when the Muslims were afflicted by hardship, intense fear, cold, straitened living, and various forms of harm, as Allah Most High says: “And hearts reached the throats” (Al-Ahzab 33:10). It is also said that it was revealed concerning the Battle of Uhud.

Ata’ said: When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions entered Madinah, hardship became severe for them, for they had departed without wealth, leaving their homes and possessions in the hands of the polytheists, and had chosen the pleasure of Allah and His Messenger above all else. The Jews openly displayed hostility toward the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, while a group secretly harbored hypocrisy. Thus Allah Most High revealed, to comfort their hearts: “Or do you suppose?” That is, “Do you suppose?” The mīm is an additional particle; this was stated by Al-Farra’. Al-Zajjaj said: Rather, it means, “Do you suppose?”

The meaning of the verse is: Do you, O believers, suppose that you will enter Paradise while there has not yet come to you the like of what befell those who passed before you—namely, the prophets and believers? “Hardship afflicted them”: poverty, severity, and affliction; “and adversity”: illness and chronic disability. “And they were shaken”: that is, they were stirred by various trials and calamities, and filled with fear, “until the Messenger and those who believed with him said, ‘When will Allah’s help come?’” The affliction continued until they deemed the help long delayed.

Allah Most High said: “Indeed, Allah’s help is near.” Nafi’ recited “until the Messenger says” with the verb in the nominative, meaning, “until the Messenger said.” When the verb following “until” has the meaning of the past while its wording is that of the future (1), both the nominative and accusative readings are permissible. The accusative accords with the apparent wording, since “until” places a future verb in the accusative; the nominative is permissible because its meaning is past, and “until” does not govern a past-tense verb.

“They ask you what they should spend. Say, ‘Whatever good you spend is for parents, close relatives, orphans, the needy, and the wayfarer. And whatever good you do, Allah surely knows it well.’” (215)