Surah Al-Imran >> Currently viewing Surah Imran Ayat 154 (3:154)

Surah Al-Imran Ayat 154 in Arabic Text

ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ ٱلۡغَمِّ أَمَنَةٗ نُّعَاسٗا يَغۡشَىٰ طَآئِفَةٗ مِّنكُمۡۖ وَطَآئِفَةٞ قَدۡ أَهَمَّتۡهُمۡ أَنفُسُهُمۡ يَظُنُّونَ بِٱللَّهِ غَيۡرَ ٱلۡحَقِّ ظَنَّ ٱلۡجَٰهِلِيَّةِۖ يَقُولُونَ هَل لَّنَا مِنَ ٱلۡأَمۡرِ مِن شَيۡءٖۗ قُلۡ إِنَّ ٱلۡأَمۡرَ كُلَّهُۥ لِلَّهِۗ يُخۡفُونَ فِيٓ أَنفُسِهِم مَّا لَا يُبۡدُونَ لَكَۖ يَقُولُونَ لَوۡ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ ٱلۡأَمۡرِ شَيۡءٞ مَّا قُتِلۡنَا هَٰهُنَاۗ قُل لَّوۡ كُنتُمۡ فِي بُيُوتِكُمۡ لَبَرَزَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡقَتۡلُ إِلَىٰ مَضَاجِعِهِمۡۖ وَلِيَبۡتَلِيَ ٱللَّهُ مَا فِي صُدُورِكُمۡ وَلِيُمَحِّصَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِكُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
Summa anzala ‘alaikum mim ba’dil ghammi amanatan nu’aasai yaghshaa taaa’ ifatam minkum wa taaa’ifatun qad ahammat-hum anfusuhum yazunnoona billaahi ghairal haqqi zannal jaahiliyyati yaqooloona hal lanaa minal amri min shai’; qul innal amra kullahoo lillaah; yukhfoona fee anfusihim maa laa yubdoona laka yaqooloona law kaana lanaa minal amri shai’ummaa qutilnaa haahunaa; qul law kuntum fee buyootikum labarazal lazeena kutiba ‘alaihimul qatlu ilaa madaaji’ihim wa liyabtaliyal laahu maa fee sudoorikum wa liyumah hisa maa fee quloobikum; wallaahu ‘aleemum bizaatis sudoor

English Translation

Here you can read various translations of verse 154

Sahih International
Then after distress, He sent down upon you security [in the form of] drowsiness, overcoming a faction of you, while another faction worried about themselves, thinking of Allah other than the truth – the thought of ignorance, saying, “Is there anything for us [to have done] in this matter?” Say, “Indeed, the matter belongs completely to Allah.” They conceal within themselves what they will not reveal to you. They say, “If there was anything we could have done in the matter, some of us would not have been killed right here.” Say, “Even if you had been inside your houses, those decreed to be killed would have come out to their death beds.” [It was] so that Allah might test what is in your breasts and purify what is in your hearts. And Allah is Knowing of that within the breasts.

Yusuf Ali
After (the excitement) of the distress, He sent down calm on a band of you overcome with slumber, while another band was stirred to anxiety by their own feelings, Moved by wrong suspicions of Allah-suspicions due to ignorance. They said: “What affair is this of ours?” Say thou: “Indeed, this affair is wholly Allah’s.” They hide in their minds what they dare not reveal to thee. They say (to themselves): “If we had had anything to do with this affair, We should not have been in the slaughter here.” Say: “Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death”; but (all this was) that Allah might test what is in your breasts and purge what is in your hearts. For Allah knoweth well the secrets of your hearts.

Abul Ala Maududi
Then, after inflict-ing this grief, He sent down an inner peace upon you – a sleep which overtook some of you. Those who were concerned merely about themselves, entertaining false notions about Allah – the notions of the Age of Ignorance – asked: ‘Have we any say in the matter?’ Tell them: ‘Truly, all power of decision rests solely with Allah.’ Indeed, they conceal in their hearts what they would not reveal to you, saying: ‘If we had any power of decision, we would not have been slain here.’ Say: ‘Even if you had been in your houses, those for whom slaying had been appointed would have gone forth to the places where they were to be slain.’ And all this happened so that Allah might test your secret thoughts and purge your hearts of all impurities. Allah knows well what is in the breasts of men.

Muhsin Khan
Then after the distress, He sent down security for you. Slumber overtook a party of you, while another party was thinking about themselves (as how to save their ownselves, ignoring the others and the Prophet SAW) and thought wrongly of Allah – the thought of ignorance. They said, “Have we any part in the affair?” Say you (O Muhammad SAW): “Indeed the affair belongs wholly to Allah.” They hide within themselves what they dare not reveal to you, saying: “If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here.” Say: “Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death,” but that Allah might test what is in your breasts; and to Mahis that which was in your hearts (sins), and Allah is All-Knower of what is in (your) breasts.

Pickthall
Then, after grief, He sent down security for you. As slumber did it overcome a party of you, while (the other) party, who were anxious on their own account, thought wrongly of Allah, the thought of ignorance. They said: Have we any part in the cause? Say (O Muhammad): The cause belongeth wholly to Allah. They hide within themselves (a thought) which they reveal not unto thee, saying: Had we had any part in the cause we should not have been slain here. Say: Even though ye had been in your houses, those appointed to be slain would have gone forth to the places where they were to lie. (All this hath been) in order that Allah might try what is in your breasts and prove what is in your hearts. Allah is Aware of what is hidden in the breasts (of men).

Dr. Ghali
Thereafter He sent down upon you, even after suffering, secure (reassurance), a drowsiness enveloping a section of you; and a section already (became) anxious, surmising other than the truth about Allah, the surmise (s) of (pagan) ignorance. They say, “Have we anything to do with the Command?” Say, “Surely the Command is entirely to Allah.” They conceal within themselves what they do not display to you; they say, “If we had had anything to do with the Command, we would not have been killed here now.” Say, “If you had been in your homes, the ones for whom killing was prescribed would indeed have gone forth to their recumbencies.” And that (is so that) Allah might try whatever was in your breasts, and that He might prove whatever is in your hearts; and Allah is Ever-Knowing of whatever is within the breasts (Literally: what the breasts own).

Abdel Haleem
After sorrow, He caused calm to descend upon you, a sleep that overtook some of you. Another group, caring only for themselves, entertained false thoughts about God, thoughts more appropriate to pagan ignorance, and said, ‘Do we get a say in any of this?’ [Prophet], tell them, ‘Everything to do with this affair is in God’s hands.’ They conceal in their hearts things they will not reveal to you. They say, ‘If we had had our say in this, none of us would have been killed here.’ Tell them, ‘Even if you had resolved to stay at home, those who were destined to be killed would still have gone out to meet their deaths.’ God did this in order to test everything within you and in order to prove what is in your hearts. God knows your innermost thoughts very well.

Muhammad Junagarhi
پھر اس نے اس غم کے بعد تم پر امن نازل فرمایا اور تم میں سے ایک جماعت کو امن کی نیند آنے لگی۔ ہاں کچھ وه لوگ بھی تھے کہ انہیں اپنی جانوں کی پڑی ہوئی تھی، وه اللہ تعالیٰ کے ساتھ ناحق جہالت بھری بدگمانیاں کر رہے تھے اور کہتے تھے کیا ہمیں بھی کسی چیز کا اختیار ہے؟ آپ کہہ دیجئے کہ کام کل کا کل اللہ کے اختیار میں ہے، یہ لوگ اپنے دلوں کے بھید آپ کو نہیں بتاتے، کہتے ہیں کہ اگر ہمیں کچھ بھی اختیار ہوتا تو یہاں قتل نہ کئے جاتے۔ آپ کہہ دیجئے کہ گو تم اپنے گھروں میں ہوتے پھر بھی جن کی قمست میں قتل ہونا تھا وه تو مقتل کی طرف چل کھڑے ہوتے، اللہ تعالیٰ کو تمہارے سینوں کے اندر کی چیز کا آزمانا اور جو کچھ تمہارے دلوں میں ہے، اس کو پاک کرنا تھا، اور اللہ تعالی سینوں کے بھید سے آگاه ہے

Quran 3 Verse 154 Explanation

For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Imran ayat 154, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.

Ala-Maududi

(3:154) Then, after inflict-ing this grief, He sent down an inner peace upon you – a sleep which overtook some of you.[112] Those who were concerned merely about themselves, entertaining false notions about Allah – the notions of the Age of Ignorance – asked: ‘Have we any say in the matter?’ Tell them: Truly, all power of decision rests solely with Allah.’ Indeed, they conceal in their hearts what they would not reveal to you, saying: ‘If we had any power of decision, we would not have been slain here.’ Say: ‘Even if you had been in your houses, those for whom slaying had been appointed would have gone forth to the places where they were to be slain.’ And all this happened so that Allah might test your secret thoughts and purge your hearts of all impurities. Allah knows well what is in the breasts of men.


112. A strange phenomenon was then experienced by certain Muslim soldiers. Abu Talhah, who took part in the battle, states that the Muslims were seized by such drowsiness that their swords were slipping from their hands. (For several Traditions stating this incident, including one related by Abu Talhah, see Waqidi, Maghazi, vol. 1, pp. 295-6 – Ed.)

Ibn-Kathir

154. Then after the distress, He sent down security for you. Slumber overtook a party of you, while another party was thinking about themselves and thought wrongly of Allah — the thought of ignorance. They said, “Have we any part in the affair” Say: “Indeed the affair belongs wholly to Allah.” They hide within themselves what they dare not reveal to you, saying: “If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here.” Say: “Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death,” but that Allah might test what is in your breasts; and to purify that which was in your hearts (sins), and Allah is All-Knower of what is in the breasts. 155. Those of you who turned back on the day the two hosts met, Shaytan only caused them to err because of some of what they had earned. But Allah, indeed, has forgiven them. Surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.


Slumber Overcame the Believers; the Fear that the Hypocrites Suffered

Allah reminds His servants of His favor when He sent down on them tranquillity and slumber that overcame them while they were carrying their weapons and feeling distress and grief. In this case, slumber is a favor and carries meanings of calmness and safety. For instance, Allah said in Surat Al-Anfal about the battle of Badr,

﴿إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ النُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةً مِّنْهُ﴾

((Remember) when He covered you with a slumber as a security from Him) ﴿8:11﴾.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Anas said that, Abu Talhah said, “I was among those who were overcome by slumber during the battle of Uhud. My sword fell from my hand several times and I would pick it up, then it would fall and I would pick it up again.” Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith in the stories of the battles without a chain of narration, and in the book of Tafsir with a chain of narrators. At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i and Al-Hakim recorded from Anas that Abu Talhah said, “On the day of Uhud, I raised my head and looked around and found that everyone’s head was nodding from slumber.” This is the wording of At-Tirmidhi, who said, “Hasan Sahih”. An-Nasa’i also recorded this Hadith from Anas who said that Abu Talhah said, “I was among those who were overcome by slumber.”

The second group mentioned in the Ayah were the hypocrites who only thought about themselves, for they are the most cowardly people and those least likely to support the truth,

﴿يَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ ظَنَّ الْجَـهِلِيَّةِ﴾

(and thought wrongly of Allah – the thought of ignorance) ﴿3:154﴾, for they are liars and people who have doubts and evil thoughts about Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored. Allah said,

﴿ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِّن بَعْدِ الْغَمِّ أَمَنَةً نُّعَاساً يَغْشَى طَآئِفَةً مِّنْكُمْ﴾

(Then after the distress, He sent down security for you. Slumber overtook a party of you), the people of faith, certainty, firmness and reliance (on Allah) who are certain that Allah shall give victory to His Messenger and fulfill his objective.

﴿وَطَآئِفَةٌ قَدْ أَهَمَّتْهُمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ﴾

(While another party was thinking about themselves), and they were not overcome by slumber because of their worry, fright and fear,

﴿يَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ ظَنَّ الْجَـهِلِيَّةِ﴾

(and thought wrongly of Allah — the thought of ignorance).

Similarly, Allah said in another statement,

﴿بَلْ ظَنَنْتُمْ أَن لَّن يَنقَلِبَ الرَّسُولُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَى أَهْلِيهِمْ أَبَداً﴾

(Nay, but you thought that the Messenger and the believers would never return to their families) ﴿48:12﴾.

This group thought that the idolators achieved ultimate victory, when their forces took the upper hand in battle, and that Islam and its people would perish. This is typical of people of doubt and hesitation, in the event of a hardship, they fall into such evil thoughts. Allah then described them that,

﴿يَقُولُونَ﴾

(they said) in this situation,

﴿هَل لَّنَا مِنَ الاٌّمْرِ مِن شَىْءٍ﴾

(“Have we any part in the affair”) Allah replied,

﴿قُلْ إِنَّ الاٌّمْرَ كُلَّهُ للَّهِ يُخْفُونَ فِى أَنْفُسِهِم مَّا لاَ يُبْدُونَ لَكَ﴾

(Say: “Indeed the affair belongs wholly to Allah.” They hide within themselves what they dare not reveal to you.) wAllah exposed their secrets, that is,

﴿يَقُولُونَ لَوْ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ الاٌّمْرِ شَىْءٌ مَّا قُتِلْنَا هَـهُنَا﴾

(saying: “If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here.”) although they tried to conceal this thought from the Messenger of Allah .

Ibn Ishaq recorded that `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr said that Az-Zubayr said, “I was with the Messenger of Allah when fear intensified and Allah sent sleep to us (during the battle of Uhud). At that time, every man among us (except the hypocrites) was nodding off. By Allah! As if in a dream, I heard the words of Mu`attib bin Qushayr, `If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here.’ I memorized these words of his, which Allah mentioned later on,

﴿يَقُولُونَ لَوْ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ الاٌّمْرِ شَىْءٌ مَّا قُتِلْنَا هَـهُنَا﴾

(saying: “If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here.)”

Ibn Abi Hatim collected this Hadith.

Allah the Exalted said,

﴿قُل لَّوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُيُوتِكُمْ لَبَرَزَ الَّذِينَ كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقَتْلُ إِلَى مَضَاجِعِهِمْ﴾

(Say: “Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death,”) meaning, this is Allah’s appointed destiny and a decision that will certainly come to pass, and there is no escaping it. Allah’s statement,

﴿وَلِيَبْتَلِىَ اللَّهُ مَا فِى صُدُورِكُمْ وَلِيُمَحِّصَ مَا فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ﴾

(that Allah might test what is in your breasts; and to purify that which was in your hearts,) means, so that He tests you with whatever befell you, to distinguish good from evil and the deeds and statements of the believers from those of the hypocrites,

﴿وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ﴾

(and Allah is All-Knower of what is in the breasts), and what the hearts conceal.

Some of the Believers Give Flight on the Day of Uhud

Allah then said,

﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْاْ مِنكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّهُمُ الشَّيْطَـنُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُواْ﴾

(Those of you who turned back on the day the two hosts met, Shaytan only caused them to err because of some of what they had earned) ﴿3:155﴾,

because of some of their previous errors. Indeed, some of the Salaf said, “The reward of the good deed includes being directed to another good deed that follows it, while the retribution of sin includes committing another sin that follows it.” Allah then said,

﴿وَلَقَدْ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ﴾

(but Allah, indeed, has forgiven them), their giving flight,

﴿أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ﴾

(surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing)

He forgives sins, pardons and exonerates His creatures. Imam Ahmad recorded that Shaqiq said, ” `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf met Al-Walid bin `Uqbah, who said to him, `Why did you desert `Uthman, the Leader of the Faithful’ `Abdur-Rahman said, `Tell him that I did not run away during Uhud, remain behind during Badr, nor abandon the Sunnah of `Umar.’ Al-Walid told `Uthman what `Abdur-Rahman said. `Uthman replied, `As for his statement, `I did not run away during Uhud,’ how can he blame me for an error that Allah has already forgiven. Allah said,

﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْاْ مِنكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّهُمُ الشَّيْطَـنُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُواْ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ﴾

(Those of you who turned back on the day the two hosts met, Shaytan only caused them to err because of some of what they had earned. But Allah, indeed, has forgiven them).

As for his statement that I remained behind from participating in Badr, I was nursing Ruqayyah, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah , until she passed away. The Messenger of Allah gave me a share in the booty of Badr, and whoever gets a share in the booty from the Messenger of Allah will have participated in battle. As for his statement that I abandoned the Sunnah of `Umar, neither I nor he are able to endure it. Go and convey this answer to him.”’

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surah al-imran ayat 154
surah al-imran ayat 155
surah al-imran ayat 156
surah al-imran ayat 157
surah al-imran ayat 158

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