Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ahzab Verse 20

Mufti Taqi Usmani

They think that the coalition forces have not (yet) gone. And should the coalition forces come (again), they would like to be living in countryside among the Bedouins, asking (others) about your news. And even if they were to remain among you, they would not fight, but a little.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

They ˹still˺ think that the enemy alliance has not ˹yet˺ withdrawn. And if the allies were to come ˹again˺, the hypocrites would wish to be away in the desert among nomadic Arabs, ˹only˺ asking for news about you ˹believers˺. And if the hypocrites were in your midst, they would hardly take part in the fight.

Ruwwad Translation Center

They think that the confederates have not yet gone. If the confederates were to come again, they would wish that they were away in the desert with Bedouins, asking for news of you. Even if they were among you, they would hardly take part in the fight.

A. J. Arberry

They think the Confederates have not departed; and if the Confederates come, they will wish that they were desert-dwellers among the Bedoums asking for news of you. If they were among you, they would fight but little.

Abdul Haleem

They think the joint forces have not gone, and if the joint forces did come again they would wish they were in the desert, wandering among the Bedouin and seeking news about you [from a safe distance]. Even if they were with you [believers], they would hardly fight at all.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

They deem that the confederates have not yet departed; and if the confederates should come, they would fain to be in the desert with the wandering Arabs inquiring for tidings of you. And if they happen to be amongst you, they would fight but little.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They think that the Confederates have not withdrawn; and if the Confederates should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the Bedouins, and seeking news about you (from a safe distance); and if they were in your midst, they would fight but little.

Abul Ala Maududi

They think that the invading confederates have not yet gone. But if the confederates were to mount another assault, they would wish to be in the desert among the bedouins and keep themselves informed about you from there. But even if they remained in your midst, hardly would they fight.

Ahmed Ali

They think the allied tribes have not withdrawn; and if the allied tribes had advanced they would have wished that they were rather with the Arabs of the desert asking news of you; and had they been among you they would have fought but just a little.

Ahmed Raza Khan

They assume that the armies of the disbelievers have not gone away; and were the armies to come again, their wish would be to go out to the villages seeking information about you; and were they to stay among you even then they would not fight, except a few.

Ali Quli Qarai

They suppose the confederates have not left yet, and were the confederates to come [again], they would wish they were in the desert with the Bedouins asking about your news, and if they were with you they would fight but a little.

Ali Ünal

(They are so fearful that) they think that the Confederates have not (really) retreated. Should the Confederates come once more, they would much rather be among the Bedouins in the deserts and ask for news about you (than remain in Madinah and face the battle). Even if they were among you, they would fight only a little.

Amatul Rahman Omar

They (still) think that the (invading) confederates have not yet withdrawn. Should the confederates come (again) they would wish to be (desert dwellers) among the bedouins in the desert asking for news about you (whether you were safe or destroyed). And had they been among you they would not have fought (along with you), save a few.

English Literal

They suppose (that) the groups/parties did not go and if the groups/parties come, they wish/love if that they truly are desert dwellers in the Arabs, they ask/question about your information/news, and if they were in (between) you, they would not have fought/killed except a little/few.

Faridul Haque

They assume that the armies of the disbelievers have not gone away; and were the armies to come again, their wish would be to go out to the villages seeking information about you; and were they to stay among you even then they would not fight, except a few.

Hamid S. Aziz

Being niggardly in their help to you; but when fear comes, you will see them looking to you, their eyes rolling like one swooning unto death; but when the fear is gone they smite you with sharp tongues, being covetous of the goods (spoils of war). These have not believed. Therefore Allah has made their deeds ineffective (vain, fruitless); and this is easy for Allah.

Hilali & Khan

They think that AlAhzab (the Confederates) have not yet withdrawn, and if AlAhzab (the Confederates) should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the bedouins, seeking news about you (from a far place); and if they (happen) to be among you, they would not fight but little.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

They think the allies are not gone, and if the allies should come (again), they would fain be in the deserts with the desert Arabs, asking for news about you. And if they were among you, they would not fight save a little.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

They think the allies are not gone, and if the allies should come (again) they would fain be in the deserts with the desert Arabs asking for news about you, and if they were among you they would not fight save a little.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

They hold that the clans have not retired (for good); and if the clans should advance (again), they would fain be in the desert with the wandering Arabs, asking for the news of you; and if they were among you, they would not give battle, save a little.

Muhammad Sarwar

They think that the confederate tribes have not yet gone. If the confederate tribes were to attack them, they would have wished to be left alone among the bedouin Arabs where they would only follow the news about you. Even if they were with you, only a few of them would take part in the fight.

Qaribullah & Darwish

They think the confederates have not departed. Indeed, if the confederates should come again they would sooner be in the desert among the Bedouins asking news of you. If they were among you, they would fight but a little.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

They think that the Confederates have not yet withdrawn; and if the Confederates should come, they would wish they were in the deserts among the bedouins, seeking news about you; and if they were to be among you, they would not fight but little.

Wahiduddin Khan

They thought the confederate tribes would never withdraw. Indeed, if the confederates should come again, they would prefer to be in the desert, among the Bedouins. There they would ask news of you [from a distance]. But if they were with you, they would take very little part in the fighting.

Talal Itani

They assumed that the confederates had not withdrawn. But were the confederates to advance, they would wish they were in the desert with the Bedouins, inquiring about your news. And if they were among you, they would have done little fighting.

Tafsir jalalayn

They suppose that the confederates, of disbelievers, have not [yet] departed, to Mecca, because of their fear of them, and were the confederates to come, a second time, they would wish that they were in the desert with the Bedouins asking about your news, your encounters with the disbelievers. And if they were among you, this second time, they would fight but a little, for show and for fear of being reviled.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Another aspect of their abhorrent attribute of cowardice and fear;

Allah tells;

يَحْسَبُونَ الاَْحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا

They think that the Confederates have not yet withdrawn;

and that they are still close by and will return.

وَإِن يَأْتِ الاْإَحْزَابُ يَوَدُّوا لَوْ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِي الاْإَعْرَابِ يَسْأَلُونَ عَنْ أَنبَايِكُمْ

and if the Confederates should come, they would wish they were in the deserts among the Bedouins, seeking news about you;

means, `if the Confederates should come back, they hope that they will not be present with you in Al-Madinah, but that they will be in the desert, asking about news of you and what happened to you with your enemy.'

وَلَوْ كَانُوا فِيكُم مَّا قَاتَلُوا إِلاَّ قَلِيلً




and if they were to be among you, they would not fight but little. means,

`if they are among you, they will not fight alongside you very much,' because they are so cowardly and weak, and have so little faith, but Allah knows best about them