3:186 Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)

يخبر تعالى ويخاطب المؤمنين أنهم سيبتلون في أموالهم من النفقات الواجبة والمستحبة، ومن التعريض لإتلافها في سبيل الله، وفي أنفسهم من التكليف بأعباء التكاليف الثقيلة على كثير من الناس، كالجهاد في سبيل الله، والتعرض فيه للتعب والقتل والأسر والجراح، وكالأمراض التي تصيبه في نفسه، أو فيمن يحب. { ولتسمعن من الذين أوتوا الكتاب من قبلكم، ومن الذين أشركوا أذى كثيرا } من الطعن فيكم، وفي دينكم وكتابكم ورسولكم. وفي إخباره لعباده المؤمنين بذلك، عدة فوائد: منها: أن حكمته تعالى تقتضي ذلك، ليتميز المؤمن الصادق من غيره. ومنها: أنه تعالى يقدر عليهم هذه الأمور، لما يريده بهم من الخير ليعلي درجاتهم، ويكفر من سيئاتهم، وليزداد بذلك إيمانهم، ويتم به إيقانهم، فإنه إذا أخبرهم بذلك ووقع كما أخبر { قالوا هذا ما وعدنا الله ورسوله، وصدق الله ورسوله، وما زادهم إلا إيمانا وتسليما } ومنها: أنه أخبرهم بذلك لتتوطن نفوسهم على وقوع ذلك، والصبر عليه إذا وقع؛ لأنهم قد استعدوا لوقوعه، فيهون عليهم حمله، وتخف عليهم مؤنته، ويلجأون إلى الصبر والتقوى، ولهذا قال: { وإن تصبروا وتتقوا } أي: إن تصبروا على ما نالكم في أموالكم وأنفسكم، من الابتلاء والامتحان وعلى أذية الظالمين، وتتقوا الله في ذلك الصبر بأن تنووا به وجه الله والتقرب إليه، ولم تتعدوا في صبركم الحد الشرعي من الصبر في موضع لا يحل لكم فيه الاحتمال، بل وظيفتكم فيه الانتقام من أعداء الله. { فإن ذلك من عزم الأمور } أي: من الأمور التي يعزم عليها، وينافس فيها، ولا يوفق لها إلا أهل العزائم والهمم العالية كما قال تعالى: { وما يلقاها إلا الذين صبروا، وما يلقاها إلا ذو حظ عظيم }

قوله تعالى "لتبلون في أموالكم وأنفسكم" كقوله تعالى "ولنبلونكم بشي من الخوف والجوع ونقص من الأموال والأنفس والثمرات" إلى آخر الآيتين. أي لابد أن يبتلي المؤمن في شيء من ماله أو نفسه أو ولده أو أهله ويبتلي المؤمن على قدر دينه فإن كان في دينه صلابة زيد في البلاء "ولتسمعن من الذين أوتوا الكتاب من قبلكم ومن الذين أشركوا أذى كثيرا" يقول تعالى للمؤمنين عند مقدمهم المدينة قبل وقعة بدر مسليا لهم عما ينالهم من الأذى من أهل الكتاب والمشركين وآمرا لهم بالصفح والصبر والعفو حتى يفرج الله فقال تعالى "وإن تصبروا وتتقوا فإن ذلك من عزم الأمور" قال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا أبي حدثنا أبو اليمان حدثنا شعيب بن أبي حمزة عن الزهري أخبرني عروة بن الزبير أن أسامة بن زيد أخبره قال: كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه يعفون عن المشركين وأهل الكتاب كما أمرهم الله ويصبرون على الأذى قال الله تعالى "ولتسمعن من الذين أوتوا الكتاب من قبلكم ومن الذين أشركوا أذى كثيرا" قال: وكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يتأول في العفو ما أمره الله به حتى أذن الله فيهم هكذا ذكره مختصرا. وقد ذكره البخاري عند تفسير هذه الآية مطولا فقال: حدثنا أبو اليمان أنبأنا شعيب عن الزهري أخبرني عروة بن الزبير أن أسامة بن زيد حدثه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ركب على حمار عليه قطيفة فدكية وأردف أسامة بن زيد وراءه يعود سعد بن عبادة ببني الحارث بن الخزرج قبل وقعة بدر حتى مر على مجلس فيه عبدالله بن أبي بن سلول وذلك قبل أن يسلم ابن أبي وإذا في المجلس أخلاط من المسلمين والمشركين عبدة الأوثان وأهل الكتاب اليهود والمسلمين وفي المجلس عبدالله بن رواحة فلما غشيت المجلس عجاجة الدابة خمر عبدالله بن أبي أنفة بردائه وقال: لا تغبروا علينا فسلم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ثم وقف فنزل ودعاهم إلى الله عز وجل وقرأ عليهم القرآن فقال عبدالله بن أبي: أيها المرء إنه لا أحسن مما تقول إن كان حقا فلا تؤذنا به في مجالسنا ارجع إلى رحلك فمن جاءك فاقصص عليه فقال عبدالله بن رواحة رضي الله عنه بلى يا رسول الله فاغشنا به فى مجالسنا فإنا نحب ذلك فاستب المسلمون والمشركون واليهود حتى كادوا يتثاورون فلم يزل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يخفضهم حتى سكتوا ثم ركب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم دابته فسار حتى دخل على سعد بن عبادة فقال له النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم "يا سعد ألم تسمع إلى ما قال أبو حباب" يريد عبدالله بن أبي قال كذا وكذا فقال سعد: يا رسول الله اعف عنه واصفح فوالذي أنزل عليك الكتاب لقد جاءك الله بالحق الذي نزل عليك ولقد اصطلح أهل هذه البحيرة على أن يتوجوه فيعصبوه بالعصابة فلما أبى الله ذلك بالحق الذي أعطاك الله شرق بذلك فذلك الذي فعل به ما رأيت فعفا عنه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه يعفون عن المشركين وأهل الكتاب كما أمرهم الله ويصبرون على الأذى قال الله تعالى "ولتسمعن من الذين أوتوا الكتاب من قبلكم ومن الذين أشركوا أذى كثيرا" الآية - وقال تعالى "ود كثير من أهل الكتاب لو يردونكم من بعد إيمانكم كفارا حسدا من عند أنفسهم من بعد ما تبين لهم الحق فاعفوا واصفحوا حتى يأتي الله بأمره" الآية. وكان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يتأول في العفو ما أمره الله به حتى أذن الله له فيهم فلما غزا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بدرا فقتل الله به صناديد كفار قريش قال عبدالله بن أبي بن سلول ومن معه من المشركين وعبدة الأوثان: هذا أمر قد توجه فبايعوا الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم على الإسلام فبايعوا وأسلموا - فكل من قام بحق أو أمر بمعروف أو نهى عن منكر فلابد أن يؤذى فماله دواء إلا الصبر في الله والاستعانة بالله والرجوع إلى الله.

Every Soul Shall Taste Death

Allah issues a general and encompassing statement that every living soul shall taste death. In another statement, Allah said,

كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ - وَيَبْقَى وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلْـلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ

(Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish. And the Face of your Lord full of majesty and honor will remain forever) 55:26,27.

Therefore, Allah Alone is the Ever-Living Who never dies, while the Jinn, mankind and angels, including those who carry Allah's Throne, shall die. The Irresistible One and Only, will alone remain for ever and ever, remaining Last, as He was the First. This Ayah comforts all creation, since every soul that exists on the earth shall die. When the term of this life comes to an end and the sons of Adam no longer have any new generations, and thus this world ends, Allah will command that the Day of Resurrection commence. Allah will then recompense the creation for their deeds, whether minor or major, many or few, big or small. Surely, Allah will not deal unjustly with anyone, even the weight of an atom, and this is why He said,

وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ

(185. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full)

Who Shall Gain Ultimate Victory

Allah said,

فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ

(And whoever is moved away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful.) meaning, whoever is kept away from the Fire, saved from it and entered into Paradise, will have achieved the ultimate success.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«مَوْضِعُ سَوْطٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا، اقْرَأُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ »

(A place in Paradise as small as that which is occupied by a whip is better than the world and whatever is on its surface. Read if you will),

فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ

(And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful). This was collected in the Two Sahihs, but using another chain of narration and without the addition (the Ayah.) Abu Hatim Ibn Hibban recorded it in his Sahih without the addition as did Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak.

Allah said,

وَما الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَتَـعُ الْغُرُورِ

(The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception. ) belittling the value of this life and degrading its importance. This life is short, little and finite, just as Allah said,

بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ الْحَيَوةَ الدُّنْيَا - وَالاٌّخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى

(Nay, you prefer the life of this world. Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting.) 87:16,17, and,

وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَمَتَـعُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتُهَا وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى

(And whatever you have been given is an enjoyment of the life of (this) world and its adornment, and that (Hereafter) which is with Allah is better and will remain forever) 28:60. A Hadith states,

«وَاللهِ مَا الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا كَمَا يَغْمِسُ أَحَدُكُمْ أُصْبُعَهُ فِي الْيَمِّ، فَلْيَنْظُرْ بِمَ تَرْجِعُ إِلَيْه»

(By Allah! This life, compared to the Hereafter, is just as insignificant as when one of you dips his finger in the sea; let him contemplate what his finger will come back with.)

Qatadah commented on Allah's statement,

وَما الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَتَـعُ الْغُرُورِ

(The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception.) "Life is a delight. By Allah, other than Whom there is no deity, it will soon fade away from its people. Therefore, take obedience to Allah from this delight, if you can. Verily, there is no power except from Allah."

The Believer is Tested and Hears Grieving Statements from the Enemy

Allah said,

لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِى أَمْوَلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ

(You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in yourselves), just as He said in another Ayah,

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الاٌّمَوَالِ وَالاٌّنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَتِ

(And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits) 2:155.

Therefore, the believer shall be tested, in his wealth, himself, his offspring and family. The believer shall be tested according to the degree of his faith, and when his faith is stronger, the test is larger.

Allah said to the believers upon their arrival at Al-Madinah, before Badr, while comforting them against the harm they suffered from the People of the Scriptures and the polytheists;

وَإِن تَصْبِرُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَإِنَّ ذلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الاٍّمُورِ

(but if you persevere patiently, and have Taqwa, then verily, that will be a determining factor in all affairs.)

Therefore, Allah commanded the believers to be forgiving, patient and forbearing until He brought His awaited aid.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Usamah bin Zayd said that Allah's Messenger ﷺ rode a donkey with a saddle covered by a velvet sheet and let Usamah ride behind him (on the donkey). The Prophet wanted to visit Sa`d bin `Ubadah in Bani Al-Harith bin Al-Khazraj, and this occurred before the battle of Badr. The Prophet passed by a gathering in which `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul was sitting, before `Abdullah bin Ubayy became Muslim. That gathering was made up of various Muslims as well as Mushriks, who worshipped the idols, and some Jews. `Abdullah bin Rawahah was sitting in that gathering. When the Prophet reached `Abdullah bin Ubayy, the donkey caused some sand to fall on the group. Then, `Abdullah bin Ubayy covered his nose with his robe and said, `Do not fill us with sand.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ greeted the gathering with Salam, called them to Allah and recited some of the Qur'an to them. `Abdullah bin Ubayy said, `O fellow! No other speech is better than what you said, if it was true! However, do not bother us in our gatherings. Go back to your place and whoever came to you, narrate your stories to him.' `Abdullah bin Rawahah said, `Rather, O Messenger of Allah! Attend our gatherings for we like that.' The Muslims, Mushriks and Jews then cursed each other, and they almost fought with each other. The Prophet tried to calm them down, until they finally settled. The Prophet rode his donkey and went to Sa`d bin `Ubadah, saying, `O Sa`d! Have you heard what Abu Hubbab said (meaning `Abdullah bin Ubayy) He said such and such things. ' Sa`d said, `O Messenger of Allah! Forgive and pardon him. By Allah, Who sent down the Book to you, Allah brought us the truth that you came with at a time when the people of this city almost appointed him king. When Allah changed all that with the truth that He gave you, he choked on it, and this is the reason behind the behavior you saw from him.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forgave him. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his Companions used to forgive the Mushriks and the People of the Scriptures, just as Allah commanded them, and they used to tolerate the harm that they suffered. Allah said,

وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ أَذًى كَثِيراً

(and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Scripture before you (Jews and Christians) and from those who ascribe partners to Allah;) 3:186, and,

وَدَّ كَثِيرٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ لَوْ يَرُدُّونَكُم مِن بَعْدِ إِيمَـنِكُمْ كُفَّارًا حَسَدًا مِّنْ عِنْدِ أَنْفُسِهِمْ مِّن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الْحَقُّ فَاعْفُواْ وَاصْفَحُواْ حَتَّى يَأْتِىَ اللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِ

(Many of the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) wish that they could turn you away as disbelievers after you have believed, out of envy from their own selves, even after the truth has become manifest unto them. But forgive and overlook, till Allah brings His command) 2:109.

The Prophet used to implement the pardon that Allah commanded him until He gave His command (to fight the disbelievers). When the Messenger fought at Badr, and Allah killed, by his hand, the leaders of the disbelievers from Quraysh, `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul and the Mushriks and idol worshippers who were with him said, `This matter has prevailed,' and they gave their pledge to the Prophet and became Muslims."

Therefore, every person who stands for truth, enjoins righteousness and forbids evil, will be harmed in some manner. In such cases, there is no cure better than being patient in Allah's cause, trusting in Him and returning to Him.

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَـقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلاَ تَكْتُمُونَهُ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْاْ بِهِ ثَمَناً قَلِيلاً فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ

You shall surely be tried la-tublawunna the final nūn nominative indicator has been omitted because two nūn letters would otherwise succeed one another as has been the plural person indicator wāw where two unvocalised consonants have come together in other words you shall surely be tested in your property through the duties imposed thereupon and through the damages that affect them; and in your selves through the obligations of worship and through calamities and you shall hear from those who were given the Scripture before you the Jews and the Christians and from those who are idolaters from among the Arabs much hurt in the way of insult slander and their flirting with your women; but if you are patient through this and fear God — surely that is true resolve that is it is one of those things regarding which one must necessarily have firm resolve.

Thoughts of the Hereafter heal all sorrows and remove all doubts

The sixth verse (185) puts a sharp focus on the ultimate reality of things in a situation when sometime somewhere disbelievers come to enjoy ascendency one way or the other and they have all the luxury they can think of in this world. Contrary to this, Muslims have to face some hardships, some difficulties and a certain paucity of worldly means. There is nothing surprising about it and certainly no occasion to be grieved, for no follower of a faith or philosophy can ignore the reality of life that sorrow and happiness in this world are both short-lived. No living creature can escape death. As for the comfort and discomfort experienced in this world, they vanish, more than often, right there with relevant changes in circumstances - or, just in case, no change takes place during the life of this world, it is certain that everything will end with the knock of death. Therefore, worrying about this short-lived cycle of comfort and discomfort should not become the chronic concern of a wise person. One should, rather, have concern for what would happen after death.

So, the verse (185) tells us that every living being shall taste death and once in the Hereafter, there shall come the reward and punishment of deeds which will be severe and long drawn as well. This is what a wise person should worry about and prepare for. Given this rule of conduct, one who stays away from Hell and finds entry into the Paradise is really the successful one. May be this happens at the very beginning as would be the case with the most righteous servants of Allah. Or, it may come to pass after having faced some punishment as would be the case with sinning Muslims. But, Muslims - all of them - will finally have their deliverance from Hell and the blessings of Paradise will become theirs for ever. This will be contrary to what happens to disbelievers - Hell will their eternal resting place. If they wax proud over their short-lived worldly gains, they are terribly deceived. That is why it was said at the end of the verse: 'And the worldly life is nothing but an asset, full of illusion.' Strange is the anatomy of this deception, for reckless material enjoyments here become the source of great hardships in the Hereafter and conversely, most of the hardships faced here become the treasure of the Hereafter.

People of Falsehood hurting people of Truth is a natural phenomena: Patience (Sabr) and piety (Taqwa) cure everything

The seventh verse (186) was revealed in the background of a particular event which has been briefly referred to a little earlier in verse (181). According to relevant details, when verse 245 of Surah al-Baqarah: مَّن ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِ‌ضُ اللَّـهَ قَرْ‌ضًا حَسَنًا (who is the one who would give Allah a good loan) was revealed, it eloquently equated the giving of charities to the giving of loan to Allah thereby indicating that all givings in charity in the life of this world will be recompensed with a certainty like that of someone returning a loan taken. An ignorant or hostile Jew reacted by commenting in the following words: إِنَّ اللَّـهَ فَقِيرٌ‌ وَنَحْنُ أَغْنِيَاءُ (Allah is poor and we are rich). Sayyidna Abu Bakr ؓ was angry at his effrontery and slapped him. The Jew complained to the Holy Prophet ﷺ . Thereupon, the verse لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ (Of course, you shall be tested in your wealth and yourselves) was revealed. This verse instructs Muslims that they should not show weakness when called to stake their wealth and life in the defence of their Faith or when they are hurt by the vituperations of the disbelievers, the polytheists and the people of the Book. All this is nothing but a trial for them. The best course for them is to observe restraint, be patient and keep to their real objective in life which is the achievement of the perfect state of Taqwa, (a state in which one fears Allah and remains answerable to Him all the time). In such a state Muslims should not worry about replying to the effrontery by antogonists.

(� and ye will hear much wrong from those who were given the Scripture before you, and from the idolaters�) [3:186]. Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Farisi informed us> Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Hamdun> Abu Hamid Ahmad ibn al-Hasan> Muhammad ibn Yahya> Abu'l-Yaman> Shu'ayb> al-Zuhri> 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Ka'b ibn Malik> his father (one of three men whose repentance was accepted) who reported that Ka'b al-Ashraf, the Jew, was a poet who used his poetry to satirize the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, and incite the disbelievers of Quraysh against him. When the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, went to Medina, he wanted to be in good terms with all its people who were a mixture of Muslims, idolaters and Jews. The Jews and idolaters, however, used to harm him, and his Companions, a great deal. Allah, exalted is He, commanded his Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, to endure their harm, and it is about them that He, exalted is He, revealed (and ye will hear much wrong from those who were given the Scripture before you, and from the idolaters�). 'Amr ibn Abi 'Amr al-Muzakki informed us> Muhammad ibn Makki> Muhammad ibn Yusuf> Muhammad ibn Isma'il Bukhari> Abu'l-Yaman> Shu'ayb> al-Zuhri> 'Urwah ibn al-Zubayr> Usamah ibn Zayd who informed him that the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, mounted a donkey once, using a Fadakian piece of velvet as a saddlecloth, and had Usamah ibn Zayd follow behind him. He was going to visit Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah who was ill, at the Banu'l-Harith ibn al-Khazraj. This was before the Battle of Badr. He passed by an assembly which included, among others, 'Abd Allah ibn Ubayy. This was before the latter had accepted Islam. This assembly included a mixture of Muslims, Jews and idolaters, the worshippers of idols. 'Abd Allah ibn Rawahah was also in this assembly. When the cloud of dust, stirred by the movement of the beast, reached the assembly, 'Abd Allah ibn Ubayy covered his nose with his cloak and said: �Do not cover us with dust�. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, greeted them with the greeting of peace, stopped and climbed down his mount. He called them to Allah and recited to them some of the Qur'an.