سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 47
لَوْ خَرَجُوا۟ فِيكُم مَّا زَادُوكُمْ إِلَّا خَبَالًا وَلَأَوْضَعُوا۟ خِلَـٰلَكُمْ يَبْغُونَكُمُ ٱلْفِتْنَةَ وَفِيكُمْ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لَهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿47﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Had they marched out with you, they would have added to you nothing except disorder, and they would have hurried about in your midst (spreading corruption) and sowing sedition among you - and there are some among you who would have listened to them. And Allâh is the All-Knower of the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَوْ
law
If
خَرَجُوا۟
kharajū
they (had) gone forth
فِيكُم
fīkum
with you
مَّا
mā
not
زَادُوكُمْ
zādūkum
they (would) have increased you
إِلَّا
illā
except
خَبَالًۭا
khabālan
(in) confusion
وَلَأَوْضَعُوا۟
wala-awḍaʿū
and would have been active
خِلَـٰلَكُمْ
khilālakum
in your midst
يَبْغُونَكُمُ
yabghūnakumu
seeking (for) you
ٱلْفِتْنَةَ
l-fit'nata
dissension
وَفِيكُمْ
wafīkum
And among you (are some)
سَمَّـٰعُونَ
sammāʿūna
who would have listened
لَهُمْ ۗ
lahum
to them
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
عَلِيمٌۢ
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Knower
بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
bil-ẓālimīna
of the wrongdoers
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.
(Ayah47) ➊ {لَوْ خَرَجُوْا فِيْكُمْ مَّا زَادُوْكُمْ اِلَّا خَبَالًا …:} In this, Muslims are comforted that their not going out was actually better for you, because if these people had gone along, they would have only caused more trouble and would have made every effort to create discord among you, sometimes backbiting, sometimes trying to make one Muslim fight another, and sometimes devising schemes to demoralize the Muslims. For these reasons, Allah Almighty did not grant them the ability to go out.
➋ { وَ فِيْكُمْ سَمّٰعُوْنَ لَهُمْ …:} Among those who set out for Tabuk, there were some who had a soft spot for the hypocrites; Allah Almighty has warned all the other fighters about them that some of you simple-hearted people listen very attentively to their words, even though such discouraging people’s words should not be listened to at all. Another meaning could be that among you are those who spy for them, that is, who convey your weaknesses to them. Due to the definite article in {’’ بِالظّٰلِمِيْنَ ‘‘}, it has been translated as “those wrongdoers,” meaning Allah Almighty is well aware of those wrongdoers who, by committing this act, are wronging themselves and, by creating division and doubts among others, are also wronging them.
➋ { وَ فِيْكُمْ سَمّٰعُوْنَ لَهُمْ …:} Among those who set out for Tabuk, there were some who had a soft spot for the hypocrites; Allah Almighty has warned all the other fighters about them that some of you simple-hearted people listen very attentively to their words, even though such discouraging people’s words should not be listened to at all. Another meaning could be that among you are those who spy for them, that is, who convey your weaknesses to them. Due to the definite article in {’’ بِالظّٰلِمِيْنَ ‘‘}, it has been translated as “those wrongdoers,” meaning Allah Almighty is well aware of those wrongdoers who, by committing this act, are wronging themselves and, by creating division and doubts among others, are also wronging them.
