ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ لِإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ وَقَعَدُوا۟ لَوْ أَطَاعُونَا مَا قُتِلُوا۟ ۗ قُلْ فَٱدْرَءُوا۟ عَنْ أَنفُسِكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ 168
Translations
Those who said about their brothers while sitting [at home], "If they had obeyed us, they would not have been killed." Say, "Then prevent death from yourselves, if you should be truthful."
Transliteration
Alladhina qalu li-ikhwanihim wa-qacadu law ataca'una ma qutilu. Qul fa-drac'u can anfusikumu al-mawta in kuntum sadiqin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes those who remained behind from battle (at Uhud) and falsely claimed to their brothers who were killed that 'had they obeyed us, they would not have been slain.' Allah commands the Prophet to challenge these cowards: if they truly speak the truth about their superior judgment, let them ward off death from themselves—an impossible task that exposes the arrogance and falsehood of their claim. Ibn Kathir notes this verse demonstrates that these hypocrites and cowards blamed others for their own weakness while remaining safe themselves.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Battle of Uhud (3 AH), where Muslim forces suffered a significant defeat. Some Muslims who did not participate in the battle, or who fled early, began making excuses and criticizing those who fought and were killed. The ayah directly addresses this blameworthy behavior and the false wisdom these people claimed to possess.
Related Hadiths
The Battle of Uhud is extensively documented in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Relatedly, there is a principle mentioned in various ahadith that death comes only at its appointed time (ajal), as stated in Surah Al-Imran 3:145, emphasizing that no one can prevent death when Allah has decreed it.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us not to criticize those who strive in the path of Allah from a position of safety and inaction, and reminds us that only Allah controls life and death—our role is to obey His commands and trust His wisdom, not to second-guess those with more courage or commitment.