The Holy Quran 3:167 — Surah Ali 'Imran

Arabic text

وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَافَقُوا۟ ۚ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا۟ قَـٰتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَوِ ٱدْفَعُوا۟ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالًا لَّٱتَّبَعْنَـٰكُمْ ۗ هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلْإِيمَـٰنِ ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَٰهِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَكْتُمُونَ

Translation

...and so that He may (make people) know who the hypocrites are. (Consequently, people knew who the hypocrites were when they deserted the Muslim army before the battle.) (The hypocrites are) Those to whom it was told (when they began leaving the Muslims army), "Come and fight in the way of Allaah or (a least) defend (yourselves and your city even as noncombatant members of the army) !" They replied, "If we knew (that) fighting (would be of any benefit against such odds), we would have definitely followed you." That day they (the hypocrites) were closer to kufr than they were to Imaan. They spoke with their tongues what was not in their hearts (they claimed to have Imaan when they did not). Allaah knows well what they conceal (in their hearts that the Muslims should be defeated).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The wisdom of the temporary defeat at Uhud: He makes whomever He wills prevail when He wills, and be overcome when He wills. Causing them to be overcome is not because He was not able at that time to grant victory, but because through your own acts and choice a situation arose in which there was no wisdom in granting complete victory.

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