ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلْغَمِّ أَمَنَةً نُّعَاسًا يَغْشَىٰ طَآئِفَةً مِّنكُمْ ۖ وَطَآئِفَةٌ قَدْ أَهَمَّتْهُمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ يَظُنُّونَ بِٱللَّهِ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ ظَنَّ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ ۖ يَقُولُونَ هَل لَّنَا مِنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْأَمْرَ كُلَّهُۥ لِلَّهِ ۗ يُخْفُونَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِم مَّا لَا يُبْدُونَ لَكَ ۖ يَقُولُونَ لَوْ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ شَىْءٌ مَّا قُتِلْنَا هَـٰهُنَا ۗ قُل لَّوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُيُوتِكُمْ لَبَرَزَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَتْلُ إِلَىٰ مَضَاجِعِهِمْ ۖ وَلِيَبْتَلِىَ ٱللَّهُ مَا فِى صُدُورِكُمْ وَلِيُمَحِّصَ مَا فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ 154
Translations
Then after distress, He sent down upon you security [in the form of] drowsiness, overcoming a faction of you, while another faction worried about themselves, thinking of Allāh other than the truth - the thought of ignorance, saying, "Is there anything for us [to have done] in this matter?" Say, "Indeed, the matter belongs completely to Allāh." They conceal within themselves what they will not reveal to you. They say, "If there was anything we could have done in the matter, we [i.e., some of us] would not have been killed right here." Say, "Even if you had been inside your houses, those decreed to be killed would have come out to their death beds." [It was] so that Allāh might test what is in your breasts and purify what is in your hearts. And Allāh is Knowing of that within the breasts.
Transliteration
Thumma anzala alaikum min ba'di al-ghammi amanatan nu'asan yaghtashi ta'ifatan minkum wa-ta'ifatun qad ahammathum anfusuhum yazzunnuna billahi ghayra al-haqqi zanna al-jahiliyyah yaqulun hal lana mina al-amri min shay'in qul inna al-amra kullahu lillah yukhfun fi anfusihim ma la yubdun lak yaqulun law kana lana mina al-amri shay'un ma qutilna hahuna qul law kuntum fi buyutikum labaraza alladhina kutiba alaihimu al-qatlu ila mudajiʿihim wa-liyabtaliya allah ma fi sudurikum wa-liyumahhisa ma fi qulubikum wa-allah alimun bi-dhati al-sudur
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Battle of Uhud, describing how Allah sent sleep (security) to the believers after their anxiety and distress, yet some hypocrites remained preoccupied with self-interest and harbored doubts about Allah's wisdom, questioning whether they had any control over events. The ayah refutes their doubts by affirming that all matters belong to Allah alone, and that Allah tests hearts to purify them, knowing all secrets and hidden thoughts.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Battle of Uhud (3 AH/625 CE), where the Muslim army initially succeeded but then suffered a reversal after the archers abandoned their posts. The passage addresses the believers' emotional state during this trial and the hypocrites' lack of faith, serving as both consolation and correction.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4701): The Prophet ﷺ explained that the sleep sent to believers during Uhud was a sign of security from Allah. Also related to Surah Al-Anfal 8:11 which mentions sleep as a sign of Allah's mercy during the Battle of Badr.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should trust in Allah's divine wisdom even when outcomes seem unfavorable, understanding that trials purify the heart and expose true faith from hypocrisy. Our hidden doubts and intentions are not concealed from Allah, encouraging sincere reliance on Him rather than on our own understanding or control of events.