لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَّٱتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَـٰكِنۢ بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَوِ ٱسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ 42
Translations
Had it been a near [i.e., easy] gain and a moderate trip, they [i.e., the hypocrites] would have followed you, but distant to them was the journey. And they will swear by Allāh, "If we were able, we would have gone forth with you," destroying themselves [through false oaths], and Allāh knows that indeed they are liars.
Transliteration
Law kana 'aradan qareebun wa safaran qaasidan lattaba'ook wa laakin ba'udat 'alayhim ash-shiqqah wa sayahlifoon billaahi law istata'naa lakhrajnaa ma'akum yuhlikoon anfusahum wallaahu ya'lamu innahum lakaadhiboon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the hypocrites (munafiqun) who made excuses for not participating in the Tabuk expedition, claiming they would have joined the Prophet (peace be upon him) had the journey been closer or easier. Allah exposes their falsehood, stating that they will swear oaths by Allah that they were unable, while in reality they were destroying themselves through their hypocrisy and lies. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that Allah's knowledge of their true intentions—their unwillingness and cowardice—renders their excuses and oaths meaningless.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Tabuk expedition (9 AH), the final military campaign led by the Prophet Muhammad during his lifetime. It specifically addresses the hypocrites who remained in Medina and later fabricated excuses. The surah At-Tawbah deals extensively with these hypocrites and their various deceptions, making this a central theme of the surah's critique of those who claim faith while lacking commitment.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3951): The Prophet said, 'The best of people are those of my generation, and then those who will come after them, and then those who will come after them.' This hadith emphasizes the virtue of those who strived with the Prophet, contrasting with the hypocrites who avoided such struggle. Additionally, the context of Surah At-Tawbah relates to authentic reports about the hypocrites' excuses during Tabuk.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah sees beyond our words and excuses—He knows the true state of our hearts and intentions. For believers, it is a reminder that sincere commitment to religious duty cannot be replaced by elaborate excuses or false oaths, and that claiming inability when one is truly capable constitutes a form of self-destruction.
Related Ayahs
أَشِحَّةً عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ ٱلْخَوْفُ رَأَيْتَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ تَدُورُ أَعْيُنُهُمْ كَٱلَّذِى يُغْشَىٰ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ ٱلْخَوْفُ سَلَقُوكُم بِأَلْسِنَةٍ حِدَادٍ أَشِحَّةً عَلَى ٱلْخَيْرِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ فَأَحْبَطَ ٱللَّهُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا
Indisposed toward you. And when fear comes, you see them looking at you, their eyes revolving like one being overcome by death. But when fear departs, they lash you with sharp tongues, indisposed toward [any] good. Those have not believed, so Allāh has rendered their deeds worthless, and ever is that, for Allāh, easy.
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
قُلْ أَنفِقُوا۟ طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا لَّن يُتَقَبَّلَ مِنكُمْ ۖ إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ قَوْمًا فَـٰسِقِينَ
Say, "Spend willingly or unwillingly; never will it be accepted from you. Indeed, you have been a defiantly disobedient people."
وَمِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ مَغْرَمًا وَيَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمُ ٱلدَّوَآئِرَ ۚ عَلَيْهِمْ دَآئِرَةُ ٱلسَّوْءِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And among the bedouins are some who consider what they spend as a loss and await for you turns of misfortune. Upon them will be a misfortune of evil. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.