۞ وَلَوْ أَرَادُوا۟ ٱلْخُرُوجَ لَأَعَدُّوا۟ لَهُۥ عُدَّةً وَلَـٰكِن كَرِهَ ٱللَّهُ ٱنۢبِعَاثَهُمْ فَثَبَّطَهُمْ وَقِيلَ ٱقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْقَـٰعِدِينَ 46
Translations
And if they had intended to go forth, they would have prepared for it [some] preparation. But Allāh disliked their being sent, so He kept them back, and they were told, "Remain [behind] with those who remain."
Transliteration
Wa law aradoo al-khurooja la-a'addoo lahu 'uddatan wa laakin kariha Allahu inbi'aathahum fa-thabbatahum wa qeela aqAAidoo ma'a al-qa'ideen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the hypocrites (munafiqun) who made excuses not to participate in the Tabuk expedition, claiming they lacked preparation. Allah reveals that had they genuinely intended to go, they would have prepared for it; their reluctance to participate was divinely inspired as a test and manifestation of their weak faith. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that Allah's dislike of their departure (kariha Allahu inbi'aathahum) means He withheld their willingness to go, and they were commanded to remain behind with those who were legitimately unable to fight.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the Tabuk campaign (9 AH), the final major expedition led by Prophet Muhammad against the Byzantine Empire. The hypocrites made various excuses to avoid participating in this difficult journey, and this surah documents their false justifications and Allah's exposure of their insincerity. The context is the testing of believers and the distinction between the sincere and the hypocritical.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that when the Prophet announced the Tabuk expedition, some hypocrites made excuses and false claims of illness or family obligations. Additionally, the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah mentions that sincerity (ikhlas) in intention is necessary for all deeds, contrasting with the hypocrites' hidden reluctance.
Themes
Key Lesson
True commitment to faith is demonstrated through action and genuine preparation, not mere words or excuses; when our hearts are unwilling to obey Allah, it often reflects a deeper spiritual weakness that Allah alone can expose and remedy. Believers should examine their intentions honestly and ensure they are not making excuses to avoid difficult obligations.
Related Ayahs
فَأَعْقَبَهُمْ نِفَاقًا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يَلْقَوْنَهُۥ بِمَآ أَخْلَفُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ وَبِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ
So He penalized them with hypocrisy in their hearts until the Day they will meet Him - because they failed Allāh in what they promised Him and because they [habitually] used to lie.
ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُم مِّنۢ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَقْبِضُونَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ ۚ نَسُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَنَسِيَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and close their hands. They have forgotten Allāh, so He has forgotten them [accordingly]. Indeed, the hypocrites - it is they who are the defiantly disobedient.
ٱلتَّـٰٓئِبُونَ ٱلْعَـٰبِدُونَ ٱلْحَـٰمِدُونَ ٱلسَّـٰٓئِحُونَ ٱلرَّٰكِعُونَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدُونَ ٱلْـَٔامِرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَٱلنَّاهُونَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْحَـٰفِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
[Such believers are] the repentant, the worshippers, the praisers [of Allāh], the travelers [for His cause], those who bow and prostrate [in prayer], those who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and those who observe the limits [set by] Allāh. And give good tidings to the believers.
وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَن تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَـٰتُهُمْ إِلَّآ أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَـٰرِهُونَ
And what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them but that they have disbelieved in Allāh and in His Messenger and that they come not to prayer except while they are lazy and that they do not spend except while they are unwilling.