وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَعْلَمَ ٱلْمُجَـٰهِدِينَ مِنكُمْ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَنَبْلُوَا۟ أَخْبَارَكُمْ 31
Translations
And We will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you [for the cause of Allāh] and the patient, and We will test your affairs.
Transliteration
Wa-lana-bloo-wannakum hatta na'lama al-mujaahideena minkum wa-as-saabireen wa-nab-luwaa akhbarakum
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah declares that He will test the believers to distinguish between those who truly strive in His cause (mujahideen) and those who are patient and steadfast (as-sabireen), and He will make known the true condition of their affairs. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes that trials and tribulations are a divine means of separating the sincere believers from the pretenders, and that Allah's knowledge encompasses all aspects of human conduct. Al-Qurtubi notes that the phrase 'we will know' reflects the manifestation of Allah's knowledge in the seen world, even though His knowledge is eternal and pre-existing.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Muhammad, a Medinan chapter revealed during the period of active struggle (jihad) against the Quraysh. The context reflects the early Muslim community's experiences of trials during the battles and conflicts of the Islamic state, serving to encourage believers to maintain steadfastness despite hardships and to clarify that difficulties are divinely ordained tests.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure, and whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2396). Additionally, 'No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.' (Sahih Bukhari 5641)
Themes
Key Lesson
Trials and difficulties are not punishments but Divine mechanisms through which Allah tests the sincerity of believers' faith and commitment to His cause. Muslims should embrace patience during adversity, knowing that Allah's testing is a sign of His love and wisdom, and that hardships serve to purify the soul and distinguish genuine faith from mere profession.
Related Ayahs
فَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَتَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلسَّلْمِ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْأَعْلَوْنَ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَكُمْ وَلَن يَتِرَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلَكُمْ
So do not weaken and call for peace while you are superior; and Allāh is with you and will never deprive you of [the reward of] your deeds.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ ٱتَّبَعُوا۟ مَآ أَسْخَطَ ٱللَّهَ وَكَرِهُوا۟ رِضْوَٰنَهُۥ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ
That is because they followed what angered Allāh and disliked [what earns] His pleasure, so He rendered worthless their deeds.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱهْتَدَوْا۟ زَادَهُمْ هُدًى وَءَاتَىٰهُمْ تَقْوَىٰهُمْ
And those who are guided - He increases them in guidance and gives them their righteousness.
فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَضَرْبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا۟ ٱلْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّۢا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ ٱلْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَٱنتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَا۟ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ
So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure [their] bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allāh had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allāh - never will He waste their deeds.