Muhammad hanyalah seorang utusan; sebelum dia, semua utusan telah berlalu. Jika dia mati atau terbunuh, adakah kamu akan berbalik ke belakang? Sesiapa yang berbalik ke belakang tidak akan memudaratkan Tuhan sedikit pun. Tuhan akan memberi ganjaran kepada orang-orang yang bersyukur [kepada-Nya].
Muĥammad is only a messenger: all messengers have passed away before him. If then, he dies or is slain, will you turn about on your heels? He that turns about on his heels will not harm God in any way. God will reward those who are grateful [to Him].
Ayat ini merujuk kepada satu peristiwa yang berlaku semasa Perang Uhud. Nabi ﷺ telah menempatkan sepasukan tentera di atas bukit di belakang tentera Muslimin. Mereka ialah pasukan pengawal belakang, dilengkapi dengan busur dan anak panah untuk menahan sebarang serangan yang dilancarkan ke atas tentera Muslimin dari belakang. Apabila peperangan kelihatan telah berakhir, kebanyakan mereka meninggalkan kedudukan mereka, bertentangan dengan perintah tegas Nabi ﷺ. Maka satu batalion tentera musuh dapat mengelilingi bukit itu dan menyerang orang Islam dari belakang. Nabi ﷺ sendiri tercedera: gigi depan baginda patah, dan wajah baginda berdarah.
This verse refers to a particular incident which took place during the Battle of Uĥud. The Prophet had stationed a detachment of soldiers on top of the mountain behind the Muslim army. They were the rearguard, equipped with bows and arrows to repel any attack launched against the Muslim army from behind. When the battle appeared to be all over, most of them left their positions, against the express orders of the Prophet. A battalion of the enemy forces were thus able to go round the mountain and attack the Muslims from the rear. The Prophet himself was injured: his front teeth were broken, and his face was bleeding.
Keadaan menjadi kacau dan tentera Islam berpecah-belah. Pada ketika ini, seseorang berteriak: "Muhammad telah terbunuh!" Khabar itu begitu mengejutkan kaum Muslimin sehingga ramai dalam kalangan mereka berpaling untuk kembali ke Madinah. Mereka naik ke atas gunung, hancur hati, kalah, dan dalam keputusasaan. Namun, Nabi ﷺ sendiri, bersama sekumpulan kecil para sahabatnya, tetap teguh. Baginda memanggil para sahabatnya ketika mereka mula berundur. Apabila mereka mendengar seruan baginda, mereka mula berkumpul semula. Tuhan membantu mereka memulihkan semangat dan kekuatan mental mereka, serta membiarkan mereka dilanda kantuk seketika agar mereka memperoleh kekuatan, ketenteraman dan ketenangan, sebagaimana akan dijelaskan kemudian.
The situation became chaotic and the Muslim army was in disarray. At this moment, someone cried out: “Muĥammad is killed!” Such a great shock was this to the Muslims, that many of them turned round to return to Madinah. They went up into the mountain, shattered, defeated, in despair. However, the Prophet himself, with a small group of his Companions, stood firm. He called to his Companions as they began to retreat. When they heard him, they began to rally. God helped them regain their moral strength and allowed them to be overtaken by a momentary slumber so as to give them strength, security and reassurance, as will be explained later.
Urutan peristiwa ini digunakan dalam Al-Qur'an untuk menanamkan kepada kaum Muslimin beberapa prinsip asas tentang kehidupan dan kematian serta sejarah iman kepada Tuhan.
This sequence of events is used in the Qur’ān to drive home to the Muslims certain fundamental principles about life and death and the history of Divine faith:
"Muhammad hanyalah seorang rasul: semua rasul telah berlalu sebelumnya. Jika dia mati atau dibunuh, adakah kamu akan berpaling ke belakang?" Muhammad ﷺ hanyalah seorang rasul, yang didahului oleh semua rasul yang lain. Baginda akan mati sebagaimana rasul-rasul lain telah mati sebelumnya. Ini adalah fakta yang asas. Maka bagaimana pula orang-orang Islam menunjukkan diri mereka lalai terhadap fakta ini, sedangkan ia terpampang di depan mata mereka semasa peperangan?
“Muĥammad is only a messenger: all messengers have passed away before him. If then, he dies or is slain, will you turn about on your heels?” Muĥammad (pbuh) is simply a messenger, having been preceded by all other messengers. He will die as other messengers have died before him. This is an elementary fact. How is it then that the Muslims show themselves to be oblivious of this fact when it stared them in the face during the battle?
Muhammad ﷺ ialah seorang utusan Tuhan, yang diamanahkan untuk menyampaikan risalah-Nya. Tuhan itu Maha Kekal dan firman-Nya tidak pernah mati. Orang-orang beriman tidak sepatutnya berpaling ke belakang sekiranya utusan yang datang menyampaikan firman Tuhan kepada mereka itu mati atau dibunuh. Ini juga merupakan satu fakta asas yang dilupakan oleh orang Islam dalam kekeliruan besar mereka.
Muĥammad (pbuh) is a messenger of God, entrusted with the task of conveying His message. God is Eternal and His word never dies. Believers should never turn on their heels if the messenger who has come to convey God’s word to them dies or is killed. This is also an elementary fact which the Muslims, in their great confusion, overlooked.
Manusia mati dan binasa, sementara agama tetap kekal. Cara hidup yang telah dirancang oleh Tuhan untuk umat manusia mempunyai wujudnya sendiri; ia tidak bergantung kepada mereka yang menyampaikannya kepada manusia, sama ada rasul mahupun orang beriman. Setiap Muslim mencintai Utusan Tuhan ﷺ. Para sahabatnya mencintainya seperti tiada siapa pun pernah dicintai sebelum ini. Mereka sanggup mengorbankan nyawa demi menjauhkan baginda daripada sebarang kesakitan, sekecil mana pun. Salah seorang sahabatnya, Abū Dujānah, berdiri sebagai perisai untuk melindungi Nabi ﷺ. Dia terkena banyak anak panah di belakangnya, namun dia tidak bergerak sedikit pun. Hanya sembilan orang sahabatnya yang berada rapat dengannya ketika baginda menjadi sasaran serangan gigih daripada golongan kafir, dan kesembilan-sembilan mereka mempertahankan baginda dengan penuh keberanian, sehingga mereka semuanya terbunuh. Ramai lagi yang lain, dalam setiap generasi dan di setiap tempat, terus mencintai baginda dengan sepenuh hati mereka.
Human beings die and perish, while the faith survives. The way of life God has designed for mankind has its own entity; it is independent of those who convey it to people, be they messengers or believers. Every Muslim loves God’s Messenger (pbuh). His Companions loved him as no one had ever been loved before. They were ready to sacrifice their lives in order to spare him the slightest pain. One of his Companions, Abū Dujānah, stood as a shield to protect the Prophet, was hit by numerous arrows in the back and yet he never stirred. Only nine of his Companions were close to him when he was targeted by a determined attack by the unbelievers, and those nine defended him most courageously, until they were all killed. Many others in every generation and in all places continue to love him with all their hearts.
Setiap Muslim yang mencintai Muhammad ﷺ dengan cara sedemikian diwajibkan untuk membezakan antara Nabi sebagai seorang insan, dengan agama yang telah beliau sampaikan kepada umat manusia dan tinggalkan dalam keadaan utuh untuk semua manusia menerima dan melaksanakannya. Agama itu memperoleh kesinambungannya daripada Tuhan, yang tidak pernah mati.
Every Muslim who loves Muĥammad (pbuh) in such a way is required to distinguish between the Prophet as a person, and the faith he has conveyed to mankind and left intact for all people to accept and implement. It derives its continuity from God, Who never dies.
Mesej ini jauh lebih tua daripada para penganjurnya: "Muhammad hanyalah seorang utusan; semua utusan telah berlalu sebelumnya." Mereka semua menyampaikan mesej yang sama, yang akarnya kembali ke permulaan sejarah. Ia bermula sejak permulaan kehidupan manusia, memberikan kepada umat manusia petunjuk dan kedamaian sejak hari pertama kewujudannya.
The message is much older than its advocates: “Muĥammad is only a messenger: all messengers have passed away before him.” They all preached the same message, the roots of which go back to the beginning of history. It starts with the beginning of human life, providing mankind with guidance and peace from the very first day of its existence.
Mesej ini juga lebih besar daripada para penganjurnya dan lebih lama kekal. Ramai daripada penganjurnya telah datang dan pergi, sementara ia terus menjadi petunjuk bagi generasi-generasi yang datang kemudian. Para pengikutnya mengekalkan hubungan mereka dengan Tuhan Yang Maha Agung, pencetusnya, yang telah mengutus rasul-rasul untuk menyampaikannya kepada umat manusia. Dia Maha Kekal dan orang-orang beriman memanjatkan doa kepada-Nya. Tiada seorang pun daripada mereka boleh berpaling ke belakang atau membelakangi petunjuk Tuhan. Inilah yang menjelaskan amaran keras yang tersirat dalam ayat ini: "Maka apakah jika dia (Muhammad ﷺ) mati atau dibunuh, kamu akan berbalik ke belakang (murtad)? Dan sesiapa yang berbalik ke belakang, maka dia sama sekali tidak mendatangkan mudarat kepada Allah sedikit pun. Dan Allah akan memberi balasan kepada orang-orang yang bersyukur." (Ayat 144)
The message is also greater than its advocates and lasts longer. Many of its advocates have come and gone, while it continues to serve as guidance to succeeding generations. Its followers maintain their link with God Almighty, its originator, Who has sent messengers to convey it to mankind. He is Everlasting and believers address their prayers to Him. None of them may turn about on their heels or turn their back on God’s guidance. This explains the stern warning implicit in this verse: “If then, he dies or is slain, will you turn about on your heels? He that turns about on his heels will not harm God in any way. God will reward those who are grateful [to Him].” (Verse 144)
Perhatikan gambaran yang hidup tentang berpaling ke belakang: "Adakah kamu berbalik ke belakang atas tumit kamu?" Gerakan fizikal yang digambarkan di sini menghidupkan makna meninggalkan iman seolah-olah kita melihatnya dengan mata kepala sendiri. Ayat ini tidak merujuk kepada berpaling secara fizikal akibat kekalahan dalam peperangan. Ia lebih menumpukan kepada berpaling secara psikologi apabila suara menjerit bahawa Muhammad ﷺ telah terbunuh.
The vivid description of turning back is here to be noted: “Will you turn about on your heels?” The physical movement depicted here brings alive the meaning of abandoning faith as if we see it with our own eyes. The verse does not refer to the physical turning away as a result of defeat in battle. It is more concerned with the psychological turning about when a voice cried out that Muĥammad was killed.
Sebahagian kaum Muslimin merasakan bahawa tiada gunanya meneruskan perjuangan menentang kaum musyrikin, kerana kewafatan Muhammad ﷺ menandakan berakhirnya agama ini dan berakhirnya peperangan menentang penyembahan berhala. Kesan psikologi ini digambarkan dalam bentuk berpaling ke belakang, iaitu satu gerakan yang benar-benar berlaku semasa peperangan. Sikap inilah yang diperingatkan oleh Al-Nađīr ibn Anas, seorang Sahabat Nabi ﷺ, kepada sesama Muslimin apabila beliau melihat ramai daripada mereka telah meletakkan senjata. Jawapan beliau terhadap alasan mereka bahawa Muhammad ﷺ telah wafat ialah:
Some Muslims felt that there was no point in continuing the fight against the idolaters, since the death of Muĥammad (pbuh) signalled the end of this faith and the end of combat against idolatry. This psychological effect is delineated in terms of turning about on one’s heels, which was a movement that actually took place during the battle. It is this very attitude which Al-Nađīr ibn Anas, a Companion of the Prophet, warned his fellow Muslims against when he saw that many of them had lain down their arms. His retort to their excuse that Muĥammad was dead, was:
“Apa gunanya hidup bagimu selepas dia mati? Bangunlah dan matilah demi perjuangan yang telah dikorbankan nyawa oleh Utusan Allah ﷺ.” “Dan sesiapa yang berpaling ke belakang, maka sama sekali dia tidak akan memudaratkan Allah.” Sesungguhnya merekalah yang rugi. Sesiapa yang menyimpang dari jalan iman, dia memudaratkan dirinya sendiri dan tidak mendatangkan sebarang mudarat kepada Tuhan. Tuhan tidak memerlukan manusia mahupun ibadat mereka. Dengan limpah kurnia-Nya, Dia telah memberikan kepada hamba-hamba-Nya perlembagaan ini demi kebaikan dan kebahagiaan mereka sendiri. Setiap orang yang berpaling daripadanya akan menderita kekeliruan dan kesengsaraan. Maka segala sesuatu pun menjadi tersasar dari landasannya yang betul. Kehidupan itu sendiri menjadi menyimpang. Manusia menanggung akibat buruk kerana berpaling daripada satu-satunya perlembagaan yang mewujudkan keharmonian dalam kehidupan dan yang mencapai keharmonian antara manusia dengan fitrahnya serta alam sekeliling.
“What use is life to you after he has died? Get up and die for the cause God’s Messenger (pbuh) has sacrificed his life for.” “He that turns about on his heels will not harm God in any way.” It is indeed he who is the loser. He who deviates from the path of faith harms himself and causes God no harm. God is in no need of mankind or their worship. It is out of His grace that He has given His servants this constitution for their own good and happiness. Everyone who turns his back on it suffers from confusion and misery. Everything is thus set on the wrong footing. Life itself becomes deviant. People suffer the evil consequences of turning away from the only constitution which provides harmony in life and which achieves harmony between man, his nature and the universe around him.
"Tuhan akan memberi ganjaran kepada mereka yang bersyukur kepada-Nya." Mereka mengetahui nikmat besar yang telah dikurniakan Tuhan kepada hamba-hamba-Nya dengan menetapkan bagi mereka kod kehidupan ini. Mereka menzahirkan kesyukuran kepada-Nya dengan mengikuti kod ini dan memuji-Nya. Mereka menuai manfaat cara hidup ini dan mencapai kebahagiaan yang sempurna. Inilah ganjaran yang baik bagi kesyukuran mereka.
“God will reward those who are grateful to Him.” They know the great bounty God has given His servants by establishing for them this code of living. They show their gratitude to Him by following this code and praising Him. They reap the benefits of this way of life and achieve total happiness. This is good reward for their gratitude.
Tetapi mereka juga memperoleh tambahan kebahagiaan dengan ganjaran yang mereka terima daripada Tuhan di akhirat. Itu adalah ganjaran yang jauh lebih besar dan, tidak seperti segala yang dinikmati di dunia ini, ia kekal selamanya.
But they also have an increase of happiness with the reward they receive from God in the hereafter. That is a much greater reward and, unlike everything enjoyed in this world, it is everlasting.
"Tuhan akan memberi ganjaran kepada mereka yang bersyukur kepada-Nya." Mereka yang menghargai nikmat Tuhan dan menzahirkan kesyukuran mereka kepada-Nya dengan mengikuti petunjuk-Nya serta mengagungkan-Nya, akan menemui kebahagiaan dalam hidup mereka. Demikianlah mereka diberi ganjaran atas kesyukuran mereka, dan mereka akan menerima ganjaran yang lebih baik lagi di kehidupan akan datang.
“God will reward those who are grateful to Him.” Those who appreciate God’s bounty and show their gratitude to Him by following His guidance and by glorifying Him find happiness in their lives. Thus are they rewarded for their gratitude, and they will receive an even better reward in the life to come.
Apparently God wanted to wean the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ from their over-enthusiastic attachment to him in person while he was alive among them. Their attachment should be, in the first place, with Islam itself. Their covenants should be made with God directly and they should be made to feel that they are responsible to Him directly. Thus they would feel that their responsibilities continue after the death of the Prophet ﷺ. Perhaps God also wanted to prepare the Muslim community for the inevitable shock which they were bound to receive when the Prophet ﷺ died. He certainly knew that his death would be a stunning blow to them. Hence, if they were made to feel that their direct relationship was with Him and His message then they would be able to overcome their shock.
Apparently God wanted to wean the Companions of the Prophet from their over- enthusiastic attachment to him in person while he was alive among them. Their attachment should be, in the first place, with Islam itself. Their covenants should be made with God directly and they should be made to feel that they are responsible to Him directly. Thus they would feel that their responsibilities continue after the death of the Prophet. Perhaps God also wanted to prepare the Muslim community for the inevitable shock which they were bound to receive when the Prophet died. He certainly knew that his death would be a stunning blow to them. Hence, if they were made to feel that their direct relationship was with Him and His message then they would be able to overcome their shock.
Ketika Nabi ﷺ benar-benar wafat, para Sahabat terkejut, sehingga `Umar menghunus pedangnya dan mengancam sesiapa yang mendakwa bahawa Muhammad ﷺ telah mati. Hanya Abū Bakr, contoh terbaik seorang mukmin sejati kepada God, yang mampu melihat peristiwa itu dalam perspektif yang sebenar. Beliau membacakan ayat ini kepada kaum Muslimin, dan itu sudah cukup untuk menyedarkan mereka bahawa ia hanyalah peristiwa yang biasa. Dengan itu mereka dapat kembali berpaling kepada God. Al-Qur’ān dalam ayat ini menyentuh ketakutan manusia terhadap kematian. Ia menghapuskan ketakutan itu dengan menyatakan prinsip hidup dan mati yang sentiasa benar, serta apa yang berlaku selepas kehidupan.
When the Prophet actually died his Companions were stunned, so much so that `Umar drew his sword and threatened anyone who claimed that Muĥammad was dead. Only Abū Bakr, the best example of a true believer in God, was able to take the event in its proper perspective. He read out this verse to the Muslims and it was enough to make them realise that it was only a natural event. With this they were able to turn to God. The Qur’ān in this verse touches on man’s fear of death. It dispels that fear by stating the ever-correct principle of life and death and also of what comes after life.