إِنَّمَا يَسْتَـْٔذِنُكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَٱرْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِى رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ 45
Translations
Only those would ask permission of you who do not believe in Allāh and the Last Day and whose hearts have doubted, and they, in their doubt, are hesitating.
Transliteration
Innama yasta'dhinu alladhina la yu'minuna billahi wa-l-yawmi al-akhiri wa-rtabat qulubuhum fahum fi raybihim yataraddadun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who seek permission to abstain from jihad and military expeditions, identifying them as people who lack true faith in Allah and the Day of Judgment, whose hearts are filled with doubt and skepticism. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, their hesitation and vacillation stem from their fundamental lack of conviction in Islamic doctrine, making their excuses merely pretexts for their spiritual weakness. Al-Qurtubi notes that the verse emphasizes that genuine believers do not waver in their commitment, whereas these doubters continuously fluctuate between belief and disbelief.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah's discussion of the Tabuk expedition (9 AH), where Allah commanded the Muslims to prepare for jihad against the Romans. The context addresses hypocrites and weak believers who sought excuses to remain behind, revealing the true nature of their faith through their reluctance to sacrifice for Allah's cause.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Whoever dies without having fought or having intended to fight, he dies upon a branch of hypocrisy.' This hadith echoes the ayah's theme of distinguishing true believers from those whose faith is questionable.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to examine the sincerity of their faith—true belief produces steadfastness and commitment, while doubt and hypocrisy lead to hesitation and excuses. Modern believers should reflect on whether their actions reflect genuine conviction in Allah and the Hereafter, or whether they make worldly excuses that betray underlying spiritual weakness.
Related Ayahs
وَءَاخَرُونَ ٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ خَلَطُوا۟ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَءَاخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And [there are] others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed [i.e., polluted] a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allāh will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَتْهُمْ رِجْسًا إِلَىٰ رِجْسِهِمْ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
But as for those in whose hearts is disease, it has [only] increased them in evil [in addition] to their evil. And they will have died while they are disbelievers.
وَءَاخَرُونَ مُرْجَوْنَ لِأَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ إِمَّا يُعَذِّبُهُمْ وَإِمَّا يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
And [there are] others deferred until the command of Allāh - whether He will punish them or whether He will forgive them. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
وَقُلِ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And say, "Do [as you will], for Allāh will see your deeds, and [so will] His Messenger and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do."