Thus Allah says...

Thus Allah says: And when you did go forth early in the morning from your family; When you said to the believers: "Does it not suffice you that your Lord should assist you. . .

"; You have no concern in the affair; Say: "Surely the affair is wholly (in the hands) of Allah " (3:154); Thus it is due to the mercy from Allah that you deal with them gently, and had you been rough, hardhearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you (3:159); And reckon not those who are killed in Allah's way as dead (3:169). In all the above verses plural verbs and pronouns have been changed to singular.

It seems as though the speaker is not in a mood to continue the preceding style (of speaking to the whole community) because he is very much annoyed and displeased with them. It is unlike some other verses coming in between where effectiveness and sharpness of admonition depended on direct talk with the believers and therefore the plural was used.

For example: And Muhammad is no more than a messenger, the messengers have already passed away before him; if then he dies or is killed, will you turn back upon your heals? (3:144); When you ran off precipitately and did not turn towards any one, and the Messenger was calling you from your rear (3:153) .

Also it is unlike another intervening verse, that is: Certainly Allah conferred a benefit upon the believers when He raised among them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His communications (3:164). Here Allah describes His favor on the believers of sending the Prophet to them; and it could be effective and more impressive only if it was supposed as if the Prophet himself were not present there.

Ponder on all these verses and you will appreciate the relevance of what we have written. The verse under discussion means as follows: O Prophet, remember when you did go forth early in the morning from your family in order that you should place the believers in their sectors for war; and Allah is Hearing (He had heard what was said there) and Knowing (He had known what was hidden in their hearts).

The expression, "you did go forth early in the morning from your family", indicates that the battleground was nearer to the Prophet's house. It clearly shows that the two verses refer to the battle of Uhud, and in this way they are related to other verses, which would follow later, and which describe the battle of Uhud. All these verses fit the events, which had taken place in Uhud.