Surah Al Imran ayat 167 Tafsir Quran 3:167

﴿وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ نَافَقُوا ۚ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا قَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوِ ادْفَعُوا ۖ قَالُوا لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالًا لَّاتَّبَعْنَاكُمْ ۗ هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلْإِيمَانِ ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَكْتُمُونَ﴾
[ آل عمران: 167]

3:167 And that He might make evident those who are hypocrites. For it was said to them, "Come, fight in the way of Allah or [at least] defend." They said, "If we had known [there would be] fighting, we would have followed you." They were nearer to disbelief that day than to faith, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah is most Knowing of what they conceal -

And that He might also know the hypocrites and those who when it was said to them after they had fled the fighting namely ‘Abd Allāh b. Ubayy and his companions ‘Come now fight in the way of God His enemies or defend’ us against the enemy by increasing the multitude of our fighters if you are not going to fight; they said ‘If we knew how if we were skilled enough to fight we would follow you’. God then said showing them to be liars They that day were nearer to unbelief than to belief for what they manifested of their forsaking the believers whereas before they had been outwardly nearer to belief; saying with their mouths that which was not in their hearts for even if they had known how to fight they would not have followed you. And God knows best what they hide of hypocrisy.

He exposes the hypocrites who pretended to be other then they are. When they were asked to join the Muslim forces to fight in the cause of Allah or at least to defend their own interests; they made excuses. They said, We would gladly follow you if we knew how to fight. They were then furthermost from Allah and their words did not accord to their inmost thoughts. Allah knows best their secret feelings

The Reason and Wisdom Behind the Defeat at Uhud Allah said, أَوَ لَمَّا أَصَـبَتْكُمْ مُّصِيبَةٌ ( When a single disaster smites you ), in reference to when the Muslims suffered seventy fatalities during the battle of Uhud, قَدْ أَصَبْتُمْ مِّثْلَيْهَا ( although you smote (your enemies ) with one twice as great,) during Badr, when the Muslims killed seventy Mushriks and captured seventy others, قُلْتُمْ أَنَّى هَـذَا ( you say: "From where does this come to us" ) why did this defeat happen to us قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنْفُسِكُمْ ( Say, "It is from yourselves." ) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said, "When Uhud occurred, a year after Badr, Muslims were punished for taking ransom from the disbelievers at Badr in return for releasing the Mushriks whom they captured in that battle.
Thus, they suffered the loss of seventy fatalities and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah gave flight and abandoned him.
The Messenger suffered a broken tooth, the helmet was smashed on his head and blood flowed onto his face.
Allah then revealed, أَوَ لَمَّا أَصَـبَتْكُمْ مُّصِيبَةٌ قَدْ أَصَبْتُمْ مِّثْلَيْهَا قُلْتُمْ أَنَّى هَـذَا قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنْفُسِكُمْ ( When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies ) with one twice as great, you say: "From where does this come to us" Say, "It is from yourselves".), because you took the ransom." Furthermore, Muhammad bin Ishaq, Ibn Jurayj, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and As-Suddi said that the Ayah, قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنْفُسِكُمْ ( Say, "It is from yourselves." ) means, because you, the archers, disobeyed the Messenger's command to not abandon your positions. إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ( And Allah has power over all things. ) and He does what He wills and decides what He wills, and there is none who can resist His decision. Allah then said, وَمَآ أَصَـبَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ فَبِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ( And what you suffered on the day the two armies met, was by the leave of Allah ), for when you ran away from your enemy, who killed many of you and injured many others, all this occurred by Allah's will and decree out of His perfect wisdom, وَلِيَعْلَمَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( in order that He might test the believers. ) who were patient, firm and were not shaken, وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ نَافَقُواْ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْاْ قَاتِلُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوِ ادْفَعُواْ قَالُواْ لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالاً لاَّتَّبَعْنَـكُمْ ( And that He might test the hypocrites, it was said to them: "Come, fight in the way of Allah or defend yourselves." They said: "Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you." ) 3:167, This refers to the Companions of `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul who went back ( to Al-Madinah ) with him before the battle.
Some believers followed them and encouraged them to come back and fight, saying, أَوِ ادْفَعُواْ ( or defend ), so that the number of Muslims increases, as Ibn `Abbas, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ad-Dahhak, Abu Salih, Al-Hasan and As-Suddi stated.
Al-Hasan bin Salih said that this part of the Ayah means, help by supplicating for us, while others said it means, man the posts.
However, they refused, saying, لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالاً لاَّتَّبَعْنَـكُمْ ( "Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you." ) meaning, according to Mujahid, if we knew that you would fight today, we would join you, but we think you will not fight.
Allah said, هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلإِيمَـنِ ( They were that day, nearer to disbelief than to faith, ) This Ayah indicates that a person passes through various stages, sometimes being closer to Kufr and sometimes closer to faith, as evident by, هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلإِيمَـنِ ( They were that day, nearer to disbelief than to faith, ) Allah then said, يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَهِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ( saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. ) for they utter what they do not truly believe in, such as, لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالاً لاَّتَّبَعْنَـكُمْ ( "Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you." ) They knew that there was an army of idolators that came from a far land raging against the Muslims, to avenge their noble men whom the Muslims killed in Badr.
These idolators came in larger numbers than the Muslims, so it was clear that a battle will certainly occur.
Allah said; وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَكْتُمُونَ ( And Allah has full knowledge of what they conceal. ) الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ لإِخْوَنِهِمْ وَقَعَدُواْ لَوْ أَطَاعُونَا مَا قُتِلُوا ( (They are ) the ones who said about their killed brethren while they themselves sat ( at home ): "If only they had listened to us, they would not have been killed.") had they listened to our advice and not gone out, they would not have met their demise.
Allah said, قُلْ فَادْرَءُوا عَنْ أَنفُسِكُمُ الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ ( Say: "Avert death from your own selves, if you speak the truth." ) meaning, if staying at home saves one from being killed or from death, then you should not die.
However death will come to you even if you were hiding in fortified castles.
Therefore, fend death off of yourselves, if you are right. Mujahid said that Jabir bin `Abdullah said, "This Ayah 3:168 was revealed about `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul ( the chief hypocrite )."

(3:167) and those who are hypocrites. And when these hypocrites were asked: 'Come and fight in the wayof Allah', or (at least) 'defend yourselves', they answered: 'If we but knew that there would be fighting, we would certainly have followed. *119 They were nearer then to infidelity than to faith. They utter from their mouths what is not in their hearts. Allah knows well what they conceal.

And that He might make evident those meaning

*119).
When 'Abd Allah b.
Ubayy decided to withdraw from the battlefield with his men several Muslims attempted to persuade him not to do so.
Ibn Ubayy replied that he was sure that there would be no fighting that day, and he assured them that had he expected fighting to take place, he would have gone along with them.

 

The Reason and Wisdom Behind the Defeat at Uhud Allah said, أَوَ لَمَّا أَصَـبَتْكُمْ مُّصِيبَةٌ ( When a single disaster smites you ), in reference to when the Muslims suffered seventy fatalities during the battle of Uhud, قَدْ أَصَبْتُمْ مِّثْلَيْهَا ( although you smote (your enemies ) with one twice as great,) during Badr, when the Muslims killed seventy Mushriks and captured seventy others, قُلْتُمْ أَنَّى هَـذَا ( you say: "From where does this come to us" ) why did this defeat happen to us قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنْفُسِكُمْ ( Say, "It is from yourselves." ) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said, "When Uhud occurred, a year after Badr, Muslims were punished for taking ransom from the disbelievers at Badr in return for releasing the Mushriks whom they captured in that battle.
Thus, they suffered the loss of seventy fatalities and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah gave flight and abandoned him.
The Messenger suffered a broken tooth, the helmet was smashed on his head and blood flowed onto his face.
Allah then revealed, أَوَ لَمَّا أَصَـبَتْكُمْ مُّصِيبَةٌ قَدْ أَصَبْتُمْ مِّثْلَيْهَا قُلْتُمْ أَنَّى هَـذَا قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنْفُسِكُمْ ( When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies ) with one twice as great, you say: "From where does this come to us" Say, "It is from yourselves".), because you took the ransom." Furthermore, Muhammad bin Ishaq, Ibn Jurayj, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and As-Suddi said that the Ayah, قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنْفُسِكُمْ ( Say, "It is from yourselves." ) means, because you, the archers, disobeyed the Messenger's command to not abandon your positions. إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ( And Allah has power over all things. ) and He does what He wills and decides what He wills, and there is none who can resist His decision. Allah then said, وَمَآ أَصَـبَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ فَبِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ( And what you suffered on the day the two armies met, was by the leave of Allah ), for when you ran away from your enemy, who killed many of you and injured many others, all this occurred by Allah's will and decree out of His perfect wisdom, وَلِيَعْلَمَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( in order that He might test the believers. ) who were patient, firm and were not shaken, وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ نَافَقُواْ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْاْ قَاتِلُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوِ ادْفَعُواْ قَالُواْ لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالاً لاَّتَّبَعْنَـكُمْ ( And that He might test the hypocrites, it was said to them: "Come, fight in the way of Allah or defend yourselves." They said: "Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you." ) 3:167, This refers to the Companions of `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul who went back ( to Al-Madinah ) with him before the battle.
Some believers followed them and encouraged them to come back and fight, saying, أَوِ ادْفَعُواْ ( or defend ), so that the number of Muslims increases, as Ibn `Abbas, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ad-Dahhak, Abu Salih, Al-Hasan and As-Suddi stated.
Al-Hasan bin Salih said that this part of the Ayah means, help by supplicating for us, while others said it means, man the posts.
However, they refused, saying, لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالاً لاَّتَّبَعْنَـكُمْ ( "Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you." ) meaning, according to Mujahid, if we knew that you would fight today, we would join you, but we think you will not fight.
Allah said, هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلإِيمَـنِ ( They were that day, nearer to disbelief than to faith, ) This Ayah indicates that a person passes through various stages, sometimes being closer to Kufr and sometimes closer to faith, as evident by, هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلإِيمَـنِ ( They were that day, nearer to disbelief than to faith, ) Allah then said, يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَهِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ( saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. ) for they utter what they do not truly believe in, such as, لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالاً لاَّتَّبَعْنَـكُمْ ( "Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you." ) They knew that there was an army of idolators that came from a far land raging against the Muslims, to avenge their noble men whom the Muslims killed in Badr.
These idolators came in larger numbers than the Muslims, so it was clear that a battle will certainly occur.
Allah said; وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَكْتُمُونَ ( And Allah has full knowledge of what they conceal. ) الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ لإِخْوَنِهِمْ وَقَعَدُواْ لَوْ أَطَاعُونَا مَا قُتِلُوا ( (They are ) the ones who said about their killed brethren while they themselves sat ( at home ): "If only they had listened to us, they would not have been killed.") had they listened to our advice and not gone out, they would not have met their demise.
Allah said, قُلْ فَادْرَءُوا عَنْ أَنفُسِكُمُ الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ ( Say: "Avert death from your own selves, if you speak the truth." ) meaning, if staying at home saves one from being killed or from death, then you should not die.
However death will come to you even if you were hiding in fortified castles.
Therefore, fend death off of yourselves, if you are right. Mujahid said that Jabir bin `Abdullah said, "This Ayah 3:168 was revealed about `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul ( the chief hypocrite )."

( And that He might know the hypocrites ) and that He might see the hypocrites, ’Abdullah Ibn Ubayy and his followers, returning to Medina, ( unto whom it was said ) ’Abdullah Ibn Jubayr said to them: ( Come ) to Uhud and ( fight in the way of Allah, or defend yourselves ) and your wives and children against the enemy, or increase the number of believers. ( They answered: If we knew ) there was ( aught of fighting we would follow you ) to Uhud. ( On that day they were nearer disbelief than faith ) or the believers; it is also said that this means: their return to disbelief and the disbelievers was closer than their return to faith and the believers. ( They utter with their mouths a thing which is not in their hearts ) to corroborate it. ( Allah is best aware of what they hide ) of disbelief and hypocrisy.

And that He might test the hypocrites, it was said to them: "Come, fight in the Way of Allah or (at least) defend yourselves." They said: "Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you." They were that day, nearer to disbelief than to Faith, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah has full knowledge of what they conceal.

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