"If a wound has touched you, then a similar wound has touched the people." Qatada said: "Al-qarh" means wounds, and that occurred on the day of Uhud; killing and wounding became widespread among the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that day. So Allah informed them that the people had suffered the same as what had afflicted them, and that what had afflicted them was a punishment. The explanation of that punishment follows later in this passage.

Muhammad said: It is said "qarh" and "qurh," and it has been recited in both ways. "Al-qurh" with a damma (u) refers to the pain of the wounds, while "al-qarh" with a fatha (a) refers to the wounds themselves. "And those days we alternate among the people, so that Allah may know those who have believed and take from among you martyrs." Qatada said: "Were it not for the fact that Allah made them alternate, the believers would not have been harmed. However, the disbeliever may be given a turn over the believer, and the believer may be given a turn over the disbeliever, so that Allah may know who obeys Him."