وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ ٱئْذَن لِّى وَلَا تَفْتِنِّىٓ ۚ أَلَا فِى ٱلْفِتْنَةِ سَقَطُوا۟ ۗ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌۢ بِٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 49
Translations
And among them is he who says, "Permit me [to remain at home] and do not put me to trial." Unquestionably, into trial they have fallen. And indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers.
Transliteration
Wa minhum man yaqool i'dhan lee wa laa taftinnee. Alaa fee al-fitnati saqatoo. Wa inna jahannama lamuheeatun bil-kafireeen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to hypocrites (munafiqun) who sought permission from the Prophet (peace be upon him) not to participate in the expedition to Tabuk, claiming they would be tempted by worldly attractions if they went. However, Allah declares that they have already fallen into fitnah (trial/tribulation) by their hypocrisy and disbelief, and Hell encompasses the disbelievers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that their excuse revealed the weakness of their faith and their true nature as hypocrites.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah At-Tawbah, which deals extensively with hypocrites and those who made excuses during the Tabuk expedition (9 AH). The specific context addresses those who sought exemption from military duty with false justifications, exposing the hypocrisy of those whose faith was merely superficial.
Related Hadiths
The expedition to Tabuk is well-documented in authentic hadith collections. See Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim accounts of the Tabuk campaign where the Prophet rejected various excuses from those unwilling to participate, demonstrating the consequences of hypocrisy and weak commitment to faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that hollow excuses and spiritual complacency reveal the true state of one's heart—we cannot hide our true faith from Allah. Modern believers should examine their intentions and commitment to their faith rather than rationalizing away their responsibilities.