سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 155
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿155﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sâbirûn (the patient).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم
walanabluwannakum
And surely We will test you
بِشَىْءٍۢ
bishayin
with something
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلْخَوْفِ
l-khawfi
[the] fear
وَٱلْجُوعِ
wal-jūʿi
and [the] hunger
وَنَقْصٍۢ
wanaqṣin
and loss
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ
l-amwāli
[the] wealth
وَٱلْأَنفُسِ
wal-anfusi
and [the] lives
وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ
wal-thamarāti
and [the] fruits
وَبَشِّرِ
wabashiri
but give good news
ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
l-ṣābirīna
(to) the patient ones
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 155 to 157) ➊ Musibah (calamity) refers to anything that causes a person pain, no matter how minor it may be. (Qurtubi, Shawkani) «اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَيْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ» This is such a phrase that, if said with presence of heart, it expresses both that we are Allah’s possession and His servants, and also that we must return to Him in every circumstance. Whenever He wills, He may call back whomever He wills—so what is the point of complaint or grievance? This grants a person the ability to be patient, and those who are patient receive three blessings: (1) The Lord’s kindnesses. (2) His great mercy (in { ”رَحْمَةٌ“ }, the tanween is for magnification). (3) And the certificate of being rightly guided. The mention of patience appears seventy (70) times in the Noble Qur’an.
➋ { اِذَاۤ اَصَابَتْهُمْ مُّصِيْبَةٌ:} In this, the word {’’ اِذَا‘‘} indicates that one should be patient and say {”اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَيْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ“} as soon as a calamity strikes; after crying and wailing, anyone can be patient. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [إِنَّمَا الصَّبْرُ عِنْدَ الصَّدْمَۃِ الْأُوْلٰی] [ بخاری، الجنائز، باب زیارۃ القبور : ۱۲۸۳] “Patience is only at the first blow.”
➌ Umm al-Mu’minin Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) says that she heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: “No Muslim who is afflicted with a calamity and then says the phrase that Allah has commanded him (i.e., recites this supplication): [ إِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَیْہِ رَاجِعُوْنَ، اَللّٰہُمَّ أْجُرْنِیْ فِیْ مُصِیْبَتِیْ وَ أَخْلِفْ لِیْ خَیْرًا مِّنْہَا] (Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. O Allah! Reward me for my calamity and grant me something better in its place), Allah will surely grant him something better in its place.” Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) says that when (her husband) Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away, she said, “Who among the Muslims could be better than Abu Salamah? The first household to migrate to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).” Then I recited this phrase, and Allah granted me in his place the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). [مسلم، الجنائز، باب ما یقال عند المصیبۃ : ۹۱۸]
➋ { اِذَاۤ اَصَابَتْهُمْ مُّصِيْبَةٌ:} In this, the word {’’ اِذَا‘‘} indicates that one should be patient and say {”اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَيْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ“} as soon as a calamity strikes; after crying and wailing, anyone can be patient. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [إِنَّمَا الصَّبْرُ عِنْدَ الصَّدْمَۃِ الْأُوْلٰی] [ بخاری، الجنائز، باب زیارۃ القبور : ۱۲۸۳] “Patience is only at the first blow.”
➌ Umm al-Mu’minin Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) says that she heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: “No Muslim who is afflicted with a calamity and then says the phrase that Allah has commanded him (i.e., recites this supplication): [ إِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَیْہِ رَاجِعُوْنَ، اَللّٰہُمَّ أْجُرْنِیْ فِیْ مُصِیْبَتِیْ وَ أَخْلِفْ لِیْ خَیْرًا مِّنْہَا] (Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. O Allah! Reward me for my calamity and grant me something better in its place), Allah will surely grant him something better in its place.” Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) says that when (her husband) Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away, she said, “Who among the Muslims could be better than Abu Salamah? The first household to migrate to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).” Then I recited this phrase, and Allah granted me in his place the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). [مسلم، الجنائز، باب ما یقال عند المصیبۃ : ۹۱۸]
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
155. And We will surely test you [195] with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth, lives, and fruits. But give glad tidings to those who are patient,
[195] Fear and Hardship Upon the Muslims: This address is to the Muslims. By fear is meant that emergency situation which constantly hovered around the small, free state of Madinah before the Battle of Ahzab. Once, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself said: "If only someone would guard me tonight so that I could sleep." Upon hearing this, Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas ؓ came armed and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I will stand guard, so you may sleep." Thus, you ﷺ rested in this manner. [بخاري، كتاب الجهاد، باب الحراسة فى الغزو فى سبيل اللّٰه عز و جل، بخاري كتاب التمني باب قوله النبى ليت كذا وكذا] And one night, the people of Madinah were alarmed by a terrifying sound, so they set out towards it and saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returning from that direction. You ﷺ had already gone towards the sound before them, found out the news, and were returning. You ﷺ said to the people, "Do not fear, do not fear." [بخاري، كتاب الجهاد، باب الحمائل و تعليق السيف بالعنق اور مبادرة الامام عند الفزع اور مسلم كتاب الفضائل باب شجاعة النبي]
And the state of economic hardship among the Muslims during that period is known from the following hadiths.
1.
The Livelihood of the Companions and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
Abu Hurairah ؓ says that he saw seventy people among the people of Suffah who did not even have a sheet; either they only had a lower garment or just a blanket, which they had tied around their necks. For some, it reached halfway down their shins, for others to their ankles, and they would keep gathering it with their hands out of fear that their private parts might be exposed. [بخاري، كتاب الصلٰوة، باب نوم الرجال فى المسجد]
2. 'Aisha ؓ said to her nephew 'Urwah bin Zubair ؓ: "My nephew, such a time has passed over us that we would see one crescent, then a second, then a third—that is, two months would pass and no fire would be lit in the house of the Prophet ﷺ." 'Urwah ؓ asked: "Aunt! Then how did you survive?" 'Aisha ؓ replied: "On the two black things—dates and water. It was only that a few Ansar neighbors had goats, and they would send the Prophet ﷺ some milk as a gift, from which we would also give him to drink." [بخاري۔ كتاب الهبة و فضلها و التحريض عليها]
3. Abu Hurairah ؓ says that until the death of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, his family never ate their fill for three consecutive days. [بخاري، كتاب الاطعمه باب قول الله تعالىٰ كلوا من طيبات مارزقنكم وكلوا من طيبات ما كسبتم]
4. Abu Hurairah ؓ says: "I was hungry. I met 'Umar ؓ and said to him, 'Recite to me such-and-such verse of the Quran: ﴿وَيُطْعِمُوْنَ الطَّعَامَ عَليٰ حُبِّهٖ مِسْكِيْنًا وَّيَتِيْمًا وَّاَسِيْرًا﴾.' He went into his house and recited and explained the verse to me. In the end, I left from there. I had not gone far when, due to extreme hunger, I fell face down. Suddenly, I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ standing by my head. You ﷺ took my hand, lifted me up, and recognized that my condition was due to hunger. You took me home and ordered a bowl of milk to be brought for me. I drank the milk, then you ﷺ said, 'Abu Hurairah! Drink more.' I drank more. Then you ﷺ said, 'Drink more.' I drank more until my stomach became full and straightened. Then I met 'Umar ؓ and told him my situation, and said, 'Allah sent someone to relieve my hunger who was more deserving of it than you. By Allah! The verse I asked you to recite, I remembered it better than you.' 'Umar ؓ said, 'By Allah! If I had taken you home and fed you, it would have made me happier than receiving red camels.'" [بخاري، كتاب قول اللّٰه تعالىٰ كلوا من طيبات ما رزقناكم]
5. Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas ؓ says: "I am the first Arab who shot an arrow in the way of Allah, and we found ourselves fighting at a time when we had nothing to eat except the leaves of the Hublah and Samar (thorny trees). Our droppings became like the dry droppings of goats, with not a trace of moisture in them." [بخاری، کتاب الرقاق، باب کیف کان عیش النبیﷺ و اصحابہ]
6. Abu Musa Ash'ari ؓ says: "Six of us set out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for a battle. We had only one camel for all of us to ride, and we would take turns riding it. Our feet became cracked from walking, and my feet cracked so badly that even my toenails fell off. In that state, we would wrap rags around our feet. That is why this battle was called the Battle of Dhat al-Riqa' (the battle of rags)." [بخاري، كتاب المغازي باب غزوة ذات الرقاع]
7. Jabir bin 'Abdullah Ansari ؓ says: "You ﷺ sent an army to the seashore, in which there were three hundred men and the commander was Abu 'Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah ؓ. Our provisions ran out, so Abu 'Ubaidah ؓ ordered everyone to bring whatever food they had left, and all the food was just two bags of dates. Abu 'Ubaidah ؓ would give us a little at a time to eat. When that too finished, we would get only one date a day. Wahb asked Jabir ؓ, 'What could one date do?' Jabir ؓ replied, 'That one date was a blessing; when even that was gone, we realized its value.' Then we reached the sea and saw a huge fish lying like a mound. The whole army ate its meat for eighteen days. When we were about to leave, Abu 'Ubaidah ؓ ordered that its two ribs be set upright—they were so tall that when a camel with a saddle was made to pass under them, it passed through easily." [ بخاري۔ كتاب المغازي باب غزوة سيف البحر]
Besides fear, hunger, loss of life and wealth, and loss in fruits—these are all situations that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the noble Companions ؓ faced in the path of Islam. That is why they were instructed to seek help through patience and prayer.
[195] Fear and Hardship Upon the Muslims: This address is to the Muslims. By fear is meant that emergency situation which constantly hovered around the small, free state of Madinah before the Battle of Ahzab. Once, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself said: "If only someone would guard me tonight so that I could sleep." Upon hearing this, Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas ؓ came armed and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I will stand guard, so you may sleep." Thus, you ﷺ rested in this manner. [بخاري، كتاب الجهاد، باب الحراسة فى الغزو فى سبيل اللّٰه عز و جل، بخاري كتاب التمني باب قوله النبى ليت كذا وكذا] And one night, the people of Madinah were alarmed by a terrifying sound, so they set out towards it and saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returning from that direction. You ﷺ had already gone towards the sound before them, found out the news, and were returning. You ﷺ said to the people, "Do not fear, do not fear." [بخاري، كتاب الجهاد، باب الحمائل و تعليق السيف بالعنق اور مبادرة الامام عند الفزع اور مسلم كتاب الفضائل باب شجاعة النبي]
And the state of economic hardship among the Muslims during that period is known from the following hadiths.
1.
The Livelihood of the Companions and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
Abu Hurairah ؓ says that he saw seventy people among the people of Suffah who did not even have a sheet; either they only had a lower garment or just a blanket, which they had tied around their necks. For some, it reached halfway down their shins, for others to their ankles, and they would keep gathering it with their hands out of fear that their private parts might be exposed. [بخاري، كتاب الصلٰوة، باب نوم الرجال فى المسجد]
2. 'Aisha ؓ said to her nephew 'Urwah bin Zubair ؓ: "My nephew, such a time has passed over us that we would see one crescent, then a second, then a third—that is, two months would pass and no fire would be lit in the house of the Prophet ﷺ." 'Urwah ؓ asked: "Aunt! Then how did you survive?" 'Aisha ؓ replied: "On the two black things—dates and water. It was only that a few Ansar neighbors had goats, and they would send the Prophet ﷺ some milk as a gift, from which we would also give him to drink." [بخاري۔ كتاب الهبة و فضلها و التحريض عليها]
3. Abu Hurairah ؓ says that until the death of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, his family never ate their fill for three consecutive days. [بخاري، كتاب الاطعمه باب قول الله تعالىٰ كلوا من طيبات مارزقنكم وكلوا من طيبات ما كسبتم]
4. Abu Hurairah ؓ says: "I was hungry. I met 'Umar ؓ and said to him, 'Recite to me such-and-such verse of the Quran: ﴿وَيُطْعِمُوْنَ الطَّعَامَ عَليٰ حُبِّهٖ مِسْكِيْنًا وَّيَتِيْمًا وَّاَسِيْرًا﴾.' He went into his house and recited and explained the verse to me. In the end, I left from there. I had not gone far when, due to extreme hunger, I fell face down. Suddenly, I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ standing by my head. You ﷺ took my hand, lifted me up, and recognized that my condition was due to hunger. You took me home and ordered a bowl of milk to be brought for me. I drank the milk, then you ﷺ said, 'Abu Hurairah! Drink more.' I drank more. Then you ﷺ said, 'Drink more.' I drank more until my stomach became full and straightened. Then I met 'Umar ؓ and told him my situation, and said, 'Allah sent someone to relieve my hunger who was more deserving of it than you. By Allah! The verse I asked you to recite, I remembered it better than you.' 'Umar ؓ said, 'By Allah! If I had taken you home and fed you, it would have made me happier than receiving red camels.'" [بخاري، كتاب قول اللّٰه تعالىٰ كلوا من طيبات ما رزقناكم]
5. Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas ؓ says: "I am the first Arab who shot an arrow in the way of Allah, and we found ourselves fighting at a time when we had nothing to eat except the leaves of the Hublah and Samar (thorny trees). Our droppings became like the dry droppings of goats, with not a trace of moisture in them." [بخاری، کتاب الرقاق، باب کیف کان عیش النبیﷺ و اصحابہ]
6. Abu Musa Ash'ari ؓ says: "Six of us set out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for a battle. We had only one camel for all of us to ride, and we would take turns riding it. Our feet became cracked from walking, and my feet cracked so badly that even my toenails fell off. In that state, we would wrap rags around our feet. That is why this battle was called the Battle of Dhat al-Riqa' (the battle of rags)." [بخاري، كتاب المغازي باب غزوة ذات الرقاع]
7. Jabir bin 'Abdullah Ansari ؓ says: "You ﷺ sent an army to the seashore, in which there were three hundred men and the commander was Abu 'Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah ؓ. Our provisions ran out, so Abu 'Ubaidah ؓ ordered everyone to bring whatever food they had left, and all the food was just two bags of dates. Abu 'Ubaidah ؓ would give us a little at a time to eat. When that too finished, we would get only one date a day. Wahb asked Jabir ؓ, 'What could one date do?' Jabir ؓ replied, 'That one date was a blessing; when even that was gone, we realized its value.' Then we reached the sea and saw a huge fish lying like a mound. The whole army ate its meat for eighteen days. When we were about to leave, Abu 'Ubaidah ؓ ordered that its two ribs be set upright—they were so tall that when a camel with a saddle was made to pass under them, it passed through easily." [ بخاري۔ كتاب المغازي باب غزوة سيف البحر]
Besides fear, hunger, loss of life and wealth, and loss in fruits—these are all situations that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the noble Companions ؓ faced in the path of Islam. That is why they were instructed to seek help through patience and prayer.
