Surah Al-Fath (48) — Ayah 15

(Ayah 15) ➊ { سَيَقُوْلُ الْمُخَلَّفُوْنَ اِذَا انْطَلَقْتُمْ اِلٰى مَغَانِمَ … :} In addition to the many favors Allah Almighty bestowed upon the Companions who participated in the Pledge of Ridwan, which will be mentioned in verses (18, 19), He also promised them a very soon-to-come victory in which they would obtain many spoils of war. The purpose was to compensate for the disappointment they experienced at Hudaybiyyah, as well as to reward the obedience, loyalty, and self-sacrifice they demonstrated throughout this entire expedition. These spoils refer to Khaybar, whose conquest had become extremely necessary due to the Jews’ continuous mischief and breaking of covenants, but difficulties arose because of the support from the Quraysh. Now, with no worries from the Quraysh, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) intended to march on Khaybar. The victory of the Muslims in this campaign and the acquisition of countless spoils was apparent to all, and so it happened that just three months after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) marched on Khaybar and conquered it with great ease. In fact, many Jewish settlements around Khaybar also fell into the hands of the Muslims without much resistance. Allah Almighty had already informed that when you set out towards Khaybar to obtain spoils, those who stayed behind will say, “Allow us to go with you.”
➋ { يُرِيْدُوْنَ اَنْ يُّبَدِّلُوْا كَلٰمَ اللّٰهِ:} That is, Allah Almighty had promised these spoils only to those who pledged allegiance under the tree, and these people want the spoils to also go to those who did not even leave their homes to accompany the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him); how could they have pledged allegiance? If their request is accepted, then Allah’s word would no longer stand.
➌ { قُلْ لَّنْ تَتَّبِعُوْنَا:} Say to them, “You will never go with us, because this is the right of those who stood by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) when death was staring them in the face.”
➍ {كَذٰلِكُمْ قَالَ اللّٰهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ:} That is, Allah Almighty had already decided that only those who supported at the time of risking life and wealth are entitled to the fruits of victory.
➎ { فَسَيَقُوْلُوْنَ بَلْ تَحْسُدُوْنَنَا:} He (Allah) said, when these people are not allowed to go along, they will say, “Rather, you are jealous of us, lest our financial situation improves by obtaining these spoils.”
➏ { بَلْ كَانُوْا لَا يَفْقَهُوْنَ اِلَّا قَلِيْلًا:} He (Allah) said, the Muslims have no jealousy towards them, nor is there any room for it in their pure nature. Rather, the reality is that these people are unjustly blaming the Muslims; they did not understand their fault before, nor do they understand it now ({كَانُوْا} indicates continuity), that when previously they were not ready to take any risk to life or wealth, how can they now be made partners in the easily obtained spoils of war? And when previously their wealth and families prevented them from leaving home, why are they not preventing them from leaving now? “Very little understanding” means they do not understand at all. In the Qur’an and in Arabic speech, the word “little” is commonly used for absolute negation.