Overview  (Verses 174 - 175)

Nothing to Fear from Satan’s Allies

The pain and the grief suffered by the Muslims at Uĥud has been recorded by the Prophet’s biographers. Muĥammad ibn Isĥāq reports the following:

One of the Prophet’s Companions from the Anşār clan of `Abd al-Ashĥal who fought in Uĥud reports: “My brother and I were at Uĥud with God’s messenger. Both of us came back wounded. When we heard the Prophet’s call to us to come out and chase the enemy, I said to my brother, or perhaps he said to me: ‘Can we miss an expedition led by God’s messenger? By God, we have no animal to ride and both of us are wounded and can hardly move.’ Nevertheless, we went out with the Prophet. My wounds were less serious than those of my brother. When he could no longer go on, I would carry him for some distance, until we reached the same destination as the rest of the Muslim soldiers.”

The second report mentions that the Battle of Uĥud took place on Saturday, the middle day of the month of Shawwāl. On the following day, Sunday the 16th of Shawwāl, the call of the Prophet was made to people to go out and chase the enemy. The message was also made clear: only those who had attended the battle the day before were to come out. However, one of the Prophet’s Companions called Jābir ibn `Abdullāh ibn `Amr, sought special permission to join the army. He said: “Messenger of God, my father ordered me to stay behind to look after my seven sisters, saying: ‘My son, it does not behove you or me to leave these women without a man to look after them. Moreover, I am not one to allow you to have the privilege of fighting alongside God’s Messenger and deny myself that privilege. Therefore, you stay behind and look after your sisters.’ I did as he asked.” The Prophet gave Jābir special permission to join him.

Such fine examples confirm the birth of this great faith in those hearts who recognise no one other than God as a guardian and whose faith is strengthened at time of hardship. When they are told that people are gathering forces against them, their answer is: “God is enough for us; He is the best Guardian.” The practical outcome is the fulfilment of God’s promise to those who rely on Him and dedicate themselves to His cause: “... so they earned God’s grace and bounty, suffering no harm. For they had striven to please God.” (Verse 174) They were saved, suffering no harm, but enjoying God’s pleasure. That is indeed a manifestation of “God’s grace and bounty.” This statement emphasises the primary cause of what God may bestow. It all comes through God’s grace and out of His bounty, with which He favours whomever He pleases. It is true that their attitude was uniquely splendid, but nevertheless, it is through God’s grace that all bounty is bestowed.

God’s bounty is certainly limitless. God records their attitude in His immortal book, with His own words echoed throughout the universe. As we contemplate this attitude and the picture so drawn, we feel that the whole community went through a fundamental change overnight. It had matured and become much more certain of its stand. Its vision was no longer blurred. No more hesitation or reluctance as those witnessed the day before. It had now acquired a seriousness which had not been experienced before. Yet the time span between these two greatly differing attitudes is only one night. The hard experience produced its results and shook the very souls of the  believers.  Indeed,  God’s  bounty  through  this  difficult  test  is  greater  than anything else.

Finally, the passage concludes with explaining the reason behind fear. It is Satan who tries to depict his allies as a source of might. The believers must be on their guard never to entertain any fear of Satan or his allies. They must fear God alone, the Almighty Who overpowers all forces: “It is but Satan who prompts people to fear his allies: so, have no fear of them, but fear Me if you are truly believers.” (Verse 175)

It serves Satan’s purpose to show his allies as powerful and mighty, able to inflict harm on, and cause benefit to others. By doing so, he has the chance to spread evil and corruption on earth. People will surrender to his allies and allow them to do whatever they want. No one will contemplate standing up to them or foiling their evil purpose. When evil appears to be too powerful and people are paralysed by fear, then Satan’s allies can accomplish what he wants of them. Thus, right appears to be wrong and wrong is shown to be right. Evil and corruption become widespread while truth and justice are suppressed. The evildoers make deities of themselves to perpetuate the suppression of goodness and to protect evil. When no one is able to stand up to them, evil becomes triumphant while the truth is overshadowed and forgotten. Satan is a deceptive sorcerer who hides behind his allies while at the same time causing people to fear his allies. But God exposes him as he truly is, without cover. The believers are made aware of Satan’s scheming. Thus, they can be on their guard and they have no fear of him or his allies.

Both Satan and his allies are too weak to be feared by any believer who relies on his Lord and has His support. The only power to be feared is the one which truly can cause harm and benefit. That is God’s power, feared by those who believe in God. By fearing God alone they are the most powerful of all people. No other force can stand up to them. Hence, God instructs the believers in these words: “It is but Satan who prompts people to fear his allies: so, have no fear of them, but fear Me if you are truly believers.”