Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 23

(Ayah 23) ➊ { مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوْا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللّٰهَ عَلَيْهِ :} In the previous verses, Allah Almighty mentioned some people who claimed to have faith, who broke the covenant made with Allah Almighty and fled the battlefield with cowardice and weakness, as He said: «{ وَ لَقَدْ كَانُوْا عَاهَدُوا اللّٰهَ مِنْ قَبْلُ لَا يُوَلُّوْنَ الْاَدْبَارَ وَ كَانَ عَهْدُ اللّٰهِ مَسْـُٔوْلًا }» [ الأحزاب : ۱۵ ] "Although, indeed, before this they had made a covenant with Allah that they would not turn their backs, and the covenant of Allah is always to be accounted for." Now, as a rebuke to those people, the mention is made of those believers who were truly men and who fulfilled the covenant made with Allah Almighty. In this verse, all those sincere Muslims are praised who, without caring for their lives and wealth, remained steadfast in such difficult circumstances and against such a large enemy. Foremost among them is Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), who never stayed behind the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in any battle or at any occasion, and who sacrificed his life and wealth, everything, for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Then Umar, Uthman, Ali, and, in order of rank, the other Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all). This covenant refers to the covenant that automatically takes place between a believer and Allah Almighty upon embracing faith, which is mentioned in this verse: «{ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ اشْتَرٰى مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ اَنْفُسَهُمْ وَ اَمْوَالَهُمْ بِاَنَّ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ يُقَاتِلُوْنَ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ فَيَقْتُلُوْنَ وَ يُقْتَلُوْنَ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرٰىةِ وَ الْاِنْجِيْلِ وَ الْقُرْاٰنِ وَ مَنْ اَوْفٰى بِعَهْدِهٖ مِنَ اللّٰهِ فَاسْتَبْشِرُوْا۠ بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِيْ بَايَعْتُمْ بِهٖ وَ ذٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيْمُ }» [ التوبۃ : ۱۱۱ ] "Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth in exchange for Paradise for them. They fight in the way of Allah, so they kill and are killed. It is a true promise binding upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his promise than Allah? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted with Him, and that is the great success."

➋ The meaning of {فَمِنْهُمْ مَّنْ قَضٰى نَحْبَهٗ … : ’’نَحْبٌ‘‘} is covenant, vow, and death. Here, {’’نَحْبٌ‘‘} refers to such a covenant that, like a vow, is until death. That is, among them are some who fulfilled that vow by attaining martyrdom, that they would not leave the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) until death, and some are still waiting, and they have not changed their covenant in any way. In the commentary of this verse, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) have also considered those Companions who were martyred in the battles of Badr and Uhud before the Battle of Khandaq as included in this verse, such as Hamza, Mus'ab bin Umair, Abdullah bin Jahsh, Sa'd bin Rabi', and Anas bin Nadr (may Allah be pleased with them all).

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: "My uncle (Anas bin Nadr, may Allah be pleased with him), after whom I was named, could not participate in the Battle of Badr with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), so this was hard on him. He said: 'The first battle in which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) participated, I was absent from it. Now, if Allah Almighty gives me the opportunity to participate in any battle with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), Allah will see what I do.' Other than this, he was afraid to say anything. Then he participated in the Battle of Uhud with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and Sa'd bin Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) came before him. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: 'Abu Amr! Where are you going?' Then he said: 'Wow! I can smell the fragrance of Paradise coming from the direction of Uhud.' Then he fought until he was killed. (After the battle, it was seen) that there were more than eighty wounds of swords, spears, and arrows on his body. His sister and my paternal aunt, Rubayyi' bint Nadr (may Allah be pleased with her), said: 'I did not recognize my brother except by looking at the tips of his fingers.' And this verse was revealed: «{ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوْا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللّٰهَ عَلَيْهِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَّنْ قَضٰى نَحْبَهٗ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَّنْ يَّنْتَظِرُ وَ مَا بَدَّلُوْا تَبْدِيْلًا}» [الأحزاب : ۲۳ ] Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says: 'The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) believed that this verse was revealed about them and their companions.'" [ مسلم، الإمارۃ، باب ثبوت الجنۃ للشہید : ۱۹۰۳ ] Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: [ طَلْحَةُ مِمَّنْ قَضَی نَحْبَهُ ] [ ترمذي، التفسیر، باب و من سورۃ الأحزاب : ۳۲۰۲ ] "Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) is among those who have fulfilled their vow." As if the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) declared him a martyr during his lifetime. Qais bin Hazim (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that I saw the hand of Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) was paralyzed, with which he defended the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the day of Uhud. [ بخاري، فضائل أصحاب النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ، باب ذکر طلحۃ بن عبید اللہ : ۳۷۲۴ ]

➌ { وَ مِنْهُمْ مَّنْ يَّنْتَظِرُ :} This refers to those Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) who were waiting for an opportunity in which they could sacrifice their lives and fulfill the covenant made with Allah Almighty. They are mentioned especially so that no one thinks that only those who have been martyred are true to their covenant, rather every seeker of {’’إِحْدَي الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ‘‘} (victory or martyrdom) is included in this.

➍ { وَ مَا بَدَّلُوْا تَبْدِيْلًا :} The hypocrites changed their covenant, but these true believers remained fully steadfast on their covenant.

23-1. This verse was revealed about some of the Companions who, on this occasion, displayed remarkable feats of devotion, and among them are also those Companions who could not participate in the Battle of Badr but had made a pledge that if another battle arose, they would take full part in jihad. For example, Nadr bin Anas and others, who were eventually martyred fighting in the Battle of Uhud; there were more than eighty wounds of swords, spears, and arrows on their bodies. After martyrdom, his sister recognized him by the tip of his finger.

23-2. نَحْبَه، Nabh means pledge, vow, and death. The meaning is that among these truthful ones, some fulfilled their promise and vow by drinking the cup of martyrdom.

23-3. And the others are those who have not yet been united with the bride of martyrdom, but in longing for it, they participate in jihad and desire the blessing of martyrdom. They have not changed in this vow or pledge.

23. Among the believers are men who have been true to the covenant [32] they made with Allah. Some of them have fulfilled their vow [33], and some are still waiting, and they have not changed in the least.

[32] By this covenant is meant the pledge that seventy-two (72) individuals from the Ansar made with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the night of the Second Aqabah, and that pledge was that we will support you until our last breath.
[33]
Those Who Fulfilled Their Covenant With Allah:

In this regard, consider the following hadiths:
(1) Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik ؓ says, "I think that this verse was revealed concerning (my uncle) Anas bin Nadr." [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]
(2) Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik ؓ says that my name was given after my uncle Anas bin Nadr. He could not be present with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at the Battle of Badr, and this was very hard on him, and he said: "This was the first opportunity to be present with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ from which I was absent. By Allah! If I get another opportunity to be present with you ﷺ, then Allah Himself will see what I do." The narrator says: Then he became afraid that perhaps some other words would have been more appropriate than these. Then, when the next year on the day of Uhud he was present with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he met Sa'd bin Mu'adh on the way. He asked, "Abu Amr! Where are you going?" Anas replied: "Wow! I am smelling the fragrance of Paradise from beyond Uhud (mountain)." So he fought (with great courage) until he was martyred, and more than eighty (80) wounds from swords, spears, and arrows were found on his body. My paternal aunt, Rubayyi' bint Nadr, said: I could only recognize my brother's body by his fingertips. At that time, this verse was revealed. [ترمذي۔ ابواب التفسير]
(3) Musa bin Talhah says: When I went to Mu'awiyah, he said: Shall I not give you glad tidings? I said: Please do. He said that I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say that Talhah was among those who fulfilled their responsibilities. [ترمذي۔ حواله ايضاً]
He is the venerable man who, in the Battle of Uhud, kept stopping arrows with their hands to protect the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, until one hand became paralyzed, so he put forward the other hand. [بخاری۔ کتاب المناقب۔ باب ذکر طلحہ بن عبید اللہ]