سُوْرَةُ الْفَتْحِ
Surah Al-Fath (48) — Ayah 11
سَيَقُولُ لَكَ ٱلْمُخَلَّفُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ شَغَلَتْنَآ أَمْوَٰلُنَا وَأَهْلُونَا فَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ ضَرًّا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ نَفْعًۢا ۚ بَلْ كَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًۢا ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Those of the bedouins who lagged behind will say to you: "Our possessions and our families occupied us, so ask forgiveness for us." They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say: "Who then has any power at all (to intervene) on your behalf with Allâh, if He intends you hurt or intends you benefit? Nay, but Allâh is Ever All-Aware of what you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
سَيَقُولُ
sayaqūlu
Will say
لَكَ
laka
to you
ٱلْمُخَلَّفُونَ
l-mukhalafūna
those who remained behind
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْأَعْرَابِ
l-aʿrābi
the Bedouins
شَغَلَتْنَآ
shaghalatnā
Kept us busy
أَمْوَٰلُنَا
amwālunā
our properties
وَأَهْلُونَا
wa-ahlūnā
and our families
فَٱسْتَغْفِرْ
fa-is'taghfir
so ask forgiveness
لَنَا ۚ
lanā
for us
يَقُولُونَ
yaqūlūna
They say
بِأَلْسِنَتِهِم
bi-alsinatihim
with their tongues
مَّا
mā
what
لَيْسَ
laysa
is not
فِى
fī
in
قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ
qulūbihim
their hearts
قُلْ
qul
Say
فَمَن
faman
Then who
يَمْلِكُ
yamliku
has power
لَكُم
lakum
for you
مِّنَ
mina
against
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
شَيْـًٔا
shayan
(in) anything
إِنْ
in
if
أَرَادَ
arāda
He intends
بِكُمْ
bikum
for you
ضَرًّا
ḍarran
harm
أَوْ
aw
or
أَرَادَ
arāda
He intends
بِكُمْ
bikum
for you
نَفْعًۢا ۚ
nafʿan
a benefit
بَلْ
bal
Nay
كَانَ
kāna
is
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
خَبِيرًۢا
khabīran
All-Aware
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.
11. 1. By this are meant the tribes settled around Madinah: Ghifar, Muzainah, Juhainah, Aslam, and Wa'il Murad. When the Prophet ﷺ, after seeing a dream whose details will come later, made a general announcement to go for Umrah to Makkah, these mentioned tribes thought that the current circumstances are not favorable for going to Makkah. There, the disbelievers still have dominance and the Muslims are weak. Also, the Muslims cannot go fully armed for Umrah. If, in such a situation, the disbelievers decide to fight the Muslims, how will the Muslims, empty-handed, confront them? At that time, going to Makkah meant putting oneself in destruction. Therefore, these people did not go with you ﷺ for Umrah. Allah Almighty is saying about them that they will present excuses of being occupied to you and will plead for forgiveness.
11. 2. That is, on their tongues is this: that behind us, there was no one to look after our homes and wives and children, so we ourselves had to stay back. But in reality, their staying behind was due to hypocrisy and fear of death.
11. 3. That is, if Allah decides to destroy your wealth and your family, does anyone among you have the power to prevent Allah from doing so?
11. 4. That is, if He wants to help you and grant you spoils, can anyone stop Him? This is, in fact, a refutation of those who stayed behind, who thought that if they did not go with the Prophet ﷺ, they would be safe from loss and would benefit from profit, whereas all authority over benefit and harm is in Allah's hands.
11. 5. That is, He will give you full recompense for your deeds.
11. 2. That is, on their tongues is this: that behind us, there was no one to look after our homes and wives and children, so we ourselves had to stay back. But in reality, their staying behind was due to hypocrisy and fear of death.
11. 3. That is, if Allah decides to destroy your wealth and your family, does anyone among you have the power to prevent Allah from doing so?
11. 4. That is, if He wants to help you and grant you spoils, can anyone stop Him? This is, in fact, a refutation of those who stayed behind, who thought that if they did not go with the Prophet ﷺ, they would be safe from loss and would benefit from profit, whereas all authority over benefit and harm is in Allah's hands.
11. 5. That is, He will give you full recompense for your deeds.
