سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 173
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا۟ لَكُمْ فَٱخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًا وَقَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ ﴿173﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Those (i.e. believers) unto whom the people (hypocrites) said, "Verily, the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them." But it (only) increased them in Faith, and they said: "Allâh (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
Those who
قَالَ
qāla
said
لَهُمُ
lahumu
to them
ٱلنَّاسُ
l-nāsu
[the people]
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱلنَّاسَ
l-nāsa
the people
قَدْ
qad
(have) certainly
جَمَعُوا۟
jamaʿū
gathered
لَكُمْ
lakum
against you
فَٱخْشَوْهُمْ
fa-ikh'shawhum
so fear them
فَزَادَهُمْ
fazādahum
But it increased them
إِيمَـٰنًۭا
īmānan
(in) faith
وَقَالُوا۟
waqālū
and they said
حَسْبُنَا
ḥasbunā
Sufficient for us
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
(is) Allah
وَنِعْمَ
waniʿ'ma
and (He is the) best
ٱلْوَكِيلُ
l-wakīlu
[the] Disposer of affairs
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 173) ➊ {اَلَّذِيْنَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ … :} This verse is also related to the incident of Hamra’ al-Asad, and that is in such a way that when Abu Sufyan, who was leading the polytheists at that time, received information about the Muslims’ pursuit, he sent a challenge to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) through a trade caravan, saying, “I have gathered a great army and I am about to attack Madinah again.” Upon hearing this, instead of fear and weakness, the Muslims’ faith increased even more, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Companions said: «حَسْبُنَا اللّٰهُ وَ نِعْمَ الْوَكِيْلُ» “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.” (Ibn Kathir)
➋ Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that the phrase «حَسْبُنَا اللّٰهُ وَ نِعْمَ الْوَكِيْلُ» was said by Ibrahim (peace be upon him) when he was thrown into the fire, and Muhammad (peace be upon him) said it when people said: «اِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوْا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ اِيْمَانًا» “Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them.” But this only increased them in faith, and they said: «حَسْبُنَا اللّٰهُ وَ نِعْمَ الْوَكِيْلُ » “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.” [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب قولہ : «الذین قال لہم الناس…» : ۴۵۶۳ ]
➌ {فَزَادَهُمْ اِيْمَانًا:} From this it is understood that the faith of the Companions increased due to the challenge of the polytheists; obviously, it was relatively less before, that is why it increased. This proves the increase and decrease of faith and refutes those who say that our faith is like the faith of Jibreel (peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). It is also understood that as faith increases, the spirit of jihad also increases. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever neither fought nor intended to fight in his heart, he will die on a branch of hypocrisy.” [ مسلم، الإمارۃ، باب ذم من مات و لم یغز … ۱۹۱۰۔ أبو داوٗد، الجہاد، باب کراھیۃ ترک الغزو : ۲۵۰۲، عن أبی ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ]
➋ Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that the phrase «حَسْبُنَا اللّٰهُ وَ نِعْمَ الْوَكِيْلُ» was said by Ibrahim (peace be upon him) when he was thrown into the fire, and Muhammad (peace be upon him) said it when people said: «اِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوْا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ اِيْمَانًا» “Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them.” But this only increased them in faith, and they said: «حَسْبُنَا اللّٰهُ وَ نِعْمَ الْوَكِيْلُ » “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.” [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب قولہ : «الذین قال لہم الناس…» : ۴۵۶۳ ]
➌ {فَزَادَهُمْ اِيْمَانًا:} From this it is understood that the faith of the Companions increased due to the challenge of the polytheists; obviously, it was relatively less before, that is why it increased. This proves the increase and decrease of faith and refutes those who say that our faith is like the faith of Jibreel (peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). It is also understood that as faith increases, the spirit of jihad also increases. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever neither fought nor intended to fight in his heart, he will die on a branch of hypocrisy.” [ مسلم، الإمارۃ، باب ذم من مات و لم یغز … ۱۹۱۰۔ أبو داوٗد، الجہاد، باب کراھیۃ ترک الغزو : ۲۵۰۲، عن أبی ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ]
