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They think that Al-Ahzâb (the Confederates) have not yet withdrawn; and if Al-Ahzâb (the Confederates) should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the bedouins, seeking news about you (from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withdrawn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 Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
They think the enemy forces have not yet gone [28]; and if the enemy should come again, they would wish they were living among the desert Arabs, only asking about your news from a safe distance. And even if they were among you, they would hardly fight at all.
[28]
The Height of the Cowardice of the Hypocrites:
They are so cowardly and fearful that even though the allied armies have long since retreated, they still cannot believe that the enemy has gone, and it is possible that the hypocrites think that the Muslims have spread such news as propaganda. They are also worried that if the enemy has left due to bad weather, then when the weather improves, they might attack again. In this situation, they think how good it would have been if they were not residents of Madinah but rather lived in some village, where there would be no danger of enemy attack, so they would not have to face such worries. They would just inquire about the Muslims’ situation from here and there, or some news about them would reach them. And if the circumstances seemed promising and the Muslims’ victory appeared certain, then they too would join the battle to get a share of the spoils of war.
[28]
The Height of the Cowardice of the Hypocrites:
They are so cowardly and fearful that even though the allied armies have long since retreated, they still cannot believe that the enemy has gone, and it is possible that the hypocrites think that the Muslims have spread such news as propaganda. They are also worried that if the enemy has left due to bad weather, then when the weather improves, they might attack again. In this situation, they think how good it would have been if they were not residents of Madinah but rather lived in some village, where there would be no danger of enemy attack, so they would not have to face such worries. They would just inquire about the Muslims’ situation from here and there, or some news about them would reach them. And if the circumstances seemed promising and the Muslims’ victory appeared certain, then they too would join the battle to get a share of the spoils of war.
