يَحْسَبُونَ ٱلْأَحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا۟ ۖ وَإِن يَأْتِ ٱلْأَحْزَابُ يَوَدُّوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِى ٱلْأَعْرَابِ يَسْـَٔلُونَ عَنْ أَنۢبَآئِكُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ فِيكُم مَّا قَـٰتَلُوٓا۟ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا 20
Translations
They think the companies have not [yet] withdrawn. And if the companies should come [again], they would wish they were in the desert among the bedouins, inquiring [from afar] about your news. And if they should be among you, they would not fight except for a little.
Transliteration
Yahsabūn al-ahzāba lam yadhhabū wa-in ya'ti al-ahzābu yawaddū law annahum bādūn fi al-a'rāb yas'alūn 'an anbā'ikum wa-law kānū fīkum mā qātalū illā qalīlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) of Medina during the Battle of the Ahzab (Coalition), who feared the confederate forces and wished they could flee to the Bedouin tribes in the desert to avoid the battle. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Allah exposes their cowardice and weakness of faith, contrasting their desire to escape with the reality that had they actually been present during the battle, they would have contributed little to the defense and would have only created discord among the believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah Al-Ahzab, which addresses events surrounding the Battle of the Confederates (Al-Ahzab) in the year 5 AH, when the Quraysh and their allies besieged Medina. The ayah specifically critiques the hypocrites who attempted to create excuses for not participating in the battle and their anxiety about the approaching enemy forces.
Related Hadiths
The Battle of the Ahzab is documented extensively in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, with detailed accounts of the believers' steadfastness contrasted against the hypocrites' weakness. Related is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari regarding the hypocrites' reluctance to fight alongside the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith is demonstrated through steadfastness in times of trial and sacrifice for the community, while doubt and fear betray a weak foundation of belief. Modern readers should reflect on how we respond to challenges—do we seek comfort and escape, or do we stand firm in our principles and support our communities in their struggles?
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُۥ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰذِبُونَ
On the Day Allāh will resurrect them all, and they will swear to Him as they swear to you and think that they are [standing] on something. Unquestionably, it is they who are the liars.
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِهِمْ ضِعْفَيْنِ مِنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ وَٱلْعَنْهُمْ لَعْنًا كَبِيرًا
Our Lord, give them double the punishment and curse them with a great curse."
يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَٱرْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ ٱلْأَمَانِىُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
They [i.e., the hypocrites] will call to them [i.e., the believers], "Were we not with you?" They will say, "Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allāh. And the Deceiver [i.e., Satan] deceived you concerning Allāh.
وَيَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ لَمِنكُمْ وَمَا هُم مِّنكُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَفْرَقُونَ
And they swear by Allāh that they are from among you while they are not from among you; but they are a people who are afraid.