سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 121
وَإِذْ غَدَوْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ تُبَوِّئُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَقَـٰعِدَ لِلْقِتَالِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿121﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (remember) when you (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) left your household in the morning to post the believers at their stations for the battle (of Uhud). And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذْ
wa-idh
And when
غَدَوْتَ
ghadawta
you left early morning
مِنْ
min
from
أَهْلِكَ
ahlika
your household
تُبَوِّئُ
tubawwi-u
to post
ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
l-mu'minīna
the believers
مَقَـٰعِدَ
maqāʿida
(to take) positions
لِلْقِتَالِ ۗ
lil'qitāli
for the battle
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
سَمِيعٌ
samīʿun
(is) All-Hearing
عَلِيمٌ
ʿalīmun
All-Knowing
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.
121. And (remember) when you left your home early in the morning to assign the believers to their battle positions (at Uhud), [110] and Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
[110]
The Background and Causes of the Battle of Uhud:
A new subject begins here, which is related to the Battle of Uhud. In Ramadan of 2 AH, the Quraysh of Makkah suffered a humiliating defeat in the Battle of Badr. After the death of Abu Jahl, Abu Sufyan took over the leadership of the Quraysh. In order to take revenge for Badr and to annihilate the Muslims, he took the following steps:
1. It was decided that all the profits from the trade caravan, which had narrowly escaped just a few days before the Battle of Badr, would be given for war expenses. From this, a huge sum of one thousand camels and fifty thousand dinars was collected for war expenditures.
2. The door for voluntary service was opened, and all the tribes hostile to Islam were invited to participate in this war. In this way, both the allied tribes of Quraysh and the tribes opposed to the Muslims gathered under the Qurayshi banner.
3. The services of two eloquent poets were obtained, who incited the Bedouin tribes to take revenge against the Muslims. In those days, this was the most effective means of war propaganda. Thus, in Shawwal of 3 AH, this army of three thousand armed men of Quraysh, under the leadership of Abu Sufyan, reached the field of Uhud. On this occasion, Abu Sufyan employed a dangerous war tactic; addressing the Ansar, he said: "We have no fight with you people. It is better if you withdraw, and we will not interfere with you." But the Ansar understood Abu Sufyan's ploy and gave him a fitting reply.
Consultation Regarding the Battle of Uhud:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ consulted the Companions ؓ as to whether this battle should be fought while staying in Madinah or by going out into the open field. His personal opinion was that it should be fought while staying in Madinah, and this was the first occasion when the opinion of Abdullah bin Ubayy, the chief of the hypocrites, was also sought, which was in agreement with the Prophet's opinion. However, the enthusiastic and young Muslims, who had not participated in Badr and whose longing for martyrdom made them restless, insisted that the battle should be fought outside in the open field, so that the enemy would not think of us as cowardly or weak. Thus, you went home, put on your armor, and came out. Some people thought that they had forced you to go out against your will. So they said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! If it is not your wish, then please stay here." You replied: "It is not appropriate for a Prophet, once he has put on his armor, to take it off without fighting."
The Role of Abdullah bin Ubayy:
When you left Madinah, about one thousand men were with you, but Abdullah bin Ubayy, taking about three hundred men (among whom were some Muslims as well), turned back from the way, saying, "When my advice was not accepted, why should we fight and needlessly put ourselves in destruction?" Eventually, you reached the battlefield with an army of seven hundred Mujahideen. According to military rules, you arranged the ranks, stationed each unit at its appropriate place, and said that the battle should not be started until I give the order.
[110]
The Background and Causes of the Battle of Uhud:
A new subject begins here, which is related to the Battle of Uhud. In Ramadan of 2 AH, the Quraysh of Makkah suffered a humiliating defeat in the Battle of Badr. After the death of Abu Jahl, Abu Sufyan took over the leadership of the Quraysh. In order to take revenge for Badr and to annihilate the Muslims, he took the following steps:
1. It was decided that all the profits from the trade caravan, which had narrowly escaped just a few days before the Battle of Badr, would be given for war expenses. From this, a huge sum of one thousand camels and fifty thousand dinars was collected for war expenditures.
2. The door for voluntary service was opened, and all the tribes hostile to Islam were invited to participate in this war. In this way, both the allied tribes of Quraysh and the tribes opposed to the Muslims gathered under the Qurayshi banner.
3. The services of two eloquent poets were obtained, who incited the Bedouin tribes to take revenge against the Muslims. In those days, this was the most effective means of war propaganda. Thus, in Shawwal of 3 AH, this army of three thousand armed men of Quraysh, under the leadership of Abu Sufyan, reached the field of Uhud. On this occasion, Abu Sufyan employed a dangerous war tactic; addressing the Ansar, he said: "We have no fight with you people. It is better if you withdraw, and we will not interfere with you." But the Ansar understood Abu Sufyan's ploy and gave him a fitting reply.
Consultation Regarding the Battle of Uhud:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ consulted the Companions ؓ as to whether this battle should be fought while staying in Madinah or by going out into the open field. His personal opinion was that it should be fought while staying in Madinah, and this was the first occasion when the opinion of Abdullah bin Ubayy, the chief of the hypocrites, was also sought, which was in agreement with the Prophet's opinion. However, the enthusiastic and young Muslims, who had not participated in Badr and whose longing for martyrdom made them restless, insisted that the battle should be fought outside in the open field, so that the enemy would not think of us as cowardly or weak. Thus, you went home, put on your armor, and came out. Some people thought that they had forced you to go out against your will. So they said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! If it is not your wish, then please stay here." You replied: "It is not appropriate for a Prophet, once he has put on his armor, to take it off without fighting."
The Role of Abdullah bin Ubayy:
When you left Madinah, about one thousand men were with you, but Abdullah bin Ubayy, taking about three hundred men (among whom were some Muslims as well), turned back from the way, saying, "When my advice was not accepted, why should we fight and needlessly put ourselves in destruction?" Eventually, you reached the battlefield with an army of seven hundred Mujahideen. According to military rules, you arranged the ranks, stationed each unit at its appropriate place, and said that the battle should not be started until I give the order.
