Translation
Those who held back [from going to the Battle of Uhud] said of those [who went to fight], “If they had listened to us, they would not have been killed.” Say to them, “If you speak the truth, then see if you can avert your own death. Those who die striving hard toward godliness, do not think of them as dead. They are alive, receiving sustenance from their Sustainer. They celebrate in the bounty, which they have received from God, and they rejoice for the sake of those who they have left behind as they will have no fear and no reason to grieve. They all rejoice in the favor of God and His grace, as God does not fail to reward those who demonstrate faith [in the face of hardship] and those who responded to the call from God and His Prophet even after misfortune touched them. Again, if they do good and are responsible, then there is a grand reward.”219
It is these People of Faith to whom others said, “Your adversaries have gathered against you [in large numbers], so be afraid.” Instead, the situation only increased their faith and conviction, and they said, “God is sufficient for us, and He is a Magnificent Guardian!” So they returned home with God’s favor and grace. They avoided all evils, and they stayed firm in seeking God’s pleasure. God is mighty in His grace. It is the devil who instills fear in people who follow him; you should not fear them, but be conscious of Me [God], if you are true in your belief.220
Interpretation
219. The Battle of Uhud proved to be a difficult and trying time for the newly faithful—partly because:
· They disobeyed the order of the commander not to leave the particular position designated for the archers.
· There was a group of hypocrites whose behavior was causing doubt in the minds of some of the faithful.
· At the moment the enemy was retreating, the war booty was more appealing to the archers than standing firm in their respective positions and seeking God’s forgiveness.
· When the enemy saw the vulnerability of the Muslims and counterattacked, some Muslims left the battlefield in retreat, leaving the Prophet exposed to the enemy attack—this was the first and only battle in which the Prophet himself was wounded.
The whole situation called for serious introspection and the need to examine the belief and commitment of the early and fragile Muslim community. So much attention is devoted in this chapter on this subject to make sure that the Muslim community take serious note of the events as they unfolded.
220. In these verses God goes into significant details to expose the condition of the hypocrites and to help analyze the condition of the minds and internal thinking of the faithful who failed to fulfill their commitment at the moments when it was needed the most—the moments of real hostilities between the faithful and their adversaries, who outnumbered the faithful significantly.
REFLECTION
Real reflection on turns of events in our lives—how we think, how we analyze, what drives our behavior, how we relate to others, how we interpret outcomes, and what lessons we derive from such reflection—is critical for our personal growth and community building. Our community is like our body, where each cell can be likened to an individual in the community. Our body functions when each of its cells does its functions and cooperates with other cells in harmony and with the common goal of enabling the body to preserve itself, perform daily chores, and elevate us to a higher level of consciousness. As a member of the community, especially for the faith community, such reflection will be essential to keep us grounded and to focus on the foundational purpose of our existence—to worship God, to serve people, and to act with courage and thoughtfulness in the moments of crisis and conflicts.
ACTION
Reflection in itself is an action that we should undertake periodically—weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually. Find your own method of reflection, and diligently pursue this on your own schedule. Ask yourself—if you have not done such reflection for some time—why not?