“Then, after sorrow, He sent down upon you a sense of security—a drowsiness that overcame a group of you—while another group was concerned only about themselves, harboring false assumptions about Allah—the assumptions of the Age of Ignorance. They said, ‘Have we any part in the matter?’ Say, ‘The matter belongs entirely to Allah.’ They conceal within themselves what they do not reveal to you, saying, ‘Had we any part in the matter, we would not have been killed here.’ Say, ‘Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death had been decreed would have gone forth to their places of death.’ This was so that Allah might test what was within your breasts and purge what was within your hearts. And Allah knows well what lies within—”

“Then, after the sorrow” that had befallen you, “He sent down upon you a sense of security—a drowsiness that overcame a group of you.”

There is no doubt that this was mercy and kindness toward them, strengthening their hearts and increasing their tranquility. A fearful person cannot become drowsy because of the fear within his heart; once that fear leaves the heart, however, drowsiness can come over him.

The group whom Allah blessed with drowsiness were the believers, whose sole concern was to uphold Allah’s religion, seek the pleasure of Allah and His Messenger, and secure the welfare of their Muslim brothers.

As for the other group, those “who were concerned only about themselves,” they had no concern beyond themselves because of their hypocrisy or weakness of faith. Consequently, they were not overtaken by the drowsiness that overcame the others. “They said, ‘Have we any part in the matter?’” This is a rhetorical question expressing denial; that is, they believed they had no share in the matter—meaning victory and ascendancy. They thought ill of their Lord, His religion, and His Prophet. They imagined that Allah would not bring His Messenger’s cause to completion and that this defeat would be the decisive end and death blow to Allah’s religion. Allah answered them: “Say, ‘The matter belongs entirely to Allah.’” The word “matter” encompasses both Allah’s decree governing creation and His commands in revealed law. All things unfold by Allah’s decree and predestination, while the ultimate outcome (1)—victory and triumph—belongs to His allies and obedient servants, whatever may befall them along the way.

Regarding the hypocrites, Allah says: “They conceal within themselves what they do not reveal to you.” He then explained what they were concealing: “They say, ‘Had we any part in the matter’”—that is, had our opinion and counsel been followed in this affair—“we would not have been killed here.” This was their denial and rejection of Allah’s predestination, their disparagement of the judgment of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions, and their vindication of themselves. Allah refuted them by saying: “Say, ‘Even if you had remained in your homes,’” which are farthest removed from places where death might be expected, “those for whom death had been decreed would have gone forth to their places of death.” Means, however powerful, are effective only when they are not opposed by predestination and the divine decree. When predestination opposes them, they are of no benefit whatsoever. Allah will inevitably bring to pass what He has written in the Preserved Tablet concerning death and life.

“This was so that Allah might test what was within your breasts,” that is, test the hypocrisy, faith, or weakness of faith contained therein, “and purge what was within your hearts” of Satan’s whisperings and the blameworthy traits that resulted from them.

“And Allah knows well what lies within the breasts,” meaning all that they contain and conceal. His knowledge and wisdom therefore required that He ordain circumstances through which what lies hidden within breasts and the secret realities of affairs would be brought to light.

Then the Exalted said: