سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 155
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْا۟ مِنكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْتَقَى ٱلْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا ٱسْتَزَلَّهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُوا۟ ۖ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ ﴿155﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Those of you who turned back on the day the two hosts met (i.e. the battle of Uhud), it was Shaitân (Satan) who caused them to backslide (run away from the battlefield) because of some (sins) they had earned. But Allâh, indeed, has forgiven them. Surely, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
تَوَلَّوْا۟
tawallaw
turned back
مِنكُمْ
minkum
among you
يَوْمَ
yawma
(on the) day
ٱلْتَقَى
l-taqā
met
ٱلْجَمْعَانِ
l-jamʿāni
the two hosts
إِنَّمَا
innamā
only
ٱسْتَزَلَّهُمُ
is'tazallahumu
made them slip
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ
l-shayṭānu
the Shaitaan
بِبَعْضِ
bibaʿḍi
for some
مَا
mā
(of) what
كَسَبُوا۟ ۖ
kasabū
they (had) earned
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And surely
عَفَا
ʿafā
forgave
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
عَنْهُمْ ۗ
ʿanhum
[on] them
إِنَّ
inna
indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
غَفُورٌ
ghafūrun
(is) Oft-Forgiving
حَلِيمٌۭ
ḥalīmun
All-Forbearing
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.
155. Indeed, those of you who turned back on the day the two armies met, it was Satan who caused them to slip because of some of their misdeeds [148]. But Allah has already forgiven them, for Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Forbearing.
[148]
The Companions Who Gathered Around You at Uhud:
That is, the Battle of Uhud which took place between the Muslims and the disbelievers of Makkah. After this defeat, some sincere Muslims also chose the path of fleeing, especially at the time when the rumor of your death spread and the Muslims lost their composure. In this verse, by ﴿بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُوْا﴾ is also meant the same mistake of leaving the mountain pass and disobeying the Messenger of Allah that was committed by the Muslims, and this act of fleeing was not due to their own resolve, but rather it was a satanic deception; otherwise, their hearts were firm upon faith. During this time, only thirteen or fourteen Muslims remained with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, among whom were seven Muhajirun and seven Ansar. Among the Muhajirun were Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ, Umar Farooq ؓ, Ali ؓ, Talhah bin Ubaidullah ؓ, Abdur Rahman bin Awf ؓ, Zubair bin Awwam ؓ, and Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas ؓ, and Uthman ؓ was also among those who had chosen the path of fleeing. Thus, the Shia criticize Uthman ؓ for this as well. However, Allah Himself is saying that this fleeing was merely a satanic deception, not due to weakness of faith, and Allah has forgiven the fault of these people.
The Virtue of Sayyiduna Sa'd ؓ and Talhah ؓ:
When you were wounded and the disbelievers surrounded you, during this time two companions, Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas and Talhah bin Ubaidullah ؓ, presented unparalleled examples of self-sacrifice to protect your life. Thus, Ali ؓ says that after Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas, I have not seen anyone else for whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed himself or his parents. On the day of the Battle of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say to Sa'd ؓ, "Shoot arrows, may my parents be sacrificed for you."
[بخاری، کتاب الجہاد باب المجن ومن یتترس بترس صاحبہ]
Talhah ؓ stood in front of you. He was also an expert archer. Whoever passed by, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say, "Hand your arrows over to Talhah ؓ." Then a time came when Talhah ؓ had nothing left to block the arrows of the disbelievers, so he put forward his own arm and bore all the arrows on it. When one arm became paralyzed, he put forward the other. Thus, Qais bin Abi Hazim says that I saw the hand of Talhah ؓ with which he protected the Messenger of Allah ﷺ; it had become completely paralyzed.
[بخاری، کتاب المناقب، باب ذکر طلحة بن عبید اللہ]
[148]
The Companions Who Gathered Around You at Uhud:
That is, the Battle of Uhud which took place between the Muslims and the disbelievers of Makkah. After this defeat, some sincere Muslims also chose the path of fleeing, especially at the time when the rumor of your death spread and the Muslims lost their composure. In this verse, by ﴿بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُوْا﴾ is also meant the same mistake of leaving the mountain pass and disobeying the Messenger of Allah that was committed by the Muslims, and this act of fleeing was not due to their own resolve, but rather it was a satanic deception; otherwise, their hearts were firm upon faith. During this time, only thirteen or fourteen Muslims remained with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, among whom were seven Muhajirun and seven Ansar. Among the Muhajirun were Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ, Umar Farooq ؓ, Ali ؓ, Talhah bin Ubaidullah ؓ, Abdur Rahman bin Awf ؓ, Zubair bin Awwam ؓ, and Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas ؓ, and Uthman ؓ was also among those who had chosen the path of fleeing. Thus, the Shia criticize Uthman ؓ for this as well. However, Allah Himself is saying that this fleeing was merely a satanic deception, not due to weakness of faith, and Allah has forgiven the fault of these people.
The Virtue of Sayyiduna Sa'd ؓ and Talhah ؓ:
When you were wounded and the disbelievers surrounded you, during this time two companions, Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas and Talhah bin Ubaidullah ؓ, presented unparalleled examples of self-sacrifice to protect your life. Thus, Ali ؓ says that after Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas, I have not seen anyone else for whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed himself or his parents. On the day of the Battle of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say to Sa'd ؓ, "Shoot arrows, may my parents be sacrificed for you."
[بخاری، کتاب الجہاد باب المجن ومن یتترس بترس صاحبہ]
Talhah ؓ stood in front of you. He was also an expert archer. Whoever passed by, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say, "Hand your arrows over to Talhah ؓ." Then a time came when Talhah ؓ had nothing left to block the arrows of the disbelievers, so he put forward his own arm and bore all the arrows on it. When one arm became paralyzed, he put forward the other. Thus, Qais bin Abi Hazim says that I saw the hand of Talhah ؓ with which he protected the Messenger of Allah ﷺ; it had become completely paralyzed.
[بخاری، کتاب المناقب، باب ذکر طلحة بن عبید اللہ]
