Surah Al Imran ayat 154 Tafsir Quran 3:154

﴿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﴾
[ آل عمران: 154]

3:154 Then after distress, He sent down upon you security [in the form of] drowsiness, overcoming a faction of you, while another faction worried about themselves, thinking of Allah other than the truth - the thought of ignorance, saying, "Is there anything for us [to have done] in this matter?" Say, "Indeed, the matter belongs completely to Allah." They conceal within themselves what they will not reveal to you. They say, "If there was anything we could have done in the matter, some of us would not have been killed right here." Say, "Even if you had been inside your houses, those decreed to be killed would have come out to their death beds." [It was] so that Allah might test what is in your breasts and purify what is in your hearts. And Allah is Knowing of that within the breasts.

Then He sent down upon you after grief security — a slumber nu‘āsan ‘slumber’ substitutes for amanatan ‘security’ overcoming yaghshā or taghshā a party of you namely the believers. They would become dizzy under their shields and their swords would fall from their hands; and a party whose own souls distressed them that is they caused them grief so that their only wish was their deliverance regardless of the Prophet and his Companions and they were unable to fall asleep these were the hypocrites; thinking wrongly of God thoughts of those thoughts during the age of ignorance the moment they thought that the Prophet had been killed or that he would not be given victory saying ‘Have we any part whatever in the affair?’ read interrogative hal as negative mā that is we have no part in the assistance which we were promised. Say to them ‘The affair belongs entirely read accusative kullahu to denote an emphasis or nominative kulluhu as a subject of a new sentence the predicate of which is what follows to God’ that is to say the decree is His He does what He wills. They conceal within their hearts what they do not disclose what they do not manifest to you saying yaqūlūna ‘saying’ is an explication of the preceding statement ‘Had we had any part in the affair we would not have been slain here’ that is to say ‘Had the choice been ours we would not have set out and thus been slain; but we were forced to set out’. Say to them ‘Even if you had been in your houses with some among you whom God had appointed that they be slain those of you for whom it had been appointed decreed that they be slain would have sallied forth would have gone forth to the places where they were to lie’ the battleground where they were to fall and they would have been slain; and their staying put at home would not have saved them for God’s decree will be inevitably. And He did what He did at Uhud that God might try that He might test what was in your breasts your hearts of sincerity or hypocrisy and that He might prove that He might distinguish what was in your hearts; and God knows what is in the breasts what is in the hearts. Nothing can be hidden from Him and He tries people only to make matters manifest for them.

Thereafter did Allah replace the emotion of sorrow and grief by peace of mind and sense of security, which induced the eyes of some of you to take themselves to slumber. Others were aroused to emotion, which begot unjust suspicion of Allah, and a state of mind characteristic of ignorance - analogous to the ignorance induced by paganism. The latter keep their thoughts to themselves and do not express them to you O Muhammad and they say to themselves: If we had a say in the matter we would never have been slain here in battle! Say to them: Had you decided to be the stay- at- home, those of you predestined to be slain would have emerged to the sites of their interment. Such a train of events, Allah has ordained to expose your actions interpreting your thoughts, and to test your innermost being for such a disposition as your hearts and minds would incline you to propound. Allah is Alimun of all that is stored in the bosoms

Slumber Overcame the Believers; the Fear that the Hypocrites Suffered Allah reminds His servants of His favor when He sent down on them tranquillity and slumber that overcame them while they were carrying their weapons and feeling distress and grief.
In this case, slumber is a favor and carries meanings of calmness and safety.
For instance, Allah said in Surat Al-Anfal about the battle of Badr, إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ النُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةً مِّنْهُ ( (Remember ) when He covered you with a slumber as a security from Him) 8:11. Al-Bukhari recorded that Anas said that, Abu Talhah said, "I was among those who were overcome by slumber during the battle of Uhud.
My sword fell from my hand several times and I would pick it up, then it would fall and I would pick it up again." Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith in the stories of the battles without a chain of narration, and in the book of Tafsir with a chain of narrators.
At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Al-Hakim recorded from Anas that Abu Talhah said, "On the day of Uhud, I raised my head and looked around and found that everyone's head was nodding from slumber." This is the wording of At-Tirmidhi, who said, "Hasan Sahih".
An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith from Anas who said that Abu Talhah said, "I was among those who were overcome by slumber." The second group mentioned in the Ayah were the hypocrites who only thought about themselves, for they are the most cowardly people and those least likely to support the truth, يَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ ظَنَّ الْجَـهِلِيَّةِ ( and thought wrongly of Allah - the thought of ignorance ) 3:154, for they are liars and people who have doubts and evil thoughts about Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored.
Allah said, ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِّن بَعْدِ الْغَمِّ أَمَنَةً نُّعَاساً يَغْشَى طَآئِفَةً مِّنْكُمْ ( Then after the distress, He sent down security for you.
Slumber overtook a party of you ), the people of faith, certainty, firmness and reliance ( on Allah ) who are certain that Allah shall give victory to His Messenger and fulfill his objective. وَطَآئِفَةٌ قَدْ أَهَمَّتْهُمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ ( While another party was thinking about themselves ), and they were not overcome by slumber because of their worry, fright and fear, يَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ ظَنَّ الْجَـهِلِيَّةِ ( and thought wrongly of Allah --- the thought of ignorance ). Similarly, Allah said in another statement, بَلْ ظَنَنْتُمْ أَن لَّن يَنقَلِبَ الرَّسُولُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَى أَهْلِيهِمْ أَبَداً ( Nay, but you thought that the Messenger and the believers would never return to their families ) 48:12. This group thought that the idolators achieved ultimate victory, when their forces took the upper hand in battle, and that Islam and its people would perish.
This is typical of people of doubt and hesitation, in the event of a hardship, they fall into such evil thoughts.
Allah then described them that, يَقُولُونَ ( they said ) in this situation, هَل لَّنَا مِنَ الاٌّمْرِ مِن شَىْءٍ ( "Have we any part in the affair" ) Allah replied, قُلْ إِنَّ الاٌّمْرَ كُلَّهُ للَّهِ يُخْفُونَ فِى أَنْفُسِهِم مَّا لاَ يُبْدُونَ لَكَ ( Say: "Indeed the affair belongs wholly to Allah." They hide within themselves what they dare not reveal to you. ) wAllah exposed their secrets, that is, يَقُولُونَ لَوْ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ الاٌّمْرِ شَىْءٌ مَّا قُتِلْنَا هَـهُنَا ( saying: "If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here." ) although they tried to conceal this thought from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Ibn Ishaq recorded that `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr said that Az-Zubayr said, "I was with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when fear intensified and Allah sent sleep to us ( during the battle of Uhud ).
At that time, every man among us ( except the hypocrites ) was nodding off.
By Allah! As if in a dream, I heard the words of Mu`attib bin Qushayr, `If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here.' I memorized these words of his, which Allah mentioned later on, يَقُولُونَ لَوْ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ الاٌّمْرِ شَىْءٌ مَّا قُتِلْنَا هَـهُنَا ( saying: "If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here. )" Ibn Abi Hatim collected this Hadith. Allah the Exalted said, قُل لَّوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُيُوتِكُمْ لَبَرَزَ الَّذِينَ كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقَتْلُ إِلَى مَضَاجِعِهِمْ ( Say: "Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death," ) meaning, this is Allah's appointed destiny and a decision that will certainly come to pass, and there is no escaping it.
Allah's statement, وَلِيَبْتَلِىَ اللَّهُ مَا فِى صُدُورِكُمْ وَلِيُمَحِّصَ مَا فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ ( that Allah might test what is in your breasts; and to purify that which was in your hearts, ) means, so that He tests you with whatever befell you, to distinguish good from evil and the deeds and statements of the believers from those of the hypocrites, وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ ( and Allah is All-Knower of what is in the breasts ), and what the hearts conceal. Some of the Believers Give Flight on the Day of Uhud Allah then said, إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْاْ مِنكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّهُمُ الشَّيْطَـنُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُواْ ( Those of you who turned back on the day the two hosts met, Shaytan only caused them to err because of some of what they had earned ) 3:155, because of some of their previous errors.
Indeed, some of the Salaf said, "The reward of the good deed includes being directed to another good deed that follows it, while the retribution of sin includes committing another sin that follows it." Allah then said, وَلَقَدْ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ ( but Allah, indeed, has forgiven them ), their giving flight, أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ ( surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing ) He forgives sins, pardons and exonerates His creatures.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Shaqiq said, " `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf met Al-Walid bin `Uqbah, who said to him, `Why did you desert `Uthman, the Leader of the Faithful' `Abdur-Rahman said, `Tell him that I did not run away during Uhud, remain behind during Badr, nor abandon the Sunnah of `Umar.' Al-Walid told `Uthman what `Abdur-Rahman said.
`Uthman replied, `As for his statement, `I did not run away during Uhud,' how can he blame me for an error that Allah has already forgiven.
Allah said, إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْاْ مِنكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّهُمُ الشَّيْطَـنُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُواْ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ ( Those of you who turned back on the day the two hosts met, Shaytan only caused them to err because of some of what they had earned.
But Allah, indeed, has forgiven them ). As for his statement that I remained behind from participating in Badr, I was nursing Ruqayyah, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, until she passed away.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave me a share in the booty of Badr, and whoever gets a share in the booty from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will have participated in battle.
As for his statement that I abandoned the Sunnah of `Umar, neither I nor he are able to endure it.
Go and convey this answer to him."'

(3:154) Then, after inflict-ing this grief, He sent down an inner peace upon you - a sleep which overtook some of you. *112 Those who were concerned merely about themselves, entertaining false notions about Allah - the notions of the Age of Ignorance - asked: 'Have we any say in the matter?' Tell them: 'Truly, all power of decision rests solely with Allah.' Indeed, they conceal in their hearts what they would not reveal to you, saying: 'If we had any power of decision, we would not have been slain here.' Say: 'Even if you had been in your houses, those for whom slaying had been appointed would have gone forth to the places where they were to be slain.' And all this happened so that Allah might test your secret thoughts and purge your hearts of all impurities. Allah knows well what is in the breasts of men.

Then after distress, He sent down upon meaning

*112).
A strange phenomenon was then experienced by certain Muslim soldiers.
Abu Talhah, who took part in the battle, states that the Muslims were seized by such drowsiness that their swords were slipping from their hands.
( For several Traditions stating this incident, including one related by Abu Talhah, see Waqidi, Maghazi, vol.
1, pp.
295-6 - Ed. )
 

Slumber Overcame the Believers; the Fear that the Hypocrites Suffered Allah reminds His servants of His favor when He sent down on them tranquillity and slumber that overcame them while they were carrying their weapons and feeling distress and grief.
In this case, slumber is a favor and carries meanings of calmness and safety.
For instance, Allah said in Surat Al-Anfal about the battle of Badr, إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ النُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةً مِّنْهُ ( (Remember ) when He covered you with a slumber as a security from Him) 8:11. Al-Bukhari recorded that Anas said that, Abu Talhah said, "I was among those who were overcome by slumber during the battle of Uhud.
My sword fell from my hand several times and I would pick it up, then it would fall and I would pick it up again." Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith in the stories of the battles without a chain of narration, and in the book of Tafsir with a chain of narrators.
At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Al-Hakim recorded from Anas that Abu Talhah said, "On the day of Uhud, I raised my head and looked around and found that everyone's head was nodding from slumber." This is the wording of At-Tirmidhi, who said, "Hasan Sahih".
An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith from Anas who said that Abu Talhah said, "I was among those who were overcome by slumber." The second group mentioned in the Ayah were the hypocrites who only thought about themselves, for they are the most cowardly people and those least likely to support the truth, يَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ ظَنَّ الْجَـهِلِيَّةِ ( and thought wrongly of Allah - the thought of ignorance ) 3:154, for they are liars and people who have doubts and evil thoughts about Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored.
Allah said, ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِّن بَعْدِ الْغَمِّ أَمَنَةً نُّعَاساً يَغْشَى طَآئِفَةً مِّنْكُمْ ( Then after the distress, He sent down security for you.
Slumber overtook a party of you ), the people of faith, certainty, firmness and reliance ( on Allah ) who are certain that Allah shall give victory to His Messenger and fulfill his objective. وَطَآئِفَةٌ قَدْ أَهَمَّتْهُمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ ( While another party was thinking about themselves ), and they were not overcome by slumber because of their worry, fright and fear, يَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ ظَنَّ الْجَـهِلِيَّةِ ( and thought wrongly of Allah --- the thought of ignorance ). Similarly, Allah said in another statement, بَلْ ظَنَنْتُمْ أَن لَّن يَنقَلِبَ الرَّسُولُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَى أَهْلِيهِمْ أَبَداً ( Nay, but you thought that the Messenger and the believers would never return to their families ) 48:12. This group thought that the idolators achieved ultimate victory, when their forces took the upper hand in battle, and that Islam and its people would perish.
This is typical of people of doubt and hesitation, in the event of a hardship, they fall into such evil thoughts.
Allah then described them that, يَقُولُونَ ( they said ) in this situation, هَل لَّنَا مِنَ الاٌّمْرِ مِن شَىْءٍ ( "Have we any part in the affair" ) Allah replied, قُلْ إِنَّ الاٌّمْرَ كُلَّهُ للَّهِ يُخْفُونَ فِى أَنْفُسِهِم مَّا لاَ يُبْدُونَ لَكَ ( Say: "Indeed the affair belongs wholly to Allah." They hide within themselves what they dare not reveal to you. ) wAllah exposed their secrets, that is, يَقُولُونَ لَوْ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ الاٌّمْرِ شَىْءٌ مَّا قُتِلْنَا هَـهُنَا ( saying: "If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here." ) although they tried to conceal this thought from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Ibn Ishaq recorded that `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr said that Az-Zubayr said, "I was with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when fear intensified and Allah sent sleep to us ( during the battle of Uhud ).
At that time, every man among us ( except the hypocrites ) was nodding off.
By Allah! As if in a dream, I heard the words of Mu`attib bin Qushayr, `If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here.' I memorized these words of his, which Allah mentioned later on, يَقُولُونَ لَوْ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ الاٌّمْرِ شَىْءٌ مَّا قُتِلْنَا هَـهُنَا ( saying: "If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here. )" Ibn Abi Hatim collected this Hadith. Allah the Exalted said, قُل لَّوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُيُوتِكُمْ لَبَرَزَ الَّذِينَ كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقَتْلُ إِلَى مَضَاجِعِهِمْ ( Say: "Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death," ) meaning, this is Allah's appointed destiny and a decision that will certainly come to pass, and there is no escaping it.
Allah's statement, وَلِيَبْتَلِىَ اللَّهُ مَا فِى صُدُورِكُمْ وَلِيُمَحِّصَ مَا فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ ( that Allah might test what is in your breasts; and to purify that which was in your hearts, ) means, so that He tests you with whatever befell you, to distinguish good from evil and the deeds and statements of the believers from those of the hypocrites, وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ ( and Allah is All-Knower of what is in the breasts ), and what the hearts conceal. Some of the Believers Give Flight on the Day of Uhud Allah then said, إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْاْ مِنكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّهُمُ الشَّيْطَـنُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُواْ ( Those of you who turned back on the day the two hosts met, Shaytan only caused them to err because of some of what they had earned ) 3:155, because of some of their previous errors.
Indeed, some of the Salaf said, "The reward of the good deed includes being directed to another good deed that follows it, while the retribution of sin includes committing another sin that follows it." Allah then said, وَلَقَدْ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ ( but Allah, indeed, has forgiven them ), their giving flight, أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ ( surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing ) He forgives sins, pardons and exonerates His creatures.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Shaqiq said, " `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf met Al-Walid bin `Uqbah, who said to him, `Why did you desert `Uthman, the Leader of the Faithful' `Abdur-Rahman said, `Tell him that I did not run away during Uhud, remain behind during Badr, nor abandon the Sunnah of `Umar.' Al-Walid told `Uthman what `Abdur-Rahman said.
`Uthman replied, `As for his statement, `I did not run away during Uhud,' how can he blame me for an error that Allah has already forgiven.
Allah said, إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْاْ مِنكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّهُمُ الشَّيْطَـنُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُواْ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ ( Those of you who turned back on the day the two hosts met, Shaytan only caused them to err because of some of what they had earned.
But Allah, indeed, has forgiven them ). As for his statement that I remained behind from participating in Badr, I was nursing Ruqayyah, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, until she passed away.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave me a share in the booty of Badr, and whoever gets a share in the booty from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will have participated in battle.
As for his statement that I abandoned the Sunnah of `Umar, neither I nor he are able to endure it.
Go and convey this answer to him."'

Allah then mentioned His blessings upon them, saying: ( Then, after grief, He sent down security for you ) from the enemy. ( As slumber did it overcome a party of you ) such that those among you who had sincerity and certitude slept, ( while (the other ) party, who were anxious on their own account) who were overcome with anxiousness about themselves. This refers to Mu’attib Ibn Qushayr, the hypocrite, and his fellows who were not overcome by sleep, ( thought wrongly of Allah ) that He would not come to the help of His Messenger and his Companions, ( the thought of ignorance ) as they did think of Him in the time of ignorance [ before the advent of Islam ]. ( They said: Have we any part in the cause ) any part in triumph and domination? ( Say ) O Muhammad: ( The cause ) triumph and domination ( belongeth wholly to Allah ) they are in the Hand of Allah. ( They hide within themselves (a thought ) which they reveal not unto you) for fear that they would be killed, ( saying: Had we had any part in the cause we should not have been slain here. Say ) to the hypocrites, O Muhammad: ( Even though ye had been in your houses ) in Medina, ( those appointed to be slain would have gone forth to the places where they were to lie ) where they were to be killed at Uhud. ( (All this has been ) in order that Allah might try) test ( what is in your breasts ) what is in the breast of the hypocrites ( and prove ) bring to the fore ( what is in your hearts ) of hypocrisy. ( Allah is Aware of what is hidden in the breasts (of men )) He knows what is in people’s hearts of good and evil, i.e. the hearts of hypocrites; it is also said that it refers to the hearts of the archers.

Then after the distress, He sent down security for you. Slumber overtook a party of you, while another party was thinking about themselves (as how to save their ownselves, ignoring the others and the Prophet SAW) and thought wrongly of Allah - the thought of ignorance. They said, "Have we any part in the affair?" Say you (O Muhammad SAW): "Indeed the affair belongs wholly to Allah." They hide within themselves what they dare not reveal to you, saying: "If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here." Say: "Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death," but that Allah might test what is in your breasts; and to Mahis that which was in your hearts (sins), and Allah is All-Knower of what is in (your) breasts.

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