۞ إِنَّمَا ٱلسَّبِيلُ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَـْٔذِنُونَكَ وَهُمْ أَغْنِيَآءُ ۚ رَضُوا۟ بِأَن يَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْخَوَالِفِ وَطَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 93
Translations
The cause [for blame] is only upon those who ask permission of you while they are rich. They are satisfied to be with those who stay behind, and Allāh has sealed over their hearts, so they do not know.
Transliteration
Innamā as-sabīlu ʿalā alladhīna yastaʾdhīnūnaka wa-hum aghniyāʾu raḍū bi-an yakūnū maʿa al-khawālifi wa-ṭabaʿa Allāhu ʿalā qulūbihim fa-hum lā yaʿlamūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns wealthy Muslims who sought permission (istidhān) from the Prophet (ﷺ) to remain behind during the Tabūk expedition, revealing their hypocrisy and preference for comfort over duty. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that Allah sealed their hearts due to their deliberate choice of comfort and worldly life over obedience, rendering them incapable of spiritual understanding. The verse establishes that the blame and sin (al-sabīl) falls specifically upon the wealthy who could contribute but refused, not upon the poor or genuinely incapacitated.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Tabūk expedition (Ghazwat Tabūk) in 9 AH, when the Prophet (ﷺ) mobilized the Muslim community to confront the Byzantine threat. Some wealthy hypocrites requested permission to stay behind, falsely claiming they wished to remain with those unable to fight. This surah addresses the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) who exposed their true allegiances during this critical campaign.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4696): The Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding those who lagged behind in Tabūk, 'Whoever does not join the army is a hypocrite.' Also relevant is Muslim (1863) regarding the prohibition of excuses for leaving jihād without legitimate reason.
Themes
Key Lesson
Wealth and comfort should never become excuses for abandoning religious duties and communal responsibilities; when we habitually choose ease over righteousness, Allah may seal our hearts from understanding truth. This serves as a warning that our excuses are known to Allah, and continued negligence of duty hardens the heart against guidance.