وَلِيُمَحِّصَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَيَمْحَقَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 141
Translations
And that Allāh may purify the believers [through trials] and destroy the disbelievers.
Transliteration
Wa liyumahhisa Allahu alladhina amanu wa yamhaqa alkafirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah's purpose in allowing trials and battles is to purify and refine the believers, testing their faith and steadfastness, while simultaneously destroying and diminishing the disbelievers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the verb 'yumahhis' (to purify/test) refers to sifting through believers to remove hypocrisy and weakness, while 'yamhaqu' (to obliterate/eliminate) refers to the ultimate destruction of the kafirin's plans and peoples. This divine wisdom ensures that only sincere faith remains among the believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Battle of Uhud (3 AH), where Muslims experienced a temporary setback after initial success. The broader context of Surah Ali 'Imran discusses trials faced by believers and the divine wisdom behind them, reassuring the Muslim community that apparent defeats serve a greater purpose in refining faith and establishing divine justice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (SAW) said: 'Whoever Allah intends good for, He afflicts him with trials' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2396). Additionally, the hadith emphasizing that trials purify sins is related: 'No fatigue, illness, anxiety, sorrow, hurt, or sadness afflicts a Muslim, even if it is the prick of a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it' (Sahih Bukhari 5641).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should understand that hardships and challenges are not signs of divine abandonment but rather opportunities for spiritual refinement and purification of the soul. Trusting in Allah's wisdom during difficulties, rather than despairing, is the path to strengthening one's faith and drawing closer to the Divine.