Tafsir

Reminding Muslims of Their previous State of Weakness and Subjugation which changed into Might and Triumph

Allah, the Exalted, reminds His believing servants of His blessings and favors on them. They were few and He made them many, weak and fearful and He provided them with strength and victory. They were meek and poor, and He granted them sustenance and livelihood. He ordered them to be grateful to Him, and they obeyed Him and implemented what He commanded. When the believers were still in Makkah they were few, practicing their religion in secret, oppressed, fearing that pagans, fire worshippers or Romans might kidnap them from the various parts of Allah's earth, for they were all enemies of the Muslims, especially since Muslims were few and weak. Later on, Allah permitted the believers to migrate to Al-Madinah, where He allowed them to settle in a safe resort. Allah made the people of Al-Madinah their allies, giving them refuge and support during Badr and other battles. They helped the Migrants with their wealth and gave up their lives in obedience of Allah and His Messenger .

Qatadah bin Di`amah As-Sadusi commented, وَاذْكُرُواْ إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ(And remember when you were few and were reckoned weak in the land,) "Arabs were the weakest of the weak, had the toughest life, the emptiest stomachs, the barest skin and the most obvious misguidance. Those who lived among them lived in misery; those who died went to the Fire. They were being eaten up, but unable to eat up others! By Allah! We do not know of a people on the face of the earth at that time who had a worse life than them. When Allah brought Islam, He made it dominant on the earth, thus bringing provisions and leadership for them over the necks of people. It is through Islam that Allah granted all what you see, so thank Him for His favors, for your Lord is One Who bestows favors and likes praise. Verily, those who thank Allah enjoy even more bounties from Him."

The second verse (26) also mentions several things which could make Divine injunctions easy on them. To pursuade them towards the option of obedience to Allah, Muslims have been reminded of their past weakness and of how Allah has blessed them with power and confidence by changing surrounding conditions through His grace and mercy. The text says:وَاذْكُرُ‌وا إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ تَخَافُونَ أَن يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النَّاسُ فَآوَاكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُم بِنَصْرِ‌هِ وَرَ‌زَقَكُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُ‌ونَ ﴿26﴾And remember when you were few in number, oppressed on the earth, fearing that the people would snatch you away. Then, He gave you shelter and fortified you with His support and provided you with good things, so that you may be grateful - 26.

In this verse, Muslims are being asked to remember the conditions they were facing in Makkah during the pre-Hijrah period following which they were given the finest sanctuary at Madinah. Not only that, they were also blessed with Divine support, power and victory over adversaries, as well as assets of great value. Then, towards the end of the verse, it was said: لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُ‌ونَ (so that you may be grateful). It means that the purpose behind this great transformation of conditions around them supported by the flow of Divine blessings was to give them an opportunity to show their gratefulness as obedient servants of Allah, for the finest demonstration of gratefulness, in the real sense, comes through nothing but obedience to what Allah commands them to do.

واذكروا أيها المؤمنون نِعَم الله عليكم إذ أنتم بـ «مكة» قليلو العدد مقهورون، تخافون أن يأخذكم الكفار بسرعة، فجعل لكم مأوى تأوون إليه وهو «المدينة» ، وقوَّاكم بنصره عليهم يوم «بدر» ، وأطعمكم من الطيبات -التي من جملتها الغنائم-; لكي تشكروا له على ما رزقكم وأنعم به عليكم.

ينبه تعالى عباده المؤمنين على نعمه عليهم وإحسانه إليهم ، حيث كانوا قليلين فكثرهم ، ومستضعفين خائفين فقواهم ونصرهم ، وفقراء عالة فرزقهم من الطيبات ، واستشكرهم فأطاعوه ، وامتثلوا جميع ما أمرهم . وهذا كان حال المؤمنين حال مقامهم بمكة قليلين مستخفين مضطرين يخافون أن يتخطفهم الناس من سائر بلاد الله ، من مشرك ومجوسي ورومي ، كلهم أعداء لهم لقلتهم وعدم قوتهم ، فلم يزل ذلك دأبهم حتى أذن الله لهم في الهجرة إلى المدينة ، فآواهم إليها ، وقيض لهم أهلها ، آووا ونصروا يوم بدر وغيره وآسوا بأموالهم ، وبذلوا مهجهم في طاعة الله وطاعة رسوله .قال قتادة بن دعامة السدوسي - رحمه الله - في قوله تعالى : ( واذكروا إذ أنتم قليل مستضعفون في الأرض ) قال : كان هذا الحي من العرب أذل الناس ذلا وأشقاه عيشا ، وأجوعه بطونا ، وأعراه جلودا ، وأبينه ضلالا مكعومين على رأس حجر ، بين الأسدين فارس والروم ، ولا والله ما في بلادهم يومئذ من شيء يحسدون عليه ، من عاش منهم عاش شقيا ، ومن مات منهم ردي في النار ، يؤكلون ولا يأكلون ، والله ما نعلم قبيلا من حاضر أهل الأرض يومئذ كانوا أشر منزلا منهم ، حتى جاء الله بالإسلام فمكن به في البلاد ، ووسع به في الرزق ، وجعلهم به ملوكا على رقاب الناس .

وبالإسلام أعطى الله ما رأيتم ، فاشكروا لله نعمه ، فإن ربكم منعم يحب الشكر ، وأهل الشكر في مزيد من الله [ تعالى ] .