إِذْ جَآءُوكُم مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ وَإِذْ زَاغَتِ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ وَبَلَغَتِ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٱلْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّونَ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلظُّنُونَا۠
Commentary:
The verse constitutes a very revealing commentary on the mightiness of the forces of disbelief and the most desperate state in which Muslims were then placed. The disbelievers burst upon Medina from every direction.
The words, "from above you and from below you" mean, from the heights of Medina as well as from the plains.
The reference in the words "and you thought diverse thoughts about Allah," is to the hypocrites and the weak of faith among the Muslims. V. 13 makes it quite clear that the reference in the above words is only to these two.
The disbelievers burst upon Muslims from every direction—from the heights of Medina as well as from the plains. The reference in the words 'and you thought diverse thoughts about Allah,' is to the 'Hypocrites' and not to sincere and steadfast Muslims (v.13).