بَلْ ظَنَنتُمْ أَن لَّن يَنقَلِبَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِيهِمْ أَبَدًا وَزُيِّنَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَظَنَنتُمْ ظَنَّ ٱلسَّوْءِ وَكُنتُمْ قَوْمًۢا بُورًا 12
Translations
But you thought that the Messenger and the believers would never return to their families, ever, and that was made pleasing in your hearts. And you assumed an assumption of evil and became a people ruined."
Transliteration
Bal zanantum an lan yanqaliba ar-rasulu wa-l-mu'minuna ila ahlihim abada wa zuyyina dhalika fi qulubikum wa zanantum zanna as-su' wa kuntum qawman bura
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the hypocrites and weak-hearted believers at Hudaybiyyah who doubted whether the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the believers would ever return home safely, fearing they would be killed. Allah rebukes them for entertaining such evil suspicions (zann as-su'), stating that this pessimistic thought was made appealing to their hearts due to their spiritual weakness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that 'bura' (ruined/destroyed) describes a people devoid of beneficial knowledge and faith, highlighting how doubt and despair corrupt the soul.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (6 AH), when the Prophet and approximately 1,400 believers journeyed to perform 'Umrah but were stopped by the Quraysh. Many believers were disheartened, questioning whether they would return safely. This ayah specifically addresses those whose faith wavered during this difficult test, reminding them of Allah's promise and their lack of trust.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab said he harbored doubts during Hudaybiyyah, asking the Prophet if this was truly a victory. The Prophet confirmed it was a victory, demonstrating how even sincere companions struggled with doubts that required clarification. Additionally, Sahih Muslim contains narrations about the believers' anxiety during this expedition and the Prophet's reassurance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that entertaining negative suspicions about Allah's plan and His Messenger is a spiritual disease that weakens the heart; believers should guard their thoughts against doubt and place unwavering trust in Allah's wisdom, even when circumstances appear difficult or uncertain.
Related Ayahs
لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْأَعْرَجِ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرِيضِ حَرَجٌ ۗ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ يُعَذِّبْهُ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
There is not upon the blind any guilt or upon the lame any guilt or upon the ill any guilt [for remaining behind]. And whoever obeys Allāh and His Messenger - He will admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow; but whoever turns away - He will punish him with a painful punishment.
وَيَنصُرَكَ ٱللَّهُ نَصْرًا عَزِيزًا
And [that] Allāh may aid you with a mighty victory.
۞ لَّقَدْ رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَـٰبَهُمْ فَتْحًا قَرِيبًا
Certainly was Allāh pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you, [O Muḥammad], under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquility upon them and rewarded them with an imminent conquest
لِّيَغْفِرَ لَكَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنۢبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَٰطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا
That Allāh may forgive for you what preceded of your sin [i.e., errors] and what will follow and complete His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path