The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
In the Battle of Uhud, it was rumoured that Muhammad had been killed.
b
The archers disobeyed the Prophet’s order to remain in their positions until the
end. They thought the Muslims had won and dashed to get the booty. This allowed their
enemies to regroup and attack, so winning the battle.
3: 154
The Family of 
Imran
45

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‘Everything to do with this a
ffair is in God’s hands.’ They conceal in
their hearts things they will not reveal to you. They say, ‘If we had
had our say in this, none of us would have been killed here.’ Tell
them, ‘Even if you had resolved to stay at home, those who were
destined to be killed would still have gone out to meet their deaths.’
God did this in order to test everything within you and in order to
prove what is in your hearts. God knows your innermost thoughts
very well. 
155As for those of you who turned away on the day the two
armies met in battle, it was Satan who caused them to slip, through
some of their actions. God has now pardoned them: God is most
forgiving and forbearing.
156You who believe, do not be like those who disbelieved and said
of their brothers who went out on a journey or a raid, ‘If only they
had stayed with us they would not have died or been killed,’ for God
will make such thoughts a source of anguish in their hearts. It is God
who gives life and death; God sees everything you do. 
157Whether
you are killed for God’s cause or die, God’s forgiveness and mercy
are better than anything people amass. 
158Whether you die or are
killed, it is to God that you will be gathered.
159By an act of mercy from God, you [Prophet] were gentle in
your dealings with them –
– had you been harsh, or hard-hearted, they
would have dispersed and left you –
– so pardon them and ask forgive-
ness for them. Consult with them about matters, then, when you
have decided on a course of action, put your trust in God: God loves
those who put their trust in Him. 
160If God helps you [believers], no
one can overcome you; if He forsakes you, who else can help you?
Believers should put their trust in God.
161It is inconceivable that a prophet would ever dishonestly take
something from the battle gains. Anyone who does so will carry it
with him on the Day of Resurrection, when each soul will be fully
repaid for what it has done: no one will be wronged. 
162Can the man
who pursues God’s good pleasure be like the man who has brought
God’s wrath upon himself and whose home will be Hell –
– a foul
destination? 
163They are in a different class in God’s eyes; God sees
exactly what they do.
164God has been truly gracious to the believers in sending them a
Messenger from among their own, to recite His revelations to them,
to make them grow in purity, and to teach them the Scripture and
wisdom –
– before that they were clearly astray. 
165Why do you
3: 155
The Qur
an
46

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[believers] say, when a calamity befalls you, even after you have
in
flicted twice as much damage [on your enemy], ‘How did this
happen?’? [Prophet], say, ‘You brought it upon yourselves.’ God has
power over everything: 
166what befell you on the day the two armies
met in battle happened with God’s permission and in order for Him
to see who were the true believers and who were the hypocrites who,
167when it was said to them, ‘Come, fight for God’s cause, or at least
defend yourselves,’ answered, ‘We would follow you if we knew there
was going to be 
fighting.’ On that day they were closer to disbelief
than belief. They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts:
God knows exactly what they conceal.
168As for those who stayed behind, and said of their brothers, ‘If
only they had listened to us, they would not have been killed,’ tell them
[Prophet], ‘Ward o
ff death from yourselves, if what you say is true.’
169[Prophet], do not think of those who have been killed in God’s way
as dead. They are alive with their Lord, well provided for, 
170happy
with what God has given them of His favour; rejoicing that for those
they have left behind who have yet to join them there is no fear, nor will
they grieve; 
171[rejoicing] in God’s blessing and favour, and that God
will not let the reward of the believers be lost. 
172Those who responded
to God and the Messenger after su
ffering defeat, who do good and
remain conscious of God, will have a great reward. 
173Those whose
faith only increased when people said, ‘Fear your enemy: they have
amassed a great army against you,’ and who replied, ‘God is enough
for us: He is the best protector,’
174returned with grace and bounty
from God; no harm befell them. They pursued God’s good pleas-
ure. God’s favour is great indeed. 
175It is Satan who urges you to fear
his followers; do not fear them, but fear Me, if you are true believers.
176[Prophet], do not be grieved by those who are quick to dis-
believe. They will not harm God in the least; it is God’s will that
they will have no share in the Hereafter –
– a terrible torment awaits
them.
177Those who sell their faith for disbelief will not harm God in
any way; agonizing torment awaits them. 
178The disbelievers should
not think that it is better for them that We give them more time:
when We give them more time they become more sinful –
– a shameful
torment awaits them. 
179Nor was it God’s aim to leave you as you
were, with no separation between the bad and the good.