Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 41

Mufti Taqi Usmani

March forth (in the way of Allah), no matter whether you are light or heavy, and carry out Jihād (struggle) in the way of Allah with your wealth and lives. That is good for you, if you were to realize.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

˹O believers!˺ March forth whether it is easy or difficult for you, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. That is best for you, if only you knew.

Ruwwad Translation Center

March forth, whether lightly or heavily armed, and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is best for you, if only you knew.

A. J. Arberry

Go forth, light and heavy! Struggle in God's way with your possessions and your selves; that is better for you, did you know.

Abdul Haleem

So go out, no matter whether you are lightly or heavily armed, and struggle in God’s way with your possessions and your persons: this is better for you, if you only knew.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

March forth light and heavy and strive hard with your riches and your lives in the way of Allah; that is the best for you, if ye have knowledge.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Go ye forth, (whether equipped) lightly or heavily, and strive and struggle, with your goods and your persons, in the cause of Allah. That is best for you, if ye (but) knew.

Abul Ala Maududi

March forth whether light or heavy, and strive in the way of Allah with your belongings and your lives. That is best for you if you only knew it.

Ahmed Ali

O believers, go out in the cause of God, (whether) light or heavy, and strive in the service of God, wealth and soul. This is better for you if you understand.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Migrate – whether willingly or with a heavy heart and fight in Allah's cause with your wealth and your lives; this is better for you, if you realise.

Ali Quli Qarai

Go forth, whether [armed] lightly or heavily, and wage jihad with your possessions and persons in the way of Allah. That is better for you, should you know.

Ali Ünal

Mobilize whether you are equipped lightly or heavily (and whether it be easy or difficult for you); and strive with your wealth and persons in God’s cause. Doing so is what is for your good, if you but know it.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Go forth (all whether) light (- being ill-equipped) or heavy (- being well-equipped) and strive hard with your possessions and your persons in the cause of Allâh. That is better for you, if only you knew (your own gain or loss).

English Literal

Rush/hasten lights and heavy/loaded, and struggle/do your utmost with your properties/possessions and yourselves in God`s sake , that (is) best for you, if you were knowing.

Faridul Haque

Migrate - whether willingly or with a heavy heart and fight in Allah´s cause with your wealth and your lives; this is better for you, if you realise.

Hamid S. Aziz

March you then, lightly or heavily equipped, and strive with your wealth and persons in the cause of Allah. That is best for you if you did but know!

Hilali & Khan

March forth, whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor), strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

If you help him not, Allah certainly helped him when those who disbelieved expelled him -- he being the second of the two when they were both in the cave, when he said to his companion: Grieve not, surely Allah is with us. So Allah sent down His tranquillity on him and strengthened him with hosts which you saw not, and made lowest the word of those who disbelieved. And the word of Allah, that is the uppermost. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Go forth light and heavy, and strive hard in Allah's way with your property and your persons; this is better for you, if you know.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Go forth, light-armed and heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah! That is best for you if ye but knew.

Muhammad Sarwar

Whether unarmed or well equipped, march and fight for the cause of God with your possessions and in person. This would be better for you, if only you knew it.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Whether lightly or heavily, march on and fight for the Way of Allah, with your wealth and your persons. This will be best for you, if you but knew.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

March forth, whether you are light or heavy, and strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew.

Wahiduddin Khan

Go forth, whether lightly or heavily equipped, and strive and struggle, with your goods and your persons, for the cause of God. That is better for you, if you only knew.

Talal Itani

Mobilize, light or heavy, and strive with your possessions and your lives in the cause of God. That is better for you, if you only knew.

Tafsir jalalayn

Go forth, light and heavy!, that is, energetically or not; it is also said [to mean], [go forth] strong or weak, or rich or poor -- but this was abrogated by the verse, The weak would not be at fault ... [Q. 9;91]. Struggle in the way of God with your possessions and your lives; that is better for you, if only you knew, that it is better for you; so do not sink down heavily.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Jihad is required in all Conditions

Allah says;

انْفِرُواْ خِفَافًا وَثِقَالاً

March forth, whether you are light or heavy,

Sufyan Ath-Thawri narrated from his father from Abu Ad-Duha, Muslim bin Subayh, who said,

"This Ayah,
انْفِرُواْ خِفَافًا وَثِقَالاً
(March forth, whether you are light or heavy), was the first part to be revealed from Surah Bara'ah."

Mutamir bin Sulayman narrated that his father said,

"Hadrami claimed that he was told that some people used to declare that they will not gain sin (if they lag behind the forces of Jihad) because they are ill or old. This Ayah was revealed,
انْفِرُواْ خِفَافًا وَثِقَالاً
(March forth, whether you are light or heavy)."

Allah commanded mass mobilization together with the Messenger of Allah for the battle of Tabuk, to fight the disbelieving, People of the Book, the Romans, Allah's enemies. Allah ordained that the believers all march forth with the Messenger regardless whether they felt active, lazy, at ease or had difficult circumstances,
انْفِرُواْ خِفَافًا وَثِقَالاً
(March forth, whether you are light or heavy).

Ali bin Zayd narrated that Anas said that Abu Talhah commented (on this Ayah),

"Whether you are old or young, Allah did not leave an excuse for anyone."

Abu Talhah marched to Ash-Sham and fought until he was killed.

In another narration, Abu Talhah recited Surah Bara'ah until he reached this Ayah,

انْفِرُواْ خِفَافًا وَثِقَالاً وَجَاهِدُواْ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ

March forth, whether you are light or heavy, and strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah.

He then said, "I see that Allah had called us to mobilize whether we are old or young. O my children! Prepare my supplies."

His children said, `May Allah grant you His mercy! You conducted Jihad along with the Messenger of Allah until he died, then with Abu Bakr until he died, then with Umar until he died. Let us perform Jihad in your place."

Abu Talhah refused and he went to the sea (under the command of Muawiyah) where he died. They could not find an island to bury him on until nine days later, during which his body did not deteriorate or change and they buried him on the island.

As-Suddi said,

"
انْفِرُواْ خِفَافًا وَثِقَالاً
(March forth, whether you are light or heavy), whether you are rich, poor, strong, or weak.

A man came forward, and he was fat, complained, and asked for permission to stay behind (from Jihad), but the Prophet refused. Then this Ayah,
انْفِرُواْ خِفَافًا وَثِقَالاً
(March forth, whether you are light or heavy) was revealed, and it became hard on the people. So Allah abrogated it with this Ayah,

لَّيْسَ عَلَى الضُّعَفَاء وَلَا عَلَى الْمَرْضَى وَلَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُواْ لِلّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ

There is no blame on those who are weak or ill or who find no resources to spend, if they are sincere and true (in duty) to Allah and His Messenger..." (9;91)

Ibn Jarir said that Hibban bin Zayd Ash-Sharabi narrated to him,

"We mobilized our forces with Safwan bin Amr, who was the governor of Hims towards the city of Ephsos appointed to the Jerajima Christian expatriates (in Syria). I saw among the army an old, yet active man, whose eyebrows had sunk over his eyes (from old age), from the residents of Damascus, riding on his animal. I said to him, `O uncle! Allah has given you an excuse (to lag behind).'

He said, `O my nephew! Allah has mobilized us whether we are light or heavy.

Verily, those whom Allah loves, He tests them. Then to Allah is their return and eternal dwelling. Allah tests from His servants whoever thanks (Him) and observes patience and remembrance of Him, all the while worshipping Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored, and worshipping none else."'

Next, Allah encourages spending in His cause and striving with one's life in His pleasure and the pleasure of His Messenger,

وَجَاهِدُواْ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ




and strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew.

Allah says, this is better for you in this life and the Hereafter. You might spend small amounts, but Allah will reward you the property of your enemy in this life, as well as, the honor that He will keep for you in the Hereafter.

The Prophet said,

تَكَفَّلَ اللهُ لِلْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِهِ إِنْ تَوَفَّاهُ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ أَوْ يَرُدَّهُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ بِمَا نَالَ مِنْ أَجْرٍ أَوْ غَنِيمَة

Allah promised the Mujahid in His cause that if He brings death to him, He will enter him into Paradise. Or, He will return him to his house with whatever reward and war spoils he earns.

So Allah said;

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَن تَكْرَهُواْ شَيْيًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيْيًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Jihad is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know. (2;216)

Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah said to a man,

أَسْلِم

Embrace Islam,

but the man said, "I dislike doing so."

The Messenger said,

أَسْلِمْ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ كَارِهًا

Embrace Islam even if you dislike it.