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 25
Translations
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
Transliteration
Humul-ladhīna kafarū wa saddūkum 'anil-masjidil-harāmi wal-hadā ma'kūfan ay yablugha mahillah. Wa lawlā rijālun mu'minūna wa nisā'un mu'minātun lam ta'lamūhum an tatā'ūhum fatusībakum minhum ma'arratan bighayri 'ilm. Li-yudkhilal-lāhu fī rahmatihī man yashā'. Law tazayyalū la-'adhdhbabnāl-ladhīna kafarū minhum 'adhāban alīmā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Quraysh disbelievers who prevented the Muslims from entering Al-Masjid Al-Haram and hindered their sacrificial animals from reaching their destination. The verse emphasizes Allah's mercy in preventing the Muslims from unknowingly harming believing men and women among the Meccans, and indicates that had the believers been spatially separated from the disbelievers, Allah would have inflicted severe punishment upon the latter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi understand this as reflecting Allah's wisdom in delaying the conquest of Mecca while believers and disbelievers were intermixed in the city.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah in the 6th year of Hijrah (628 CE), when the Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions were prevented from performing 'Umrah by the Quraysh, though their sacrificial animals were halted before reaching the Ka'bah. The surah addresses the events surrounding this treaty and its subsequent acceptance as a victory (fath).
Related Hadiths
The hadith recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim regarding the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah describes how the Prophet (ﷺ) and his followers were turned back at Hudaybiyyah, unable to enter Mecca. Additionally, the hadith about the Prophet's words 'Subhanallah' (Glory be to Allah) when informed of the treaty terms illustrates the context of this revelation.
Themes
Key Lesson
Allah's divine wisdom often restrains immediate punishment to protect innocent believers intertwined with wrongdoers, teaching us patience in the face of oppression and trust that Allah's timing for justice is perfect. We should recognize that apparent delays or setbacks in achieving our righteous goals may contain hidden mercies and serve Allah's greater plan for distinguishing the faithful.