“And He also turned in mercy to the three who were left behind, until the earth, vast as it was, became constricted for them, and their very souls became constricted for them, and they came to know that there was no refuge from Allah except in Him. Then He turned to them in mercy so that they might repent. Surely Allah alone is the Accepter of repentance, the Most Merciful. O you who believe, fear Allah and be with the truthful. It was not for the people of Medina and the Bedouins around them to stay behind the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, nor to prefer their own lives over his. That is because no thirst, fatigue, or hunger afflicts them in the cause of Allah, nor do they tread any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they inflict any loss upon an enemy, but a righteous deed is recorded for them thereby. Surely Allah does not allow the reward of those who do good to be lost.”
Allah the Exalted says: “And He also turned in mercy to the three who were left behind, until the earth, vast as it was, became constricted for them”: that is, despite its vastness. “And their very souls became constricted for them”: due to grief and distress. “And they came to know”: that is, they became certain, “that there was no refuge from Allah”: no place of escape from Allah, “except in Him. Then He turned to them in mercy so that they might repent”: that is, so that they would remain steadfast in repentance, for their repentance had already preceded this. “Surely Allah alone is the Accepter of repentance, the Most Merciful.”
“O you who believe, fear Allah and be with the truthful.” Nafiʿ said: “With Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions.” Saʿid ibn Jubayr said: “With Abu Bakr and ʿUmar, may Allah be pleased with them.” Ibn Jurayj said: “With the Emigrants,” due to His saying: “For the poor Emigrants,” up to His saying, “It is they who are the truthful” (al-Hashr 8). Ibn ʿAbbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: “With those whose intentions were sincere, whose hearts and deeds were upright, and who went forth with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, to Tabuk with sincere intention.” It was also said: “With those who truthfully admitted their sin and did not offer false excuses.”
Ibn Masʿud used to recite: “And be with the truthful.” Ibn Masʿud said: “Lying is not permissible, whether in earnest or in jest; nor should any of you promise his child something and then fail to fulfill it for him. Recite, if you wish,” and he recited this verse.
Allah the Exalted says: “It was not for the people of Medina”: its wording is declarative, but its meaning is prohibitive, like His saying: “It was not for you to offend ⦗167/A⦘ the Messenger of Allah” (al-Ahzab 53). “And the Bedouins around them”: namely, the inhabitants of the desert—Muzaynah, Juhaynah, Ashjaʿ, Aslam, and Ghifar. “To stay behind the Messenger of Allah”: when he went on campaign. “Nor to prefer”: that is, nor should they prefer, “their own lives over his”: in accompanying him, supporting him, and striving alongside him. Al-Hasan said: “They should not spare themselves from being afflicted”