{Enyi mlioamini, mkiwatii wale waliokufuru, watakurudisheni nyuma yenu, nanyi mtakuwa wenye kukhasirika. Bali Mwenyezi Mungu ndiye Mola wenu Mlezi, naye ndiye Mbora wa wanaosaidia.} (Aali 'Imraan: 149-150)

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)

Sehemu nyingine sasa inaanza ndani ya muktadha wa mapitio ya Qur'ani kuhusu Vita vya Uhud na matukio yake. Maoni yaliyomo ndani yake yanalenga kusahihisha dhana za Waumini, kuongeza ufahamu wao kuhusu hali yao, na kuwaonya juu ya mitego iliyo njiani mwao pamoja na yale ambayo adui anaweza kupanga dhidi yao.

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.

Kushindwa kwa Waislamu huko Uhud kulitoa mazingira yanayofaa kwa makafiri, wanafiki na Mayahudi waliokuwa Madina kueneza propaganda zao za uadui.

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.

Madina bado haikuwa mji wa Waislamu kwa ukamilifu. Waislamu waliokuwepo humo walikuwa hasa kundi la wageni, ambalo ushindi mkubwa wa Badr uliwapa hadhi ya kuvutia na kuwatia wengine hofu.

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.

Waliposhindwa huko Uhud, misimamo ilibadilika kwa kiasi kikubwa. Maadui wa Uislamu waliona katika kushindwa huko fursa ya kutangaza uadui wao na kueneza uvumi wao wenye sumu. Walifanya haraka kutumia msiba uliowagusa kila familia ya Kiislamu na kujaribu kuleta mkanganyiko katika akili za Waislamu.

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.

Mwanzoni mwa simulizi ya Qur'ani kuhusu matukio halisi ya vita hiyo, Mwenyezi Mungu mwenyewe anawaonya kwa msisitizo waumini dhidi ya kuwatii wale waliokataa imani.

Sura hii sasa inawapa waumini faraja zaidi, ikiwapa habari njema ya mpango wa Mungu wa kuwatia hofu mioyoni mwa maadui zao kwa sababu wanamshirikisha Yeye, kinyume na amri zake zote wazi. Hakika Mungu hakuwapa wale waliodaiwa kuwa washirika uwezo wowote ule. Zaidi ya hayo, Akhera, wadhalimu watapata adhabu zaidi: "Tutawatia hofu mioyoni mwa wasiomwamini kwa sababu wanamshirikisha Mungu, jambo ambalo Yeye hakuliteremshia hoja yoyote. Makazi yao ni Moto, na ni mbaya kabisa makao ya madhalimu." (Aya ya 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)

Ahadi kutoka kwa Mwenyezi Mungu, Mwenye Nguvu, ya kuingiza hofu mioyoni mwa makafiri inatosha kuwa dhamana ya kuhakikisha vita vinamalizika kwa ushindi wa uamuzi kwa waumini wanaomsaidia Yeye, dhidi ya maadui Wake. Ni ahadi inayothibitika katika kila pambano kati ya imani na kufuru. Kila wakati makafiri wanapokutana uso kwa uso na waumini, hofu huwashinda, kwa sababu Mungu huiweka hisia hiyo mioyoni mwao. Jambo muhimu ili hisia hii ijitokeze ni kwamba waumini wenyewe waihisi imani yao kwa kweli. Ni lazima wajisalimishe kwa dhati kwa Mungu peke yake, wawe na imani kamili juu ya msaada wa Mungu, wasiwe na chembe yoyote ya shaka kwamba ushindi utapewa askari wa Mungu, kwamba Mungu atatimiza mapenzi Yake, na kwamba makafiri hawawezi kamwe kuvuruga yale ambayo Mungu anataka kuyatimiza. Wakati mwingine, mwonekano wa mambo unaweza kuonyesha kinyume, lakini waumini wanapaswa kuiamini ahadi ya Mungu kwa kuwa itatimia daima, bila kujali watu wanayoyaona kwa macho yao au wanayoyahukumu kwa akili zao. Makafiri watahisi hofu mioyoni mwao, kwa kuwa hawategemei msaada wowote thabiti. Hawana nguvu zao wenyewe, wala hawafurahii msaada wa chanzo kingine chochote chenye nguvu. Wamemshirikisha Mungu na washirika ambao hawana mamlaka wala nguvu zao wenyewe, kwa sababu Mungu hajawahi kuwapa hati yoyote ya kuthibitisha hilo.

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.

Mwenyezi Mungu alikutimizia ahadi yake alipokuwa karibu kuwaangamiza kwa idhini yake.

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

Kisha mkapoteza ujasiri na kuanza kutofautiana juu ya [amri ya Mtume ﷺ] na kuasi baada ya Mwenyezi Mungu kukuonyesha kile mlichokuwa mkikitamani. Miongoni mwenu wako wanaotaka dunia tu, na wako wanaotaka Akhera. Kisha akakugeuzeni mbali nao ili awajaribu. Lakini sasa amekusameheni, kwa kuwa Mungu ni Mwingi wa fadhila kwa waumini. [Kumbukeni] mlipokimbia milimani, bila kumjali yeyote, huku Mtume ﷺ akiwaita kutoka nyuma yenu. Hivyo akakulipeni huzuni juu ya huzuni, ili msihuzunike kwa kile kilichowapita, wala kwa kile kilichowasibu.

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.

Mungu anajua yote mnayoyafanya. (Aya 152-3)

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

Sura hii inachora picha kamili ya uwanja wa vita na mfuatano wa ushindi na kushindwa. Kila mwendo, kila hisia, kila sura ya uso na kila wazo la kupita limerekodiwa. Maelezo ya Qur'ani ni kama filamu inayoonyesha kila mwendo kwa undani na uwazi mkubwa. Hii inatumika hasa kwenye picha ya watu wakikimbia kutoka uwanja wa vita na kukimbilia juu ya mlima kwa hofu, wakati Mtume ﷺ aliwaita. Pamoja na hili kuna picha ya mawazo, hisia na miitikio ambayo watu waliyakuwa nayo. Zaidi ya hayo yote, kuna maagizo na kauli kadhaa zenye mtindo wa kipekee wa Qur'ani na mbinu yake ya ajabu ya kuwaelimisha waumini.

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.

Kisha, baada ya huzuni, Yeye akakuteremshia utulivu, kwa namna ya usingizi uliowashika baadhi yenu, huku wengine, ambao walijishughulisha zaidi na nafsi zao wenyewe, wakiwa na mawazo yasiyo sahihi juu ya Mwenyezi Mungu — mawazo ya ujinga wa kijahili. Wanauliza: ‘Je, sisi tuna chochote cha kusema katika jambo hili?” Sema: ‘Mamlaka yote ya kuamua yako kwa Mwenyezi Mungu.” Wanaficha ndani ya nyoyo zao yale wasiyokufichulia. Wanasema: “Lau tungekuwa na chochote cha kusema katika jambo hili, basi hatungeuawa hapa.” Sema: “Lau mngekaa majumbani mwenu, wale ambao waliokusudiwa kuuawa wangekwenda kufa vitandani mwao.” Kwani ilikuwa mapenzi ya Mwenyezi Mungu kuyajaribu yale yote mliyo nayo vifuani mwenu na kuyatakasa yale yaliyomo mioyoni mwenu. Mwenyezi Mungu anajua kikamilifu yaliyomo vifuani mwa watu.

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.

(Aya 154)

(Verse 154)

Mashambulizi yote, machafuko na hofu ambayo kushindwa kulikuwa kumeyaeneza miongoni mwa askari Waislamu, yalifuatiwa na hisia ya ajabu ya amani na usalama miongoni mwa waumini waliorudi na kujikusanya kando ya Mtume ﷺ. Walishikwa na usingizi mwepesi uliowapa faraja binafsi. Tukio hili la kipekee limeelezwa kwa maneno laini na ya upole: "Kisha, baada ya huzuni, Yeye aliteremsha amani juu yenu kwa namna ya usingizi uliowapata baadhi yenu." Hakuna shaka kwamba hili lilikuwa jambo la ajabu, dhihirisho la neema ya Mungu inapowapa waja Wake. Usingizi unapowapata watu waliochoka, waliokosa nguvu na waliokuwa na hofu, hata kwa muda mfupi, huleta matokeo ya ajabu. Huwapa faraja na utulivu kwa namna ambayo hatuwezi kuipima, na huwageuza kuwa watu tofauti kabisa. Nasema hivi kwa sababu mimi mwenyewe nimelipitia katika hali ya dhiki kubwa. Nilihisi neema ya Mungu kwa namna ambayo lugha yoyote ya kibinadamu haiwezi kuielezea.

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.

Kwa hakika, wale miongoni mwenu waliokimbia siku ile majeshi mawili yalipokutana, ni Shetani aliyewateleza kwa sababu ya baadhi ya yale waliyoyachuma. Lakini sasa Mwenyezi Mungu amewasamehe. Hakika Mwenyezi Mungu ni Mwingi wa kusamehe, Mpole.

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.

Enyi mlioamini, msiwe kama wale waliokufuru wanaowaambia ndugu zao, wanapokwenda safarini katika ardhi au wanapoenda vitani: "Kama wangalikuwa pamoja nasi, wasingalikufa wala wasingaliuawa," ili Mwenyezi Mungu aweke majuto katika nyoyo zao. Ni Mwenyezi Mungu peke yake anayetoa uhai na kusababisha mauti. Mwenyezi Mungu anaona mnayoyafanya. Mkiuawa au mkifa katika njia ya Mwenyezi Mungu, bila shaka msamaha wa Mwenyezi Mungu na rehema Yake ni bora kuliko mali yote wanayokusanya. Mkifa au mkiuawa, ni kwa Mwenyezi Mungu mtakapokusanywa.

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)

Mungu alijua kikamilifu yaliyokuwa ndani ya mioyo ya wale waliogeuka na kukimbia kwa kushindwa katika Vita vya Uhud. Walidhoofika kutokana na dhambi waliyoifanya. Hali hiyo iliwafanya watikisike. Shetani aliweza kuwaendesha hadi kufanya kosa kama hilo: “Na wale miongoni mwenu waliogeuka siku ile majeshi mawili yalipokutana, ni shetani aliyewateleza kwa sababu ya baadhi ya mambo waliyoyachuma wenyewe.” (Aya ya 155) Hii inaweza kuwa rejeo kwa wale wapiga mishale ambao hawakuweza kupinga jaribu la mali ya vita iliyoachwa nyuma na makafiri waliokuwa wakirudi nyuma. Pia walikuwa na wazo kwamba Mjumbe wa Mungu ﷺ huenda asiwapatie sehemu yao ya ngawira za vita. Hiyo ndiyo dhambi waliyoifanya, na kwa sababu hiyo shetani akawafanya wateleze. Hata hivyo, aya hii inaeleza hali ya mtu baada ya kufanya dhambi: imani yake hudhoofika na uhusiano wake na Mungu hulegea. Hupoteza usawaziko wake na kujiacha aangukie aina zote za mawazo hasi. Hivyo, shetani hunong'ona sikioni mwake na kumwongoza kutoka kosa moja hadi jingine, baada ya yeye mwenyewe kuiacha kimbilio lake salama la kuridhika na imani yenye utulivu.

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.