Interpretation of 3:123

Question

In Surah Ali Imran 3:123 it says:

And already had Allah given you victory at [the battle of] Badr while you were few in number. Then fear Allah ; perhaps you will be grateful.

The word by word translation from Quran.com of the phrase in bold is:

So fear - Allah SWT - So that you may - (be) grateful

What is the meaning of this phrase I don't understand. What is the relation between fear and being grateful.

Being grateful is being grateful for something of the past. But fear is, as far as I know (but CMIIW), is fear to something that may happen in the future. So how come fearing something makes somebody grateful? What's the relation? Can anyone explain on this.

Regards

Answer 1

Allah says in the the Qur'an:

وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَأَنتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

^{- Surah Ali 'Imran, Verse 123}

Maududi translates the verse as:

Indeed Allah had already succoured you in the battle of Badr when you were in a much weaker position, therefore you should refrain from showing ingratitude towards Allah: it is expected that you will be grateful now.

^{- Tafsir al-Maududi}

According to this translation, the phrase means:

Since Allah helped you win in the Battle of Badr when you were vastly outnumbered,

• you should refrain from showing ingratitude towards Allah

• it is expected that you will be grateful to Allah for everything

There are many more translations which you could view in order to help understand the phrase, some suggest have fear in Allah so you may show Him gratefulness and others suggest be mindful of Allah but all of these translations suggest that:

• Stay steadfast in the religion and observe it in piety and fear of Allah
• Then you will be grateful to Allah (i.e remaining steadfast in the religion and observe it strictly suggests you will be rewarded with Paradise and then you will thank Allah for that.)