سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 122
۞ وَمَا كَانَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُوا۟ كَآفَّةً ۚ فَلَوْلَا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ لِّيَتَفَقَّهُوا۟ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ ﴿122﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And it is not (proper) for the believers to go out to fight (Jihâd ) all together. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may get instructions in (Islâmic) religion, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware (of evil).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَمَا
wamā
And not
كَانَ
kāna
is
ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
l-mu'minūna
(for) the believers
لِيَنفِرُوا۟
liyanfirū
that they go forth
كَآفَّةًۭ ۚ
kāffatan
all together
فَلَوْلَا
falawlā
So if not
نَفَرَ
nafara
go forth
مِن
min
from
كُلِّ
kulli
every
فِرْقَةٍۢ
fir'qatin
group
مِّنْهُمْ
min'hum
among them
طَآئِفَةٌۭ
ṭāifatun
a party
لِّيَتَفَقَّهُوا۟
liyatafaqqahū
that they may obtain understanding
فِى
fī
in
ٱلدِّينِ
l-dīni
the religion
وَلِيُنذِرُوا۟
waliyundhirū
and that they may warn
قَوْمَهُمْ
qawmahum
their people
إِذَا
idhā
when
رَجَعُوٓا۟
rajaʿū
they return
إِلَيْهِمْ
ilayhim
to them
لَعَلَّهُمْ
laʿallahum
so that they may
يَحْذَرُونَ
yaḥdharūna
beware
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.
122. It is not possible for all the believers [139] to go forth together. So why does not a group from every section of them go forth to gain understanding in religion, so that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware of evil?
[139]
Acquiring Knowledge of the Religion is a Collective Obligation (Fard Kifayah):
Two meanings of this verse are mentioned, and both are correct. One is that this verse is related to jihad. And from this verse, it is also understood that jihad is not an individual obligation (fard ‘ayn), but when the Islamic government makes a general announcement of jihad, then at that time, jihad becomes an individual obligation (fard ‘ayn) upon those who are capable, as happened in the Battle of Tabuk. In such a situation, those who stay behind from jihad become sinful, and it is not possible for everyone to go; rather, sometimes it is necessary for a part of the Muslims to stay behind so that they can protect the capital or other important places from the enemy, and when needed, send supplies and reinforcements to the army. Besides this, there are also various disabled individuals in society. In this case, the meaning of this verse would be that it is necessary for some people from every town and every tribe to go with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ so that by staying in his company, they may gain understanding of the religion, and when they return to their homes, they may inform those who did not go for jihad about the hundreds of incidents and events. And if the Prophet ﷺ himself did not go to war, then those who stayed behind and learned religious matters and understanding from the company of the Prophet ﷺ should inform those who had gone for jihad. It is the responsibility of the government to remove the ignorance of the people. And some scholars say that this verse is not related to jihad, but rather to acquiring knowledge of the religion, meaning that it is not possible for all Muslims, especially the Bedouin tribes (about whom in verse 97 of this surah it was mentioned that they cannot understand the limits and wisdoms of the religion), to all come to Madinah to acquire knowledge and understanding of the religion. Therefore, in order to create religious awareness and understanding among the people, it is necessary that some people from every tribe, nation, and town come to Madinah and benefit from the company of the Prophet ﷺ, and then, after returning, teach the knowledge of religion to the people of their own town, nation, or tribe, so that their ignorance is removed and a correct awareness of the Islamic system of life is created among them, and they try to mold their way of life according to it.
True Knowledge is the Knowledge of Religion:
This verse was revealed at a time when Islam had become dominant over most of Arabia. The Bedouin tribes were entering Islam in large numbers, but neither had their ignorant beliefs ended, nor had true awareness of the religion yet developed among them. In this verse, the importance of knowledge is made clear, and it is explained that the task of the Islamic government is not merely to conquer territories, but at the same time, it is just as necessary to remove the ignorance of the people and to train them according to Islamic beliefs as jihad is necessary. Incidentally, from this verse it is also understood that true knowledge is only that which creates understanding of the religion, and which can be used in the propagation and dissemination of the religion. As for other sciences, no matter how beneficial they may be for worldly life, they cannot be called true knowledge. Whether this verse is related to going out for jihad or to going out to acquire knowledge of the religion, both interpretations are correct, because going out to acquire knowledge of the religion is also a type of striving in the way of Allah (jihad fi sabilillah), and for the establishment of the Islamic system of life, both these fields are extremely important and are collective obligations (fard kifayah).
[139]
Acquiring Knowledge of the Religion is a Collective Obligation (Fard Kifayah):
Two meanings of this verse are mentioned, and both are correct. One is that this verse is related to jihad. And from this verse, it is also understood that jihad is not an individual obligation (fard ‘ayn), but when the Islamic government makes a general announcement of jihad, then at that time, jihad becomes an individual obligation (fard ‘ayn) upon those who are capable, as happened in the Battle of Tabuk. In such a situation, those who stay behind from jihad become sinful, and it is not possible for everyone to go; rather, sometimes it is necessary for a part of the Muslims to stay behind so that they can protect the capital or other important places from the enemy, and when needed, send supplies and reinforcements to the army. Besides this, there are also various disabled individuals in society. In this case, the meaning of this verse would be that it is necessary for some people from every town and every tribe to go with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ so that by staying in his company, they may gain understanding of the religion, and when they return to their homes, they may inform those who did not go for jihad about the hundreds of incidents and events. And if the Prophet ﷺ himself did not go to war, then those who stayed behind and learned religious matters and understanding from the company of the Prophet ﷺ should inform those who had gone for jihad. It is the responsibility of the government to remove the ignorance of the people. And some scholars say that this verse is not related to jihad, but rather to acquiring knowledge of the religion, meaning that it is not possible for all Muslims, especially the Bedouin tribes (about whom in verse 97 of this surah it was mentioned that they cannot understand the limits and wisdoms of the religion), to all come to Madinah to acquire knowledge and understanding of the religion. Therefore, in order to create religious awareness and understanding among the people, it is necessary that some people from every tribe, nation, and town come to Madinah and benefit from the company of the Prophet ﷺ, and then, after returning, teach the knowledge of religion to the people of their own town, nation, or tribe, so that their ignorance is removed and a correct awareness of the Islamic system of life is created among them, and they try to mold their way of life according to it.
True Knowledge is the Knowledge of Religion:
This verse was revealed at a time when Islam had become dominant over most of Arabia. The Bedouin tribes were entering Islam in large numbers, but neither had their ignorant beliefs ended, nor had true awareness of the religion yet developed among them. In this verse, the importance of knowledge is made clear, and it is explained that the task of the Islamic government is not merely to conquer territories, but at the same time, it is just as necessary to remove the ignorance of the people and to train them according to Islamic beliefs as jihad is necessary. Incidentally, from this verse it is also understood that true knowledge is only that which creates understanding of the religion, and which can be used in the propagation and dissemination of the religion. As for other sciences, no matter how beneficial they may be for worldly life, they cannot be called true knowledge. Whether this verse is related to going out for jihad or to going out to acquire knowledge of the religion, both interpretations are correct, because going out to acquire knowledge of the religion is also a type of striving in the way of Allah (jihad fi sabilillah), and for the establishment of the Islamic system of life, both these fields are extremely important and are collective obligations (fard kifayah).
