سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْزَابِ
Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 11
هُنَالِكَ ٱبْتُلِىَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَزُلْزِلُوا۟ زِلْزَالًا شَدِيدًا ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
هُنَالِكَ
hunālika
There
ٱبْتُلِىَ
ub'tuliya
were tried
ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
l-mu'minūna
the believers
وَزُلْزِلُوا۟
wazul'zilū
and shaken
زِلْزَالًۭا
zil'zālan
(with a) shake
شَدِيدًۭا
shadīdan
severe
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 11) ➊ { هُنَالِكَ ابْتُلِيَ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ :} All this happened so that it may be tested who remains steadfast on faith in such severe circumstances and whose steps falter.
➋ { وَ زُلْزِلُوْا زِلْزَالًا شَدِيْدًا:} The state of the Muslims, due to the gathering of armies from all sides and the news of the treachery of Banu Qurayzah from within the city, was as Allah Almighty has described. The extent of fear at that time and the Muslims’ devotion can be gauged from the statements of Zubair and Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with them both). Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that on the day of Ahzab, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ مَنْ يَأْتِيْنَا بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ؟ ] “Who is there who will bring us news of these (the Jews of Banu Qurayzah) people?” Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I am.” He again said: “Who is there who will bring us news of these people?” Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I am.” Then he said: “Who is there who will bring us news of these people?” Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I am.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ حَوَارِيًّا، وَ إِنَّ حَوَارِيَّ الزُّبَيْرُ ] [ بخاري، المغازي، باب غزوۃ الخندق و ھي الأحزاب : ۴۱۱۳ ] “Every prophet has a disciple (special helper), and my disciple is Zubair.” Ibrahim Taymi’s father narrates that we were with Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him), a man said: “If I had found the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), I would have fought alongside him and exerted my utmost effort.” Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Would you have done so? I saw myself and my companions with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the night of Ahzab, and a severe wind and cold had surrounded us. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ أَلَا رَجُلٌ يَأْتِيْنِيْ بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ جَعَلَهُ اللّٰهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَعِيَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ؟ ] ‘Is there anyone who will bring me news of these people, Allah Almighty will make him with me on the Day of Resurrection?’ We remained silent, no one answered him. Then he said: ‘Is there anyone who will bring me news of these people, Allah Almighty will make him with me on the Day of Resurrection?’ We remained silent and no one answered the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ قُمْ يَا حُذَيْفَةُ! فَأْتِنَا بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ ] ‘Hudhayfah! Get up and bring us news of these people.’ Now I had no choice, because he had called me by name and told me to get up. He said: [ اِذْهَبْ فَأْتِنِيْ بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ وَلَا تَذْعَرْهُمْ عَلَيَّ ] ‘Go, bring me news of these people and do not incite them against me (i.e., do not do anything that would provoke them).’ When I left his presence, it felt as if I was walking in a bathhouse, until I reached them. I saw that Abu Sufyan was warming his back by the fire. I placed an arrow on the bow and intended to shoot him, but I remembered the words of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) not to incite them against me, and if I had shot, it would have hit him directly. Then I returned, and it felt the same way, as if I was walking in a bathhouse. When I reached the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), I informed him of the news of those people, and when I was done, the cold overtook me. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) covered me with an extra blanket of his, which he used to wear while praying. I slept until morning, and when morning came, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ قُمْ يَا نَوْمَانُ! ] ‘O heavy sleeper! Get up.’ [ مسلم، الجھاد والسیر، باب غزوۃ الأحزاب : ۱۷۸۸ ]
➋ { وَ زُلْزِلُوْا زِلْزَالًا شَدِيْدًا:} The state of the Muslims, due to the gathering of armies from all sides and the news of the treachery of Banu Qurayzah from within the city, was as Allah Almighty has described. The extent of fear at that time and the Muslims’ devotion can be gauged from the statements of Zubair and Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with them both). Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that on the day of Ahzab, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ مَنْ يَأْتِيْنَا بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ؟ ] “Who is there who will bring us news of these (the Jews of Banu Qurayzah) people?” Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I am.” He again said: “Who is there who will bring us news of these people?” Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I am.” Then he said: “Who is there who will bring us news of these people?” Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I am.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ حَوَارِيًّا، وَ إِنَّ حَوَارِيَّ الزُّبَيْرُ ] [ بخاري، المغازي، باب غزوۃ الخندق و ھي الأحزاب : ۴۱۱۳ ] “Every prophet has a disciple (special helper), and my disciple is Zubair.” Ibrahim Taymi’s father narrates that we were with Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him), a man said: “If I had found the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), I would have fought alongside him and exerted my utmost effort.” Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Would you have done so? I saw myself and my companions with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the night of Ahzab, and a severe wind and cold had surrounded us. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ أَلَا رَجُلٌ يَأْتِيْنِيْ بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ جَعَلَهُ اللّٰهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَعِيَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ؟ ] ‘Is there anyone who will bring me news of these people, Allah Almighty will make him with me on the Day of Resurrection?’ We remained silent, no one answered him. Then he said: ‘Is there anyone who will bring me news of these people, Allah Almighty will make him with me on the Day of Resurrection?’ We remained silent and no one answered the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ قُمْ يَا حُذَيْفَةُ! فَأْتِنَا بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ ] ‘Hudhayfah! Get up and bring us news of these people.’ Now I had no choice, because he had called me by name and told me to get up. He said: [ اِذْهَبْ فَأْتِنِيْ بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ وَلَا تَذْعَرْهُمْ عَلَيَّ ] ‘Go, bring me news of these people and do not incite them against me (i.e., do not do anything that would provoke them).’ When I left his presence, it felt as if I was walking in a bathhouse, until I reached them. I saw that Abu Sufyan was warming his back by the fire. I placed an arrow on the bow and intended to shoot him, but I remembered the words of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) not to incite them against me, and if I had shot, it would have hit him directly. Then I returned, and it felt the same way, as if I was walking in a bathhouse. When I reached the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), I informed him of the news of those people, and when I was done, the cold overtook me. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) covered me with an extra blanket of his, which he used to wear while praying. I slept until morning, and when morning came, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ قُمْ يَا نَوْمَانُ! ] ‘O heavy sleeper! Get up.’ [ مسلم، الجھاد والسیر، باب غزوۃ الأحزاب : ۱۷۸۸ ]
