earlier, some even had to be helped in walking. This blessed company marched to apprehend the disbelievers. When they reached Hamra' al-Asad, they met Nu'aym ibn Masud who told them that Abu Sufyan has assembled together a much larger force once again and he is all set to invade Madinah and eliminate its people. Injury-ridden and much weakened Companions ؓ heard this disturbing news yet it was in one voice that they said: We do not know him حَسْبُنَا اللَّـهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ (Allah is sufficient for us and He is the best caretaker.)
On the one hand there was this news broken to Muslims so they get terrorized, but nothing of this sort happened to them. On the other hand, there was the instance of Ma'bad al-Khuza` i, a man from the tribe of Bahl Khuza` ah. He was on his way to Makkah. Though not a Muslim, he was a well-wisher of Muslims - his tribe was an ally of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . So, when he saw Abu Sufyan repenting his retreat from Madinah and all too resolved to go back and fight, he told Abu Sufyan: 'You are making a mistake by thinking that Muslim forces have become weak. I have just passed by a huge army of theirs camped at Hamra' al-Asad. Armed with an array of men and materials, they are about to set out in hot pursuit against you.' This report from him put the awe of Muslim forces in his (Abu Sufyan) heart.
This event has been related in three verses (172-174) given above. It has been said in the first verse (172) that despite injuries and hardships from the Battle of Uhud, when Allah and His Messenger called them up for another Jihad, they were ready for that too. Worth noticing at this point is the fact that the Muslims being praised here had two distinguishing features. The first one appears in مِن بَعْدِ مَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ (even after they had received the wound) which means that those who responded to the call of Allah and His Messenger were people wounded at the Battle of Badr. Seventy of their brave companions had met their martyrdom on the battlefield while they themselves were riddled with injuries all over their bodies, yet when they were called to serve again, they immediately agreed to join the Jihad.
The second distinctive feature has been mentioned in the words: them who did good and feared Allah) which established that these people were not simply some great achievers on the battlefield striving incessantly and staking their lives for a noble cause, but they also imbibed in their person the highest virtues of Ihsan (righteous conduct) and Taqwa (fear of Allah). Thus, this very blessed combination of virtues is the cause of their great reward.
Removing a doubt
Let there be no doubt about the word: مِنْهُمْ (literally of them' ) used here. It should not be taken to mean that all these people were not armed with the virtues of Ihsan and Taqwa - only some of them were. The simple reason is that the preposition: مِن min (of, some of) used here is not divisive or partitive. It is, rather, doubtlessly narrative which is confirmed by the very opening words of this very verse: الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا (Those who responded to the call). From this, it is clear that such response and submission simply cannot materialize without having the qualities of Ihsan and Taqwa ingrained in one's personality. That is why most commentators have declared that the preposition: مِن min (of, some of) has been used here in the narrative sense. In short, the essential meaning of the verse is that all these people had rewards waiting for them.
Striving to achieve something good even at the cost of one's life is not enough unless there is total sincerity behind it
Anyway, this particular mode of address leads us to an essential rule of conduct which is: No matter how good is an effort made and no matter how many sacrifices of wealth and life one makes to achieve that end, it can be reward-worthy in the sight of Allah only when it is simultaneously backed by Ihsan and Taqwa. Therefore, the essence of the observation is that the deed undertaken must be for the good pleasure of Allah alone. Otherwise simple feats of bravery, some of which come even at the cost of one's dear life, are just about no lesser among disbelievers as well.
In its ultimate reality, the command of the Messenger of Allah is the command of Allah.
In this event, it will be recalled that the command to pursue the disbelievers was given by the Holy Prophet ﷺ . This does not find mention in any verse of the Holy Qur'an. But, in this particular verse, when the obedience of those people is praised, the command was attributed to both Allah and His Messenger as evident from the words of the text: الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِلَّـهِ وَالرَّسُولِ (172): 'Those who responded to the call of Allah and the Messenger. This proves very clearly that the command which the Holy Prophet ﷺ gives is also the command of Allah even though it has not been mentioned in the Book of Allah.
As for those irreligious deviants who reject Hadith and belittle the status of the Messenger of Allah by restricting it to that of a courier (God forbid), a simple statement, that Allah Almighty has openly declared the command of the Messenger as His own, should be enough to understand the truth - if understanding is what they seek. This statement, moreover, also makes it clear that the Messenger can also by himself and at his discretion, set up rules in accordance with expedient considerations, and all such rules have the same status as that enjoyed by the commandments of Allah.
The Definition of Ihsan
Mentioned several times during the comments given above, the word Ihsan generally means the performance of good deeds with the best of effort and discretion. However, the basic definition of Ihsan was given by the Holy Prophet ﷺ himself as reported in the well-known 'hadith of Jibra'il'. The actual words are:
اَن تَعبُد اللہ کاَنَّکَ تَرَاہُ فانِ لَّم تکُن تَرَاہُ فَاِنَّہُ یَرَاک
That is, worship Allah as if you are seeing Him; and if it is not possible for you to (imagine that you) see Him, then, (imagine that) He sees you anyway.
The Definition of Taqwa
The word, Taqwa, has been interpreted variously but the most comprehensive definition is what was given by the blessed Companion Ubayy ibn Ka'b ؓ when Sayyidna ` Umar ؓ asked him as to what Taqwa really was. Sayyidna Ubayy ibn Ka'b ؓ said: '0 Commander of the Faithful, you may have certainly passed by pathways full of thorns, have you not?' Sayyidna ` Umar ؓ said, 'Several times, of course.' Sayyidna Ubayy ibn Ka'b ؓ asked, 'What did you do at that time?' Sayyidna ` Umar ؓ said, 'I folded the hang of my dress and walked carefully.' Sayyidna Ubayy ibn Ka'b ؓ said, 'Enough. You said it. This is what Taqwa means. This mortal world of ours is a bed of thorns, full of the thorns of sins, therefore, one should live in this world in a way that one does not get entangled in the thorns of sin. The name of this attitude to life is Taqwa, the highest capital gain one can dream of.' The blessed Companion, Sayyidna Abu al-Darda' ؓ used to recite the following verse quite often:
یقولُ المَرُٔ فایٔدَتی ، و تقوَی اللہِ اَفضَلُ ما استَفَادا
"People say, ` my gain' and 'my money' while, really, the fear of Allah (Taqwa) is the best of what is gained."