Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 153
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
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.
➋ {فَاَثَابَكُمْ غَمًّۢا بِغَمٍّ:} That is, in return for your shortcoming, He afflicted you with grief upon grief: one was the grief of defeat, and the other was the shock of the rumor of the martyrdom of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), which was even harder than the first grief. Thus, the meaning of {”بِغَمٍّ“} is {’’عَلٰي غَمٍّ ‘‘}, and some have considered the "ba" to indicate causation, meaning He afflicted you with grief because you grieved the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), but the first meaning is more correct. (Ibn Kathir, Shawkani)
➌ {لِّكَيْلَا تَحْزَنُوْا … :} That is, He afflicted you with double grief so that you would neither grieve over the loss of spoils of war nor over being wounded, martyred, or defeated, because with the coming of successive griefs, especially great ones, the earlier griefs become lighter and a person becomes accustomed to enduring hardships.
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.
153. 2 The Prophet ﷺ, along with his companions, stayed behind and kept calling the Muslims, "O servants of Allah! Return to me, O servants of Allah! Return to me." But in a state of panic, who would listen to this call?
153. 3 فَاَثاَبَکُمْ In return for your shortcoming, He gave you grief upon grief. غما بغم means grief upon grief. According to the preferred opinion chosen by Ibn Jarir and Ibn Kathir, the first grief refers to the sorrow of being deprived of the spoils of war and victory over the disbelievers, and the second grief refers to the grief caused by the martyrdom of Muslims, their being wounded, the disobedience of the Prophet ﷺ's command, and the news of the Prophet ﷺ's martyrdom.
153. 4 That is, this grief upon grief was given so that strength and determination to endure hardships would be developed within you. When this strength and determination are developed, then a person does not grieve over what is lost or feel sorrow over the hardships that befall him.
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.
[141]
What sorrows did the Muslims face on the day of Uhud?
"Gham ba gham" can have several meanings. One is that it means sorrow in exchange for sorrow, i.e., the Muslims caused the Messenger grief by disobeying him, so in return, Allah caused the Muslims grief by making them face defeat. The second meaning is that Allah inflicted various kinds of sorrows upon you: one, the sorrow of the hypocrites turning back; second, the defeat; third, the loss of your martyrs; fourth, the wounded among you; fifth, the news of the Prophet's martyrdom; and sixth, the outcome of this battle. The third meaning is that the grief Allah gave you through the rumor of the Prophet's martyrdom was heavier than all the previous kinds of grief.
[142]
The Way of Moderation in Happiness and Sorrow:
In this sentence, Allah Almighty has given the Muslims such a principle of relying on Him that saves a Muslim from becoming faint-hearted in any difficulty. That is, whatever pain or calamity befalls you, it is already in Allah's knowledge, and only that pain and sorrow can reach you which has already been destined for you. Therefore, instead of grieving over it, put your trust in Allah and turn to Him alone; He alone will solve your problems. The same subject is mentioned in more detail in Surah Hadid, verse number 23: "So that you do not grieve over what escapes you, nor exult over what He gives you." [57: 23] That is, the quality of a believer is that he neither wavers nor loses hope in times of hardship, nor does he become excessively proud and boastful in times of happiness; rather, he is always grateful to Allah and maintains a balanced temperament in every situation.
