أَوَلَمَّآ أَصَـٰبَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَدْ أَصَبْتُم مِّثْلَيْهَا قُلْتُمْ أَنَّىٰ هَـٰذَا ۖ قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 165
Translations
Why [is it that] when a [single] disaster struck you [on the day of Uḥud], although you had struck [the enemy in the battle of Badr] with one twice as great, you said, "From where is this?" Say, "It is from yourselves [i.e., due to your sin]." Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
Transliteration
Awallammā aṣābatkum muṣībatun qad aṣabtum mithlayhā qultum annā hādhā qul huwa min ʿindi anfusikum innallāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Muslims' despair after the defeat at Uhud, where they suffered casualties after initially prevailing. Allah reminds them that their setback came as a result of their own actions—specifically their disobedience when archers abandoned their posts—instructing them not to attribute their misfortune to divine injustice but to recognize the consequences of their choices. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that while Allah possesses complete power over all things, He has established a divine law of cause and effect where human choices produce corresponding results.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Battle of Uhud (3 AH/625 CE), where the Muslim army initially gained advantage but suffered a devastating defeat due to a tactical mistake. The surah addresses the believers' confusion and sorrow, helping them understand that trials are tests and that apparent setbacks may result from human error rather than divine abandonment.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'No fatigue, illness, sorrow, grief, harm, or sadness afflicts a Muslim, even if it is the pricking of a thorn, except that Allah expiates some of his sins by it.' This complements the ayah by showing that trials serve purification. Additionally, the Prophet's instruction at Uhud to maintain ranks relates to obedience being essential for victory.
Themes
Key Lesson
When facing difficulties, we should examine our own actions and choices rather than blaming external circumstances or questioning Allah's justice, understanding that adversity often stems from our decisions and serves as a test of faith and an opportunity for spiritual growth. This teaches us that true reliance on Allah (tawakkul) includes taking responsibility for our conduct and learning from setbacks to improve ourselves.