Study Mode · Ayah 9:42
Surah At-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
Law kaana 'aradan qareebanw wa safaran qaasidal lattaba'ooka wa laakim ba'udat 'alaihimush shuqqah; wa sayahlifoona billaahi lawis tata'naa lakharajnaa ma'akum; yuhlikoona anfusahum wal laahu ya'lamu innahum lakaa ziboon
Word by word
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
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,
(Had it been a near gain), booty right in front of them, according to Ibn `Abbas,
(and an easy journey), travel for only a short distance,
(they would have followed you.) But,
(the distance was long for them), to Ash-Sham,
(and they would swear by Allah), when you return to them,
(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,
(They destroy themselves, and Allah knows that they are liars.)
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) — via quran.com