Sura-33 [Al Ahzab madina 90]

The Battle of Confederates or Trench [Khandaq]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

إِذْ جَاؤُوكُم مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ...

33:10 [ Ali] Behold! they came on you from above you and from below you,

...وَإِذْ زَاغَتْ الْأَبْصَارُ وَبَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ...

and behold, the eyes became dim and the hearts gaped up to the throats,

C3682. The psychology of the combatants is described with matchless vigour in the holy Text. The onrush of the enemy was really tremendous. The Trench round Madinah was between the defenders and the huge attacking force, which had some high ground behind them "above you": when any of them came through the valley or over the Trench, they seemed to come from below. The showers of arrows and stones on both sides must also have seemed to come from the air.

...وَتَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ الظُّنُونَا ﴿١٠﴾

and ye imagined various (vain) thoughts about Allah!

(33:11) [for] there and then were the believers tried, and shaken with a shock severe.

33:12 And [remember how it was] when the hypocrites and those with hearts diseased" said [to one another], "God and His Apostle have promised us nothing but delusions!" 17

هُنَالِكَ ابْتُلِيَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَزُلْزِلُوا زِلْزَالًا شَدِيدًا ﴿١١﴾

33:11 [Ali]. In that situation were the Believers tried: they were shaken as by a tremendous shaking.

وَإِذْ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ...

33:12. And behold! the Hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease (even) say:

...مَّا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا ﴿١٢﴾

"Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion!"

C3683. Before this year's mass attack on Madinah the Muslims had successfully reached the Syrian border on the north, and there were hopes of reaching Yemen in the south. The holy Prophet had seen signs of expansion and victory for the Muslims. Now that they were shut in within the Trench on the defensive, the Hypocrites taunted them with having indulged in delusive hopes. But the event showed that the hopes were not delusive. They were realized beyond expectations in a few years.

Asad’s Version:

33:10 [Asad] [Remember what you felt] when they came upon you from above you and from below you," and when [your] eyes became dim and [your] hearts came up to [your] throats, and [when] most conflicting thoughts about God passed through your minds: 15

[[Asad’s note - 15 Lit., "[when] you thought all [manner of] thoughts about God": i.e., "whether He would save you or allow your enemies to triumph" . ]]

Yuksel

33:10 For they came from above you, and from beneath you; and your eyes were terrified, and the hearts reached to the throat, and you harbored doubts about God.

33:11 That is when those who acknowledge were truly tested; they were severely shaken up.

Hypocrites among Companions of the Prophet

33:12 The hypocrites and those who have a sickness in their hearts said, "God and His messenger promised us nothing but illusions!"*