۞ وَلَوْ أَرَادُوا۟ ٱلْخُرُوجَ لَأَعَدُّوا۟ لَهُۥ عُدَّةً وَلَـٰكِن كَرِهَ ٱللَّهُ ٱنۢبِعَاثَهُمْ فَثَبَّطَهُمْ وَقِيلَ ٱقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْقَـٰعِدِينَ 46
Translations
And if they had intended to go forth, they would have prepared for it [some] preparation. But Allāh disliked their being sent, so He kept them back, and they were told, "Remain [behind] with those who remain."
Transliteration
Wa law aradoo al-khurooja la-a'addoo lahu 'uddatan wa laakin kariha Allahu inbi'aathahum fa-thabbatahum wa qeela aqAAidoo ma'a al-qa'ideen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the hypocrites (munafiqun) who made excuses not to participate in the Tabuk expedition, claiming they lacked preparation. Allah reveals that had they genuinely intended to go, they would have prepared for it; their reluctance to participate was divinely inspired as a test and manifestation of their weak faith. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that Allah's dislike of their departure (kariha Allahu inbi'aathahum) means He withheld their willingness to go, and they were commanded to remain behind with those who were legitimately unable to fight.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the Tabuk campaign (9 AH), the final major expedition led by Prophet Muhammad against the Byzantine Empire. The hypocrites made various excuses to avoid participating in this difficult journey, and this surah documents their false justifications and Allah's exposure of their insincerity. The context is the testing of believers and the distinction between the sincere and the hypocritical.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that when the Prophet announced the Tabuk expedition, some hypocrites made excuses and false claims of illness or family obligations. Additionally, the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah mentions that sincerity (ikhlas) in intention is necessary for all deeds, contrasting with the hypocrites' hidden reluctance.
Themes
Key Lesson
True commitment to faith is demonstrated through action and genuine preparation, not mere words or excuses; when our hearts are unwilling to obey Allah, it often reflects a deeper spiritual weakness that Allah alone can expose and remedy. Believers should examine their intentions honestly and ensure they are not making excuses to avoid difficult obligations.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ ٱنفِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ أَرَضِيتُم بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا مِنَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ
O you who have believed, what is [the matter] with you that, when you are told to go forth in the cause of Allāh, you adhere heavily to the earth? Are you satisfied with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But what is the enjoyment of worldly life compared to the Hereafter except a [very] little.
فَإِن رَّجَعَكَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَىٰ طَآئِفَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ فَٱسْتَـْٔذَنُوكَ لِلْخُرُوجِ فَقُل لَّن تَخْرُجُوا۟ مَعِىَ أَبَدًا وَلَن تُقَـٰتِلُوا۟ مَعِىَ عَدُوًّا ۖ إِنَّكُمْ رَضِيتُم بِٱلْقُعُودِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ فَٱقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْخَـٰلِفِينَ
If Allāh should return you to a faction of them [after the expedition] and then they ask your permission to go out [to battle], say, "You will not go out with me, ever, and you will never fight with me an enemy. Indeed, you were satisfied with sitting [at home] the first time, so sit [now] with those who stay behind."
إِنَّمَا ٱلنَّسِىٓءُ زِيَادَةٌ فِى ٱلْكُفْرِ ۖ يُضَلُّ بِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُحِلُّونَهُۥ عَامًا وَيُحَرِّمُونَهُۥ عَامًا لِّيُوَاطِـُٔوا۟ عِدَّةَ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ فَيُحِلُّوا۟ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ زُيِّنَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ أَعْمَـٰلِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Indeed, the postponing [of restriction within sacred months] is an increase in disbelief by which those who have disbelieved are led [further] astray. They make it lawful one year and unlawful another year to correspond to the number made unlawful by Allāh and [thus] make lawful what Allāh has made unlawful. Made pleasing to them is the evil of their deeds; and Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people.
لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا۟ قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ ۚ إِن نَّعْفُ عَن طَآئِفَةٍ مِّنكُمْ نُعَذِّبْ طَآئِفَةًۢ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ
Make no excuse; you have disbelieved [i.e., rejected faith] after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals.