سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْزَابِ
Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 20
يَحْسَبُونَ ٱلْأَحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا۟ ۖ وَإِن يَأْتِ ٱلْأَحْزَابُ يَوَدُّوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِى ٱلْأَعْرَابِ يَسْـَٔلُونَ عَنْ أَنۢبَآئِكُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ فِيكُم مَّا قَـٰتَلُوٓا۟ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿20﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They think that Al-Ahzâb (the Confederates) have not yet withdrawn; and if Al-Ahzâb (the Confederates) should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the bedouins, seeking news about you (from a far place); and if they (happen) to be among you, they would not fight but little.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَحْسَبُونَ
yaḥsabūna
They think
ٱلْأَحْزَابَ
l-aḥzāba
the confederates
لَمْ
lam
(have) not
يَذْهَبُوا۟ ۖ
yadhhabū
withdrawn
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
يَأْتِ
yati
(should) come
ٱلْأَحْزَابُ
l-aḥzābu
the confederates
يَوَدُّوا۟
yawaddū
they would wish
لَوْ
law
if
أَنَّهُم
annahum
that they (were)
بَادُونَ
bādūna
living in (the) desert
فِى
fī
among
ٱلْأَعْرَابِ
l-aʿrābi
the Bedouins
يَسْـَٔلُونَ
yasalūna
asking
عَنْ
ʿan
about
أَنۢبَآئِكُمْ ۖ
anbāikum
your news
وَلَوْ
walaw
And if
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they were
فِيكُم
fīkum
among you
مَّا
mā
not
قَـٰتَلُوٓا۟
qātalū
they would fight
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَلِيلًۭا
qalīlan
a little
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.
20-1. That is, the cowardice, faint-heartedness, and fear and terror of these hypocrites is such that even though the groups of disbelievers have returned unsuccessful and disappointed, they still think that they are still present in their trenches and tents.
20-2. That is, supposing that the groups of disbelievers return again with the intention of fighting, the desire of the hypocrites would be that instead of staying inside the city of Madinah, they would be outside in the desert with the Bedouins, and there they would keep asking people about you: whether Muhammad ﷺ and his companions have been destroyed or not? Or whether the army of the disbelievers was successful or unsuccessful?
20-3. Merely out of fear of disgrace or due to communal pride. In this, there is a severe warning for those people who avoid jihad or lag behind from it.
20-2. That is, supposing that the groups of disbelievers return again with the intention of fighting, the desire of the hypocrites would be that instead of staying inside the city of Madinah, they would be outside in the desert with the Bedouins, and there they would keep asking people about you: whether Muhammad ﷺ and his companions have been destroyed or not? Or whether the army of the disbelievers was successful or unsuccessful?
20-3. Merely out of fear of disgrace or due to communal pride. In this, there is a severe warning for those people who avoid jihad or lag behind from it.
