Back to full surahلَوْ 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 the benefit (i.e., spoils of war) been a near gain and the journey (of fighting) easy and moderate, then they (the hypocrites) would certainly have followed you. But (that) arduous journey appeared to them far too long. And they will (now) swear by Allah soon: ‘Had we been able to go, we would certainly have marched forth with you.’ They are drawing upon themselves (added) destruction (by these lies), and Allah knows that they are liars beyond doubt. (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.)
