سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 65
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ ۚ قُلْ أَبِٱللَّهِ وَءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَرَسُولِهِۦ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِءُونَ ﴿65﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
If you ask them (about this), they declare: "We were only talking idly and joking." Say: "Was it at Allâh (عز وجل), and His Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations) and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that you were mocking?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَئِن
wala-in
And if
سَأَلْتَهُمْ
sa-altahum
you ask them
لَيَقُولُنَّ
layaqūlunna
surely they will say
إِنَّمَا
innamā
Only
كُنَّا
kunnā
we were
نَخُوضُ
nakhūḍu
conversing
وَنَلْعَبُ ۚ
wanalʿabu
and playing
قُلْ
qul
Say
أَبِٱللَّهِ
abil-lahi
Is it Allah
وَءَايَـٰتِهِۦ
waāyātihi
and His Verses
وَرَسُولِهِۦ
warasūlihi
and His Messenger
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
(that) you were
تَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
tastahziūna
mocking
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.
65. And if you ask them (about what they were saying), they will surely say, "We were only joking and playing." Say, "Was it Allah, His verses, and His Messenger that you were mocking [78]?"
[78]
The Subject of the Mockery of the Hypocrites?
A group of hypocrites also participated in the Battle of Tabuk. They were compelled to join. Yet, even along the way, they kept plotting mischief and began saying things that would demoralize the Muslims. For example, one said: These Muslims are strangely deluded and mad, thinking that since we have overcome the Quraysh of Makkah, we can now march against Caesar of Rome, even though Rome is that great power which has even defeated Kisra, and at this time, its dominance prevails. Another said: I think we will all be bound and imprisoned, and perhaps we will be severely beaten at their hands. Then sometimes they would also think: What if the Prophet is informed by Allah through revelation about what we are saying and the states of our hearts? Indeed, this fear of theirs came true. And when you were actually informed of their situation through revelation, you summoned them and questioned them, so they said: We were only saying these things as a pastime during this long journey, not seriously. Allah gave this answer: Is it only such things that come to your mind for amusement and jest, in which Allah and His Messenger are insulted and the purpose of Islam’s supremacy is harmed? And no other topic comes to your mind for amusement?
[78]
The Subject of the Mockery of the Hypocrites?
A group of hypocrites also participated in the Battle of Tabuk. They were compelled to join. Yet, even along the way, they kept plotting mischief and began saying things that would demoralize the Muslims. For example, one said: These Muslims are strangely deluded and mad, thinking that since we have overcome the Quraysh of Makkah, we can now march against Caesar of Rome, even though Rome is that great power which has even defeated Kisra, and at this time, its dominance prevails. Another said: I think we will all be bound and imprisoned, and perhaps we will be severely beaten at their hands. Then sometimes they would also think: What if the Prophet is informed by Allah through revelation about what we are saying and the states of our hearts? Indeed, this fear of theirs came true. And when you were actually informed of their situation through revelation, you summoned them and questioned them, so they said: We were only saying these things as a pastime during this long journey, not seriously. Allah gave this answer: Is it only such things that come to your mind for amusement and jest, in which Allah and His Messenger are insulted and the purpose of Islam’s supremacy is harmed? And no other topic comes to your mind for amusement?
