Hard Times Exposes The Hypocrites and Strengthens The Believers (3:165 – 3:168)
Quran Talk Blog · Article · April 27, 2015
3:165 Now that you have suffered a setback, and even though you inflicted twice as much suffering (upon your enemy), you said, “Why did this happen to us?” Say, “This is a consequence of your own deeds.” GOD is Omnipotent.
3:166 What afflicted you the day the two armies clashed was in accordance with GOD’s will, and to distinguish the believers.
3:167 And to expose the hypocrites who were told, “Come fight in the cause of GOD, or contribute.” They said, “If we knew how to fight, we would have joined you.” They were closer to disbelief then than they were to belief. They uttered with their mouths what was not in their hearts. GOD knows what they conceal.
3:168 They said of their kinsmen, as they stayed behind, “Had they obeyed us, they would not have been killed.” Say, “Then prevent your own death, if you are truthful.”