سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 83
فَإِن رَّجَعَكَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَىٰ طَآئِفَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ فَٱسْتَـْٔذَنُوكَ لِلْخُرُوجِ فَقُل لَّن تَخْرُجُوا۟ مَعِىَ أَبَدًا وَلَن تُقَـٰتِلُوا۟ مَعِىَ عَدُوًّا ۖ إِنَّكُمْ رَضِيتُم بِٱلْقُعُودِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ فَٱقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْخَـٰلِفِينَ ﴿83﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
If Allâh brings you back to a party of them (the hypocrites), and they ask your permission to go out (to fight), say: "Never shall you go out with me nor fight an enemy with me; you were pleased to sit (inactive) on the first occasion, then you sit (now) with those who lag behind."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَإِن
fa-in
Then if
رَّجَعَكَ
rajaʿaka
Allah returns you
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah returns you
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
طَآئِفَةٍۢ
ṭāifatin
a group
مِّنْهُمْ
min'hum
of them
فَٱسْتَـْٔذَنُوكَ
fa-is'tadhanūka
and they ask you permission
لِلْخُرُوجِ
lil'khurūji
to go out
فَقُل
faqul
then say
لَّن
lan
Never
تَخْرُجُوا۟
takhrujū
will you come out
مَعِىَ
maʿiya
with me
أَبَدًۭا
abadan
ever
وَلَن
walan
and never
تُقَـٰتِلُوا۟
tuqātilū
will you fight
مَعِىَ
maʿiya
with me
عَدُوًّا ۖ
ʿaduwwan
any enemy
إِنَّكُمْ
innakum
Indeed, you
رَضِيتُم
raḍītum
were satisfied
بِٱلْقُعُودِ
bil-quʿūdi
with sitting
أَوَّلَ
awwala
(the) first
مَرَّةٍۢ
marratin
time
فَٱقْعُدُوا۟
fa-uq'ʿudū
so sit
مَعَ
maʿa
with
ٱلْخَـٰلِفِينَ
l-khālifīna
those who stay behind
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.
83. So if Allah brings you back to a group of them and they ask your permission to go out to battle, say: "You shall never go out with me, nor fight an enemy with me [98]. You were pleased to stay behind the first time, so remain with those who stay behind."
[98]
The Promises of the Hypocrites Are Unreliable:
In this verse, there is a commentary on the character of the hypocrites, that when you return to Madinah from the Battle of Tabuk, those hypocrites who did not participate in this battle will make emphatic claims to support you in any future battle. So, you should not place any trust whatsoever in such pleasing and verbal promises of theirs. Because even if such a time were to come, these people would do exactly what they have done this time. That is, once again they would fabricate false excuses and begin to apologize to you. Therefore, it is better that you grant them a firm exemption from now and say to them that it is written in your fate to remain behind like women and children. So, be content with that. In this way, in the future, you will neither have to invent any pretexts nor will there be any need for any apology.
[98]
The Promises of the Hypocrites Are Unreliable:
In this verse, there is a commentary on the character of the hypocrites, that when you return to Madinah from the Battle of Tabuk, those hypocrites who did not participate in this battle will make emphatic claims to support you in any future battle. So, you should not place any trust whatsoever in such pleasing and verbal promises of theirs. Because even if such a time were to come, these people would do exactly what they have done this time. That is, once again they would fabricate false excuses and begin to apologize to you. Therefore, it is better that you grant them a firm exemption from now and say to them that it is written in your fate to remain behind like women and children. So, be content with that. In this way, in the future, you will neither have to invent any pretexts nor will there be any need for any apology.
