سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ

Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 42

The Repentance · Medinan · Juz 10 · Page 194

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لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَّٱتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَـٰكِنۢ بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَوِ ٱسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ ﴿42﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

Had it been a near gain (booty in front of them) and an easy journey, they would have followed you, but the distance (Tabuk expedition) was long for them; and they would swear by Allâh, "If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you." They destroy their ownselves, and Allâh knows that they are liars.

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

لَوْ law If
كَانَ kāna it had been
عَرَضًۭا ʿaraḍan a gain
قَرِيبًۭا qarīban near
وَسَفَرًۭا wasafaran and a journey
قَاصِدًۭا qāṣidan easy
لَّٱتَّبَعُوكَ la-ittabaʿūka surely they (would) have followed you
وَلَـٰكِنۢ walākin but
بَعُدَتْ baʿudat was long
عَلَيْهِمُ ʿalayhimu for them
ٱلشُّقَّةُ ۚ l-shuqatu the distance
وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ wasayaḥlifūna And they will swear
بِٱللَّهِ bil-lahi by Allah
لَوِ lawi If
ٱسْتَطَعْنَا is'taṭaʿnā we were able
لَخَرَجْنَا lakharajnā certainly we (would) have come forth
مَعَكُمْ maʿakum with you
يُهْلِكُونَ yuh'likūna They destroy
أَنفُسَهُمْ anfusahum their own selves
وَٱللَّهُ wal-lahu and Allah
يَعْلَمُ yaʿlamu knows
إِنَّهُمْ innahum (that) indeed, they
لَكَـٰذِبُونَ lakādhibūna (are) surely liars

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah42) {لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيْبًا … :} This verse was revealed about those who stayed behind from the Battle of Tabuk. {’’ عَرَضًا ‘‘} The worldly provisions that are sought after due to human desires. {’’ قَرِيْبًا ‘‘} That which can be obtained very easily. {’’ قَاصِدًا ‘‘} Moderate, meaning in which there is no severe hardship involved. {’’ الشُّقَّةُ ‘‘} The distance that is covered with great difficulty and exhaustion. This is derived from hardship. Abu Ubaidah said the meaning of {’’ الشُّقَّةُ ‘‘} is the journey of a distant land, meaning if there was hope of easily obtaining spoils of war and the journey was not very long, whose path whose path was also extremely difficult, then these people would certainly have gone with you. But pure striving in the way of Allah, in which instead of easily obtaining spoils, there is sacrifice of wealth and life, a distant journey, and a clear possibility of martyrdom, is extremely difficult for a hypocrite.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

42. 1 From here begins the mention of those people who, by making excuses and apologies, took permission from the Prophet ﷺ even though in reality they had no excuse. By "عرض" is meant the worldly benefits that appeared before them, meaning the spoils of war.

42. 2 That is, they would have participated in jihad with you ﷺ. But the distance of the journey compelled them to invent excuses.

42. 3 That is, by swearing false oaths. Because swearing a false oath is a sin.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

If the gain had been immediate and the journey easy, they would have followed you [46], but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet they will swear by Allah, "If we could, we would have certainly gone out with you." They are destroying themselves, and Allah knows that they are surely liars.

[46]
The Excuses of the Hypocrites:

That is, if the hypocrites had expected to obtain spoils of war after a little effort, and if the journey had not been so long and arduous, then these hypocrites would certainly have been ready to go out with you. But the journey to Syria, that too in the intense heat of the season, with very few mounts available, and ahead lies a confrontation with a very formidable government where the signs point to failure rather than victory—how could they possibly accompany you in such a situation? Now, they will only swear that their circumstances are not favorable at this time; otherwise, they would have had no excuse not to go with you. Their lie is not in the fact that the very things and apprehensions that are preventing them from going out for jihad are hidden in their hearts, and they cannot express them before you. Therefore, they present various pretexts as excuses.
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