وَإِذ أَخَذنا مِنَ النَّبِيّينَ ميثاقَهُم وَمِنكَ وَمِن نوحٍ وَإِبراهيمَ وَموسىٰ وَعيسَى ابنِ مَريَمَ ۖ وَأَخَذنا مِنهُم ميثاقًا غَليظًا

We received a solemn oath from the Prophets, including you, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, son of Mary. We received from them a firm covenant.

لِيَسأَلَ الصّادِقينَ عَن صِدقِهِم ۚ وَأَعَدَّ لِلكافِرينَ عَذابًا أَليمًا

He will then question the truthful about their truthfulness, and He prepared a severe punishment for the unbelievers.

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا اذكُروا نِعمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيكُم إِذ جاءَتكُم جُنودٌ فَأَرسَلنا عَلَيهِم ريحًا وَجُنودًا لَم تَرَوها ۚ وَكانَ اللَّهُ بِما تَعمَلونَ بَصيرًا

O you who believe, remember God’s favor upon you, when armies advanced against you, and We sent upon them a wind and forces you didn’t see. God is watchful of all your actions.

إِذ جاءوكُم مِن فَوقِكُم وَمِن أَسفَلَ مِنكُم وَإِذ زاغَتِ الأَبصارُ وَبَلَغَتِ القُلوبُ الحَناجِرَ وَتَظُنّونَ بِاللَّهِ الظُّنونا

When they advanced upon you from above and below, your vision blurred, your hearts reached the throats, and you began to doubt God.

هُنالِكَ ابتُلِيَ المُؤمِنونَ وَزُلزِلوا زِلزالًا شَديدًا

There, the believers were tested and severely shaken.

وَإِذ قالَت طائِفَةٌ مِنهُم يا أَهلَ يَثرِبَ لا مُقامَ لَكُم فَارجِعوا ۚ وَيَستَأذِنُ فَريقٌ مِنهُمُ النَّبِيَّ يَقولونَ إِنَّ بُيوتَنا عَورَةٌ وَما هِيَ بِعَورَةٍ ۖ إِن يُريدونَ إِلّا فِرارًا

Among them, some said, “O people of Yathrib, you can’t withstand, so retreat.” Meanwhile, others sought permission from the Prophet, saying, “Our homes are exposed,” when they were not. They only intended to flee.

وَلَو دُخِلَت عَلَيهِم مِن أَقطارِها ثُمَّ سُئِلُوا الفِتنَةَ لَآتَوها وَما تَلَبَّثوا بِها إِلّا يَسيرًا

If they had been invaded from all sides, and they were incited to sedition, they would’ve indulged in it.

وَلَقَد كانوا عاهَدُوا اللَّهَ مِن قَبلُ لا يُوَلّونَ الأَدبارَ ۚ وَكانَ عَهدُ اللَّهِ مَسئولًا

They had previously made a covenant with God that they wouldn’t turn their backs. The covenant with God must be answered for.

قُل لَن يَنفَعَكُمُ الفِرارُ إِن فَرَرتُم مِنَ المَوتِ أَوِ القَتلِ وَإِذًا لا تُمَتَّعونَ إِلّا قَليلًا

Say, “Fleeing won’t benefit you, if you flee from death or killing. Even then, you would be indulged only a little.”

قُل مَن ذَا الَّذي يَعصِمُكُم مِنَ اللَّهِ إِن أَرادَ بِكُم سوءًا أَو أَرادَ بِكُم رَحمَةً ۚ وَلا يَجِدونَ لَهُم مِن دونِ اللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلا نَصيرًا

Say, “Who can protect you from God if He intends harm or mercy for you?” They will find no ally or helper besides God.