Surah Al-Fath (48) — Ayah 11

(Ayah 11) ➊ {سَيَقُوْلُ لَكَ الْمُخَلَّفُوْنَ مِنَ الْاَعْرَابِ:} When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to go for ‘Umrah, he invited the Bedouins around Madinah to accompany him, so that the people of Makkah, seeing the number of Muslims, would not prevent them from performing ‘Umrah. However, most of them deliberately stayed behind. Although these people were not hypocrites, faith had not yet fully settled in their hearts. The evidence for this is in the upcoming verses {’’ قُلْ لِّلْمُخَلَّفِيْنَ مِنَ الْاَعْرَابِ … ‘‘}. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) returned victorious and triumphant, these people had already prepared excuses in their hearts, which they were going to present before you upon your arrival. Allah Almighty had already informed you, on the way, of the excuses they were going to present and also told you the real reason for their staying behind. This is among the miracles of the Noble Qur’an, that it informed beforehand of what was going to happen later.

➋ The literal meaning of {’’ الْمُخَلَّفُوْنَ‘‘} is “those left behind,” whereas these people had deliberately stayed behind themselves, so apparently the word {’’مُتَخَلِّفُوْنَ‘‘} (those who stayed behind) should have been used for them. However, Allah Almighty used the word {’’ الْمُخَلَّفُوْنَ‘‘} for them. That is, due to their ill-intent and the evil of their deeds, Allah Almighty did not grant them the ability to go along, rather He left them behind. This proves that a person being deprived of good deeds is due to Allah’s displeasure, because He, due to his evil deeds, takes away the ability to do good deeds. Allah Almighty said about the laggards of the Battle of Tabuk: «وَ لَوْ اَرَادُوا الْخُرُوْجَ لَاَعَدُّوْا لَهٗ عُدَّةً وَّ لٰكِنْ كَرِهَ اللّٰهُ انْۢبِعَاثَهُمْ فَثَبَّطَهُمْ وَ قِيْلَ اقْعُدُوْا مَعَ الْقٰعِدِيْنَ» [التوبۃ : ۴۶ ] “And if they had intended to go forth, they would have prepared for it some preparation, but Allah disliked their rising up, so He held them back, and it was said, ‘Sit with those who sit.’” See also Surah At-Tawbah (81).

➌ { شَغَلَتْنَاۤ اَمْوَالُنَا وَ اَهْلُوْنَا فَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا:} That is, these Bedouins will say that our wealth, livestock, and wives and children became an obstacle for us to accompany you, because there was no one to look after and protect them, so for this shortcoming of ours, please pray to Allah Almighty for us that He may forgive us.

➍ { يَقُوْلُوْنَ بِاَلْسِنَتِهِمْ مَّا لَيْسَ فِيْ قُلُوْبِهِمْ:} That is, upon your arrival in Madinah, these people will say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. The obstacle of wealth, livestock, and family is their false excuse. Likewise, their request for seeking forgiveness is mere pretense; otherwise, if they truly felt guilty, why would they not have gone along? The real reason for their not going has been stated by Allah, the Knower of the unseen, in the next verse.

➎ {قُلْ فَمَنْ يَّمْلِكُ لَكُمْ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ شَيْـًٔا … :} This is the answer to both of their statements. It is said: You, according to your claim, did not go along because of looking after and protecting your wealth and family. Tell me, if Allah Almighty intends to harm you, and despite your staying behind from jihad and being present at home, He destroys your wealth and family, then who can save you from Him? Or if He intends to benefit you, and despite your going out for jihad, He protects your wealth and family and grants them blessing and increase, then who can prevent Him? When no one can prevent benefit or harm, then why do you care about these things in opposition to the command of Allah and His Messenger? And as for your request for seeking forgiveness, if you are truly remorseful for what you have done and Allah Almighty wants to forgive you, then who can prevent Him? Then, if I do not seek forgiveness for you, it will not harm you, and if you are not remorseful and are only pretending to ask for forgiveness, then in that case, even if I do seek forgiveness for you and Allah Almighty does not want to forgive you, rather wants to punish you, then who can prevent Him?

➏ {بَلْ كَانَ اللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ خَبِيْرًا:} That is, the matter is not as you have assumed, that whatever we say with our tongues will be accepted and the state of our hearts will remain hidden. Rather, the reality is that Allah Almighty is fully aware of all the deeds you do, not only at the present time but always. The meaning of perpetuity is conveyed by {’’ كَانَ ‘‘}. The words of the commentator Tabari are: {’’ بَلْ لَمْ يَزَلِ اللّٰهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُوْنَ مِنْ خَيْرٍ وَ شَرٍّ خَبِيْرًا ‘‘} “Rather, Allah Almighty has always been fully aware of all their good and bad deeds.”