SURAH AL-IMRAN (AYAH 172 to 180)

SECTION 18

Ohod a loss to the Enemy

1.        The misfortune of the Muslims at Ohod was no gain to yhr Enemy---2.  The disbelievers disabled to inflict any loss on the Muslims---3.  The Faithful known from the Hypocrites.

الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا مِنْهُمْ وَاتَّقَوْا أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ {3:172}

[Q3:172] Allazeenas tajaaboo lil laahi war Rasooli mim ba'di maaa asaabahumulqarh; lillazeena ahsanoo minhum wattaqaw ajrun 'azeem;
[Q3:172] (As for) those who responded (at Ohud) to the call of ALLAH (SWT) and the Messenger after the wound had befallen them, those among them who do good (to others) and guard (against evil) shall have a great reward.

[Q3:172] Iaitu orang-orang yang menjunjung perintah ALLAH (SwT) dan RasulNya (supaya keluar menentang musuh yang menceroboh), sesudah mereka mendapat luka (tercedera di medan perang Uhud). Untuk orang-orang yang telah berbuat baik di antara mereka dan yang bertakwa, ada balasan yang amat besar. 

**Study these verses with reference to verses 140 to 142, 144 and 153 of this surah.

In spite of having an upper hand at Uhad the Makkan army (on account of Ali's valour) retreated and camped at Hamra ul Asad where Abu Sufyan made it known that next year he would attack again and destroy the Muslims. The allies of Abu Sufyan in Madina gave forth an exaggerated account of the preparations at Makka in the hope that, with the battle of Uhad yet fresh in memory, the Muslims might be deterred from setting out for another fight.

r  When it was reported to the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), Ali ibne Abi Talib said: "Sufficient unto us is ALLAH (SWT)." At the appointed time the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) went to encounter the Makkan army but they did not come.

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(3:172) There were those who responded to the call of Allah and the Messenger *122 after injury had smitten them *123 - for all those who do good and fear Allah there is a mighty reward.

*122. When, after the Battle of Uhud, the Makkan polytheists had travelled several stages of their journey, they began to tell themselves what a mistake they had made in allowing the opportunity to crush the power of Muhammad to slip out of their hands. At one place they halted and deliberated among themselves about launching a second attack on Madina. They failed, however, to muster sufficient courage and carried on to Makka. The Prophet, for his part, also realized that they might attack once again. On the second day of Uhud, therefore, he gathered the Muslims and urged them to pursue the unbelievers. Even though this was a highly critical moment, the true men of faith girded their loins and were prepared to lay down their lives at the behest of the Prophet. They accompanied him to Hamra' al-Asad, eight miles from Madina. The present verse refers to these dedicated men. 
*123. These few verses were revealed almost one year after the Battle of Uhud. As they are connected with the events of the battle they were included in the present discourse. 

الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ {3:173}

[Q3:173] Allazeena qaala lahumun naasu innan naasa qad jama'oo lakum fakhshawhuin fazaadahum eemaannanwa wa qaaloo hasbunal laahu wa ni'malwakeel.

[Q3:173] Those to whom the people said: Surely men have gathered against you, therefore fear them, but this increased their faith, and they said: ALLAH (SWT) is sufficient for us and most excellent is the Protector.

[Q3:173] Mereka juga ialah yang diberitahu oleh orang-orang (pembawa berita) kepada mereka: Bahawa kaum (kafir musyrik) telah mengumpulkan tentera untuk memerangi kamu, oleh itu hendaklah kamu gerun kepadanya. Maka berita itu makin menambahkan iman mereka lalu berkata: Cukuplah ALLAH (SwT) untuk (menolong) kami dan Dia sebaik-baik pengurus (yang terserah kepadaNya segala urusan kami). 

(see commentary for verse 172)

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(3:173) When people said to them: 'Behold, a host has gathered around you and you should fear them', it only increased their faith and they answered: 'Allah is Sufficient for us; and what an excellent Guardian He is!'

فَانْقَلَبُوا بِنِعْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوءٌ وَاتَّبَعُوا رِضْوَانَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَظِيمٍ {3:174}

[Q3:174] Fan-qalabou bi-ni’-matim-mina-LLaahi wa fadlil-lamyam-sas-hum souu-‘un-wattaba‘ou Ridwaana-LLaah; wa-LLaahu Zoufadlin ‘Azeem.
[Q3:174] So they returned with favor from ALLAH (SWT) and (His) grace, no evil touched them and they followed the pleasure of ALLAH (SWT); and ALLAH (SWT) is the Lord of mighty grace. 

[Q3:174] Setelah (pergi mengejar musuh), mereka kembali dengan mendapat nikmat dan limpah kurnia dari ALLAH (SwT), mereka tidak disentuh oleh sesuatu bencana pun, serta mereka pula menurut keredaan ALLAH (SwT) dan ingatlah), ALLAH (SwT) mempunyai limpah kurnia yang amat besar. 

(see commentary for verse 172)

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(3:174) So they returned with a mighty favour and a great bounty from Allah having suffered no harm. They followed the good pleasure of Allah, and Allah is the Lord of great bounty.

إِنَّمَا ذَٰلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ {3:175}

[Q3:175] Innamaa zaalikumush Shaitaanu yukhawwifu awliyaaa'ahoo falaa takhaafoohum wa khaafooni in kuntum mu'mineen.
[Q3:175] It is only the Shaitan that causes you to fear from his friends, but do not fear them, and fear Me if you are believers. 

[Q3:175] Sesungguhnya (pembawa berita) yang demikian itu ialah syaitan yang (bertujuan) menakut-nakutkan (kamu terhadap) pengikut-pengikutnya (kaum kafir musyrik). Oleh itu janganlah kamu takut kepada mereka, tetapi takutlah kepadaKu (jangan cuaikan perintahKu), jika betul kamu orang-orang yang beriman. 

(see commentary for verse 172)

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(3:175) It was Satan who suggested to you the fear of his allies. Do not fear them; fear Me, if you truly believe. *124

*124. While returning from the Battle of Uhud, Abu Sufyan challenged the Muslims to another encounter at Badr the following year. But when the appointed time arrived, Abu Sufyan's courage failed him on account of the famine prevailing in Makka that year. As a face-saving device he arranged to send an agent to Madina who spread the rumour that tremendous war preparations were afoot among the Quraysh, and that they were trying to muster a huge army which would be so powerful that no other power in the whole of Arabia would resist it. The purpose of this rumour was to overawe the Muslims and discourage them from advancing towards Makka, so that when the confrontation did not take place it would be blamed on the timidity of the Muslims. The effect of this measure was such that when the Prophet (peace be on him) urged the Muslims to accompany him to Badr the initial response was not encouraging. Finally, the Prophet publicly announced that if no one would accompany him, he would go alone. In response, fifteen hundred devotees expressed their willingness and accompanied him to Badr. Abu Sufyan set out with two thousand men but after travelling for two days he told his men that it seemed unwise to fight and that they would return the following year for the proposed encounter. Thus he and his men retreated. The Prophet and his Companions stayed at Badr for eight days awaiting the threatened encounter. Meanwhile, they conducted business with a trade caravan which yielded them considerable profit. Later, when it became known that the unbelievers had gone back to Makka, the Prophet returned to Madina. (See Ibn Hisham, vol. 2, pp. 209 f.; Ibn Ishaq, Life of Muhammad, pp. 447 f. - Ed.) 

وَلَا يَحْزُنْكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يَضُرُّوا اللَّهَ شَيْئًا ۗ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَلَّا يَجْعَلَ لَهُمْ حَظًّا فِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ {3:176}

[Q3:176] Wa laa yahzunkal lazeena yusaari'oona fil Kufr; innahum lai yadurrul laaha shai'aa; yureedul laahu allaa yaj'ala lahum hazzan fil Aakhirati wa lahum 'azaabun 'azeem.

[Q3:176] And let not those grieve you who fall into unbelief hastily; surely they can do no harm to ALLAH (SWT) at all; ALLAH (SWT) intends that He should not give them any portion in the hereafter, and they shall have a grievous chastisement.
[Q3:176] Dan janganlah engkau berdukacita (wahai Muhammad), disebabkan orang-orang yang segera menceburkan diri dalam kekufuran; kerana sesungguhnya mereka tidak sekali-kali akan dapat mendatangkan mudarat kepada ALLAH (SwT) sedikitpun. ALLAH (SwT) menetapkan tidak memberi kepada mereka (balasan baik Syurga) pada hari akhirat kelak dan mereka pula beroleh azab seksa yang amat besar.

The hypocrites, who at the slightest turn of scales against the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) began to avow their unbelief openly, could not harm or retard the mission of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) at all, because, at all times, "the hand of ALLAH (SWT)" (Ali) was there to frustrate their designs.

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(3:176) Let not those who run towards disbelief grieve you; they shall not hurt Allah in the least. Allah will not provide for them any share in the Next Life. A mighty punishment awaits them.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الْكُفْرَ بِالْإِيمَانِ لَنْ يَضُرُّوا اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ {3:177}

[Q3:177] Innal lazeenash tarawul kufra bil eemaani lai yadurrul laaha shai anw wa lahum 'azdaabun aleem.

[Q3:177] Surely those who have bought unbelief at the price of faith shall do no harm at all to ALLAH (SWT), and they shall have a painful chastisement.
[Q3:177] Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang membeli (memilih) kufur dengan meninggalkan iman tidak sekali-kali mereka akan dapat mendatangkan mudarat kepada ALLAH (SwT) sedikitpun, dan mereka pula beroleh azab seksa yang tidak terperi sakitnya. 

(see commentary for verse 176)

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(3:177) Indeed those who have purchased unbelief in exchange for faith shall not hurt Allah in the least. Theirs shall be a painful chastisement.

وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُوا إِثْمًا ۚ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ {3:178}

[Q3:178] Wa laa yahsabannal lazeena kafarooo annamaa numlee lahum khairulli anfusihim; innamaa numlee lahum liyazdaadooo ismaa wa lahum 'azaabum muheen.

[Q3:178] And let not those who disbelieve think that Our granting them respite is better for their souls; We grant them respite only that they may add to their sins; and they shall have a disgraceful chastisement.
[Q3:178] Dan jangan sekali-kali orang-orang kafir menyangka bahawa Kami membiarkan (mereka hidup lama) itu baik bagi diri mereka; kerana sesungguhnya Kami biarkan mereka hanyalah supaya mereka bertambah dosa (di dunia) dan mereka pula beroleh azab seksa yang menghina (di akhirat kelak).

THE WORLDLY POSSESSIONS THE UNBELIEVERS HAD WAS A RESPITE, a temporary well-being, which pulled them deeper and deeper into the abyss of infidelity from where they could never come out.

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(3:178) Do not let the, unbelievers imagine that the respite We give them is good for them. We give them respite so that they may grow in wickedness. A humiliating chastisement lies in store for them.

                                                                                                                   

مَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَىٰ مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّىٰ يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْتَبِي مِنْ رُسُلِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۖ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۚ وَإِنْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَلَكُمْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ {3:179}

[Q3:179] Maa kaanal laahu liyazaral mu'mineena 'alaa maaa antum 'alaihi hattaa yameezal khabeesa minat taiyib; wa maa kaanal laahu liyutli'akum 'alal ghaibi wa laakinnal laaha yajtabee mir Rusulihii mai yashaaa'u fa aaminoo billaahi wa Rusulih; wa in tu'minoo wa tattaqoo falakum ajrun 'azeem.
[Q3:179] On no account will ALLAH (SWT) leave the believers in the condition which you are in until He separates the evil from the good; nor is ALLAH (SWT) going to make you acquainted with the unseen, but ALLAH (SWT) chooses of His messengers whom He pleases; therefore believe in ALLAH (SWT) and His messengers; and if you believe and guard (against evil), then you shall have a great reward.

[Q3:179] ALLAH (SwT) tidak sekali-kali akan membiarkan orang-orang yang beriman dalam keadaan yang kamu ada sekarang (bercampur aduk mukmin dan munafik, bahkan Dia tetap menguji kamu) sehingga Dia memisahkan yang buruk (munafik) daripada yang baik (beriman) dan ALLAH (SwT) tidak sekali-kali akan memperlihatkan kepada kamu perkara-perkara yang ghaib akan tetapi ALLAH (SwT) memilih dari RasulNya sesiapa yang dikehendakiNya (untuk memperlihatkan kepadanya perkara-perkara yang Ghaib). Oleh itu berimanlah kamu kepada ALLAH (SwT) dan Rasul-rasulNya dan jika kamu beriman dan bertakwa, maka kamu akan beroleh pahala yang besar.

ALLAH (SWT) DID NOT WANT TO KEEP THE BELIEVERS MIXED WITH THE HYPOCRITES, THEREFORE, by means of **repeated trials and **tribulations HE SEPARATED THE IMPURE FROM THE PURE, THE WICKED FROM THE GOOD.

The hypocrites had said:

"If Muhammad is a true prophet of ALLAH (SWT), let him tell us who of us believes and who does not."

In reply the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) recited this verse. He was the chosen messenger whom ALLAH (SWT) had acquainted with the unseen. A man, who did not know his parentage, asked him to tell the name of his father, which no one knew? When the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) announced the name of his father, Umar bin Khattab, the second caliph, said:

"O Messenger of ALLAH (SWT)! We accept ALLAH (SWT) as our ALLAH (SWT), Islam as our religion, you as our prophet. So forgive us."

The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) said:

"Will you (then) desist?"

According to Badshah Husain's English translation of the Qur’an, Vol. II, the above noted event has been mentioned by a Sunni scholar.

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(3:179) Allah will not let the believers stay in the state they are: *125 He will set the wicked apart from the good. Allah is not going to disclose to you what is hidden in the realm beyond the reach of perception, *126 but He chooses from among His Messengers whom He wills (to intimate such knowledge). Believe, then, in Allah and in His Messengers; and if you believe and be come God-fearing, yours will be a great reward.

*125. That is, God does not want to see the Muslim community in a hotch-potch condition with the true men of faith indistinguishable from the hypocrites. 
*126. This means that God does not resort to revelation to provide information as to whether specific individuals are true men of faith or hypocrites. God creates, instead, certain situations in which the faith of those who profess to believe is severely tested. The result is that the man of faith stands out clearly from the hypocrite. 

وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ ۖ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَهُمْ ۖ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ {3:180}

[Q3:180] Wa laa yahsabannal lazeena yabkhaloon bimaa aataahumul lahu min fadilhee huwa khairal lahum bal huwa sharrul lahum sayutaw waqoona maa bakhiloo bihee Yawmal Qiyaamah; wa lillaahi meeraasus samaawaati wal ard; wallaahu bimaa ta'maloona Khabeer.

[Q3:180] And let not those deem, who are niggardly in giving away that which ALLAH (SWT) has granted them out of His grace, that it is good for them; nay, it is worse for them; they shall have that whereof they were niggardly made to cleave to their necks on the resurrection day; and ALLAH (SWT)'s is the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and ALLAH (SWT) is aware of what you do.
[Q3:180] Dan jangan sekali-kali orang-orang yang bakhil dengan harta benda yang telah dikurniakan ALLAH (SwT) kepada mereka dari kemurahanNya, menyangka bahawa keadaan bakhilnya itu baik bagi mereka. Bahkan dia adalah buruk bagi mereka. Mereka akan dikalongkan (diseksa) dengan apa yang mereka bakhilkan itu pada hari kiamat kelak dan bagi ALLAH (SwT) jualah hak milik segala warisan (isi) langit dan bumi dan (ingatlah), ALLAH (SwT) Maha Mengetahui dengan mendalam akan segala yang kamu kerjakan. 

WHATEVER A MAN POSSESSES, HE RECEIVES IT FROM ALLAH (SWT), THEREFORE, AND IT IS INCUMBENT UPON HIM TO SPEND HIS BOUNTIES IN HIS WAY. See al Baqrah 2:3, 177, 215, 219 and 245.

Niggardliness is a curse which will cleave to the neck of every miser on the Day of Judgement, like a neck-ring (in the form of a biting serpent twisting about).

§  Similarly how the acts or deeds of men, will cling to their necks as their colours, are given in Math. 18:6:

“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a mill- stone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

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(3:180) Those who are niggardly about what Allah has granted them out of His bounty think that niggardli ness is good for them; it is bad for them. What they were niggardly about will turn into a halter round their necks on the Day of Resur-rection. To Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth; *127 and Allah is well aware of what you do.

*127. Everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to God alone. Hence the possession and use of anything by man is purely transient. For everyone will be dispossessed of his temporary belongings, and everything will ultimately return to and abide with God. If anyone therefore spends openheartedly in the way of God out of his temporary possessions he does so from property which, ultimately, belongs to God alone. Anyone who hoards his possessions and fails to spend them in the way of God is indeed stupid.