سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 91
لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلضُّعَفَآءِ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرْضَىٰ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ مَا عَلَى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ مِن سَبِيلٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿91﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
There is no blame on those who are weak or ill or who find no resources to spend [in holy fighting (Jihâd)], if they are sincere and true (in duty) to Allâh and His Messenger. No ground (of complaint) can there be against the Muhsinûn (good-doers - See the footnote of V.9:120). And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَّيْسَ
laysa
Not
عَلَى
ʿalā
on
ٱلضُّعَفَآءِ
l-ḍuʿafāi
the weak
وَلَا
walā
and not
عَلَى
ʿalā
on
ٱلْمَرْضَىٰ
l-marḍā
the sick
وَلَا
walā
and not
عَلَى
ʿalā
on
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
لَا
lā
not
يَجِدُونَ
yajidūna
they find
مَا
mā
what
يُنفِقُونَ
yunfiqūna
they (can) spend
حَرَجٌ
ḥarajun
any blame
إِذَا
idhā
if
نَصَحُوا۟
naṣaḥū
they (are) sincere
لِلَّهِ
lillahi
to Allah
وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ
warasūlihi
and His Messenger
مَا
mā
Not
عَلَى
ʿalā
(is) on
ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
l-muḥ'sinīna
the good-doers
مِن
min
any
سَبِيلٍۢ ۚ
sabīlin
way (for blame)
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
غَفُورٌۭ
ghafūrun
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٌۭ
raḥīmun
Most Merciful
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.
(Ayah91) ➊ {لَيْسَ عَلَى الضُّعَفَآءِ … :} In this verse, those people are mentioned who were truly excused and whose excuse was clear. Among them, the first are {’’ الضُّعَفَآءِ ‘‘}, by which is meant the lame, crippled, blind, elderly, women, and children. Second are {’’الْمَرْضٰى‘‘} (plural of patient), who cannot go due to illness; elsewhere it is said: «لَيْسَ عَلَى الْاَعْمٰى حَرَجٌ وَّ لَا عَلَى الْاَعْرَجِ حَرَجٌ وَّ لَا عَلَى الْمَرِيْضِ حَرَجٌ » [ الفتح : ۱۷ ] "There is no restriction upon the blind, nor upon the lame, nor upon the sick." And third are those healthy and able-bodied who do not have the financial means to prepare for the journey of jihad and its necessities, such as mounts and weapons, etc. Thus it is said: «لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللّٰهُ نَفْسًا اِلَّا وُسْعَهَا» [ البقرۃ : ۲۸۶ ] "Allah does not burden any soul except according to its capacity."
➋ { اِذَا نَصَحُوْا لِلّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖ:} That is, they should not do anything by which Allah's religion, the Noble Messenger (peace be upon him), or the believers could be harmed, or their enemies could benefit. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ اَلدِّيْنُ النَّصِيْحَةُ] "The religion is sincerity (goodwill) itself." We asked: "For whom?" He said: "For Allah, for His Book, for His Messenger, for the leaders of the Muslims, and for all their people." [ مسلم، الإیمان، باب بیان أن الدین النصیحۃ : ۵۵، عن تمیم رضی اللہ عنہ ] Included in the goodwill for common people is that when the mujahideen have gone out for jihad, these people should remain in the city, look after their homes, businesses, and families, protect their honor and dignity in every way, continue to send necessities to the mujahideen, not spread false news or rumors, not cause any kind of disorder, and silence those who try to demoralize the Muslims.
➌ { مَا عَلَى الْمُحْسِنِيْنَ مِنْ سَبِيْلٍ:} That is, these people are excused; if they do not participate in jihad, there is no sin upon them. Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) returned from Tabuk and approached Madinah, he said: "Indeed, there are some people in Madinah; you did not travel any path nor cross any valley except that they were with you." The people asked: "O Messenger of Allah! And they were in Madinah?" He said: "(Yes) they were in Madinah; excuse had kept them back." [ بخاری، المغازی، باب : ۴۴۲۳ ]
➋ { اِذَا نَصَحُوْا لِلّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖ:} That is, they should not do anything by which Allah's religion, the Noble Messenger (peace be upon him), or the believers could be harmed, or their enemies could benefit. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ اَلدِّيْنُ النَّصِيْحَةُ] "The religion is sincerity (goodwill) itself." We asked: "For whom?" He said: "For Allah, for His Book, for His Messenger, for the leaders of the Muslims, and for all their people." [ مسلم، الإیمان، باب بیان أن الدین النصیحۃ : ۵۵، عن تمیم رضی اللہ عنہ ] Included in the goodwill for common people is that when the mujahideen have gone out for jihad, these people should remain in the city, look after their homes, businesses, and families, protect their honor and dignity in every way, continue to send necessities to the mujahideen, not spread false news or rumors, not cause any kind of disorder, and silence those who try to demoralize the Muslims.
➌ { مَا عَلَى الْمُحْسِنِيْنَ مِنْ سَبِيْلٍ:} That is, these people are excused; if they do not participate in jihad, there is no sin upon them. Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) returned from Tabuk and approached Madinah, he said: "Indeed, there are some people in Madinah; you did not travel any path nor cross any valley except that they were with you." The people asked: "O Messenger of Allah! And they were in Madinah?" He said: "(Yes) they were in Madinah; excuse had kept them back." [ بخاری، المغازی، باب : ۴۴۲۳ ]
