Surah 9

Surah 9:16

"Or did you think that you would be left (in peace), when God did not (yet) know those of you who have struggled, and have not taken any ally other than God and His messenger and the believers? God is aware of what you do."
Among the Wisdom of Jihad is to test the Muslims Verses 9:16
Show Full Scripture Context (9:16) — 1 Verse
Verse 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

Or did you think that you would be left (in peace), when God did not (yet) know those of you who have struggled, and have not taken any ally other than God and His messenger and the believers? God is aware of what you do.

Allah said,
4Do you think}, O believers that We will leave you untested with matters that make apparent those who have pure, good intent from those who have false intent? This is why Allah said next,
Awhile Allah has not yet tested those among you who have striven hard and fought and have not taken Walijah besides Allah and His Messenger, and the believers...},
meaning, supporters and confidants. Rather, they are sincere for Allah and His Messenger inwardly and outwardly.
Allah also said;
Alif-Ldm-Mim . Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make known those who are true, and will certainly make known those who are liars . . .} [29: 1-3],
D 0 you 1/rinfc that you will enter Paradise before Allah tests those of you who fought (in His cause) and (also) tests those who are patient?}[3:142], and,
Alldlt mil not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good}[ 3:179].
In summary, since Allah legislated Jihad for His servants, He explained that the wisdom behind doing so includes testing His servants, distinguishing between those who obey Him and those who disobey Him. Allah, the Exalted, is the All-Knower of what occurred, what will occur, and the true essence of what might occur had He decided it. Therefore, Allah knows everything before it occurs and how it will occur, there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, nor a Lord except Him. Truly, there is none who can avert Allah’s judgment and decision.

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 4, Page 387-388)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.