قُل لِّلْمُخَلَّفِينَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ سَتُدْعَوْنَ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ أُو۟لِى بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ تُقَـٰتِلُونَهُمْ أَوْ يُسْلِمُونَ ۖ فَإِن تُطِيعُوا۟ يُؤْتِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ۖ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ كَمَا تَوَلَّيْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ يُعَذِّبْكُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا 16
Translations
Say to those who remained behind of the bedouins, "You will be called to [face] a people of great military might; you may fight them, or they will submit. So if you obey, Allāh will give you a good reward; but if you turn away as you turned away before, He will punish you with a painful punishment."
Transliteration
Qul lil-mukhallifīna mina al-a'rāb satudʿawna ilā qawmin ulī baʾsin shadīd tuqātilūnahum aw yuslimūn faʾin tuṭīʿū yuʾtikum allāh ajran ḥasan wa-in tatawallaw kamā tawallaytum min qablu yuʿadhdhībkum ʿadhāban alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Bedouin Arabs (al-aʿrāb) who remained behind during the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, informing them they will be called upon to fight formidable enemies who either surrender or be fought. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this refers to future military expeditions, particularly campaigns against the Byzantines and Sasanids. Allah promises good reward for obedience but warns of painful punishment for turning back, similar to their previous refusal to participate in the Hudaybiyyah journey.
Revelation Context
Revealed in the context of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (6 AH), when some Bedouin tribes declined to join the Muslims' peaceful march to Mecca. This ayah specifically addresses their hesitation and prepares them for greater responsibilities in future jihād, establishing expectations of continued participation in communal defense and military endeavors.
Related Hadiths
The incident of Hudaybiyyah is extensively documented in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, particularly regarding the Bedouins' refusal to participate. Additionally, hadiths in Sunan Abu Dawud relate to the obligation of jihād and responding to the calls of leadership for communal defense.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that believers cannot isolate themselves from communal obligations or selectively participate in the Muslim community's defense; obedience to Allah's commands through legitimate authority brings divine reward, while turning away brings severe consequences. Modern readers should reflect on how this principle applies to fulfilling communal responsibilities and supporting just causes.
Related Ayahs
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ لِيَزْدَادُوٓا۟ إِيمَـٰنًا مَّعَ إِيمَـٰنِهِمْ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ جُنُودُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
It is He who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers that they would increase in faith along with their [present] faith. And to Allāh belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth, and ever is Allāh Knowing and Wise.
هُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَصَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَٱلْهَدْىَ مَعْكُوفًا أَن يَبْلُغَ مَحِلَّهُۥ ۚ وَلَوْلَا رِجَالٌ مُّؤْمِنُونَ وَنِسَآءٌ مُّؤْمِنَـٰتٌ لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوهُمْ أَن تَطَـُٔوهُمْ فَتُصِيبَكُم مِّنْهُم مَّعَرَّةٌۢ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۖ لِّيُدْخِلَ ٱللَّهُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ لَوْ تَزَيَّلُوا۟ لَعَذَّبْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
They are the ones who disbelieved and obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām while the offering was prevented from reaching its place of sacrifice. And if not for believing men and believing women whom you did not know - that you might trample [i.e., kill] them and there would befall you because of them dishonor without [your] knowledge - [you would have been permitted to enter Makkah]. [This was so] that Allāh might admit to His mercy whom He willed. If they had been apart [from them], We would have punished those who disbelieved among them with painful punishment
وَيَنصُرَكَ ٱللَّهُ نَصْرًا عَزِيزًا
And [that] Allāh may aid you with a mighty victory.
سَيَقُولُ ٱلْمُخَلَّفُونَ إِذَا ٱنطَلَقْتُمْ إِلَىٰ مَغَانِمَ لِتَأْخُذُوهَا ذَرُونَا نَتَّبِعْكُمْ ۖ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُبَدِّلُوا۟ كَلَـٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ قُل لَّن تَتَّبِعُونَا كَذَٰلِكُمْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ فَسَيَقُولُونَ بَلْ تَحْسُدُونَنَا ۚ بَلْ كَانُوا۟ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Those who remained behind will say when you set out toward the war booty to take it, "Let us follow you." They wish to change the words of Allāh. Say, "Never will you follow us. Thus did Allāh say before." So they will say, "Rather, you envy us." But [in fact] they were not understanding except a little.