The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 136
CH. 3 ĀL-E-‘IMRĀN PT. 4 to their deathbeds,' that Allah might bring about His decree and that Allah might test what was in your breasts and that He might purge what was in your hearts. And Allah knows well what is in the minds;4. 437 while the Meccans lost only about 20. The words may also refer to the wounds received by the Muslims on that occasion. The words, that you might not grieve, may also signify that, having received some punishment then and there for the offence committed, the Muslims might feel secure from punishment in the Hereafter. 437. Important Words: ✓ (government) means: (1) order or command; (2) matter or affair; (3) state or condition; (4) authority, اولوا الامر. government or management means, those who hold command or exercise authority (Aqrab). J(fighting) being noun-infinitive means both to kill and to be killed. Another reading of the word here is (Muḥīt iii. 90 & Kashshāf) which shows that the word J (qatl) has been used here in the sense of fighting and not killing. The word has been used elsewhere also in the Quran in the sense of fighting (see 2:192). See also Jarir under 3:155. Commentary: The words, a slumber that overcame a party of you, refer to an incident connected with the Battle of Uhud. Abū Ṭalḥah says, "I lifted my head on the day of Uḥud and began to look about, and there was none among us on that day but was bending down his head with slumber. " This incident has been narrated by Tirmidhi, Nasā'i and others (see Kathīr, ii. 303). As sleep or slumber is a symbol of a peaceful condition, being a sign of hearts that are calm and at rest, the Quran refers to this incident as a sort of favour. The incident evidently occurred when the battle was practically over and the 576 Muslims had returned to the neighbouring height. The reference in the words, the other party, is to the hypocrites who were at Medina and who had not taken part in the battle. When they heard of the reverse which overtook the Muslims and of the reported death of the Holy Prophet, they, in spite of rejoicing at the misfortune that had befallen the Muslims, became anxious about their own lives and feared what would happen to them in case the Meccans should attack Medina. The words cannot apply to the party of Muslims that took part in the battle, of whom the Quran says, He has surely pardoned you and