Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 7–15

33. Al-Ahzaab · The Clans

Madinan73 verses

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ مِيثَٰقَهُمْ وَمِنكَ وَمِن نُّوحٍۢ وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ ۖ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَٰقًا غَلِيظًۭا

33:7[Recall] when We took a pledge from the prophets, and from you and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus son of Mary, and We took from them a solemn pledge,1

لِّيَسْـَٔلَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ عَن صِدْقِهِمْ ۚ وَأَعَدَّ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًۭا

33:8so that He may question the truthful concerning their truthfulness. And He has prepared for the faithless a painful punishment.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَآءَتْكُمْ جُنُودٌۭ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًۭا وَجُنُودًۭا لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرًا

33:9O you who have faith! Remember Allah’s blessing upon you when the hosts came at you, and We sent against them a gale and hosts whom you did not see, and Allah sees best what you do.*

إِذْ جَآءُوكُم مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ وَإِذْ زَاغَتِ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ وَبَلَغَتِ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٱلْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّونَ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلظُّنُونَا۠

33:10When they came at you from above and below you, and when the eyes rolled [with fear] and the hearts leapt to the throats, and you entertained misgivings about Allah,

هُنَالِكَ ٱبْتُلِىَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَزُلْزِلُوا۟ زِلْزَالًۭا شَدِيدًۭا

33:11it was there that the faithful were tested and jolted with a severe agitation.

وَإِذْ يَقُولُ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌۭ مَّا وَعَدَنَا ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ إِلَّا غُرُورًۭا

33:12When the hypocrites, as well as those in whose hearts is a sickness, were saying, ‘Allah and His Apostle did not promise us [anything] except delusion.’2

وَإِذْ قَالَت طَّآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ يَٰٓأَهْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَٱرْجِعُوا۟ ۚ وَيَسْتَـْٔذِنُ فَرِيقٌۭ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌۭ وَمَا هِىَ بِعَوْرَةٍ ۖ إِن يُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا فِرَارًۭا

33:13And when a group of them said, ‘O people of Yathrib! [This is] not a place for you, so go back!’ A group of them sought the Prophet’s permission [to leave the scene of battle], saying, ‘Our homes lie exposed [to the enemy],’ although they were not exposed. They only sought to flee.3

وَلَوْ دُخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَقْطَارِهَا ثُمَّ سُئِلُوا۟ ٱلْفِتْنَةَ لَءَاتَوْهَا وَمَا تَلَبَّثُوا۟ بِهَآ إِلَّا يَسِيرًۭا

33:14Had they been invaded from its flanks and had they been asked to apostatize, they would have done so with only a mild hesitation,4

وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ عَٰهَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ لَا يُوَلُّونَ ٱلْأَدْبَٰرَ ۚ وَكَانَ عَهْدُ ٱللَّهِ مَسْـُٔولًۭا

33:15though they had already pledged to Allah before that they would not turn their backs [to flee], and pledges given to Allah are accountable.

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 9

1.The account of the Battle of Ahzab known as the Battle of Khandaq is mentioned in Ayats 9 to 27. The detail of this battle is that Jews prepared an army of 15000 hypocrites and raided Medina. The people of this town had made a covenant with the Prophet (s.a.) that they would support him whenever he needed. But they announced the breach of their trust. The Prophet (s.a.) tried to make them understand but they stood firm on their infidelity and at last Medina was besieged for 27 days. Lastly, Amr Bin Abde Wudd decided to attack, while, for the safety of Medina and by the consultation of Salman Farsi the Prophet (s.a.) ordered the Muslims to dig a ditch. They found a big stone while digging this ditch. When the Prophet (s.a.) himself tried to break that stone three sparks came out from it. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: This spark is the sign of victory and due to this they raised a cry from everywhere. Hypocrites and people of old faith started propaganda and said: The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has deceived us. This was the mercy of Allah that Amr challenged and Ali (a.s.) killed him in the first blow and the army of hypocrites started to withdraw and the honour of Muslims was preserved in this manner and the truth of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) came forth in view and hypocrites lost their face.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 1

    First all prophets are mentioned and then the ones with a new Shariah. In between is the mention of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) as he is superior to all the Prophets and Messengers. The notable point is that when the truthful ones shall be questioned regarding how they had accomplished their mission etc. just imagine how the liars and false ones shall be interrogated!

  2. Benefit

    The 9th ayat mentions the huge numbers of the opposing army of infidels and also states the unseen help of the Almighty. On one hand the Almighty destroyed their tents by winds and on the other hand He made the angels to terrify them. Now the only matter remained was to fight a duel with their chief. This was accomplished by Ali (a.s.). Thus the victory of the battle of Ahzab was brought about single-handedly by Ali (a.s.) as other operations were helpful in background.

  3. 2

    These people are so weak in reason and faith that they join anyone. They do not use their own brains.

  4. 3

    Buyutona Aura means our houses are open and unprotected. Even enemies can enter therein, as also robbers and thieves etc.

  5. 4

    Fitna - Deviation from religion. Becoming a renegade.

  6. Benefit

    Yathrib was the original name of Medina. Its other names were Tayyiba, Taba, Sakeena, Mehbooba, Marhooma and Qasima etc - Majmaul Bayan.