8962 - My father narrated to us, Qabisah reported, Sufyan reported, from Abu Shu'ayb al-Salt ibn Dinar, from 'Uqbah ibn Suhban, he said: I heard al-Zubayr say: 'We have read it for a long time and did not consider ourselves to be among its people, but now we are the ones meant by it: "And fear a trial that will not strike those who have done wrong among you exclusively."'
8963 - My father and Isma'il ibn 'Abd Allah al-Asbahani narrated to us, both saying: Shihab ibn 'Abbad reported, Ibrahim ibn Humayd reported, from Isma'il ibn Abi Khalid, from al-Suddi, regarding: "And fear a trial that will not strike those who have done wrong among you exclusively," he said: I was informed that they are the companions of the Camel (al-Jamal).
Second interpretation:
8964 - My father narrated to us, Abu Salih reported, Mu'awiyah ibn Salih reported, from 'Ali ibn Abi Talhah, from Ibn 'Abbas, regarding: "And fear a trial that will not strike those who have done wrong among you exclusively," [he said]: Allah commanded the believers not to permit evil among them, lest Allah engulf them all in punishment.
Third interpretation:
8965 - My father narrated to us, Ibn Abi 'Umar reported, Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah reported, from al-Dahhak, regarding His saying: "And fear a trial that will not strike those who have done wrong among you exclusively," he said: It shall strike the righteous and the wrongdoer alike.
It was narrated from Habib ibn Abi Thabit similarly.
His saying, the Almighty: "And remember when you were few and oppressed."
8966 - Musa ibn Harun al-Tusi informed us—in what he wrote to me—al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Marrudhi reported, Shayban reported, from Qatadah, regarding His saying: "And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land," he said: The companions of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) were, on that day, three hundred and some odd men, and the polytheists were a thousand on that day, or close to that; and the first battle the Prophet of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) fought was the day of Badr.
His saying, the Almighty: "Fearing that people might abduct you."
8967 - My father narrated to us, Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-A'la reported, Muhammad ibn Thawr reported, from Ma'mar, from Qatadah—or a man he forgot, or both of them—regarding: "And remember when you were few and oppressed," [he said]: It was revealed concerning the day of Badr, and they were, on that day, fearing that people might abduct them.
(1). Ibn Kathir said: This is a very excellent interpretation, 3/578.