because of some of what they had earned. But Allah has pardoned them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing.” He also said concerning it:

“Allah certainly fulfilled His promise to you when you were killing them by His permission, until you lost courage, disputed the command, and disobeyed after He had shown you what you loved. Among you are those who desire this world, and among you are those who desire the Hereafter. Then He turned you away from them to test you. But He has pardoned you, and Allah is gracious to the believers.”

He also said concerning it:

“When a calamity befell you, although you had inflicted twice as much, did you say, ‘How has this happened?’ Say, ‘It is from yourselves.’ Indeed, Allah has power over all things.”

Satan had cried out among the people that Muhammad had been killed. Some were shaken by this and fled, while others stood firm and fought. Allah Most High said:

“Muhammad is no more than a messenger; other messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels? Whoever turns back on his heels will not harm Allah at all, and Allah will reward the grateful.”

This resembled the Muslims’ situation when they were defeated last year. Their defeat last year was due to manifest sins and evident transgressions: corrupt intentions, boasting, arrogance, oppression, indecencies, turning away from the judgment of the Book and the Sunnah and from observing Allah’s obligations, and aggression against many Muslims in the lands of al-Jazīrah and Rūm. Their enemy had initially been content with a truce and peaceful relations with them and was beginning to embrace Islam.