Surah Al Imran ayat 179 Tafsir Quran 3:179

﴿مَّا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَىٰ مَا أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّىٰ يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْتَبِي مِن رُّسُلِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۖ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۚ وَإِن تُؤْمِنُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَلَكُمْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ﴾
[ آل عمران: 179]

3:179 Allah would not leave the believers in that [state] you are in [presently] until He separates the evil from the good. Nor would Allah reveal to you the unseen. But [instead], Allah chooses of His messengers whom He wills, so believe in Allah and His messengers. And if you believe and fear Him, then for you is a great reward.

It is not God’s purpose to leave to abandon the believers in the state in which you O people are where the sincere are intermingled with those otherwise till He shall distinguish read yamīza or yumayyiza till He separates the evil one the hypocrite from the good the believer through the burdensome obligations that will reveal this distinction — He did this on the Day of Uhud. And it is not God’s purpose to apprise you of the Unseen so that you could recognise the hypocrites from the others before the distinguishing; but God chooses He selects of His messengers whom He will apprising him of some of His Unseen as when He apprised the Prophet s of the position of the hypocrites. So believe in God and His messengers; and if you believe and guard against hypocrisy then yours shall be a great wage.

It was never in the set of Allah’s correlated principles to let those who conformed to Islam remain in this present state which is a combination of circumstances and attributes, but only to segregate the bad from the good, expose the malevolent and distinguish the benevolent. Nor did Allah intend to endow you people with the prerogative of divination nor with power of knowing the unknown or realizing the unseen or the invisible. Yet He chooses from His Prophets whom He will and gives them knowledge of events to come according to His will. Therefore, believe you people in Allah and give credence to His Prophets, for if you believe with hearts that reflect the image of religious and spiritual virtues and entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Him, you shall be requited with a great reward

Comforting the Messenger of Allah ﷺ Allah said to His Prophet, وَلاَ يَحْزُنكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَـرِعُونَ فِى الْكُفْرِ ( And let not those grieve you who rush with haste to disbelieve ) 3:176. Because the Prophet was eager for people's benefit, he would become sad when the disbelievers would resort to defiance, rebellion and stubbornness.
Allah said, `Do not be saddened by this behavior,' إِنَّهُمْ لَن يَضُرُّواْ اللَّهَ شَيْئاً يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَلاَّ يَجْعَلَ لَهُمْ حَظّاً فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ ( verily, not the least harm will they do to Allah.
It is Allah's will to give them no portion in the Hereafter. ) for He decided with His power and wisdom that they shall not acquire any share in the Hereafter, وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عظِيمٌ ( For them there is a great torment. ) Allah said about the disbelievers, إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُاْ الْكُفْرَ بِالإِيمَـنِ ( Verily, those who purchase disbelief at the price of faith, ) by exchanging disbelief for faith, لَن يَضُرُّواْ اللَّهَ شَيْئاً ( not the least harm will they do to Allah. ) Rather, they will only harm themselves, وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ( For them, there is a painful torment. ) Allah said next, وَلاَ يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لاًّنفُسِهِمْ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُواْ إِثْمَاً وَلَهْمُ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ ( And let not the disbelievers think that Our postponing their punishment is good for them.
We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness.
And for them is a disgraceful torment ) 3:178. This statement is similar to Allah's other statements, أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ - نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِى الْخَيْرَتِ بَل لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ ( Do they think that because We have given them abundant wealth and children, that We hasten unto them with good things.
Nay, but they perceive not. ) 23:55,56 and فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـذَا الْحَدِيثِ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِّنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ( Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur'an.
We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not. ) 68:44, and, وَلاَ تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَلُهُمْ وَأَوْلَـدُهُمْ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَن يُعَذِّبَهُمْ بِهَا فِى الدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـفِرُونَ ( And let not their wealth or their children amaze you.
Allah's plan is to punish them with these things in this world, and that their souls shall depart (die ) while they are disbelievers) 9:85. Allah then said, مَّا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ ( Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. ) 3:179, meaning, He allows a calamity to happen, and during this calamity His friend becomes known and His enemy exposed, the patient believer recognized and the sinful hypocrite revealed.
This Ayah refers to Uhud, since Allah tested the believers in that battle, thus making known the faith, endurance, patience, firmness and obedience to Allah and His Messenger that the believers had.
Allah exposed the hypocrites in their defiance, reverting from Jihad, and the treachery they committed against Allah and His Messenger .
This is why Allah said, مَّا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ ( Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. ) Mujahid commented, "He distinguished between them during the day of Uhud." Qatadah said, "He distinguished between them in Jihad and Hijrah." Allah said next, وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ ( Nor will Allah disclose to you the secrets of the Unseen. ) meaning, you do not have access to Allah's knowledge of His creation so that you can distinguish between the believer and the hypocrite, except by the signs of each type that Allah uncovers.
Allah's statement, وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْتَبِى مِن رُّسُلِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ( but Allah chooses of His Messengers whom He wills. ) is similar to another Ayah, عَـلِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلاَ يُظْهِرُ عَلَى غَيْبِهِ أَحَداً - إِلاَّ مَنِ ارْتَضَى مِن رَّسُولٍ فَإِنَّهُ يَسْلُكُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ رَصَداً ( (He Alone is ) the All-Knower of the Unseen, and He reveals to none His Unseen.
Except to a Messenger ( from mankind ) whom He has chosen, and then He makes a band of watching guards ( angels ) to march before him and behind him.) 72:26,27.
Allah then said, فَـَامِنُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ( So believe in Allah and His Messengers. ) Obey Allah and His Messenger and adhere to the law that he legislated for you, وَإِن تُؤْمِنُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَلَكُمْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ( and if you believe and fear Allah, then for you there is a great reward. ) The Censure of Selfishness, and Warning Against it Allah said, وَلاَ يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْراً لَّهُمْ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ ( And let not those who are stingy with that which Allah has bestowed on them of His bounty (wealth ) think that it is good for them.
Nay, it will be worse for them.) 3:180 Therefore, the Ayah says that the miser should not think that collecting money will benefit him.
Rather, it will harm him in his religion and worldly affairs.
Allah mentions the money that the miser collected on the Day of Resurrection, سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُواْ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ ( the things that they stingy with shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection. ) Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«مَنْ آتَاهُ اللهُ مَالًا فَلَمْ يُؤَدِّ زَكَاتَهُ، مُثِّلَ لَهُ شُجَاعًا أَقْرَعَ، لَهُ زَبِيبَتَانِ، يُطَوَّقُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، يَأْخُذُ بِلِهْزِمَتَيْهِ يَعْنِي بِشِدْقَيْهِ يَقُولُ: أَنَا مَالُكَ، أَنَا كَنْزُك»
( Whoever Allah makes wealthy and he does not pay the Zakah due on his wealth, then (on the Day of Resurrection ) his wealth will be made in the likeness of a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes.
The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and proclaim, `I am your wealth, I am your treasure.') The Prophet then recited the Ayah, وَلاَ يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْراً لَّهُمْ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ ( And let not those who are stingy with that which Allah has bestowed on them of His bounty think that it is good for them.
Nay, it will be worse for them ), until the end.
Al-Bukhari, but not Muslim, collected this Hadith using this chain of narration, Ibn Hibban also collected it in his Sahih. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah said that the Prophet said,
«مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍلَا يُؤَدِّي زَكَاةَ مَالِهِ إِلَّا جُعِلَ لَهُ شُجَاعٌ أَقْرَعُ يَتْبَعُهُ، يَفِرُّ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ يَتْبَعُهُ، فَيَقُولُ: أَنَا كَنْزُك»
( Every person who does not pay the Zakah due on his wealth, will have his money made into the shape of a bald-headed, poisonous male snake who will follow him.
The person will run away from the snake, who will follow him and proclaim, `I am your treasure.' ) `Abdullah then recited the Ayah in Allah's Book that testifies to this fact, سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُواْ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ ( the things that they were stingy with shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection. ) This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah, and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih." Allah's statement, وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ ( And to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the Earth ), means, وَأَنفِقُواْ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ ( and spend of that whereof He has made you trustees ) 57: 7.
Therefore, since all affairs are under Allah's control, then spend from your money so it will benefit you on the Day of Return, وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ( and Allah is Well-Acquainted with all that you do. ) with your intentions and what your hearts conceal.

(3:179) Allah will not let the believers stay in the state they are: *125 He will set the wicked apart from the good. Allah is not going to disclose to you what is hidden in the realm beyond the reach of perception, *126 but He chooses from among His Messengers whom He wills (to intimate such knowledge). Believe, then, in Allah and in His Messengers; and if you believe and be come God-fearing, yours will be a great reward.

Allah would not leave the believers in meaning

*125).
That is, God does not want to see the Muslim community in a hotch-potch condition with the true men of faith indistinguishable from the hypocrites.

*126).
This means that God does not resort to revelation to provide information as to whether specific individuals are true men of faith or hypocrites.
God creates, instead, certain situations in which the faith of those who profess to believe is severely tested.
The result is that the man of faith stands out clearly from the hypocrite.

 

Comforting the Messenger of Allah ﷺ Allah said to His Prophet, وَلاَ يَحْزُنكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَـرِعُونَ فِى الْكُفْرِ ( And let not those grieve you who rush with haste to disbelieve ) 3:176. Because the Prophet was eager for people's benefit, he would become sad when the disbelievers would resort to defiance, rebellion and stubbornness.
Allah said, `Do not be saddened by this behavior,' إِنَّهُمْ لَن يَضُرُّواْ اللَّهَ شَيْئاً يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَلاَّ يَجْعَلَ لَهُمْ حَظّاً فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ ( verily, not the least harm will they do to Allah.
It is Allah's will to give them no portion in the Hereafter. ) for He decided with His power and wisdom that they shall not acquire any share in the Hereafter, وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عظِيمٌ ( For them there is a great torment. ) Allah said about the disbelievers, إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُاْ الْكُفْرَ بِالإِيمَـنِ ( Verily, those who purchase disbelief at the price of faith, ) by exchanging disbelief for faith, لَن يَضُرُّواْ اللَّهَ شَيْئاً ( not the least harm will they do to Allah. ) Rather, they will only harm themselves, وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ( For them, there is a painful torment. ) Allah said next, وَلاَ يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لاًّنفُسِهِمْ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُواْ إِثْمَاً وَلَهْمُ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ ( And let not the disbelievers think that Our postponing their punishment is good for them.
We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness.
And for them is a disgraceful torment ) 3:178. This statement is similar to Allah's other statements, أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ - نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِى الْخَيْرَتِ بَل لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ ( Do they think that because We have given them abundant wealth and children, that We hasten unto them with good things.
Nay, but they perceive not. ) 23:55,56 and فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـذَا الْحَدِيثِ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِّنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ( Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur'an.
We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not. ) 68:44, and, وَلاَ تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَلُهُمْ وَأَوْلَـدُهُمْ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَن يُعَذِّبَهُمْ بِهَا فِى الدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـفِرُونَ ( And let not their wealth or their children amaze you.
Allah's plan is to punish them with these things in this world, and that their souls shall depart (die ) while they are disbelievers) 9:85. Allah then said, مَّا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ ( Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. ) 3:179, meaning, He allows a calamity to happen, and during this calamity His friend becomes known and His enemy exposed, the patient believer recognized and the sinful hypocrite revealed.
This Ayah refers to Uhud, since Allah tested the believers in that battle, thus making known the faith, endurance, patience, firmness and obedience to Allah and His Messenger that the believers had.
Allah exposed the hypocrites in their defiance, reverting from Jihad, and the treachery they committed against Allah and His Messenger .
This is why Allah said, مَّا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ ( Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. ) Mujahid commented, "He distinguished between them during the day of Uhud." Qatadah said, "He distinguished between them in Jihad and Hijrah." Allah said next, وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ ( Nor will Allah disclose to you the secrets of the Unseen. ) meaning, you do not have access to Allah's knowledge of His creation so that you can distinguish between the believer and the hypocrite, except by the signs of each type that Allah uncovers.
Allah's statement, وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْتَبِى مِن رُّسُلِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ( but Allah chooses of His Messengers whom He wills. ) is similar to another Ayah, عَـلِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلاَ يُظْهِرُ عَلَى غَيْبِهِ أَحَداً - إِلاَّ مَنِ ارْتَضَى مِن رَّسُولٍ فَإِنَّهُ يَسْلُكُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ رَصَداً ( (He Alone is ) the All-Knower of the Unseen, and He reveals to none His Unseen.
Except to a Messenger ( from mankind ) whom He has chosen, and then He makes a band of watching guards ( angels ) to march before him and behind him.) 72:26,27.
Allah then said, فَـَامِنُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ( So believe in Allah and His Messengers. ) Obey Allah and His Messenger and adhere to the law that he legislated for you, وَإِن تُؤْمِنُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَلَكُمْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ( and if you believe and fear Allah, then for you there is a great reward. ) The Censure of Selfishness, and Warning Against it Allah said, وَلاَ يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْراً لَّهُمْ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ ( And let not those who are stingy with that which Allah has bestowed on them of His bounty (wealth ) think that it is good for them.
Nay, it will be worse for them.) 3:180 Therefore, the Ayah says that the miser should not think that collecting money will benefit him.
Rather, it will harm him in his religion and worldly affairs.
Allah mentions the money that the miser collected on the Day of Resurrection, سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُواْ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ ( the things that they stingy with shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection. ) Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «مَنْ آتَاهُ اللهُ مَالًا فَلَمْ يُؤَدِّ زَكَاتَهُ، مُثِّلَ لَهُ شُجَاعًا أَقْرَعَ، لَهُ زَبِيبَتَانِ، يُطَوَّقُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، يَأْخُذُ بِلِهْزِمَتَيْهِ يَعْنِي بِشِدْقَيْهِ يَقُولُ: أَنَا مَالُكَ، أَنَا كَنْزُك» ( Whoever Allah makes wealthy and he does not pay the Zakah due on his wealth, then (on the Day of Resurrection ) his wealth will be made in the likeness of a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes.
The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and proclaim, `I am your wealth, I am your treasure.') The Prophet then recited the Ayah, وَلاَ يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْراً لَّهُمْ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ ( And let not those who are stingy with that which Allah has bestowed on them of His bounty think that it is good for them.
Nay, it will be worse for them ), until the end.
Al-Bukhari, but not Muslim, collected this Hadith using this chain of narration, Ibn Hibban also collected it in his Sahih. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah said that the Prophet said, «مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍلَا يُؤَدِّي زَكَاةَ مَالِهِ إِلَّا جُعِلَ لَهُ شُجَاعٌ أَقْرَعُ يَتْبَعُهُ، يَفِرُّ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ يَتْبَعُهُ، فَيَقُولُ: أَنَا كَنْزُك» ( Every person who does not pay the Zakah due on his wealth, will have his money made into the shape of a bald-headed, poisonous male snake who will follow him.
The person will run away from the snake, who will follow him and proclaim, `I am your treasure.' ) `Abdullah then recited the Ayah in Allah's Book that testifies to this fact, سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُواْ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ ( the things that they were stingy with shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection. ) This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah, and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih." Allah's statement, وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ ( And to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the Earth ), means, وَأَنفِقُواْ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ ( and spend of that whereof He has made you trustees ) 57: 7.
Therefore, since all affairs are under Allah's control, then spend from your money so it will benefit you on the Day of Return, وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ( and Allah is Well-Acquainted with all that you do. ) with your intentions and what your hearts conceal.

With regard to the idolaters saying to Muhammad: You say to us that there are amongst us believers and unbelievers. Show us, O Muhammad, who believes among us and who does not, Allah then said: ( It is not (the purpose ) of Allah to leave the believers) and unbelievers ( in your present state ) of religion until the believer becomes an unbeliever and the unbeliever becomes a believer if it is so in His decree ( till He shall separate the wicked from the good ) the damned from the felicitous, the unbeliever from the believer and the hypocrite from the sincere. ( And it is not (the purpose of ) Allah to let you know) O people of Mecca ( the unseen ) such that you know who believes and who does not. ( But Allah chooseth ) selects ( of His messengers whom He will ) i.e. Muhammad, and informs him of some of the unseen through revelation. ( So believe in Allah and His messengers ) believe in all the messengers and Scriptures. ( If ye believe ) in Allah and all the Scriptures and messengers ( and ward off (evil )) ward off disbelief and idolatry, ( yours will be a vast reward ) an abundant reward in Paradise.

Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. Nor will Allah disclose to you the secrets of the Ghaib (unseen), but Allah chooses of His Messengers whom He pleases. So believe in Allah and His Messengers. And if you believe and fear Allah, then for you there is a great reward.

Page 73 English transliteration