The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 110
CH. 3 R. 13. ĀL-E-‘IMRĀN PT. 4 when thou didst go forth early وَإِذْ غَدَوْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ تُبوى And remember the time. 122 الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ مَقَاعِدَ لِلْقِتَالِ وَاللهُ سَمِيعٌ the morning from thy عليمة in household, assigning to the believers their positions for battle. And Allah is All- Hearing, All-Knowing;406 The words, Allah encompasses they should remain in the city and their deeds, signify that God will bring to nought all their doings and destroy them. Muslims should not, therefore, fear them. All machinations of the enemies of Islam are known to God, Who will frustrate them. 406. Commentary: In the preceding verses Muslims have been taught the lesson of patience, and perseverance, righteousness. If they act upon it, they will succeed and no enemy can injure them. Now the same lesson is brought home to them by an illustration from their current history. The verse refers to the important Battle of Uhud, which was fought in the third year of Hijrah. After sustaining a crushing defeat at Badr, the Quraish of Mecca began to make preparations in earnest for another attack on the Holy Prophet and his followers at Medina. Accordingly, next year a well-equipped army of 3,000 warriors marched against Medina under the leadership of Abū Sufyan. When the Holy Prophet heard of it, he consulted his Companions as to the best way of meeting the enemy. The majority of the older Companions were of the opinion that 550 defend themselves. 'Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salūl, leader of the Hypocrites, was also of the same opinion. The Holy Prophet also held the same view. He had seen in a dream that the Muslim army had suffered a loss, although it had also inflicted loss on the enemy. So he desired to remain in the city and there wait for the enemy. But the majority of his followers, mostly young men and such of the older people as had not taken part in the Battle of Badr, were eager to march out of Medina and meet the enemy in pitched battle. The Holy Prophet respected the wishes of the majority and decided to march out. Later, however, the majority thought better of the matter and veered round to the opinion of the Holy Prophet. But now the Holy Prophet refused to change his mind, saying that it did not behove a Prophet of God to put down his armour after he had once put it on till God decided between him and the enemy. So he marched out of Medina with a force of 1,000 men. A large party of Jews, who were apparently in alliance with the Muslims, wished to join him. But the Holy Prophet did