ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَآ أَصَابَهُمُ ٱلْقَرْحُ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ 172
Translations
Those [believers] who responded to Allāh and the Messenger after injury had struck them. For those who did good among them and feared Allāh is a great reward -
Transliteration
Al-ladhina istajābu lillāhi wa-ar-rasūli min ba'da mā asābahum al-qarḥ; lil-ladhina aḥsanū minhum wa-ttaqaw ajrun 'aẓīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah praises those believers who responded to Allah and His Messenger's call even after they had suffered a wound (injury from battle). According to classical tafsirs like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this specifically refers to the believers after the Battle of Uhud (3 AH) who continued to obey Allah's commands despite their hardship and losses. Among those who responded with excellence (ihsān) and piety (taqwā), Allah promises a great reward, emphasizing that steadfastness in faith amid adversity is highly valued.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Battle of Uhud and its aftermath, where Muslim forces initially prevailed but suffered a severe defeat after some archers abandoned their posts. The ayah specifically addresses those believers who, despite the wounds and losses from this battle, continued to respond to Allah's commands when the Prophet called them to pursue the enemy. It occurs within a passage (3:172-174) discussing the rewards of those who maintain faith and obedience despite hardship.
Related Hadiths
The Battle of Uhud is well-documented in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, where numerous hadiths describe the believers' steadfastness. Additionally, a related principle appears in a hadith: 'The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), emphasizing that perseverance through difficulty increases one's reward.
Themes
Key Lesson
True believers demonstrate their faith not by the absence of trials and wounds, but by their unwavering obedience to Allah even in the midst of suffering and loss. This teaches us that our commitment to faith should transcend worldly circumstances, and that Allah rewards those who maintain excellence (ihsān) and piety (taqwā) through difficult times.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا تَنقِمُ مِنَّآ إِلَّآ أَنْ ءَامَنَّا بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَآءَتْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَآ أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
And you do not resent us except because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord, pour upon us patience and let us die as Muslims [in submission to You]."
وَلَئِن قُتِلْتُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ مُتُّمْ لَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
And if you are killed in the cause of Allāh or die - then forgiveness from Allāh and mercy are better than whatever they accumulate [in this world].
قَالُوا۟ لَن نُّؤْثِرَكَ عَلَىٰ مَا جَآءَنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنَا ۖ فَٱقْضِ مَآ أَنتَ قَاضٍ ۖ إِنَّمَا تَقْضِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَآ
They said, "Never will we prefer you over what has come to us of clear proofs and [over] He who created us. So decree whatever you are to decree. You can only decree for this worldly life.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ وَأَصْلَحُوا۟ وَٱعْتَصَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَأَخْلَصُوا۟ دِينَهُمْ لِلَّهِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَسَوْفَ يُؤْتِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Except for those who repent, correct themselves, hold fast to Allāh, and are sincere in their religion for Allāh, for those will be with the believers. And Allāh is going to give the believers a great reward.