بَلْ ظَنَنتُمْ أَن لَّن يَنقَلِبَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِيهِمْ أَبَدًا وَزُيِّنَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَظَنَنتُمْ ظَنَّ ٱلسَّوْءِ وَكُنتُمْ قَوْمًۢا بُورًا 12
Translations
But you thought that the Messenger and the believers would never return to their families, ever, and that was made pleasing in your hearts. And you assumed an assumption of evil and became a people ruined."
Transliteration
Bal zanantum an lan yanqaliba ar-rasulu wa-l-mu'minuna ila ahlihim abada wa zuyyina dhalika fi qulubikum wa zanantum zanna as-su' wa kuntum qawman bura
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the hypocrites and weak-hearted believers at Hudaybiyyah who doubted whether the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the believers would ever return home safely, fearing they would be killed. Allah rebukes them for entertaining such evil suspicions (zann as-su'), stating that this pessimistic thought was made appealing to their hearts due to their spiritual weakness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that 'bura' (ruined/destroyed) describes a people devoid of beneficial knowledge and faith, highlighting how doubt and despair corrupt the soul.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (6 AH), when the Prophet and approximately 1,400 believers journeyed to perform 'Umrah but were stopped by the Quraysh. Many believers were disheartened, questioning whether they would return safely. This ayah specifically addresses those whose faith wavered during this difficult test, reminding them of Allah's promise and their lack of trust.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab said he harbored doubts during Hudaybiyyah, asking the Prophet if this was truly a victory. The Prophet confirmed it was a victory, demonstrating how even sincere companions struggled with doubts that required clarification. Additionally, Sahih Muslim contains narrations about the believers' anxiety during this expedition and the Prophet's reassurance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that entertaining negative suspicions about Allah's plan and His Messenger is a spiritual disease that weakens the heart; believers should guard their thoughts against doubt and place unwavering trust in Allah's wisdom, even when circumstances appear difficult or uncertain.
Related Ayahs
وَمَغَانِمَ كَثِيرَةً يَأْخُذُونَهَا ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
And much war booty which they will take. And ever is Allāh Exalted in Might and Wise.
سَيَقُولُ ٱلْمُخَلَّفُونَ إِذَا ٱنطَلَقْتُمْ إِلَىٰ مَغَانِمَ لِتَأْخُذُوهَا ذَرُونَا نَتَّبِعْكُمْ ۖ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُبَدِّلُوا۟ كَلَـٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ قُل لَّن تَتَّبِعُونَا كَذَٰلِكُمْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ فَسَيَقُولُونَ بَلْ تَحْسُدُونَنَا ۚ بَلْ كَانُوا۟ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Those who remained behind will say when you set out toward the war booty to take it, "Let us follow you." They wish to change the words of Allāh. Say, "Never will you follow us. Thus did Allāh say before." So they will say, "Rather, you envy us." But [in fact] they were not understanding except a little.
سَيَقُولُ لَكَ ٱلْمُخَلَّفُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ شَغَلَتْنَآ أَمْوَٰلُنَا وَأَهْلُونَا فَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ ضَرًّا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ نَفْعًۢا ۚ بَلْ كَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًۢا
Those who remained behind of the bedouins will say to you, "Our properties and our families occupied us, so ask forgiveness for us." They say with their tongues what is not within their hearts. Say, "Then who could prevent Allāh at all if He intended for you harm or intended for you benefit? Rather, ever is Allāh, of what you do, Aware.
سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ ٱللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا
[This is] the established way of Allāh which has occurred before. And never will you find in the way of Allāh any change.