The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 146
CH. 3 ĀL-E-‘IMRĀN PT. 4 وَمَا أَصَابَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمُعَنِ And that which befell you. 167 فَبِاذْنِ اللهِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ on the day when the two parties met, was by Allah's command; and this was so that He might distinguish the believers; 449 taken prisoner. Thus the Muslims had inflicted a double loss on the Meccans. The fact that no Muslim was taken prisoner at Uhud demonstrates their high sense of honour. They preferred death to dishonour. They would die fighting rather than lay down their arms. Some of them were found killed on the battlefield with as many as eighty wounds on their bodies. How could such men allow themselves to be taken prisoner by the enemy? It is most significant that in all the different battles that were fought by Muslims till the time of 'Uthman and they were many and hundreds of thousands of men took part in them the number of Muslim prisoners did not exceed hundred. a few The expression, It is from your own selves, seems to contradict the succeeding verse where it is said, And that which befell you on the day when two parties met was by Allah's command, and also 4:79, 80 where it is said: And if some good befalls them, they say, 'this is from Allah' and if evil befall them, they say, 'this is from thee'. Say, All is from Allah. What has happened to these people that not near they come understanding anything? Whatever of good comes to thee is from Allah, and whatever of evil befalls thee is from 586 On deeper thyself. reflection, however, no conflict or contradiction is found to exist for the different statements, apparently contradictory, have been made from different viewpoints. As for the real cause of man's actions, both the good and evil actions are said to emanate from him, because he is their doer; but as it is God Who, as the final Judge, brings about the results of man's actions, whether good or bad, they can equally be said to proceed from Him. In this sense, both the good and evil results of man's actions would be attributed to God. Again, as God has created all things for our good and it is through their misuse that we suffer, therefore the evil that befalls us can legitimately be said to proceed from our ownselves. But when that evil is removed by the right use of the things provided by God and good results ensues, then that good must be attributed to God, for it is He Who had the of endowed things with properties by the right use which we benefit. In this sense, good results will be attributed to God and evil ones to man. Thus all the three assertions, though apparently contradicting one another, prove to be true. 449. Commentary: The "meeting of the parties" refers