وَإِذْ قَالَت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَٱرْجِعُوا۟ ۚ وَيَسْتَـْٔذِنُ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌ وَمَا هِىَ بِعَوْرَةٍ ۖ إِن يُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا فِرَارًا 13
Translations
And when a faction of them said, "O people of Yathrib, there is no stability for you [here], so return [home]." And a party of them asked permission of the Prophet, saying, "Indeed, our houses are exposed [i.e., unprotected]," while they were not exposed. They did not intend except to flee.
Transliteration
Wa-idh qālat tā'ifatun minhum yā ahal Yathrib lā muqāma lakum farji'ū wa-yasta'dhinu farīqun minhumu an-nabiyya yaqūlūn inna buyūtanā 'awratun wa-mā hiya bi-'awratun in yurīdūn illā firāran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) during the Battle of the Trench (Ghazwat al-Khandaq) who sought permission to leave the battlefield, falsely claiming their homes were unprotected and vulnerable. Allah explicitly refutes their excuse, stating their homes were not actually in danger—their true intention was merely to flee from the battle. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this demonstrates the cowardice and lack of faith of the hypocrites, who used pretexts to abandon the Prophet (ﷺ) and the believers during a critical moment of defense.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the Siege of Medina in the year 5 AH, specifically addressing the behavior of hypocrites during the Battle of the Trench when the confederate Arab tribes attacked Medina. The surah as a whole chronicles the trials faced by the Muslim community and exposes the treachery of those who claimed belief but lacked sincere commitment. Yathrib is the ancient name for Medina.
Related Hadiths
The siege of the Trench and the hypocrites' behavior is extensively documented in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, particularly in the accounts of this battle. Imam al-Bukhari reports detailed narratives of the cowardice displayed by the munāfiqūn during this campaign, which provide context for understanding this ayah's accusations.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah knows the true intentions behind our actions—mere excuses and pretexts cannot deceive Him. For believers today, it serves as a reminder to examine our own hearts for hidden doubts and hypocrisy, and to stand firm in faith even when facing difficulty and fear.
Related Ayahs
وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
And exalt Him morning and afternoon.
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا
And rely upon Allāh; and sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.
مَّا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِرَجُلٍ مِّن قَلْبَيْنِ فِى جَوْفِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَزْوَٰجَكُمُ ٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى تُظَـٰهِرُونَ مِنْهُنَّ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَدْعِيَآءَكُمْ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ قَوْلُكُم بِأَفْوَٰهِكُمْ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَقُولُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَهُوَ يَهْدِى ٱلسَّبِيلَ
Allāh has not made for a man two hearts in his interior. And He has not made your wives whom you declare unlawful your mothers. And He has not made your claimed [i.e., adopted] sons your [true] sons. That is [merely] your saying by your mouths, but Allāh says the truth, and He guides to the [right] way.
۞ وَمَن يَقْنُتْ مِنكُنَّ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتَعْمَلْ صَـٰلِحًا نُّؤْتِهَآ أَجْرَهَا مَرَّتَيْنِ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهَا رِزْقًا كَرِيمًا
And whoever of you devoutly obeys Allāh and His Messenger and does righteousness - We will give her her reward twice; and We have prepared for her a noble provision.