يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تُطِيعُوا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِكُمْ فَتَنقَلِبُوا خَاسِرِينَ ﴿١٤٩﴾ بَلِ اللَّهُ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ النَّاصِرِينَ ﴿١٥٠﴾

Believers, if you obey those who have rejected the faith, they will cause you to turn back on your heels, and you will be the losers. Indeed, God alone is your Lord Supreme and He is the best of all who bring succour. (Verses 149-50)

ثم يبدأ مقطعٌ آخر ضمن سياق مراجعة القرآن الكريم لغزوة أحد وأحداثها، وتتضمّن تعليقاتُه الهدفَ من تصحيح تصورات المؤمنين، وتنمية وعيهم بواقعهم، وتحذيرهم من المزالق التي تعترض طريقهم، ومن المكائد التي قد يدبّرها لهم العدو.

Another passage within the context of the Qur’ān’s review of the Battle of Uĥud and its events now begins. The comments it includes aim at correcting the concepts of the believers, enhancing their awareness of their situation, warning them of pitfalls which lie in their way and what the enemy may scheme against them.

هزيمةُ المسلمين في أُحُد هيّأت للكفار والمنافقين واليهود في المدينة مناخًا مناسبًا لنشر دعايتهم العدائية.

The defeat of the Muslims at Uĥud provided the unbelievers, the hypocrites and the Jews in Madinah with a suitable climate to spread their hostile propaganda.

لم تكن المدينة المنورة بعدُ مدينةً مسلمةً بالكامل. كان المسلمون فيها عنصرًا دخيلًا إلى حدٍّ كبير، وقد أضاف إليهم النصرُ الباهرُ في بدرٍ هيبةً مهيبةً تبعث على الإجلال.

Madinah was not yet a wholly Muslim city. The Muslims there were largely a foreign element, to which the spectacular victory at Badr imparted an awe-inspiring stature.

لما هُزم المسلمون في أُحد تغيّرت المواقف تغيّرًا واضحًا. فوجد أعداء الإسلام في تلك الهزيمة فرصةً لإعلان عدائهم ونشر إشاعاتهم المسمومة. وسارعوا إلى استغلال المأساة التي أصابت كل أسرة مسلمة، ومحاولة إثارة البلبلة في أذهان المسلمين.

When they were defeated at Uĥud, attitudes were markedly changed. The enemies of Islam found in that defeat a chance to declare their hostility and spread their poisonous rumours. They were quick to exploit the tragedy which had affected every Muslim family and to try to create confusion in the minds of Muslims.

في مستهلّ الرواية القرآنية لوقائع المعركة الفعلية، يحذّر الله تعالى نفسه المؤمنين تحذيرًا صريحًا من طاعة الذين كفروا.

At the outset of the Qur’ānic report of the actual events of the battle, God Himself emphatically warns the believers against obeying those who have rejected the faith.

تُقدِّمُ السورةُ الآنَ للمؤمنين مزيدًا من الطمأنينة، فتُبشِّرُهم بخطةِ اللهِ في بثِّ الرعبِ في قلوبِ أعدائهم بسببِ إشراكِهم بالله، مخالفين بذلك جميعَ أوامرِه الصريحة. والحقُّ أنَّ اللهَ لم يُعطِ هؤلاءِ الشركاءَ المزعومين أيَّ سلطانٍ من أيِّ نوع. وفضلًا عن ذلك، فإنَّ الظالمين في الآخرة سيلقون عقابًا آخر: ﴿سَنُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعْبَ بِمَا أَشْرَكُوا بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا ۖ وَمَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الظَّالِمِينَ﴾ (الآية 151).

The sūrah now provides the believers with more reassurance, giving them the happy news of God’s plan to strike terror into the hearts of their enemies because they associate partners with Him, against all His express orders. Indeed, God has given those alleged partners no power of any sort. Moreover, in the hereafter, the wrongdoers will receive further punishment: “We shall strike terror in the hearts of unbelievers because they associate partners with God — something for which He has never granted any warrant. Their abode is the fire, and evil indeed is the dwelling place of the wrongdoers.” (Verse 151)

إنَّ وعدَ اللهِ عزَّ وجلَّ بإلقاءِ الرعبِ في قلوبِ الكافرينَ كافٍ ضمانًا لحسمِ المعركةِ بنصرٍ مبينٍ للمؤمنينَ الذين ينصرونَه على أعدائِه. وهو وعدٌ يتحققُ في كلِّ مواجهةٍ بين الإيمانِ والكفرِ؛ فكلما التقى الكافرونَ بالمؤمنينَ تملّكهمُ الخوفُ، لأنَّ اللهَ يُلقي هذا الشعورَ في قلوبِهم. ومن المهمِّ لظهورِ هذا الشعورِ أن يشعرَ المؤمنونَ أنفسُهم بإيمانِهم حقًّا، وأن يُخلِصوا أنفسَهم لله وحدَه، وأن يكونوا على ثقةٍ تامةٍ بنصرِ اللهِ، لا يخالطُ قلوبَهم أدنى شكٍّ في أنَّ النصرَ سيكونُ لجندِ اللهِ، وأنَّ اللهَ سيُنفِذُ مشيئتَه، وأنَّ الكافرينَ لن يستطيعوا أن يُحبطوا ما يريدُ اللهُ تحقيقَه. وقد تُوحي الظواهرُ أحيانًا بخلافِ ذلك، إلا أنَّ على المؤمنينَ أن يثقوا بوعدِ اللهِ لأنه سيتحققُ دائمًا، بغضِّ النظرِ عمّا يرونَه بأعينِهم أو يحكمونَ عليه بعقولِهم. أما الكافرونَ فسيشعرونَ بالرعبِ في قلوبِهم، لأنهم لا يعتمدونَ على سندٍ متينٍ؛ فليست لهم قوةٌ ذاتيةٌ، ولا يتمتعونَ بتأييدِ أيِّ مصدرٍ قويٍّ آخر. وقد جعلوا لله شركاءَ لا سلطانَ لهم ولا قوةَ لهم بذواتِهم، لأنَّ اللهَ لم يُنزِّلْ بهم من سلطانٍ.

A promise from God, the Almighty, to strike terror into the hearts of the unbelievers is sufficient guarantee to bring the battle to a decisive victory for the believers who support Him, against His enemies. It is a promise which holds true in every confrontation between belief and disbelief. Every time the unbelievers come face to face with the believers, fear overcomes them, because God strikes that feeling into their hearts. What is important for this feeling to surface is that the believers themselves truly feel their faith. They must genuinely submit themselves to God alone, and have total confidence in God’s help and entertain no shred of doubt that victory will be given to God’s soldiers and that God will accomplish His will and that the unbelievers can never frustrate what God wants to accomplish. Sometimes, appearances may suggest the contrary, but the believers have to trust in God’s promise because it will always come true, regardless of what people may see with their own eyes or judge with their own minds. The unbelievers will feel terror in their hearts, because they do not rely on any firm support. They have no power of their own, and they do not enjoy the support of any other powerful source. They have attributed to God partners who have no authority or power of their own, because God has never bestowed any warrant on them.

ولَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ إِذْ تَحُسُّونَهُم بِإِذْنِهِ

God fulfilled to you His promise when, by His leave, you were about to destroy them.

ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن بَعْدِ الْغَمِّ أَمَنَةً نُّعَاسًا يَغْشَىٰ طَائِفَةً مِّنكُمْ ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن بَعْدِ الْغَمِّ أَمَنَةً نُّعَاسًا يَغْشَىٰ طَائِفَةً مِّنكُمْ

But then you lost heart and disagreed with one another concerning [the Prophet’s command] and disobeyed after God had brought you within view of that for which you were longing. Some of you cared only for this world and some cared for the life to come. Then He turned you away from them so that He may put you to the test. But now He has forgiven you, for God is gracious to the believers. [Remember] when you ran away, up into the mountain, paying no heed to anyone, while the Messenger was at your rear calling out to you. Therefore, He rewarded you with sorrow after sorrow so that you may not grieve over what has escaped you, nor over what had befallen you.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ۔ (الآيتان ١٥٢-١٥٣)

God is aware of all that you do. (Verses 152-3)

تُصوِّر السورةُ لوحةً كاملةً لساحة المعركة وتعاقُبِ النصر والهزيمة. فكلُّ حركةٍ، وكلُّ انطباعٍ، وكلُّ تعبيرٍ على الوجوه، وكلُّ خاطرةٍ عابرةٍ مسجَّلةٌ فيها. والوصفُ القرآنيُّ أشبهُ بشريطٍ سينمائيٍّ يعرضُ كلَّ حركةٍ بتفاصيلَ حيّةٍ دقيقة. ويَنطبقُ ذلك على وجهٍ خاصٍّ على صورةِ الناسِ وهم يفرّون من ساحة القتال ويصعدون الجبلَ في فزعٍ، حين كان النبيُّ ﷺ يدعوهم. ويُضافُ إلى ذلك تصويرٌ لما خطر في نفوسهم من أفكارٍ وانطباعاتٍ وردودِ أفعال. وفوقَ هذا كلِّه نجدُ جملةً من التوجيهاتِ والأقوالِ التي تتسمُ بأسلوبِ القرآنِ وطريقتِه البديعةِ في تربيةِ المؤمنين.

The sūrah paints a full picture of the battlefield and the succession of victory and defeat. Every movement, every impression, every facial expression and every fleeting thought is recorded. The Qur’ānic description is like a film reel which shows every movement in vivid and sharp detail. This particularly applies to the image of people fleeing from the battlefield and charging up the mountain in panic, as the Prophet called out to them. Coupled with this is a picture of the thoughts, impressions and reactions people entertained. On top of it all, we have a number of directives and statements which are characteristic of the Qur’ānic style and its remarkable method of educating believers.

"وَلَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ إِذْ تَحُسُّونَهُم بِإِذْنِهِ" كَانَ ذَلِكَ فِي بِدَايَةِ الْمَعْرَكَةِ، حِينَ شَرَعَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ يَقْضُونَ بِثَبَاتٍ عَلَى كُلِّ مُقَاوَمَةٍ أَبْدَاهَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ، وَيُفْنُونَ قُوَاتِهِمْ. وَلَمْ يَكُونُوا آنَذَاكَ مَشْغُولِينَ بِالْغَنِيمَةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تَلُوحُ بِقُوَّةٍ. وَقَدْ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: «إِنَّكُمْ مُنْتَصِرُونَ مَا دُمْتُمْ ثَابِتِينَ». وَقَدْ وَفَى اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ الْوَعْدِ الَّذِي أَعْطَاهُمْ إِيَّاهُ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ ﷺ.

ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن بَعْدِ الْغَمِّ أَمَنَةً نُّعَاسًا يَغْشَىٰ طَائِفَةً مِّنكُمْ، وَطَائِفَةٌ قَدْ أَهَمَّتْهُمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ يَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ ظَنَّ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ. يَقُولُونَ هَل لَّنَا مِنَ الْأَمْرِ مِن شَيْءٍ؟ قُلْ إِنَّ الْأَمْرَ كُلَّهُ لِلَّهِ. يُخْفُونَ فِي أَنفُسِهِم مَّا لَا يُبْدُونَ لَكَ، يَقُولُونَ لَوْ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ الْأَمْرِ شَيْءٌ مَّا قُتِلْنَا هَاهُنَا. قُل لَّوْ كُنتُمْ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ لَبَرَزَ الَّذِينَ كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقَتْلُ إِلَىٰ مَضَاجِعِهِمْ، وَلِيَبْتَلِيَ اللَّهُ مَا فِي صُدُورِكُمْ وَلِيُمَحِّصَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ، وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ.

Then, after sorrow, He let peace fall upon you, in the shape of a slumber which overtook some of you, while others, who cared mainly for themselves, entertained wrong thoughts about God — thoughts of pagan ignorance. They ask: ‘Have we any say in the matter?” Say: ‘All power of decision rests with God. “They conceal in their minds what they do not disclose to you. They say: “Had we had any say in the matter, we should not have been slaughtered here.” Say: “Had you stayed in your homes, those of you who were destined to be killed would have gone to their deathbeds.” For it was God’s will to put to a test all that you entertain in your minds and to render pure what you may have in your hearts, God is fully aware of what is in people’s bosoms.

(الآية ١٥٤)

(Verse 154)

ثم إن الفوضى والاضطراب والذعر الذي أشاعته الهزيمة في صفوف جنود المسلمين، أعقبه شعور عجيب بالطمأنينة والأمان لدى المؤمنين الذين عادوا واجتمعوا حول النبي ﷺ. فقد غشيتهم نعاس خفيف منحهم سكينة خاصة بهم. ويُوصف هذا الحدث الاستثنائي بعبارات دقيقة رقيقة: ﴿ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن بَعْدِ الْغَمِّ أَمَنَةً نُّعَاسًا يَغْشَىٰ طَائِفَةً مِّنكُمْ﴾. ولا شك أن هذه ظاهرة عظيمة، وتجلٍّ من فضل الله حين يُنزله على عباده. فإذا غلب النعاس أناسًا متعبين مُنهَكين مذعورين، ولو للحظة يسيرة، أحدث نتائج عجيبة؛ إذ يمنحهم الطمأنينة والسكينة على نحو لا ندركه، ويجعلهم أناسًا آخرين تمامًا. وأقول هذا لأنني قد عايشته في موقف من الشدة البالغة، فشعرت بفضل الله على نحو لا تستطيع أي لغة بشرية وصفه.

All the chaos, confusion and panic which the defeat spread among the Muslim soldiers was followed by a remarkable sense of peace and security among the believers who came back and rallied to the Prophet’s side. They were overtaken by a gentle slumber which gave them personal reassurance. This exceptional phenomenon is described in fine and gentle words: “Then, after sorrow, He let peace fall upon you in the shape of a slumber which overtook some of you.’’ There is no doubt that this was a remarkable phenomenon, a manifestation of God’s grace when it is bestowed upon His servants. When slumber overtakes people who are tired, exhausted and panicking, even for a brief moment, it brings about remarkable results. It gives them reassurance and comfort in a way which we cannot fathom and it makes of them different people altogether. I say this because I have experienced it in a situation of extreme distress. I felt God’s grace in a way which no human language can describe.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْا مِنكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُوا ۖ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ

As for those of you who turned away on the day when the two hosts met in battle, Satan caused them to slip only in consequence of something that they themselves had done. But now God has pardoned them. Indeed, God is Much forgiving, Forbearing.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَقَالُوا لِإِخْوَانِهِمْ إِذَا ضَرَبُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ أَوْ كَانُوا غُزًّى لَّوْ كَانُوا عِندَنَا مَا مَاتُوا وَمَا قُتِلُوا لِيَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ ذَٰلِكَ حَسْرَةً فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ * وَلَئِن قُتِلْتُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوْ مُتُّمْ لَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ * وَلَئِن مُّتُّمْ أَوْ قُتِلْتُمْ لَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُحْشَرُونَ (الآيات 155-158)

Believers, be not like those who disbelieve and say of their brethren, when they travel on earth or go forth to war, “Had they stayed with us they would not have died, nor would they have been killed, “so that God places a source of despair in their hearts. It is God alone Who grants life and causes death. God sees all that you do. If you should be slain or die in God’s cause, surely forgiveness by God and His grace are better than all the riches they amass. If you should die or be slain, it is to God that you shall be gathered. (Verses 155-8)

لا شك أن الله كان يعلم ما في قلوب الذين تولّوا منهزمين في غزوة أُحد. لقد ضعفوا بسبب ذنب ارتكبوه، فاضطربت نفوسهم. واستطاع الشيطان أن يوقعهم في تلك الزلة: ﴿إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُوا﴾ (الآية 155). وقد يكون المقصود بذلك الرماةَ الذين لم يصبروا أمام إغراء الغنائم التي تركها الكفار المنسحبون. وخطر لهم أيضًا أن رسول الله ﷺ قد لا يعطيهم نصيبهم من الغنائم. فكان ذلك هو الذنب الذي ارتكبوه، وبسببه أوقعهم الشيطان في الزلل. غير أن هذه الآية تصف حال الإنسان بعد أن يقع في ذنب: يضعف يقينه، وتنحل صلته بالله، فيفقد توازنه، ويستسلم لأنواع من الخواطر السلبية. فيوسوس له الشيطان ويقوده من خطأ إلى خطأ، بعد أن يكون هو قد غادر ملاذه الآمن من الطمأنينة والإيمان الثابت المطمئن.

God was certainly aware of what was in the hearts of those who turned away in defeat during the Battle of Uĥud. They weakened in consequence of a sin they had committed. This caused them to be shaken. Satan was able to manoeuvre them into making such a slip: “As for those of you who turned away on the day when the two hosts met in battle, Satan caused them to slip only in consequence of something that they themselves had done.” (Verse 155) This may be a reference to the archers who could not resist the temptation of the loot being left behind by the retreating unbelievers. They also entertained the thought that God’s Messenger might not give them a share of the spoils of war. That was the sin they committed, in consequence of which Satan made them slip. This verse, however, describes man after having committed a sin: his confidence weakens and his tie with God loosens. He loses balance and allows himself to fall prey to all sorts of negative thoughts. Thus, Satan whispers in his ear and leads him from one error to another, after he himself has left his safe refuge of content and reassured faith.