Surah Aal-Imran Part Three: Verses 121 to 164 | Quran Study Guide

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The Surah · Verses 121 to 164

﴾١٢١﴿ وَإِذْ غَدَوْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ تُبَوِّئُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَقَٰعِدَ لِلْقِتَالِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

Wa idh ghadawta min ahlika tubawwi'ul mu'minina maqa'ida lilqital, wallahu sami'un 'alim

And when you set out from your family in the morning, assigning the believers their positions for the battle. And Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

﴾١٢٢﴿ إِذْ هَمَّت طَّآئِفَتَانِ مِنكُمْ أَن تَفْشَلَا وَٱللَّهُ وَلِيُّهُمَا ۗ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ

Idh hammat ta'ifatani minkum an tafshala wallahu waliyyuhuma, wa 'alal lahi falyatawakkalil mu'minun

When two groups among you were about to lose heart, and Allah was their protector. And upon Allah let the believers rely.

﴾١٢٣﴿ وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍۢ وَأَنتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌۭ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Wa laqad nasarakumul lahu bi-Badrin wa antum azillatun fattaqul laha la'allakum tashkurun

And Allah gave you victory at Badr when you were weak. So be conscious of Allah, so that you may be grateful.

﴾١٢٤﴿ إِذْ تَقُولُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَلَن يَكْفِيَكُمْ أَن يُمِدَّكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِثَلَٰثَةِ ءَالَٰفٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ مُنزَلِينَ

Idh taqulu lilmu'minina alay yakfiyakum ay yumiddakum Rabbukum bithalathati alafim minal mala'ikati munzalin

When you said to the believers, is it not enough for you that your Lord reinforces you with three thousand of the angels sent down.

﴾١٢٥﴿ بَلَىٰٓ ۚ إِن تَصْبِرُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ وَيَأْتُوكُم مِّن فَوْرِهِمْ هَٰذَا يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِخَمْسَةِ ءَالَٰفٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ

Bala, in tasbiru wa tattaqu wa yatukum min fawrihim hadha yumdidkum Rabbukum bikhamsati alafim minal mala'ikati musawwimin

Yes. If you are patient and conscious of Allah, and they come upon you in this rush of theirs, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand of the angels, marked.

﴾١٢٦﴿ وَمَا جَعَلَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ لَكُمْ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُكُم بِهِۦ ۗ وَمَا ٱلنَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ

Wa ma ja'alahul lahu illa bushra lakum wa litatma'inna qulubukum bih wa man nasru illa min 'indil lahil 'Azizil Hakim

And Allah made it only as good news for you, and so that your hearts would be settled by it. And victory comes only from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.

﴾١٢٧﴿ لِيَقْطَعَ طَرَفًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَوْ يَكْبِتَهُمْ فَيَنقَلِبُوا۟ خَآئِبِينَ

Layyaqta'a tarafam minal ladhina kafaru aw yakbitahum fayanqalibu kha'ibin

So that He may cut off a section of those who disbelieved, or crush them so that they turn back disappointed.

﴾١٢٨﴿ لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ شَىْءٌ أَوْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَوْ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ ظَٰلِمُونَ

Laysa laka minal amri shay'un aw yatuba 'alayhim aw yu'adhdhibahum fa innahum zalimun

You have no part in the matter, whether He turns to them in mercy or punishes them, for they are wrongdoers.

﴾١٢٩﴿ وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Wa lillahi ma fis samawati wa ma fil ard, yaghfiru limay yasha'u wa yu'adhdhibu may yasha', wallahu Ghafurur Rahim

And to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

﴾١٣٠﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَأْكُلُوا۟ ٱلرِّبَوٰٓا۟ أَضْعَٰفًۭا مُّضَٰعَفَةًۭ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

Ya ayyuhal ladhina amanu la ta'kulur riba ad'afam muda'afatan wattaqul laha la'allakum tuflihun

You who believe, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied. And be conscious of Allah, so that you may succeed.

﴾١٣١﴿ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Wattaqun Naral lati u'iddat lilkafirin

And guard yourselves against the Fire prepared for the disbelievers.

﴾١٣٢﴿ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

Wa ati'ul laha war Rasula la'allakum turhamun

And obey Allah and the Messenger, so that you may receive mercy.

﴾١٣٣﴿ وَسَارِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍۢ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

Wa sari'u ila maghfiratim mir Rabbikum wa Jannatin arduhas samawatu wal ardu u'iddat lilmuttaqin

And race toward forgiveness from your Lord, and a garden as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those conscious of Allah.

﴾١٣٤﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِى ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلْكَٰظِمِينَ ٱلْغَيْظَ وَٱلْعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Alladhina yunfiquna fissarra'i waddarra'i wal kaziminal ghayza wal 'afina 'anin nas, wallahu yuhibbul muhsinin

Those who spend in ease and in hardship, and who restrain their rage, and who pardon people. And Allah loves those who do good.

﴾١٣٥﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا۟ فَٰحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُوا۟ لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

Walladhina idha fa'alu fahishatan aw zalamu anfusahum dhakarul laha fastaghfaru lidhunubihim, wa may yaghfiruz dhunuba illal lahu wa lam yusirru 'ala ma fa'alu wa hum ya'lamun

And those who, when they do something indecent or wrong themselves, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins, and who forgives sins except Allah, and who do not persist in what they did while they know.

﴾١٣٦﴿ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَجَنَّٰتٌۭ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ ٱلْعَٰمِلِينَ

Ula'ika jaza'uhum maghfiratum mir Rabbihim wa Jannatun tajri min tahtihal anharu khalidina fiha, wa ni'ma ajrul 'amilin

Those, their payment is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens with rivers flowing beneath them, remaining in them. And excellent is the reward of those who work.

﴾١٣٧﴿ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ سُنَنٌۭ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Qad khalat min qablikum sunanum fasiru fil ardi fanzuru kayfa kana 'aqibatul mukadhdhibin

Ways of dealing have passed before you. So travel the land and look how the end was for those who called it a lie.

﴾١٣٨﴿ هَٰذَا بَيَانٌۭ لِّلنَّاسِ وَهُدًۭى وَمَوْعِظَةٌۭ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

Hadha bayanul linnasi wa hudan wa maw'izatul lilmuttaqin

This is a clear statement for people, and guidance and instruction for those conscious of Allah.

﴾١٣٩﴿ وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Wa la tahinu wa la tahzanu wa antumul a'lawna in kuntum mu'minin

And do not weaken and do not grieve. And you are the highest, if you are believers.

﴾١٤٠﴿ إِن يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌۭ فَقَدْ مَسَّ ٱلْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌۭ مِّثْلُهُۥ ۚ وَتِلْكَ ٱلْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَيَتَّخِذَ مِنكُمْ شُهَدَآءَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

In yamsaskum qarhum faqad massal qawma qarhum mithluh, wa tilkal ayyamu nudawiluha baynan nasi wa liya'lamal lahul ladhina amanu wa yattakhidha minkum shuhada', wallahu la yuhibbuz zalimin

If a wound has touched you, a wound like it has touched the other people. And those days We rotate between people, so that Allah may know those who believed and take witnesses from among you. And Allah does not love the wrongdoers.

﴾١٤١﴿ وَلِيُمَحِّصَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَيَمْحَقَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Wa liyumahhisal lahul ladhina amanu wa yamhaqal kafirin

And so that Allah may refine those who believed and wipe out the disbelievers.

﴾١٤٢﴿ أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ جَٰهَدُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَيَعْلَمَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ

Am hasibtum an tadkhulul Jannata wa lamma ya'lamil lahul ladhina jahadu minkum wa ya'lamas sabirin

Or did you think you would enter the garden before Allah has known those among you who struggled and known the patient.

﴾١٤٣﴿ وَلَقَدْ كُنتُمْ تَمَنَّوْنَ ٱلْمَوْتَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَلْقَوْهُ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ

Wa laqad kuntum tamannawnal mawta min qabli an talqawhu faqad ra'aytumuhu wa antum tanzurun

And you were wishing for death before you met it. Now you have seen it, while you were looking on.

﴾١٤٤﴿ وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌۭ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِي۟ن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ ٱنقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَٰبِكُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَنقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ ٱللَّهَ شَيْـًۭٔا ۗ وَسَيَجْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ

Wa ma Muhammadun illa Rasulun qad khalat min qablihir Rusul, afa'im mata aw qutilan qalabtum 'ala a'qabikum, wa may yanqalib 'ala 'aqibayhi falay yadurral laha shay'a, wa sayajzil lahush shakirin

And Muhammad is only a messenger. Messengers have passed away before him. So if he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels. And whoever turns back on his heels will not harm Allah in anything. And Allah will reward the grateful.

﴾١٤٥﴿ وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَن تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ كِتَٰبًۭا مُّؤَجَّلًۭا ۗ وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِۦ مِنْهَا وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ نُؤْتِهِۦ مِنْهَا ۚ وَسَنَجْزِى ٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ

Wa ma kana linafsin an tamuta illa bi idhnillahi kitabam mu'ajjala, wa may yurid thawabad dunya nu'tihi minha wa may yurid thawabal Akhirati nu'tihi minha, wa sanajzish shakirin

And it is not for a soul to die except by the permission of Allah, a decree with a fixed term. And whoever wants the reward of this world, We give him of it. And whoever wants the reward of the Hereafter, We give him of it. And We will reward the grateful.

﴾١٤٦﴿ وَكَأَيِّن مِّن نَّبِىٍّۢ قَٰتَلَ مَعَهُۥ رِبِّيُّونَ كَثِيرٌۭ فَمَا وَهَنُوا۟ لِمَآ أَصَابَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا ضَعُفُوا۟ وَمَا ٱسْتَكَانُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ

Wa ka ayyim min Nabiyyin qatala ma'ahu ribbiyyuna kathirun fama wahanu lima asabahum fi sabilil lahi wa ma da'ufu wa mastakanu, wallahu yuhibbus sabirin

And how many a prophet fought, and with him many devoted men. They did not weaken from what struck them in the way of Allah, and they did not become feeble and they did not give in. And Allah loves the patient.

﴾١٤٧﴿ وَمَا كَانَ قَوْلَهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِىٓ أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Wa ma kana qawlahum illa an qalu Rabbanaghfir lana dhunubana wa israfana fi amrina wa thabbit aqdamana wansurna 'alal qawmil kafirin

And their words were nothing but that they said, our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses in our affair, and make our feet firm, and help us against the disbelieving people.

﴾١٤٨﴿ فَـَٔاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَحُسْنَ ثَوَابِ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Fa atahumul lahu thawabad dunya wa husna thawabil Akhirah, wallahu yuhibbul muhsinin

So Allah gave them the reward of this world and the best reward of the Hereafter. And Allah loves those who do good.

﴾١٤٩﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تُطِيعُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَٰبِكُمْ فَتَنقَلِبُوا۟ خَٰسِرِينَ

Ya ayyuhal ladhina amanu in tuti'ul ladhina kafaru yaruddukum 'ala a'qabikum fatanqalibu khasirin

You who believe, if you obey those who disbelieved, they will turn you back on your heels, and you will turn back as losers.

﴾١٥٠﴿ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلنَّٰصِرِينَ

Balil lahu mawlakum wa Huwa khayrun nasirin

Rather, Allah is your Protector. And He is the best of helpers.

﴾١٥١﴿ سَنُلْقِى فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلرُّعْبَ بِمَآ أَشْرَكُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَٰنًۭا ۖ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Sanulqi fi qulubil ladhina kafarur ru'ba bima ashraku billahi ma lam yunazzil bihi sultanan wa ma'wahumun Nar, wa bi'sa maswaz zalimin

We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, for having associated with Allah what He sent down no authority for. And their shelter is the Fire. And it is a wretched dwelling for the wrongdoers.

﴾١٥٢﴿ وَلَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَعْدَهُۥٓ إِذْ تَحُسُّونَهُم بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَشِلْتُمْ وَتَنَٰزَعْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ وَعَصَيْتُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَآ أَرَىٰكُم مَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ مِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ ۚ ثُمَّ صَرَفَكُمْ عَنْهُمْ لِيَبْتَلِيَكُمْ ۖ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا عَنكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Wa laqad sadaqakumul lahu wa'dahu idh tahussunahum bi idhnihi hatta idha fashiltum wa tanaza'tum fil amri wa 'asaytum mim ba'di ma arakum ma tuhibbun, minkum may yuridud dunya wa minkum may yuridul Akhirah, thumma sarafakum 'anhum liyabtaliyakum wa laqad 'afa 'ankum, wallahu dhu fadlin 'alal mu'minin

And Allah fulfilled His promise to you when you were killing them by His permission, until you lost heart and disputed about the order and disobeyed, after He had shown you what you love. Among you is one who wants this world and among you is one who wants the Hereafter. Then He turned you away from them to test you. And He has pardoned you. And Allah is the holder of bounty toward the believers.

﴾١٥٣﴿ إِذْ تُصْعِدُونَ وَلَا تَلْوُۥنَ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٍۢ وَٱلرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ فِىٓ أُخْرَىٰكُمْ فَأَثَٰبَكُمْ غَمًّۢا بِغَمٍّۢ لِّكَيْلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا مَآ أَصَٰبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

Idh tus'iduna wa la talwuna 'ala ahadin war Rasulu yad'ukum fi ukhrakum fa asabakum ghammam bighammil likayla tahzanu 'ala ma fatakum wa la ma asabakum, wallahu khabirum bima ta'malun

When you were climbing away and not turning back for anyone, and the Messenger was calling you from behind you. So He repaid you with distress upon distress, so that you would not grieve over what escaped you or what struck you. And Allah is aware of what you do.

﴾١٥٤﴿ ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلْغَمِّ أَمَنَةًۭ نُّعَاسًۭا يَغْشَىٰ طَآئِفَةًۭ مِّنكُمْ ۖ وَطَآئِفَةٌۭ قَدْ أَهَمَّتْهُمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ يَظُنُّونَ بِٱللَّهِ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ ظَنَّ ٱلْجَٰهِلِيَّةِ ۖ يَقُولُونَ هَل لَّنَا مِنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْأَمْرَ كُلَّهُۥ لِلَّهِ ۗ يُخْفُونَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِم مَّا لَا يُبْدُونَ لَكَ ۖ يَقُولُونَ لَوْ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ شَىْءٌۭ مَّا قُتِلْنَا هَٰهُنَا ۗ قُل لَّوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُيُوتِكُمْ لَبَرَزَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَتْلُ إِلَىٰ مَضَاجِعِهِمْ ۖ وَلِيَبْتَلِىَ ٱللَّهُ مَا فِى صُدُورِكُمْ وَلِيُمَحِّصَ مَا فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ

Thumma anzala 'alaykum mim ba'dil ghammi amanatan nu'asay yaghsha ta'ifatam minkum wa ta'ifatun qad ahammathum anfusuhum yazunnuna billahi ghayral haqqi zannal jahiliyyati yaquluna hal lana minal amri min shay', qul innal amra kullahu lillah, yukhfuna fi anfusihim ma la yubduna laka yaquluna law kana lana minal amri shay'um ma qutilna hahuna, qul law kuntum fi buyutikum labarazal ladhina kutiba 'alayhimul qatlu ila madaji'ihim wa liyabtaliyal lahu ma fi sudurikum wa liyumahhisa ma fi qulubikum, wallahu 'alimum bidhatis sudur

Then after the distress He sent down security upon you, a drowsiness covering a group of you, while a group was concerned only with themselves, thinking about Allah what was not true, the thought of ignorance. They say, do we have any part in the matter. Say, the matter belongs entirely to Allah. They hide within themselves what they do not reveal to you. They say, if we had any part in the matter we would not have been killed here. Say, if you had been in your houses, those for whom killing was written would have gone out to the places where they lay. And so that Allah may test what is in your chests and refine what is in your hearts. And Allah knows what is in the chests.

﴾١٥٥﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْا۟ مِنكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْتَقَى ٱلْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا ٱسْتَزَلَّهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُوا۟ ۖ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌۭ

Innal ladhina tawallaw minkum yawmaltaqal jam'ani innamastazallahumush Shaytanu biba'di ma kasabu wa laqad 'afal lahu 'anhum, innal laha Ghafurum Halim

Those among you who turned away on the day the two forces met, Satan only made them slip because of some of what they had earned. And Allah has pardoned them. Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing.

﴾١٥٦﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَقَالُوا۟ لِإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ إِذَا ضَرَبُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَوْ كَانُوا۟ غُزًّۭى لَّوْ كَانُوا۟ عِندَنَا مَا مَاتُوا۟ وَمَا قُتِلُوا۟ لِيَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ ذَٰلِكَ حَسْرَةًۭ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ

Ya ayyuhal ladhina amanu la takunu kalladhina kafaru wa qalu li ikhwanihim idha darabu fil ardi aw kanu ghuzzal law kanu 'indana ma matu wa ma qutilu liyaj'alal lahu dhalika hasratan fi qulubihim, wallahu yuhyi wa yumit, wallahu bima ta'maluna Basir

You who believe, do not be like those who disbelieved and said of their brothers when they travelled in the land or were on an expedition, if they had been with us they would not have died and they would not have been killed. So that Allah makes that a regret in their hearts. And Allah gives life and gives death. And Allah is Seeing of what you do.

﴾١٥٧﴿ وَلَئِن قُتِلْتُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ مُتُّمْ لَمَغْفِرَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةٌ خَيْرٌۭ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ

Wa la'in qutiltum fi sabilil lahi aw muttum lamaghfiratum minal lahi wa rahmatun khayrum mimma yajma'un

And if you are killed in the way of Allah or you die, forgiveness from Allah and mercy are better than what they accumulate.

﴾١٥٨﴿ وَلَئِن مُّتُّمْ أَوْ قُتِلْتُمْ لَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُحْشَرُونَ

Wa la'im muttum aw qutiltum la ilal lahi tuhsharun

And if you die or are killed, to Allah you will be gathered.

﴾١٥٩﴿ فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلْقَلْبِ لَٱنفَضُّوا۟ مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ

Fabima rahmatim minal lahi linta lahum wa law kunta fazzan ghalizal qalbi lanfaddu min hawlika fafu 'anhum wastaghfir lahum wa shawirhum fil amri fa idha 'azamta fatawakkal 'alal lah, innal laha yuhibbul mutawakkilin

So it was by a mercy from Allah that you were gentle with them. And if you had been harsh and hard of heart, they would have scattered from around you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. Then when you have decided, rely on Allah. Allah loves those who rely on Him.

﴾١٦٠﴿ إِن يَنصُرْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَنصُرُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ ۗ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ

In yansurkumul lahu fala ghaliba lakum wa in yakhdhulkum fa man dhal ladhi yansurukum mim ba'dih, wa 'alal lahi falyatawakkalil mu'minun

If Allah helps you, no one can overcome you. And if He leaves you, who is there that can help you after Him. And upon Allah let the believers rely.

﴾١٦١﴿ وَمَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَغُلَّ ۚ وَمَن يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۚ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

Wa ma kana li Nabiyyin ay yaghull, wa may yaghlul yati bima ghalla Yawmal Qiyamah, thumma tuwaffa kullu nafsim ma kasabat wa hum la yuzlamun

And it is not for a prophet to take from the spoils dishonestly. And whoever takes dishonestly will bring what he took on the Day of Standing. Then every soul will be paid in full what it earned, and they will not be wronged.

﴾١٦٢﴿ أَفَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضْوَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَنۢ بَآءَ بِسَخَطٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ

Afamanit taba'a Ridwanal lahi kamam ba'a bisakhatim minal lahi wa ma'wahu Jahannam, wa bi'sal masir

Is one who follows the approval of Allah like one who returns with anger from Allah, and whose shelter is Hell. And it is a wretched destination.

﴾١٦٣﴿ هُمْ دَرَجَٰتٌ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرٌۢ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ

Hum darajatun 'indal lah, wallahu basirum bima ya'malun

They are degrees with Allah. And Allah is Seeing of what they do.

﴾١٦٤﴿ لَقَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًۭا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ لَفِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍ

Laqad mannal lahu 'alal mu'minina idh ba'atha fihim Rasulam min anfusihim yatlu 'alayhim Ayatihi wa yuzakkihim wa yu'allimuhumul Kitaba wal Hikmata wa in kanu min qablu lafi dalalim mubin

Allah has favored the believers by raising among them a messenger from among themselves, reciting His signs to them and purifying them and teaching them the Book and the wisdom, when before that they were in clear error.

Tafsir · The Reading

Overview

The Day Two Groups Nearly Failed.

This is the longest examination of a defeat in the Quran, and the most striking thing about it is what is missing. There is no excuse offered. Not one.

The Muslims lost at Uhud, and the chapter names the cause in a single verse, verse 152, in three stages and in the right order. You lost heart, and disputed about the order, and disobeyed, after He had shown you what you love. The showing came first. The victory was already in their hands, and the collapse began after they saw it.

And then the sentence inside that same verse that is harder than anything an outside critic would have written. Among you is one who wants this world and among you is one who wants the Hereafter. Both descriptions applied to men in the same army, on the same hill, on the same afternoon.

Verse 122 names two groups who nearly gave way, permanently, in the Book, and then adds, and Allah was their protector, in the same breath.

And verse 159 is the response. After a defeat caused in part by a plan the Prophet, peace be upon him, adopted on other people’s advice, he is told to consult them.

Verses 121 to 145

Do Not Weaken and Do Not Grieve.

Verse 121 opens on an ordinary morning. And when you set out from your family in the morning, assigning the believers their positions for the battle. Domestic detail, then logistics. The record begins before anything has gone wrong.

Verse 128 is one of the most extraordinary things said to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and it arrives in the middle of a battle account. Laysa laka min al-amri shay’un. You have no part in the matter, whether He turns to them in mercy or punishes them. He had been praying against specific men by name. The verse does not rebuke the prayer. It removes the file from his desk.

Verses 133 to 136 are the passage every reader should memorize, and they arrive between two blocks of war narrative. Race toward forgiveness from your Lord, and a garden as wide as the heavens and the earth. Then the four qualities of the people it was prepared for.

Those who spend in ease and in hardship. Both conditions, so the giving does not wait for a good month.

And who restrain their rage. Kazimin means holding something full and closed, the way a container holds liquid without spilling. Not the absence of rage. The containment of it.

And who pardon people. A separate item from restraining, because a man can hold his temper and still keep the account open.

And then verse 135 adds the fifth, which is for the ones who fail. Those who, when they do something indecent or wrong themselves, remember Allah and ask forgiveness. And the clause that closes it removes the loophole: and who do not persist in what they did while they know. The knowledge is what makes persistence culpable.

Verse 139 is spoken to men who have just lost. Do not weaken and do not grieve. And you are the highest, if you are believers. The claim of superiority is made at the least plausible moment available, and it is conditioned on belief rather than on outcome.

Verse 140 then gives the law that governs history. If a wound has touched you, a wound like it has touched the other people. And those days We rotate between people. Nudawiluha, from the root for circulation, the same root as a coin passing between hands. Days are described as being passed around deliberately. Nobody holds them.

Verse 143 is quietly devastating. And you were wishing for death before you met it. Now you have seen it, while you were looking on. Many of them had wanted a battle. They had asked for it. The verse does not accuse them of cowardice. It notes, without comment, the distance between wanting a thing and seeing it.

And verse 144 is the verse that held the community together at its worst hour. And Muhammad is only a messenger. Messengers have passed away before him. So if he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels. Abu Bakr recited it on the day the Prophet, peace be upon him, died, to men who could not accept it, and Umar said it was as though he had never heard the verse until that moment. Reported in Sahih al-Bukhari.

And verse 145 removes the fear that had been operating underneath everything. It is not for a soul to die except by the permission of Allah, a decree with a fixed term. Then the two intentions, and both are answered: whoever wants the reward of this world, We give him of it, and whoever wants the reward of the Hereafter, We give him of it. Nobody is refused. People simply receive what they were actually asking for.

Verses 146 to 158

Forgive Us Our Excesses.

Verse 146 offers a precedent and it does not soften it. How many a prophet fought, and with him many devoted men. They did not weaken from what struck them in the way of Allah, and they did not become feeble and they did not give in. Three verbs, all negated, describing three progressive stages of collapse.

And verse 147 gives what those men said, and the order is the lesson. Their words were nothing but that they said, our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses in our affair, and make our feet firm, and help us against the disbelieving people. Four requests. The first two are about themselves. Only the last is about the enemy. Men under attack begin by asking forgiveness for their own conduct, including israfana fi amrina, our going past the limit in our own affair, which is a phrase for the internal failures of their own side.

Verse 152 is the diagnosis and it should be read one clause at a time.

And Allah fulfilled His promise to you. The promise was kept.

When you were killing them by His permission. They were winning.

Until you lost heart. Fashiltum, the failure of nerve.

And disputed about the order. Tanaza’tum, the argument about whether the instruction still applied.

And disobeyed. Asaytum.

After He had shown you what you love. The sight of the victory is named as the trigger.

Then the sentence that divides the army. Among you is one who wants this world and among you is one who wants the Hereafter. Not two armies. One.

And then, after all of it: and He has pardoned you.

Verse 153 records the retreat with a physical detail nobody would invent. When you were climbing away and not turning back for anyone, and the Messenger was calling you from behind you. Men going up the slope, not looking back, with his voice behind them. It is in the Book permanently, and the men it describes are the best generation this community produced.

Verse 154 then splits the survivors into two groups by what happened to them that night. Sleep came over one group as security. The other group was concerned only with themselves, thinking about Allah what was not true, and the verse names the thought exactly: the thought of ignorance. And it quotes it: do we have any part in the matter. Then: if we had any part in the matter we would not have been killed here.

The reply is one of the most complete answers to that question anywhere. Say, the matter belongs entirely to Allah. And then, addressed to the specific complaint: if you had been in your houses, those for whom killing was written would have gone out to the places where they lay. The staying home does not move the appointment. It only changes the address.

Verse 155 then handles the men who ran, and it does two things at once. Satan only made them slip because of some of what they had earned. The cause is located in something prior, some accumulated thing that gave the slip a place to happen. And then: and Allah has pardoned them.

Verse 156 forbids the sentence that grief always reaches for. Do not be like those who said of their brothers, if they had been with us they would not have died. And the verse names what that belief does to the person holding it: so that Allah makes that a regret in their hearts. A permanent wound with no bottom to it, because the counterfactual can be run forever.

Verses 159 to 164

And Consult Them.

Verse 159 is the response to the entire disaster, and it should be read against what had just happened. The Prophet, peace be upon him, had wanted to remain in Madinah. The majority wanted to go out and meet the enemy. He went with the majority. The battle was lost. The men who pushed for it were standing in front of him.

And the verse says: so pardon them, and ask forgiveness for them, and consult them in the matter.

Three commands, escalating. Pardon is the removal of the grievance. Asking forgiveness is going further and interceding for them. And then consultation, which returns to them the exact authority whose exercise had just cost so much.

The verse opens by naming where the gentleness came from. Fa bima rahmatin min Allahi linta lahum. It was by a mercy from Allah that you were gentle with them. His own softness is described as something given to him rather than produced by him. And the counterfactual is stated plainly: if you had been harsh and hard of heart, they would have scattered from around you. The community would not have survived a leader who responded to that day the way it deserved.

And then the balance at the end. Then when you have decided, rely on Allah. Consultation before the decision. Reliance after it. The verse does not permit endless deliberation, and it does not permit deciding alone.

Verse 161 addresses a rumour that had circulated after the battle about missing spoils. And it is not for a prophet to take from the spoils dishonestly. Ghulul is specifically the concealed taking of a small thing from a common store. And whoever takes dishonestly will bring what he took on the Day of Standing, carrying it.

Verse 163 gives four words that reframe everything the chapter has been describing. Hum darajat inda Allah. They are degrees with Allah. Not, they have degrees. They are degrees. A person is not somebody holding a rank. A person is the rank, and the two men described in verse 162, one following approval and one returning with anger, are not different in position. They are different in kind.

And verse 164 closes the section on the favour that made all of it possible, and lists it in order. A messenger from among themselves. Reciting His signs to them. Purifying them. Teaching them the Book and the wisdom. Recitation, then purification, then instruction. The cleaning is placed before the teaching, because a vessel is washed before it is filled.

Structural Summary

Verses One Hundred and Twenty-One to One Hundred and Sixty-Four. The Day Two Groups Nearly Failed.

An ordinary morning, recorded before anything went wrong. A file removed from the Prophet’s desk mid-battle. A garden as wide as the heavens, and four qualities plus one for those who fail. Rage held the way a full container holds liquid. Superiority claimed at the least plausible moment. Days described as passed between hands. The distance between wanting a thing and seeing it. A verse that held a community together on its worst day. Two intentions, both answered. Men who prayed for their own forgiveness before asking for help. Three stages of collapse, with the sight of victory as the trigger. One army containing both desires. A slope, and a voice behind it. A thought named exactly. An appointment that only changes address. A slip located in something earned earlier. A grief with no bottom, forbidden. Gentleness described as something given. Consultation returned to the men whose advice had cost everything. And people described not as holding degrees but as being them.

The Practice · Daily Integration

Verses One Hundred and Twenty-One to One Hundred and Sixty-Four. Do It Specifically.

One. Verse 134 separates restraining rage from pardoning. Take the last thing you swallowed without responding. Ask whether you also closed the account, and close it if you have not.

Two. Verse 147 puts forgiveness for your own conduct ahead of the request for help. Before your next du’a for relief from a difficulty, ask forgiveness for your own part in it, out loud, first.

Three. Verse 159 returns consultation to the people whose advice failed. Identify the person whose counsel you stopped taking after it went wrong once. Ask their opinion on something that matters this week.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verses 121 to 1401 / 19

Verse 121

What does verse 121 record, and why does the detail matter?