[743] al-ladhīna nāfaqū, the hypocrites lurking within the Believing community.
[744] Defend yourselves.
[745] Their lame excuse being that they did not think the Believers would actually engage the Deniers in battle. They claimed that they saw battle as only a remote possibility. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)
[746] Martyrs.
[747] Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “When your brothers were struck down in the Battle of Badr, Allah placed their souls in the ˹abdominal˺ cavities of green fowls, they drink from the rivers of Paradise, eat from its fruits and come back at the end of the day to repose in chandeliers hung in the Shadow of the ˹Majestic˺ Throne. For all of this, they ˹the martyred Believers˺ said: “Who would tell our brothers about us; that we are in Paradise being handsomely provided for so that they may not give up fighting in the cause of Allah or cower in war?” Allah Almighty said: “I will tell them on your behalf”. Then He revealed: “Do not think that those who got killed in the cause of Allah are dead. Nay but they are alive with their Lord ˹being handsomely˺ provided for”. (Abū Dāwūd: 2520, Aḥmad: 2388; another version is found in Muslim: 1887)
[748] The latter.
[749] Those of the Believers who did the Prophet’s (ﷺ) bidding and chased after the retreating Makkan army until they reached the outpost of Ḥamrā’ al-Asad, on the outskirts of Madinah. These Believers had been deeply wounded and bruised in the Battle of Uḥud. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)
[750] The Deniers’ army, under the leadership of Abū Sufyān, were reported to be bracing themselves for another attack. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr)
[751] This pronouncement is one of the greatest forms of Dhikr (remembrance) during times of hardship. Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) narrated: “Ḥasbunā Allāh wa niʿma al-Wakīl (Allah suffices us, He is the best of Keepers), was said by Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) when he was thrown in the fire and was said by Muhammad (ﷺ) when it was said: “People have regrouped for you, so fear them”, their Belief ˹only˺ grew firmer and they said: “Allah suffices us, He is the best of Keepers”.” (al-Bukhārī: 4563)