وَإِذْ غَدَوْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ تُبَوِّئُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَقَـٰعِدَ لِلْقِتَالِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ 121
Translations
And [remember] when you, [O Muḥammad], left your family in the morning to post the believers at their stations for the battle [of Uḥud] - and Allāh is Hearing and Knowing -
Transliteration
Wa-idh ghada-wta min ahlik tubauwwi-u al-mu'minīna maqā-'ida li-l-qitāl; wa-Allāhu samī-'un 'alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Battle of Uhud, when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) went out early in the morning from his family to arrange the believers in their positions for battle. The ayah emphasizes that Allah witnessed all the Prophet's preparations and strategic decisions, as He is All-Hearing and All-Knowing. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this as evidence of Allah's awareness of the Prophet's careful military planning and his concern for the believers' safety.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader discussion of the Battle of Uhud (which occurred in 3 AH/625 CE), the second major military engagement between the Muslims and the Quraysh. The surah provides lessons from this battle where the Muslims initially succeeded but suffered a reversal due to some archers abandoning their posts. This particular verse highlights the Prophet's preparation phase before the battle commenced.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3954) and Sahih Muslim (1777) contain detailed accounts of the Battle of Uhud where the Prophet's tactical arrangements are described. The Sunnah collections also record that the Prophet positioned archers strategically, demonstrating the military prudence mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that righteous leaders must carefully plan and prepare for challenges while maintaining trust in Allah's complete knowledge and oversight. It reminds us that meticulous preparation combined with reliance on Allah (tawakkul) is the Islamic approach to facing difficulties.
Related Ayahs
مَّا خَلْقُكُمْ وَلَا بَعْثُكُمْ إِلَّا كَنَفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
Your creation and your resurrection will not be but as that of a single soul. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
قَدْ سَمِعَ ٱللَّهُ قَوْلَ ٱلَّتِى تُجَـٰدِلُكَ فِى زَوْجِهَا وَتَشْتَكِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ يَسْمَعُ تَحَاوُرَكُمَآ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
Certainly has Allāh heard the speech of the one who argues [i.e., pleads] with you, [O Muḥammad], concerning her husband and directs her complaint to Allāh. And Allāh hears your dialogue; indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
أَلَآ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَيَوْمَ يُرْجَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۢ
Unquestionably, to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. Already He knows that upon which you [stand] and [knows] the Day when they will be returned to Him and He will inform them of what they have done. And Allāh is Knowing of all things.
يَوْمَ هُم بَـٰرِزُونَ ۖ لَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِنْهُمْ شَىْءٌ ۚ لِّمَنِ ٱلْمُلْكُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ لِلَّهِ ٱلْوَٰحِدِ ٱلْقَهَّارِ
The Day they come forth nothing concerning them will be concealed from Allāh. To whom belongs [all] sovereignty this Day? To Allāh, the One, the Prevailing.