169. " do not think of those who were killed in the way of allah to be dead. nay, they are alive, being provided sustenance with their lord." commentary: the alive in eternal ! this verse and two verses next to it were revealed after the incident of 'uhud. but its meaning and its content is general, so that it involves all the martyrs of 'uh¤ud. the number of the martyrs there was fourteen the high rank of whom, as well as all martyrs, is referred to in this verse. it says: " do not think of those who were killed in the way of allah to be dead. ..." here, the addressee is only the prophet (p.b.u.h.) in order that others reckon their account. "... nay, they are alive, being provided sustenance with their lord." the purpose of life here is the very purgatorial life which souls have in the world after death. this does not belong to only the martyrs. but, in view of the fact that martyrs are so involved the merits of the spiritual life that as if the life of other people in the intermediate state is rather slight in comparison with it, so only they are named.