Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 38

Mufti Taqi Usmani

O you who believe, what is wrong with you that when it is said to you, “Come out in the way of Allah,” you turn heavy (and cling) to the ground. Have you become happy with the worldly life instead of the Hereafter? So, (remember that) the enjoyment of the worldly life is but trivial in (comparison with) the Hereafter.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

O believers! What is the matter with you that when you are asked to march forth in the cause of Allah, you cling firmly to ˹your˺ land?[[ The fast pace of the spread of Islam in Arabia in the 7th century was intimidating to the world’s two superpowers of that time: the Romans and Persians. The Prophet (ﷺ) received the news that a Roman army was being mobilized to launch an attack on the newly established Muslim state in Medina, so he announced that he was going to march to Tabûk, located over 700 miles to the north, to meet the Romans in the summer of 9 A.H./631 C.E. It was a time of hardship because of the scorching heat, the long distance, and the financial situation of the Muslims. Although the Prophet (ﷺ) was able to mobilize over 30 000 Muslims for battle, many others did not join the army with or without valid excuses. Eventually, the Roman forces were discouraged from fighting and fled to Damascus and other cities under Roman rule. Therefore, the Prophet (ﷺ) returned to Medina with a feeling of triumph. With a new power now emerging in Arabia, many tribes started to switch their alliances from Caesar to the Prophet (ﷺ). ]] Do you prefer the life of this world over the Hereafter? The enjoyment of this worldly life is insignificant compared to that of the Hereafter.

Ruwwad Translation Center

O you who believe, what is the matter with you that when you are asked to march forth in the cause of Allah, you cling heavily to the earth? Are you content with the life of this world instead of the Hereafter? But the enjoyment of the life of this world is insignificant compared to that of the Hereafter.

A. J. Arberry

O believers, what is amiss with you, that when it is said to you, 'Go forth in the way of God,' you sink down heavily to the ground? Are you so content with this present life, rather than the world to come? Yet the enjoyment of this present life, compared with the world to come, is a little thing.

Abdul Haleem

Believers, why, when it is said to you, ‘Go and fight in God’s way,’ do you feel weighed down to the ground? Do you prefer this world to the life to come? How small the enjoyment of this world is, compared with the life to come!

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

O Ye who believe! what aileth you that when it is said unto you: march forth in the way of Allah, ye are weighed down earthward? Are ye pleased with the life of the world rather than the Hereafter? whereas the enjoyment of the life of the world by the side of the Hereafter is but little.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

O ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter.

Abul Ala Maududi

Believers! What is amiss with you that when it is said to you: "March forth in the cause of Allah," you cling heavily to the earth? Do you prefer the worldly life to the Hereafter? Know well that all the enjoyment of this world, in comparison with the Hereafter, is trivial.

Ahmed Ali

What has happened to you, O believers, that when you are asked to set out in the cause of God your feet begin to drag? Do you find the life of the world so pleasing that you forget the life to come? Yet the profit of the life of this world is but meagre as compared to the life to come.

Ahmed Raza Khan

O People who Believe! What is the matter with you, that when it is said to you, “Migrate in Allah's cause”, you sit on the ground with heaviness? Have you preferred this worldly life over the Hereafter? And the wealth of the life of this world, in comparison with the Hereafter, is but only a little.

Ali Quli Qarai

O you who have faith! What is the matter with you that when you are told: ‘Go forth in the way of Allah,’ you sink heavily to the ground? Are you pleased with the life of this world instead of the Hereafter? But the wares of the life of this world compared with the Hereafter are but insignificant.

Ali Ünal

O you who believe! What excuse do you have that when it is said to you: "Mobilize (for the campaign of Tabuk) in God’s cause!" you cling heavily to the earth? Are you content with the present, worldly life, rather than the Hereafter? Yet slight is the enjoyment of the worldly life as compared with the Hereafter.

Amatul Rahman Omar

O you the (so called) believers! what (excuse) have you that when it is said to you to go forth for the cause of Allâh (to Tabûk) you incline heavily towards the earth. Would you be contented with the present life in preference to the Hereafter? (If it is so then remember that) the provision of this present life, as compared with the Hereafter, is but little.

English Literal

You, you those who believed, why (is it) to you, if (it) is said to you: "Rush/hasten in God`s sake ," you become heavy/burdened in the earth/Planet Earth? Did you accept/become content with the life the present/worldly life, (other) than the end (other life)? So the present world`s/worldly life`s long life/enjoyment is not except little/small in the end (other life).

Faridul Haque

O People who Believe! What is the matter with you, that when it is said to you, "Migrate in Allah´s cause", you sit on the ground with heaviness? Have you preferred this worldly life over the Hereafter? And the wealth of the life of this world, in comparison with the Hereafter, is but only a little.

Hamid S. Aziz

O you who believe! What ailed you when you were told to march forth in Allah´s way, that you were bowed down to the ground with heaviness? Were you content with the life of this world instead of the Hereafter? But the comforts of the life of this world is but a little compared to the Hereafter.

Hilali & Khan

O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the Cause of Allah (i.e. Jihad) 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 with the Hereafter.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Postponing (of the sacred month) is only an addition in disbelief, whereby those who disbelieve are led astray. They allow it one year and forbid it (another) year, that they may agree in the number (of months) which Allah has made sacred, and thus make lawful what Allah has forbidden. The evil of their doings is made fair-seeming to them. And Allah guides not the disbelieving people.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

O you who believe! What (excuse) have you that when it is said to you: Go forth in Allah's way, you should incline heavily to earth; are you contented with this world's life instead of the hereafter? But the provision of this world's life compared with the hereafter is but little.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

O ye who believe! What aileth you that when it is said unto you: Go forth in the way of Allah, ye are bowed down to the ground with heaviness. Take ye pleasure in the life of the world rather than in the Hereafter? The comfort of the life of the world is but little in the Hereafter.

Muhammad Sarwar

Believers, why is it that when you are told to march for the cause of God, you seem to linger at home. Have you given preference to the worldly life over the life hereafter? The worldly gains compared to those of the next life are but very little.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Believers, why is it that when it is said to you: 'March in the Way of Allah' you linger with heaviness in the land? Are you content with this life rather than theEverlasting Life? Yet the enjoyment of this life in (comparison to) the Everlasting Life is little.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the cause of Allah, 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 compared to the Hereafter.

Wahiduddin Khan

Believers, what is the matter with you that when you are asked to go forth in the cause of God, you cling slothfully to the land? Do you prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, compared to that of the Hereafter.

Talal Itani

O you who believe! What is the matter with you, when it is said to you, “Mobilize in the cause of God,” you cling heavily to the earth? Do you prefer the present life to the Hereafter? The enjoyment of the present life, compared to the Hereafter, is only a little.

Tafsir jalalayn

When the Prophet (s) summoned men for the Tabk campaign, and they thought it too burdensome, because of the hardship and the extreme heat from which they were suffering, the following was revealed; O you who believe, what is wrong with you that, when it is said to you, `Go forth in the way of God,' you sink down heavily (iththqaltum; the original t' [of tathqaltum] has been assimilated with the th', and the conjunctive hamza has been supplied), in other words, you hesitate and are disinclined to [participate in] the struggle, to the ground, to stay sitting upon it? (the interrogative is meant as a rebuke). Are you so content with the life of this world, and its delights, rather than with the Hereafter?, that is, in place of its bliss? Yet the enjoyment of the life of this world is, in, comparison with the enjoyment of, the Hereafter but little, trivial.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Admonishing clinging to Life rather than rushing to perform Jihad

Allah admonishes those who lagged behind the Messenger of Allah in the battle of Tabuk, at a time when fruits were ripe and shades tempting in the intense and terrible heat,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ انفِرُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ

O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the cause of Allah,

if you are called to perform Jihad in the cause of Allah,

اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الَارْضِ

you cling heavily to the earth,

reclining to remain in peace, shade and ripe fruits.

أَرَضِيتُم بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الاخِرَةِ

Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter,

why do you do this, is it because you prefer this life instead of the Hereafter Allah.

next diminishes the eagerness for this worldly life and increases it for the Hereafter,

فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الاخِرَةِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ



But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world compared to the Hereafter.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Mustawrid, a member of Bani Fihr, said that the Messenger of Allah said,

مَا الدُّنْيَا فِي الاْاخِرَةِ إِلاَّ كَمَا يَجْعَلُ أَحَدُكُمْ إِصْبَعَهُ هَذِهِ فِي الْيَمِّ فَلْيَنْظُرْ بِمَ تَرْجِعُ



The life of this world, compared to the Hereafter, is just like when one of you dips his finger in the sea, let him contemplate how much of it his finger would carry?

The Prophet pointed with his index finger. Muslim collected this Hadith.

Ath-Thawri narrated that Al-A`mash said about the Ayah,
فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الاخِرَةِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ
(But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world compared to the Hereafter).

"What compares to the provision a traveler takes."

Abdul-Aziz bin Abi Hazim narrated that his father said,

"When Abdul-Aziz bin Marwan was dying he said, `Bring the shroud I will be covered with so that I inspect it.'

When it was placed before him, he looked at it and said, `Is this what I will end up with from this life!'

He then turned his back and cried, while saying, `Woe to you, O life! Your abundance is truly little, your little is short lived, we were deceived by you."'

Allah warns those who do not join Jihad