Surah Al Imran Tafseer

The Reason and Wisdom Behind the Defeat at Uhud

Allah said,

أَوَلَمَّا أَصَابَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةٌ

When a single disaster smites you,

in reference to when the Muslims suffered seventy fatalities during the battle of Uhud.

قَدْ أَصَبْتُم مِّثْلَيْهَا

although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great,

during Badr, when the Muslims killed seventy Mushriks and captured seventy others.

قُلْتُمْ أَنَّى هَـذَا

you say:"From where does this come to us!"

why did this defeat happen to us!

قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنْفُسِكُمْ

Say, "It is from yourselves."

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Umar bin Al-Khattab said,

"When Uhud occurred, a year after Badr, Muslims were punished for taking ransom from the disbelievers at Badr (in return for releasing the Mushriks whom they captured in that battle). Thus, they suffered the loss of seventy fatalities and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah gave flight and abandoned him. The Messenger suffered a broken tooth, the helmet was smashed on his head and blood flowed onto his face. Allah then revealed,

أَوَلَمَّا أَصَابَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَدْ أَصَبْتُم مِّثْلَيْهَا قُلْتُمْ أَنَّى هَـذَا قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنْفُسِكُمْ

When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say:"From where does this come to us!" Say, "It is from yourselves",

because you took the ransom."

Furthermore, Muhammad bin Ishaq, Ibn Jurayj, Ar-Rabi bin Anas and As-Suddi said that;

the Ayah,

(Say, "It is from yourselves.") means, because you, the archers, disobeyed the Messenger's command to not abandon your positions.

إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

And Allah has power over all things.

and He does what He wills and decides what He wills, and there is none who can resist His decision.

Allah then said