سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 143
وَلَقَدْ كُنتُمْ تَمَنَّوْنَ ٱلْمَوْتَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَلْقَوْهُ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ ﴿143﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
You did indeed wish for death (Ash-Shahâdah - martyrdom) before you met it. Now you have seen it openly with your own eyes.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And certainly
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you used to
تَمَنَّوْنَ
tamannawna
wish
ٱلْمَوْتَ
l-mawta
(for) death
مِن
min
from
قَبْلِ
qabli
before
أَن
an
[that]
تَلْقَوْهُ
talqawhu
you met it
فَقَدْ
faqad
then indeed
رَأَيْتُمُوهُ
ra-aytumūhu
you have seen it
وَأَنتُمْ
wa-antum
while you (were)
تَنظُرُونَ
tanẓurūna
looking on
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.
143. 1. This refers to those companions who, due to not participating in the Battle of Badr, felt a sense of deprivation and wished that if the battlefield became heated, they could subdue the disbelievers and attain the virtue of jihad. These very companions, acting with zeal for jihad, advised to go outside Medina in the Battle of Uhud, but when the Muslims’ victory turned into defeat due to the sudden attack of the disbelievers (the details of which have already passed), these enthusiastic warriors also became panic-stricken and some chose to flee (as will be detailed ahead), and only very few remained steadfast (Fath al-Qadeer). Therefore, it is mentioned in the hadith: “Do not wish to meet the enemy and ask Allah for well-being,” and know that “Paradise is under the shade of swords” (referenced in Ibn Kathir).
143. 2. رایتموہ and تنظرون — both have the same meaning, i.e., to see. Two words are used for emphasis and exaggeration. That is, in the glitter of swords, the sharpness of spears, the onslaught of arrows, and the ranks of brave warriors, you witnessed death very clearly. (Ibn Kathir and Fath al-Qadeer)
143. 2. رایتموہ and تنظرون — both have the same meaning, i.e., to see. Two words are used for emphasis and exaggeration. That is, in the glitter of swords, the sharpness of spears, the onslaught of arrows, and the ranks of brave warriors, you witnessed death very clearly. (Ibn Kathir and Fath al-Qadeer)
