إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْا۟ مِنكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْتَقَى ٱلْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا ٱسْتَزَلَّهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُوا۟ ۖ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ 155
Translations
Indeed, those of you who turned back on the day the two armies met [at Uḥud] - it was Satan who caused them to slip because of some [blame] they had earned. But Allāh has already forgiven them. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Forbearing.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina tawallaw minkum yawma iltaqa al-jama'an innama istazallahum al-shaytan biba'di ma kasabaw wa-laqad 'afa allahu 'anhum inna allaha ghafurun halim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those Muslims who retreated during the Battle of Uhud when the two armies met, explaining that Satan caused them to stumble because of some of their previous sins and deeds. However, Allah's mercy supersedes His punishment, as He has pardoned them despite their transgression. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that while Satan exploited their weakness, Allah's forgiveness and clemency (hilm) demonstrate His infinite compassion toward the believers, encouraging repentance and reform.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed after the Battle of Uhud (3 AH/625 CE), a significant military engagement where Muslim archers abandoned their positions, leading to a temporary setback for the Muslim army. The surah addresses the lessons from this battle, including the causes of the temporary defeat and Allah's wisdom in testing the believers' resolve and faith.
Related Hadiths
The battle of Uhud is extensively documented in hadith collections. Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain numerous reports about the events of Uhud, including accounts of those who fled and those who stood firm, illustrating the practical application of divine forgiveness and the importance of obedience in military conduct.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while we may stumble through satanic temptation due to our own accumulated sins, Allah's door of repentance remains eternally open to those who seek His forgiveness. It reminds believers that failure is not final, and divine clemency encourages us to reflect on our actions, rectify our conduct, and return to obedience with renewed commitment.