سُوْرَةُ الْفَتْحِ
Surah Al-Fath (48) — Ayah 11
سَيَقُولُ لَكَ ٱلْمُخَلَّفُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ شَغَلَتْنَآ أَمْوَٰلُنَا وَأَهْلُونَا فَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ ضَرًّا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ نَفْعًۢا ۚ بَلْ كَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًۢا ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Those of the bedouins who lagged behind will say to you: "Our possessions and our families occupied us, so ask forgiveness for us." They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say: "Who then has any power at all (to intervene) on your behalf with Allâh, if He intends you hurt or intends you benefit? Nay, but Allâh is Ever All-Aware of what you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
سَيَقُولُ
sayaqūlu
Will say
لَكَ
laka
to you
ٱلْمُخَلَّفُونَ
l-mukhalafūna
those who remained behind
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْأَعْرَابِ
l-aʿrābi
the Bedouins
شَغَلَتْنَآ
shaghalatnā
Kept us busy
أَمْوَٰلُنَا
amwālunā
our properties
وَأَهْلُونَا
wa-ahlūnā
and our families
فَٱسْتَغْفِرْ
fa-is'taghfir
so ask forgiveness
لَنَا ۚ
lanā
for us
يَقُولُونَ
yaqūlūna
They say
بِأَلْسِنَتِهِم
bi-alsinatihim
with their tongues
مَّا
mā
what
لَيْسَ
laysa
is not
فِى
fī
in
قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ
qulūbihim
their hearts
قُلْ
qul
Say
فَمَن
faman
Then who
يَمْلِكُ
yamliku
has power
لَكُم
lakum
for you
مِّنَ
mina
against
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
شَيْـًٔا
shayan
(in) anything
إِنْ
in
if
أَرَادَ
arāda
He intends
بِكُمْ
bikum
for you
ضَرًّا
ḍarran
harm
أَوْ
aw
or
أَرَادَ
arāda
He intends
بِكُمْ
bikum
for you
نَفْعًۢا ۚ
nafʿan
a benefit
بَلْ
bal
Nay
كَانَ
kāna
is
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
خَبِيرًۢا
khabīran
All-Aware
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.
11. Those of the Bedouins [11] who stayed behind will say to you, “Our wealth and our families kept us occupied, so ask forgiveness for us [12].” They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say, “Who can avail you anything against Allah if He intends to harm you [13] or benefit you?” Rather, Allah is fully aware of what you do.
[11]
On What Grounds Did the Hypocrites Not Accompany the Journey of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah:
When youﷺ intended to perform ‘Umrah, it was formally announced in Madinah and the surrounding settlements that whoever wished to accompany you for ‘Umrah should come to Madinah. However, some tribes from the surrounding settlements, such as Ghifar, Muzaynah, Juhaynah, Aslam, and Ashja‘, refrained from going with you. These people were, in fact, hypocrites and, in their view, were among those waiting for a favorable time. They thought that the Quraysh of Makkah had come here and killed many Muslims in the field of Uhud, so now this small group, which is itself going to the home of its mortal enemies, how could those people possibly let them return alive? Because of this thought, they considered it safer not to participate in this expedition.
[12] When you were returning from Hudaybiyyah to Madinah, this Surah was revealed, and Allah informed you of the inner malice of the hypocrites and their future conduct, that these people would present all sorts of excuses and pretexts, saying that due to such-and-such compulsion, we could not go with you. Therefore, you should pray to Allah for us, that He may forgive our fault. Allah says that even their asking you to seek forgiveness is a deception, and they want to give you the impression that they are truly very sorry for not going with you. Whereas, in reality, they neither consider this act a fault, nor do they feel any regret, nor do they consider themselves in need of a prayer for forgiveness. All of this is mere lip service by which they want to keep you satisfied.
[13] That is, O hypocrites! You considered it safer not to participate in this expedition. Then, if Allah were to cause you to die in your homes or inflict some other calamity upon you, could anyone save you from it, or could you yourselves prevent it? Or, for example, if you had gone on this journey with the Messengerﷺ and Allah wished to benefit your families, or grant you benefit even on this journey, could anyone prevent it?
[11]
On What Grounds Did the Hypocrites Not Accompany the Journey of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah:
When youﷺ intended to perform ‘Umrah, it was formally announced in Madinah and the surrounding settlements that whoever wished to accompany you for ‘Umrah should come to Madinah. However, some tribes from the surrounding settlements, such as Ghifar, Muzaynah, Juhaynah, Aslam, and Ashja‘, refrained from going with you. These people were, in fact, hypocrites and, in their view, were among those waiting for a favorable time. They thought that the Quraysh of Makkah had come here and killed many Muslims in the field of Uhud, so now this small group, which is itself going to the home of its mortal enemies, how could those people possibly let them return alive? Because of this thought, they considered it safer not to participate in this expedition.
[12] When you were returning from Hudaybiyyah to Madinah, this Surah was revealed, and Allah informed you of the inner malice of the hypocrites and their future conduct, that these people would present all sorts of excuses and pretexts, saying that due to such-and-such compulsion, we could not go with you. Therefore, you should pray to Allah for us, that He may forgive our fault. Allah says that even their asking you to seek forgiveness is a deception, and they want to give you the impression that they are truly very sorry for not going with you. Whereas, in reality, they neither consider this act a fault, nor do they feel any regret, nor do they consider themselves in need of a prayer for forgiveness. All of this is mere lip service by which they want to keep you satisfied.
[13] That is, O hypocrites! You considered it safer not to participate in this expedition. Then, if Allah were to cause you to die in your homes or inflict some other calamity upon you, could anyone save you from it, or could you yourselves prevent it? Or, for example, if you had gone on this journey with the Messengerﷺ and Allah wished to benefit your families, or grant you benefit even on this journey, could anyone prevent it?
