سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 38
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ ٱنفِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ أَرَضِيتُم بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا مِنَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ﴿38﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the Cause of Allâh (i.e. Jihâd) you cling heavily to the earth? Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world as compared to the Hereafter.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you who believe
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
O you who believe
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
O you who believe
مَا
mā
What
لَكُمْ
lakum
(is the matter) with you
إِذَا
idhā
when
قِيلَ
qīla
it is said
لَكُمُ
lakumu
to you
ٱنفِرُوا۟
infirū
go forth
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
ٱثَّاقَلْتُمْ
ithāqaltum
you cling heavily
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ
l-arḍi
the earth
أَرَضِيتُم
araḍītum
Are you pleased
بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ
bil-ḥayati
with the life
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
(of) the world
مِنَ
mina
(rather) than
ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ
l-ākhirati
the Hereafter
فَمَا
famā
But what
مَتَـٰعُ
matāʿu
(is the) enjoyment
ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ
l-ḥayati
(of) the life
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
(of) the world
فِى
fī
in (comparison to)
ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ
l-ākhirati
the hereafter
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَلِيلٌ
qalīlun
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.
38. O you who believe! What is the matter with you that when you are told, "Go forth in the cause of Allah," you cling heavily to the earth [40]? Do you prefer the life of this world over the Hereafter? But the enjoyment of worldly life is insignificant compared to the Hereafter [41].
[40]
The Allies Against the Muslims in the Battle of Tabuk: Christians, Polytheist Tribes, Hypocrites of Madinah, and the Jews:
From here, an entirely new subject begins, namely the Battle of Tabuk. Its background was that after the victories of Makkah and Hunayn, when Islam became dominant throughout Arabia, the Arab tribes and their king Ghassan, who lived on the border of Syria and were under the authority of the Caesar of Rome, considered these successes of the Muslims to be a great threat to themselves and began preparations for a decisive battle to crush the Muslims and, in fact, to break the back of Islam. On the other hand, the defeated polytheists from all over Arabia were present to assist them, and thirdly, the hypocrites of Madinah, through the mediation of Abu Amir the Monk, had started colluding with Ghassan and the Caesar of Rome. The Jews were also supporting these hypocrites, and the hypocrites had built Masjid Dhirar for the purpose of this conspiracy. In other words, the internal and external forces of disbelief were exerting their utmost efforts to wipe Islam off the face of the earth. The Prophet ﷺ was constantly receiving reports of the great gathering of Roman armies on the Syrian border.
The Adverse Conditions of the Muslims:
On the other hand, the situation was such that there was a period of famine in Madinah. The weather was extremely hot. The crops were near harvest. The distance was long and arduous. There was a shortage of provisions and mounts, and the confrontation was with that great power which had recently defeated the Kisra, the King of Persia, and established its awe and dominance over the world. In every respect, this was a decisive battle between truth and falsehood. In these circumstances, taking the name of Allah, the Prophet ﷺ decided to confront the King of Rome and made a general proclamation of jihad among the Muslims. Contrary to the usual practice, he clearly informed everyone that the destination was Syria and that they were to go to face King Ghassan and the Caesar. In these circumstances, it was natural for the hypocrites to shirk from war, and some weak-hearted and weak-in-faith Muslims also became hesitant. In this verse, they are being addressed, and a strong encouragement for jihad is being given.
[41] By not participating in jihad, at most you will save your lives or some wealth, harvest your crops, or avoid the hardships of travel, but all these benefits are of no value compared to the everlasting blessings of Paradise.
[40]
The Allies Against the Muslims in the Battle of Tabuk: Christians, Polytheist Tribes, Hypocrites of Madinah, and the Jews:
From here, an entirely new subject begins, namely the Battle of Tabuk. Its background was that after the victories of Makkah and Hunayn, when Islam became dominant throughout Arabia, the Arab tribes and their king Ghassan, who lived on the border of Syria and were under the authority of the Caesar of Rome, considered these successes of the Muslims to be a great threat to themselves and began preparations for a decisive battle to crush the Muslims and, in fact, to break the back of Islam. On the other hand, the defeated polytheists from all over Arabia were present to assist them, and thirdly, the hypocrites of Madinah, through the mediation of Abu Amir the Monk, had started colluding with Ghassan and the Caesar of Rome. The Jews were also supporting these hypocrites, and the hypocrites had built Masjid Dhirar for the purpose of this conspiracy. In other words, the internal and external forces of disbelief were exerting their utmost efforts to wipe Islam off the face of the earth. The Prophet ﷺ was constantly receiving reports of the great gathering of Roman armies on the Syrian border.
The Adverse Conditions of the Muslims:
On the other hand, the situation was such that there was a period of famine in Madinah. The weather was extremely hot. The crops were near harvest. The distance was long and arduous. There was a shortage of provisions and mounts, and the confrontation was with that great power which had recently defeated the Kisra, the King of Persia, and established its awe and dominance over the world. In every respect, this was a decisive battle between truth and falsehood. In these circumstances, taking the name of Allah, the Prophet ﷺ decided to confront the King of Rome and made a general proclamation of jihad among the Muslims. Contrary to the usual practice, he clearly informed everyone that the destination was Syria and that they were to go to face King Ghassan and the Caesar. In these circumstances, it was natural for the hypocrites to shirk from war, and some weak-hearted and weak-in-faith Muslims also became hesitant. In this verse, they are being addressed, and a strong encouragement for jihad is being given.
[41] By not participating in jihad, at most you will save your lives or some wealth, harvest your crops, or avoid the hardships of travel, but all these benefits are of no value compared to the everlasting blessings of Paradise.
