اسأل هادي
Back to full surahAt-Tawbah 9:42
لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَّاتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَٰكِن بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ ٤٢
Law kana AAaradan qareeban wasafaran qasidan laittabaAAooka walakin baAAudat AAalayhimu alshshuqqatu wasayahlifoona biAllahi lawi istataAAna lakharajna maAAakum yuhlikoona anfusahum waAllahu yaAAlamu innahum lakathiboona
“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.” (9:42)
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.)
