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They think that Al-Ahzâb (the Confederates) have not yet withdrawn; and if Al-Ahzâb (the Confederates) should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the bedouins, seeking news about you (from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withdrawn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 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.
(Ayah 20) {يَحْسَبُوْنَ الْاَحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوْا … : ’’ بَادُوْنَ ‘‘ ’’بَدَا يَبْدَوْ‘‘} is the plural of the active participle, here it refers to {’’خَارِجُوْنَ إِلَي الْبَدْوِ‘‘}, meaning those who go out towards the Bedouins. It is mentioned in Ibn Kathir: "That is, their cowardice and fear are such that they are still not convinced that the army of the disbelievers has retreated; they fear that it might come back again. At the mere sight of the armies of the polytheists, they are terrified and say, 'If only we were not with the Muslims in this city, but rather with the Bedouins in some deserted village or in some distant wilderness, we could ask a passerby, "So, what happened in the battle?"' Allah says that even if they are with you, it is useless. Their hearts are dead; the rot of cowardice has hollowed them out. How will they fight, and what bravery will they show?"
