سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 120
مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُوا۟ عَن رَّسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَرْغَبُوا۟ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ وَلَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا مَخْمَصَةٌ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَـُٔونَ مَوْطِئًا يَغِيظُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَّيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عَمَلٌ صَـٰلِحٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿120﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
It was not becoming of the people of Al-Madinah and the bedouins of the neighbourhood to remain behind Allâh’s Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم when fighting in Allâh’s Cause) and (it was not becoming of them) to prefer their own lives to his life. That is because they suffer neither thirst nor fatigue, nor hunger in the Cause of Allâh, nor they take any step to raise the anger of disbelievers nor inflict any injury upon an enemy but is written to their credit as a deed of righteousness. Surely, Allâh wastes not the reward of the Muhsinûn
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مَا
mā
Not
كَانَ
kāna
it was
لِأَهْلِ
li-ahli
(for) the people
ٱلْمَدِينَةِ
l-madīnati
of the Madinah
وَمَنْ
waman
and who
حَوْلَهُم
ḥawlahum
were around them
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلْأَعْرَابِ
l-aʿrābi
the bedouins
أَن
an
that
يَتَخَلَّفُوا۟
yatakhallafū
they remain behind
عَن
ʿan
after
رَّسُولِ
rasūli
the Messenger
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
of Allah
وَلَا
walā
and not
يَرْغَبُوا۟
yarghabū
they prefer
بِأَنفُسِهِمْ
bi-anfusihim
their lives
عَن
ʿan
to
نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ
nafsihi
his life
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That is
بِأَنَّهُمْ
bi-annahum
because [they]
لَا
lā
(does) not
يُصِيبُهُمْ
yuṣībuhum
afflict them
ظَمَأٌۭ
ẓama-on
thirst
وَلَا
walā
and not
نَصَبٌۭ
naṣabun
fatigue
وَلَا
walā
and not
مَخْمَصَةٌۭ
makhmaṣatun
hunger
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَلَا
walā
and not
يَطَـُٔونَ
yaṭaūna
they step
مَوْطِئًۭا
mawṭi-an
any step
يَغِيظُ
yaghīẓu
that angers
ٱلْكُفَّارَ
l-kufāra
the disbelievers
وَلَا
walā
and not
يَنَالُونَ
yanālūna
they inflict
مِنْ
min
on
عَدُوٍّۢ
ʿaduwwin
an enemy
نَّيْلًا
naylan
an infliction
إِلَّا
illā
except
كُتِبَ
kutiba
is recorded
لَهُم
lahum
for them
بِهِۦ
bihi
in it
عَمَلٌۭ
ʿamalun
(as) a deed
صَـٰلِحٌ ۚ
ṣāliḥun
righteous
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
لَا
lā
(does) not
يُضِيعُ
yuḍīʿu
allow to be lost
أَجْرَ
ajra
the reward
ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
l-muḥ'sinīna
(of) the good-doers
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.
120. It is not proper for the people of Madinah and the Bedouins around them to remain behind the Messenger of Allahﷺ [136] or to prefer their own lives over his. That is because they suffer neither thirst, nor fatigue, nor hunger in the cause of Allah, nor do they take any step that angers the disbelievers, nor inflict any injury upon an enemy, but a righteous deed [137] is written for them because of it. Surely, Allah does not let the reward of those who do good go to waste.
[136]
The Completion of Faith Lies in Considering the Messenger of Allah Dearer Than One’s Own Life:
That is, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ endures the hardships of the expedition to Tabuk, while the Muslims remain behind in their homes at ease, and they consider their own lives dearer than the life of Allah’s Messenger. One Companion, Abu Khaythamah ؓ, also stayed behind from the Battle of Tabuk. He went to his garden where there was cool shade. His wife had sprinkled water to cool the ground well, laid out a mat, placed fresh clusters of dates before him, and also presented cool, sweet water. Upon seeing these comforts, suddenly a wave like lightning ran through Abu Khaythamah’s heart. He said, “Shame on this life, that I enjoy pleasant shade, cool water, and the delights of the garden, while Allah’s Messenger is traveling in such intense heat, scorching sun, and thirst.” As soon as this thought came, he called for his mount, girded his sword, took up his spear, and immediately set out. The she-camel was moving like the wind. Eventually, he reached the army. The Prophet ﷺ saw from afar that a camel rider was coming, raising dust as if riding on the wings of the wind, and said, “May Allah make it so that this is Abu Khaythamah.” After a short while, it was seen that it was indeed Abu Khaythamah ؓ. And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that until a believer considers me dearer than his own life, his faith is not complete, as is mentioned in the following hadith. Abdullah bin Hisham narrates that we were with the Prophet ﷺ and he was holding the hand of Sayyiduna Umar. Sayyiduna Umar ؓ said, “O Messenger of Allah! You are dearer to me than everything except my own self.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “No, by Him in Whose hand is my soul, until I become dearer to you than your own self, you cannot be a believer.” Sayyiduna Umar ؓ said, “By Allah! Now you are dearer to me than my own self.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Yes, O Umar! (That is, now you are a true Muslim).” [بخاري۔ كتاب الايمان والنذور۔ باب كيف كانت يمين النبي]
[137] That is, for every action of a mujahid during the journey of jihad, a righteous deed is written in his record of deeds, whether this action is involuntary, such as enduring hunger, thirst, fatigue, or any hardship faced in this path—all these are counted among his righteous deeds. And whether these actions are voluntary, such as traveling, capturing territory from the enemy, or achieving success by fighting them, for all these actions, they will receive reward from Allah.
[136]
The Completion of Faith Lies in Considering the Messenger of Allah Dearer Than One’s Own Life:
That is, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ endures the hardships of the expedition to Tabuk, while the Muslims remain behind in their homes at ease, and they consider their own lives dearer than the life of Allah’s Messenger. One Companion, Abu Khaythamah ؓ, also stayed behind from the Battle of Tabuk. He went to his garden where there was cool shade. His wife had sprinkled water to cool the ground well, laid out a mat, placed fresh clusters of dates before him, and also presented cool, sweet water. Upon seeing these comforts, suddenly a wave like lightning ran through Abu Khaythamah’s heart. He said, “Shame on this life, that I enjoy pleasant shade, cool water, and the delights of the garden, while Allah’s Messenger is traveling in such intense heat, scorching sun, and thirst.” As soon as this thought came, he called for his mount, girded his sword, took up his spear, and immediately set out. The she-camel was moving like the wind. Eventually, he reached the army. The Prophet ﷺ saw from afar that a camel rider was coming, raising dust as if riding on the wings of the wind, and said, “May Allah make it so that this is Abu Khaythamah.” After a short while, it was seen that it was indeed Abu Khaythamah ؓ. And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that until a believer considers me dearer than his own life, his faith is not complete, as is mentioned in the following hadith. Abdullah bin Hisham narrates that we were with the Prophet ﷺ and he was holding the hand of Sayyiduna Umar. Sayyiduna Umar ؓ said, “O Messenger of Allah! You are dearer to me than everything except my own self.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “No, by Him in Whose hand is my soul, until I become dearer to you than your own self, you cannot be a believer.” Sayyiduna Umar ؓ said, “By Allah! Now you are dearer to me than my own self.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Yes, O Umar! (That is, now you are a true Muslim).” [بخاري۔ كتاب الايمان والنذور۔ باب كيف كانت يمين النبي]
[137] That is, for every action of a mujahid during the journey of jihad, a righteous deed is written in his record of deeds, whether this action is involuntary, such as enduring hunger, thirst, fatigue, or any hardship faced in this path—all these are counted among his righteous deeds. And whether these actions are voluntary, such as traveling, capturing territory from the enemy, or achieving success by fighting them, for all these actions, they will receive reward from Allah.
