إِذْ هَمَّت طَّآئِفَتَانِ مِنكُمْ أَن تَفْشَلَا وَٱللَّهُ وَلِيُّهُمَا ۗ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ 122
Translations
When two parties among you were about to lose courage, but Allāh was their ally; and upon Allāh the believers should rely.
Transliteration
Idh hamma ta'ifataan minkum an tafshlaa wa-Allahu waliyyuhuma wa 'ala-Allahi falyatawakkali al-mu'minun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Battle of Uhud, where two groups among the Muslims (identified by most scholars as the tribes of Banu Harithah and Banu Salamah) were tempted to abandon the fighting and return home out of fear. Allah assures the believers that He is their protector and guardian, and despite their weakness, He will support them. The ayah emphasizes that true reliance (tawakkul) upon Allah alone is the remedy for wavering resolve and doubt.
Revelation Context
Revealed in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran, which addresses events surrounding the Battle of Uhud (3 AH). This specific ayah refers to an incident during the battle when certain groups of believers hesitated to continue fighting, reflecting the trials and tests faced by the Muslim community in Madinah during its early defensive wars.
Related Hadiths
The Battle of Uhud is extensively documented in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, with detailed accounts of the events. A related theme appears in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught about tawakkul (reliance upon Allah): 'Trust in Allah as is His due' - emphasizing complete dependence on Allah's wisdom and protection.
Themes
Key Lesson
When believers face moments of doubt or temptation to abandon their principles due to fear, they should remember that Allah is their ultimate guardian and protector, and true faith lies in placing complete trust in Him. This teaches modern Muslims that setbacks and internal struggles are natural tests, but reliance upon Allah rather than wavering is the path to both spiritual integrity and ultimate success.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِمَن تَبِعَ دِينَكُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْهُدَىٰ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ أَن يُؤْتَىٰٓ أَحَدٌ مِّثْلَ مَآ أُوتِيتُمْ أَوْ يُحَآجُّوكُمْ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And do not trust except those who follow your religion." Say, "Indeed, the [true] guidance is the guidance of Allāh. [Do you fear] lest someone be given [knowledge] like you were given or that they would [thereby] argue with you before your Lord?" Say, "Indeed, [all] bounty is in the hand of Allāh - He grants it to whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Wise."
قُلْ صَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ فَٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say, "Allāh has told the truth. So follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of the polytheists."
فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنۢبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا ۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا ٱلْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًا ۖ قَالَ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَـٰذَا ۖ قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, "O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?" She said, "It is from Allāh. Indeed, Allāh provides for whom He wills without account."
هَـٰٓأَنتُمْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ حَـٰجَجْتُمْ فِيمَا لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ فَلِمَ تُحَآجُّونَ فِيمَا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Here you are - those who have argued about that of which you have [some] knowledge, but why do you argue about that of which you have no knowledge? And Allāh knows, while you know not.