Translation of the meanings Ayah 16 Surah At-Tawbah - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 16

أَمۡ حَسِبۡتُمۡ أَن تُتۡرَكُواْ وَلَمَّا يَعۡلَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ جَٰهَدُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَلَمۡ يَتَّخِذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا رَسُولِهِۦ وَلَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَلِيجَةٗۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ

(16) Or you ˹Believers˺ thought that you would be left ˹alone˺ ere Allah Knows^[2040] those of you who strove and did not take any, besides Allah, nor the Messenger, nor the Believers as bosom friends^[2041]—Allah is indeed Knowledgeable of whatever you do.

[2040] An all-evident knowledge, seen by all, on which reward and punishment are based (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Zajjāj, Maʿānī al-Qur’ān, Ibn al-Jawzī): “Allah would not have left the Believers as you were, until He sorted out the bad from the good…” (3: 179); “Do people think they will be left alone after saying: “We Believe” without being put to trial?” (29: 2); “And We shall test you until We know those among you who strive ˹in the path of Allah˺ and those who are patient, and We shall verify your proclamations” (47: 31).
[2041] An inner circle of close confidants (walījah) among the Deniers with whom they align themselves and to whom they reveal the Believers’ secrets (cf. 5: 51-53, al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr).