Medinan · Surah 9 of 114

At-Tawba 9:42

The Repentance · ayah 42 of 129

لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًۭا قَرِيبًۭا وَسَفَرًۭا قَاصِدًۭا لَّٱتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَٰكِنۢ بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَوِ ٱسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَٰذِبُونَ

Law kana AAaradan qareebanwasafaran qasidan lattabaAAooka walakinbaAAudat AAalayhimu ashshuqqatu wasayahlifoona billahilawi istataAAna lakharajna maAAakumyuhlikoona anfusahum wallahu yaAAlamu innahum lakathiboon

"Had it been a near [i.e., easy] gain and a moderate trip, they [i.e., the hypocrites] would have followed you, but distant to them was the journey. And they will swear by Allāh, "If we were able, we would have gone forth with you," destroying themselves [through false oaths], and Allāh knows that indeed they are liars."

Saheeh International translation

Recitation by Mishary Alafasy

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Other English translations

Abdel Haleem (Oxford)+

"They would certainly have followed you [Prophet] if the benefit was within sight and the journey short, but the distance seemed too great for them. They will swear by God, ‘If we could, we certainly would go out [to battle] with you,’ but they ruin themselves, for God knows that they are lying."

Pickthall (classic)+

"Had it been a near adventure and an easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying): If we had been able we would surely have set out with you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars."

Yusuf Ali (classic)+

"If there had been immediate gain (in sight), and the journey easy, they would (all) without doubt have followed thee, but the distance was long, (and weighed) on them. They would indeed swear by Allah, "If we only could, we should certainly have come out with you": They would destroy their own souls; for Allah doth know that they are certainly lying."

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Ibn Kathir

Abridged English, public domain

Why Hypocrites would not join in Jihad

Allah admonishes those who lagged behind and did not join the Prophet for the battle of Tabuk, those who asked the Prophet for permission to remain behind, falsely pretending to have legitimate reasons to do so,

لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا

(Had it been a near gain), booty right in front of them, according to Ibn `Abbas,

وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا

(and an easy journey), travel for only a short distance,

لاَّتَّبَعُوكَ

(they would have followed you.) But,

وَلَـكِن بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ

(the distance was long for them), to Ash-Sham,

وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ

(and they would swear by Allah), when you return to them,

لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ

(If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you), had not there been a valid excuse, we would have gone out with you,

يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـذِبُونَ

(They destroy themselves, and Allah knows that they are liars.)

Tafsir Saʿdi

English translation, public domain

О Мухаммад! Если бы военный поход позволял людям легко нажиться и быстро приобрести мирские блага, если бы дорога не была долгой и тяжелой, то многие люди охотно последовали бы за тобой. Такой поход не обременил бы их. Однако расстояние показалось им очень далеким, а дорога - очень тяжелой, и они не присоединились к тебе. Такое поведение не является примерным поступком, потому что настоящий раб поклоняется своему Господу при любых обстоятельствах. Он выполняет свои обязанности, когда ему тяжело и когда ему легко. Он остается рабом Аллаха во все времена. Маловеры клянутся, что они не отправляются в поход по уважительной причине. Они клянутся, что не могут ответить на твой зов. Однако отказ от участия в священной войне и лживые рассказы губят их, ведь Аллаху прекрасно известно, что они лгут. Этими словами Аллах упрекнул лицемеров, которые не отправились в поход на Табук вместе с посланником Аллаха, да благословит его Аллах и приветствует. Они придумали в свое оправдание лживые истории, и Пророк, да благословит его Аллах и приветствует, принял их голословные утверждения. Он не стал выяснять, кто из них говорил правду, а кто был лжецом. И поэтому далее Всевышний Аллах упрекнул его за поспешное принятие такого решения:

Maʿārif al-Qur'ān

Mufti Shafi Usmani, English

The fifth verse (42) mentions an excuse offered by those who did not participate in the Jihad because of negligence and lethargy. It was rejected as unacceptable because they did not use the ability given by Allah to pick and choose the right thing to do in His way. Therefore, the excuse of not having that ability is not valid.

Tafsīr sourced from quran.com's open API. These are classical commentaries; for personal rulings consult a qualified scholar.

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