يَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْكُمْ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ قُل لَّا تَعْتَذِرُوا۟ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكُمْ قَدْ نَبَّأَنَا ٱللَّهُ مِنْ أَخْبَارِكُمْ ۚ وَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُۥ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ 94
Translations
They will make excuses to you when you have returned to them. Say, "Make no excuse - never will we believe you. Allāh has already informed us of your news [i.e., affair]. And Allāh will observe your deeds, and [so will] His Messenger; then you will be taken back to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do."
Transliteration
Ya'tadhirūna ilaykum idhā raja'tum ilayhim, qul lā ta'tadhirū, lan nu'mina lakum, qad nabbā'anā Allāhu min akhbārikum, wa-sayarā Allāhu 'amalakum wa-rasūluh, thumma turaddūna ilā 'ālimi al-ghaybi wa-al-shahādati fayunabbī'ukum bimā kuntum ta'malūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) who made excuses upon the return of the believers from the Tabuk expedition. Allah commands the Prophet to reject their apologies categorically, stating that Allah has already informed him of their true intentions and deeds. The ayah emphasizes that all actions—whether hidden or manifest—will ultimately be presented before Allah and His Messenger, and that the final judgment belongs to Allah alone, Who encompasses all knowledge of the unseen and the seen, and will recompense everyone according to their works.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Surah at-Tawbah's discussion of those who made excuses for not participating in the Tabuk expedition (9 AH). The surah addresses the hypocrites who provided false justifications. The broader context concerns the testing of the believers' commitment and the exposure of hypocrisy within the Muslim community during a critical military campaign.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3895) discusses the Tabuk expedition and those who abstained from it. Additionally, the principle reflected here relates to hadiths on sincerity, such as the famous hadith: 'Actions are but by intentions' (Sahih Bukhari 1), emphasizing that Allah judges by inner sincerity rather than outward excuses.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that no excuse or pretense can deceive Allah, and that sincere intentions matter far more than persuasive words. We must examine our own hearts for sincerity in faith and obedience, knowing that all deeds—hidden and manifest—will ultimately be judged by the All-Knowing, All-Seeing Creator.