Overview (Verses 172 - 173)

The Fruits of Total Dedication to Islam

Now the sūrah moves on to tell us about the “believers” who are concerned with the martyrs and rejoice at what is held in store for them by their Lord: “Those who responded to the call of God and the Messenger after misfortune had befallen them: a great reward awaits those of them who continued to do good and feared God.” (Verse 172)

The Prophet called upon those who had fought in the Battle of Uĥud to turn out for battle duty with him the following day. They were wounded and exhausted; they had barely escaped death. They were still living the horrors of the battle and the humiliation of defeat. They had lost some of their finest and dearest, were weaker because of their wounds, and also less in number.

Nevertheless the Prophet called them up, and called them in person. He did not allow any new recruits to join this second expedition, which might, some would say, have reinforced the Muslim fighting force. They responded to the Prophet’s call, which was, in essence, a call by God, as the verse makes absolutely clear. Their response was immediate, positive and favourable, despite their misfortune and wounds.

The fact that God’s Messenger singled out those who had actually fought at Uĥud for this new call is particularly significant. Perhaps the Prophet did not wish the feelings of defeat and misfortune to be the last that remained with the Muslims after the battle. He called on them to chase the Quraysh in order to drive home to them that all that had happened was merely a test and an experience which was not the end of the matter. They remained strong while their victorious enemies were weak. It was an experience which was certain to be followed by victory once they had shaken off their weakness and failure, and responded to the call issued to them by God and His messenger.

As a corollary, the Prophet may have decided that the Quraysh should not leave the battlefield overjoyed and boastful at their victory. He, therefore, followed the Quraysh so as to make it clear to them that they had not caused any permanent damage to the Muslims; there still remained enough of them to chase off the Quraysh army. Those objectives were fulfilled, according to historical reports.

The Prophet might have also wished to make clear to the Muslims and to all mankind the birth of a faith that meant everything to its adherents. They had absolutely no aim or objective in their lives other than to serve the cause of their faith. They lived for it and they looked to nothing beyond it. They spared nothing of themselves. They offered all as a sacrifice for their faith. This was a new phenomenon the like of which had never been seen before. It was necessary that all mankind realised this after the believers themselves had realised it. Nothing could reflect the birth of this faith better than the marching of those who responded to God’s call after misfortune had befallen them. Their march was both spectacular and awesome. It clearly  reflected  the  fact  that  they  relied  totally  on  God.  They  did  not  care  for people’s  scaremongering  about  the  size  of  the  Quraysh  host  as  told  by  the messengers sent by Abū Sufyān, the chief of the Quraysh.

Similarly, the hypocrites depicted the Quraysh as extremely mighty. Those believers, however, cared nothing for all this: “Those who responded to the call of God and the Messenger after misfortune had befallen them: a great reward awaits those of them who continued to do good and feared God. When other people warned them: A big force has gathered against you, so fear them’, that only strengthened their faith and they answered: ‘God is enough for us; He is the best Guardian.’” (Verses 172-173) In this way, the Muslim community declared in the clearest of terms the birth of this faith. The wisdom behind the Prophet’s plan is now clearly apparent to us.

Overview (Verses 172 - 173)

The Fruits of Total Dedication to Islam

Now the sūrah moves on to tell us about the “believers” who are concerned with the martyrs and rejoice at what is held in store for them by their Lord: “Those who responded to the call of God and the Messenger after misfortune had befallen them: a great reward awaits those of them who continued to do good and feared God.” (Verse 172)

The Prophet called upon those who had fought in the Battle of Uĥud to turn out for battle duty with him the following day. They were wounded and exhausted; they had barely escaped death. They were still living the horrors of the battle and the humiliation of defeat. They had lost some of their finest and dearest, were weaker because of their wounds, and also less in number.

Nevertheless the Prophet called them up, and called them in person. He did not allow any new recruits to join this second expedition, which might, some would say, have reinforced the Muslim fighting force. They responded to the Prophet’s call, which was, in essence, a call by God, as the verse makes absolutely clear. Their response was immediate, positive and favourable, despite their misfortune and wounds.

The fact that God’s Messenger singled out those who had actually fought at Uĥud for this new call is particularly significant. Perhaps the Prophet did not wish the feelings of defeat and misfortune to be the last that remained with the Muslims after the battle. He called on them to chase the Quraysh in order to drive home to them that all that had happened was merely a test and an experience which was not the end of the matter. They remained strong while their victorious enemies were weak. It was an experience which was certain to be followed by victory once they had shaken off their weakness and failure, and responded to the call issued to them by God and His messenger.

As a corollary, the Prophet may have decided that the Quraysh should not leave the battlefield overjoyed and boastful at their victory. He, therefore, followed the Quraysh so as to make it clear to them that they had not caused any permanent damage to the Muslims; there still remained enough of them to chase off the Quraysh army. Those objectives were fulfilled, according to historical reports.

The Prophet might have also wished to make clear to the Muslims and to all mankind the birth of a faith that meant everything to its adherents. They had absolutely no aim or objective in their lives other than to serve the cause of their faith. They lived for it and they looked to nothing beyond it. They spared nothing of themselves. They offered all as a sacrifice for their faith. This was a new phenomenon the like of which had never been seen before. It was necessary that all mankind realised this after the believers themselves had realised it. Nothing could reflect the birth of this faith better than the marching of those who responded to God’s call after misfortune had befallen them. Their march was both spectacular and awesome. It clearly  reflected  the  fact  that  they  relied  totally  on  God.  They  did  not  care  for people’s  scaremongering  about  the  size  of  the  Quraysh  host  as  told  by  the messengers sent by Abū Sufyān, the chief of the Quraysh.

Similarly, the hypocrites depicted the Quraysh as extremely mighty. Those believers, however, cared nothing for all this: “Those who responded to the call of God and the Messenger after misfortune had befallen them: a great reward awaits those of them who continued to do good and feared God. When other people warned them: A big force has gathered against you, so fear them’, that only strengthened their faith and they answered: ‘God is enough for us; He is the best Guardian.’” (Verses 172-173) In this way, the Muslim community declared in the clearest of terms the birth of this faith. The wisdom behind the Prophet’s plan is now clearly apparent to us.