Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 16

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Do you think that you will be left alone (without being tested), while Allah has not yet seen those of you who struggle in Jihād and never take anyone as their confidant other than Allah and His Messenger and the believers? Allah is fully aware of what you do.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Do you ˹believers˺ think that you will be left without Allah proving who among you ˹truly˺ struggles ˹in His cause˺ and never takes trusted allies other than Allah, His Messenger, or the believers? And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Do you think that you will be left untested, when Allah has not yet proven who among you strove [in His cause] and did not take any trusted allies other than Allah, His Messenger and the believers? Allah is All-Aware of what you do.

A. J. Arberry

Or did you suppose you would be left in peace, and God knows not as yet those of you who have struggled, and taken not -- apart from God and His Messenger and the believers -- any intimate? God is aware of what you do.

Abdul Haleem

Do you think that you will be left untestedwithout God identifying which of you will strive for His cause and take no supporters apart from God, His Messenger, and other believers? God is fully aware of all your actions.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Deem ye that ye would be left alone while yet Allah hath not known those of you who have striven hard and have not taken an ally besides Allah and His apostle and the believers? And Allah is Aware of that which ye work.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Or think ye that ye shall be abandoned, as though Allah did not know those among you who strive with might and main, and take none for friends and protectors except Allah, His Messenger, and the (community of) Believers? But Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do.

Abul Ala Maududi

Do you imagine that you will be spared without being subjected to any test? Know well that Allah has not yet determined who strove hard (in His cause), and has not taken any others instead of His Messenger and the believers as his trusted allies? Allah is well aware of all that you do.

Ahmed Ali

Do you think you will get away before God knows who among you fought and did not take anyone but God, His Apostle and the faithful, as their friends? God is cognisant of all that you do.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Are you under the illusion that you would be left just like this, whereas Allah has not yet made known those of you who will fight and not confide their secrets with anyone except Allah and His Noble Messenger and the Muslims? And Allah is Well Aware of your deeds.

Ali Quli Qarai

Do you suppose that you will be let off while Allah has not yet ascertained those of you who wage jihad and those who do not take anyone as [their] confidant besides Allah and His Apostle and the faithful? Allah is well aware of what you do.

Ali Ünal

Or did you think that you would be left (without being tried through suffering and hardship) unless God marks out those among you who really strive (in His way), and who take none as intimate friend other than God and His Messenger and the believers to seek help and solidarity? God is fully aware of all that you do.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Do you think that you will be left (alone in peace) while Allâh has not yet distinguished those who strove hard (for His cause) from among you and who have taken no protecting friend apart from Allâh and His Messenger and the believers? Allâh is Well-Aware of what you do.

English Literal

Or (have) you thought/supposed that you be left, and God did not knowthose who struggled/exerted from you, and they did not take from other than God and nor His messenger and nor the believers a close and dependable friend/(for sharing) innermost thoughts or feelings, and God (is) expert/experienced with what you make/do .

Faridul Haque

Are you under the illusion that you would be left just like this, whereas Allah has not yet made known those of you who will fight and not confide their secrets with anyone except Allah and His Noble Messenger and the Muslims? And Allah is Well Aware of your deeds.

Hamid S. Aziz

Did you suppose that you would be left in peace, when Allah has not yet determined (tested) those of you who will strive, and who take none other than Allah and His Messenger, and the believers for protectors and friends? But Allah is well aware of what you do.

Hilali & Khan

Do you think that you shall be left alone while Allah has not yet tested those among you who have striven hard and fought and have not taken Walijah [(Batanah - helpers, advisors and consultants from disbelievers, pagans, etc.) giving openly to them their secrets] besides Allah and His Messenger, and the believers. Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And remove the rage of their hearts. And Allah turns (mercifully) to whom He pleases. And Allah is Knowing, Wise.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

What! do you think that you will be left alone while Allah has not yet known those of you who have struggled hard and have not taken any one as an adherent besides Allah and His Apostle and the believers; and Allah is aware of what you do.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Or deemed ye that ye would be left (in peace) when Allah yet knoweth not those of you who strive, choosing for familiar none save Allah and His messenger and the believers? Allah is Informed of what ye do.

Muhammad Sarwar

Do you think that God will not make any distinction between those of you who have fought for His cause and have relied on no one other than God, His Messenger, and the faithful ones, and other people? God is Well Aware of what you do.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Did you suppose that you would be left before Allah has known those of you who fought and did not take a confidant other than Allah, His Messenger, and the believers? Allah is Aware of what you do.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Do you think that you shall be left alone while Allah has not yet tested those among you who have striven hard and fought, and have not taken Walijah besides Allah and His Messenger, and the believers. Allah is well-acquainted with what you do.

Wahiduddin Khan

Do you [O believers] think that you will be spared without God identifying which of you have struggled and did not take anyone for friends and protectors except God, His Messenger, and the believers? God is fully aware of all your actions.

Talal Itani

Or do you think that you will be left alone, without God identifying which of you will strive, and take no supporters apart from God, His Messenger, and the believers? God is well Aware of what you do.

Tafsir jalalayn

Or (am has the meaning of the [initial a-] hamza used to express disavowal) did you suppose that you would be left [in peace] when God does not yet know, that is, through knowledge outwardly manifested, those of you who have struggled, sincerely, and have not taken, besides God and His Messenger and the believers, an intimate friend?, as a confidant or an ally? In other words; when it has not yet become manifest who the sincere ones are -- those described in the exclusive way mentioned. And God is aware of what you do.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Among the Wisdom of Jihad is to test the Muslims

Allah said,

أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ

Do you think,

O believers that We will leave you untested with matters that make apparent those who have pure, good intent from those who have false intent

أَن تُتْرَكُواْ

that you shall be left alone,

This is why Allah said next,

وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللّهُ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُواْ مِنكُمْ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذُواْ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ وَلَا رَسُولِهِ وَلَا الْمُوْمِنِينَ وَلِيجَةً

while Allah has not yet tested those among you who have striven hard and fought and have not taken Walijah besides Allah and His Messenger, and the believers...,

meaning, supporters and confidants. Rather, they are sincere for Allah and His Messenger inwardly and outwardly.

Allah also said;

الم


أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا امَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ


وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ

Alif-Lam-Mim.

Do people think that they will be left alone because they say;"We believe," and will not be tested.

And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make known those who are true, and will certainly make known those who are liars... (29;1-3)

أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ جَـهَدُواْ مِنكُمْ وَيَعْلَمَ الصَّـبِرِينَ

Do you think that you will enter Paradise before Allah tests those of you who fought (in His cause) and (also) tests those who are patient. (3;142)

and,

مَّا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ عَلَى مَأ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ

Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. (3;179)
In summary, since Allah legislated Jihad for His servants, He explained that the wisdom behind doing so includes testing His servants, distinguishing between those who obey Him and those who disobey Him.

وَاللّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ




Allah is well-acquainted with what you do.

Allah, the Exalted, is the All-Knower of what occurred, what will occur, and the true essence of what might occur had He decided it. Therefore, Allah knows everything before it occurs and how it will occur, there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, nor a Lord except Him. Truly, there is none who can avert Allah's judgment and decision