Quran Garden

Session 469

Chapter 3

Verses 140 and 141

If a wound has touched you, then a similar wound touched the others.  Such are the days – We deal them out in turns among people so that God may know those who believe and select from among you witnesses to the truth; – God does not love the wrongdoers. 

(Chapter 3: Verse 140)

Let's study the phrase, "so that God may know those who believe and select from among you witnesses to the truth." At times of victory, many people who had nothing to do with the battle claim that they helped and demand their piece of the glory.  Times of defeat are different.  They are better truth detectors and give you a clear idea about the people who bear responsibility, believe in your cause, and share the cost and accountability. 

Some people point to the phrase "so that God may know those who believe" and say: Isn't God All-knowing?  Doesn't He recognize the believers from the non-believers?  We answer that Allah has complete knowledge of everything, but His knowledge is unseen to us; thus, He does not use it as evidence to judge us.  Allah makes His knowledge manifest through the tests and trials we go through; only then does He use it to judge our actions.  Let me clarify with an example.  At the end of the school year, the principal comes to the teacher and says: "We need to conduct an examination to know the good students from the bad ones.  We can then plan a have a graduation party to honor those who succeed while the failing students go through summer school."  The teacher objects and says, "We do not need an exam.  I can tell you exactly who will pass and who will fail.  I can even rank the entire class for you from top to bottom!" But the principal insists on the examination because he does not want trouble from the parents.  So the principal tasks a different teacher to develop and administer an exam; sure enough, the results are exactly as the students' teacher predicted.  Here we ask: Was the teacher who taught these students all year unaware of what the students know?  Did he intend to obtain this knowledge through the exam?  Of course not!  Every competent teacher can tell you who will ace the test and who will fail.  Testing is necessary because it presents the evidence to the students themselves.  If a student comes to argue, all the teacher has to do is point to the test score.  On the other hand, if the exam was not conducted, every parent and student can claim they deserve high grades and honors.

If this is how we, as people, know each other, how about the Almighty?  He has complete knowledge of what we do and what is within our hearts.  But Allah does not use His knowledge against you and say, "I know if there were a battle, you would flee the field." He, the All-Wise, will put you through the test and then present your actions as evidence.   The trials of life are your chance to think, act, and get to know yourself.  Thus, the phrase "so that God may know those who believe" is meant to bring God's knowledge to us, not the other way around.       

The verse continues with, "so that God may know those who believe and select from among you witnesses to the truth." The verb 'select' means to choose someone for special honors and high status. 

The phrase "witnesses to the truth" is translated from the Arabic شُ?َدَا?ءَ (Shuhada), which carries many meanings.  In battle, شُ?َدَا?ءَ (Shuhada) refers to martyrs who are killed on the field.  They are selected for a far better life with the Lord.  He says,

Do not think at all of those killed in God's cause as dead.  Rather, they are alive with their Lord; they have their sustenance. (3:169)

Some people ask: when the graves of the martyrs are disturbed, all we find are bones and dirt; where is this wonderful life you claim?  We answer that you should read the verse carefully; "They are alive with their Lord," not with you, and are provided for in heaven, not on earth. 

شُ?َدَا?ءَ (Shuhada) also means "witnesses to the truth," such as the principles the battle was fought over.  The truth is so valuable that it warranted the sacrifice of wealth and soul to preserve it.   Every person loves good for him or herself, and those who sacrifice see more value in the truth than life itself. 

The verse ends with, "God does not love the wrongdoers." This statement was on full display in the battle of Uhud.  Allah, the Almighty, does not like wrongdoers, whether Muslim or not.  As soon as the Muslims violated the command of Prophet Muhammad, they lost God's support and were left to manage the battle alone.  Even though they were fighting the disbelievers who opposed everything Islam stood for, Allah did not appease the Muslims who did not abide by the mandates of faith.  The battle of Uhud was a purification test for the believers and another step on the road of eroding the disbelievers' power.   God says in the next Aya of Al Imran,

And so that Allah may purge those who have faith and that He may wipe out the faithless.  (Chapter 3: Verse 141)