Translation
O People of Faith, if you listen and follow the people who deny faith, they will make you deviate from the guidance and become losers [in the long run]. But God is your true Patron, and He is best to seek help from. God will bring fear and dread into the hearts of those who deny God, because they set up partners with God without any justification or proof. They will end up in hellfire, an evil place suitable for those who do evil.211
God certainly made good on His promise when you secured early victory, but then you became weakhearted, disputed about the state of affairs, and disobeyed directives. God showed an opportunity to seek what you love [spoils of war]—especially for those who love the provisions of this world [as a test], but there were others who were striving for the hereafter. So God made you turn away from your main focus [of containing the enemy and winning the battle] so that He can test you and try you. Now He had indeed forgiven you, for God is ever Gracious to the faithful [who are sincere].212
Interpretation
[Remember] when you fled without paying any attention to anyone, and the Prophet was calling you from behind. So God brought about another grief [the Prophet himself was wounded, and you became ashamed of your conduct] so that you might forget about what escaped you [worldly gain] or what you faced [defeat]. God is Ever Aware of what you do [and the condition of your heart that precedes such acts]. After all of these, God gave you security [from the enemy] and brought tranquility in your hearts, but a part continued to have misgivings that befit people who have no knowledge or guidance. They said, “Do we have any say in the matter? Nobody would have died if we had our say,” only to deflect from what was in their minds that they were unwilling to expose to others. Say to them, “The affair is in the hand of God. Even if you had stayed home, for those whose death was ordained would have gone to their places of death. All these happened so that God might test what is in your hearts and continue to purify your intentions and commitments. God is Ever Aware of what is concealed in the hearts of men.”213
Those who turned back when the two adversaries met for battle [Battle of Uhud]—it was the devil who sought to tempt them as a consequence of their own misdeeds. But God has erased their sins and failings, for God is Ever Forgiving and Forbearing.214
211. An assurance is given to people of faith and goodwill that God will protect them and help them prevail over those who lack faith and good works. Throughout history, when people have risen up against tyrants, evil forces, and those who inflict pain on innocent people, God has provided help and succor as long as the people have themselves persisted in faith and good works, even in adverse situations and against all odds. The world is also full of examples of nations who were oppressed and, when given an opportunity to win against oppression, have themselves became the next oppressors. It is useful to reflect on the advice that Moses gave to his people: “It may be that God will subdue your adversaries and make you inherit the land, and then He [God] will see how you behave” (7:129).
212. Disunity, lack of discipline, temptation for worldly gains, disobedience to proper leadership, impatience in the face of adversity or lack of immediate gratifications, lack of moral clarity, lapse in adherence to God’s guidance, and so forth lead to failure and open up opportunities for the devil to whisper into our hearts and minds—to act in a way that is cowardly, brings about disunity, and amplifies the importance of temporary and earthly gains.
213. We always try to rationalize our behavior after the fact or shift the blame to others for misfortunes that come along, which are the results of our own action or lack thereof. One is reminded that God is ever aware of the state of our minds and our inner intentions, and trying to fool people into believing that you are something that you are not is also a trial by which God exposes failing and deceptions. Such deception from others is also a test for those who wish to follow God’s guidance as far as their commitment to good and their ability to adhere to such good intentions and deeds are concerned.
214. This refers to a fundamental principle of God as far as how He allows us to exercise our freedom of choice and how we keep ourselves out of the devil’s influence. God intends and imparts no harm to any of His creatures except when he or she opens up the possibility by acting along the lines of the devil so that the devil gains influence on such people. It is important to remember at this juncture God’s advice to Adam and Eve when they were removed from Paradise along with the devil. God’s promise to Adam and Eve (and by implication to humanity) was that God had forgiven them, and as long as we listen and follow God’s guidance, the devil will be unable to have any influence on us. But as soon as we deviate from God’s guidance, that very act opens up the door for the devil to come in and fester ungodliness and human sufferings among us.
REFLECTION
The Battle of Uhud was a trying time for the early Muslims, and God in the Qur’an dissected the turn of events in light of what was happening in the battlefield, but more importantly, what was happening in the minds and hearts of the various people involved in the conflict. This way God brings to light the real drivers of events, causes, and outcomes and educates us to understand how events are shaped and what the important drivers for success are, not only in this world but also in the life to come.
ACTION
A constant focus on God, a complete awareness of what is good for all of us in accordance with universal guidance given to humanity, and deep attention to what is already ingrained in our inner soul for peace, justice, and equality are the real drivers for success in this world and to secure God’s grace in both worlds—this life of ours on earth and the life to come after our death.