Surah 9. At-Tauba, Ayah 42
| لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَاتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَٰكِنْ بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ |
| Transliteration | : | law kaana carad.(an) qareb(an) wa- safar(an) qaas.id(an) la- ittabaco -ka wa- laakin bacudat calay -him ash- shuqqah wa- sa- yah.lifon bi- 'allaah law istat.acnaa la- kharajnaa maca -kum yuhlikon anfus -hum wa- 'allaah yaclam 'inna -hum la- kaadhibon |
| Pickthall | : | Had it been a near adventure and an easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying): If we had been able we would surely have set out with you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars. |
| Asad | : | Had there been [a prospect of] immediate gain, and an easy journey, they would certainly have followed thee, [O Prophet:] but the distance was too great for them.66 And yet, [after your return, O believers,] they will swear by God, "Had we been able to do so, we would certainly have set out with you!" - [and by thus falsely swearing] they will be destroying their own selves: for God knows indeed that they are lying! |
| Malik | : | As for the hypocrites, if the gain would have been immediate and the journey short, they would have certainly accompanied you, but the long journey (in Tabuk expedition) was too hard for them. To justify their not accompanying you, they would even swear by Allah, "If we were able, we would certainly have marched with you." By doing so, they are destroying their own souls, for Allah knows that they are liars. |
| Yusuf Ali | : | If there had been immediate gain (in sight) and the journey easy they would (all) without doubt have followed thee but the distance was long (and weighed) on them. They would indeed swear by Allah "If we only could we should certainly have come out with you" they would destroy their own souls; for Allah doth know that they are certainly lying. 1307 |
Note - 66A reference to the unwillingness of some of the Muslims
to follow the Prophet's call and to set out on the
expedition to the frontier (see last paragraph of note
[59] above). A strenuous march of about fourteen days was
needed to reach Tabuk, the goal of this expedition; and
the uncertainty of its outcome, as well as the hardships
involved, gave rise to all manner of spurious excuses on
the part of the half-hearted believers and hypocrites. As
the next verse shows, the Prophet accepted these excuses
in many cases, and allowed the men concerned to remain at
Medina.
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Note - 1307The arts and excuses of the Hypocrites are here exposed.
If there had been booty in sight or an easy walk-over,
they would have come. All their oaths are false, and in
taking the false oaths they are destroying their
spiritual life. Indeed the backsliders are jeopardising
their own physical lives in hanging back. If the enemy
succeeded, they would all suffer.
|
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A reference to the unwillingness of some of the Muslims to follow the Prophet's call and to set out on the expedition to the frontier (see last paragraph of note [59] above). A strenuous march of about fourteen days was needed to reach Tabuk, the goal of this expedition; and the uncertainty of its outcome, as well as the hardships involved, gave rise to all manner of spurious excuses on the part of the half-hearted believers and hypocrites. As the next verse shows, the Prophet accepted these excuses in many cases, and allowed the men concerned to remain at Medina. |
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The arts and excuses of the Hypocrites are here exposed. If there had been booty in sight or an easy walk-over, they would have come. All their oaths are false, and in taking the false oaths they are destroying their spiritual life. Indeed the backsliders are jeopardising their own physical lives in hanging back. If the enemy succeeded, they would all suffer. |
