وَجَآءَ ٱلْمُعَذِّرُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ لِيُؤْذَنَ لَهُمْ وَقَعَدَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ ۚ سَيُصِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 90
Translations
And those with excuses among the bedouins came to be permitted [to remain], and they who had lied to Allāh and His Messenger sat [at home]. There will strike those who disbelieved among them a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Wa jaa'a al-mu'adhdhirun min al-a'raab li yu'dhan lahum wa qaa'ada alladheen kadhhaboo Allaha wa rasoolahu. Sayuseebu alladheen kafaroo minhum adhaabun aleem.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Bedouin Arabs who came to the Prophet seeking excuses and permission to be exempted from the Tabuk expedition, while those who rejected Allah and His Messenger remained behind out of disbelief and stubbornness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this verse distinguishes between those who offered false excuses (the mu'adhdhirun) and those who outright rejected the command, warning that the disbelievers among them will face a painful punishment. The ayah emphasizes Allah's knowledge of sincere intentions versus false pretenses.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah, revealed in the 9th year of Hijrah. It specifically addresses events surrounding the Tabuk expedition (Ghazwat Tabuk), one of the Prophet's final military campaigns, where certain Bedouin groups sought excuses rather than participate in the struggle. The broader context of Surah At-Tawbah deals with sincere repentance, accountability, and the consequences of hypocrisy and disbelief.
Related Hadiths
The Tabuk expedition context is referenced in multiple hadith collections, including Sahih Bukhari and Sunan An-Nasa'i, where companions who stayed behind without valid excuse faced public reproach. Additionally, Jundab ibn Abdullah reported that the Prophet said, 'Whoever claims to make hijrah for a purpose other than Allah and His Messenger, his hijrah is for that purpose' (Sunan An-Nasa'i), emphasizing sincere intention.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that Allah distinguishes between those who seek excuses with hidden disbelief and those whose hearts are sincere; our intentions matter more than external appearances, and we must examine our own hearts to ensure we are not making false excuses to avoid our spiritual responsibilities and duties toward our faith community.