Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 42

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Had it been a gain at hand or an average journey, they would have certainly followed you, but the distance seemed too far to them. They will swear by Allah: “We would have certainly set out with you, if we were able to.” They are putting themselves to ruin.16 Allah knows that they are liars.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Had the gain been within reach and the journey shorter, they would have followed you, but the distance seemed too long for them. And they will swear by Allah, “Had we been able, we would have certainly joined you.” They are ruining themselves. And Allah knows that they are surely lying.

Ruwwad Translation Center

If it had been an easy win within reach and a short journey, those [hypocrites] would have followed you, but the distance seemed too far for them. They will swear by Allah, “If we had been able, we would have surely joined you.” They destroy themselves; and Allah knows that they are liars.

A. J. Arberry

Were it a gain near at hand, and an easy journey, they would have followed thee; but the distance was too far for them. Still they will swear by God, 'Had we been able, we would have gone out with you,' so destroying their souls; and God knows that they are truly liars.

Abdul Haleem

They would certainly have followed you [Prophet] if the benefit was within sight and the journey short, but the distance seemed too great for them. They will swear by God, ‘If we could, we certainly would go out [to battle] with you,’ but they ruin themselves, for God knows that they are lying.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Were there a gear nigh and a journey moderate, they would have surely followed thee, but the distance seemed far unto them. And anon they will be swearing by Allah: if only we could we would surely have come forth with you. They destroy their own souls: and Allah knoweth that verily they are liars.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If there had been immediate gain (in sight), and the journey easy, they would (all) without doubt have followed thee, but the distance was long, (and weighed) on them. They would indeed swear by Allah, "If we only could, we should certainly have come out with you"; They would destroy their own souls; for Allah doth know that they are certainly lying.

Abul Ala Maududi

Were it a gain at hand or a short journey, they would have surely followed you, but the distance seemed too far to them. Still they will swear by Allah: "If only we could, we would surely have gone forth with you." They merely bring ruin upon themselves. Allah knows well that they are liars.

Ahmed Ali

(O Prophet), had the gain been close at hand, and easy the journey, they would surely have followed you; but hard was the journey and long the going. Even then they swear by God (and say): "If we had the strength we would surely have gone out with you." They are only ruining themselves, for God is aware they lie.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Had there been some wealth near at hand or a short journey, they would have certainly accompanied you, but the difficult path became very distant for them; and they will now swear by Allah that “Had we been able, we would have surely accompanied you”; they destroy their own souls; and Allah knows that undoubtedly, they are indeed liars.

Ali Quli Qarai

Were it an accessible gain or a short journey, they would have surely followed you; but the distance seemed too far to them. Yet they will swear by Allah: ‘If we could, we would have surely gone forth with you.’ They [merely] destroy themselves. Allah knows that they are indeed liars.

Ali Ünal

Had there been an immediate gain, and an easy journey, those (who stayed behind because of hypocrisy) would surely have followed you, but the difficult journey was too distant for them. Yet they will swear by God: "If only we had been able to, we would surely have gone forth with you." They destroy their own selves, for God knows that they are truly liars.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Had it been an immediate gain and a short journey these (hypocrites) would certainly have followed you, but the hard journey seemed too distant to them, still they will swear (after your successful return) by Allâh (saying), `If only we could, we would surely have marched forth with you.´ They spell their own ruin, Allâh knows well that they are liars.

English Literal

If (it) was near/close enjoyable accessories/vanities , and an easy and light journey/trip , they would have followed you, and but the hard to reach distance it became distant/far on (for) them, and they will swear/take oath by God: "If we were able we would have gotten out/emerged with you." They perish/destroy themselves, and God knows that they truly are lying/denying (E) .

Faridul Haque

Had there been some wealth near at hand or a short journey, they would have certainly accompanied you, but the difficult path became very distant for them; and they will now swear by Allah that "Had we been able, we would have surely accompanied you"; they destroy their own souls; and Allah knows that undoubtedly, they are indeed liars.

Hamid S. Aziz

Had there been an immediate gain, and an easy journey, they would have followed you; but the distance was too far for them; yet they will swear by Allah, "If we could, we would have gone forth with you." They destroy their own souls, but Allah knows that they lie!

Hilali & Khan

Had it been a near gain (booty in front of them) and an easy journey, they would have followed you, but the distance (Tabuk expedition) was long for them, and they would swear by Allah, "If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you." They destroy their ownselves, and Allah knows that they are liars.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Go forth, light and heavy, and strive hard in Allah’s way with your wealth and your lives. This is better for you, if you know.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Had it been a near advantage and a short journey, they would certainly have followed you, but the tedious journey was too long for them; and they swear by Allah: If we had been able, we would certainly have gone forth with you; they cause their own souls to perish, and Allah knows that they are most surely

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Had it been a near adventure and an easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying): If we had been able we would surely have set out with you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars.

Muhammad Sarwar

Had the gain been immediate or the journey shorter, they (hypocrites) would certainly have followed you, (Muhammad), but it was too far for them. They will swear by God, "Had we had the ability, we would certainly have marched with you." They destroy only themselves and God knows that they are lying.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Had the gain been immediate or the journey easy, they would have followed you; but the distance seemed far to them. Yet they will swear by Allah: 'Had we been able, we would have gone out with you' They bring destruction upon their souls. Allah knows that they are lying.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Had it been a near gain and an easy journey, they would have followed you, but the distance was long for them; and they would swear by Allah: "If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you." They destroy themselves, and Allah knows that they are liars.

Wahiduddin Khan

Had the gain been immediate and the journey shorter, they would have followed you: but the distance seemed too great for them. Yet they will swear by God, "Had we been able, we would have gone out with you." They bring ruin upon themselves. God knows that they are surely lying.

Talal Itani

Had the gain been immediate, and the journey shorter, they would have followed you; but the distance seemed too long for them. Still they swear by God: “Had we been able, we would have marched out with you.” They damn their own souls, and God knows that they are lying.

Tafsir jalalayn

The following was revealed regarding the hypocrites who stayed behind [away from the campaign]; Had it -- that to which you summon them -- been a near, easily acquired, gain, a transient pleasure of this world, and an easy journey, of moderate [length], they would have followed you, seeking spoils; but the distance, the hardship, was too great for them, and so they stayed behind. Still they will swear by God, when you return to them; [saying]; `Had we been able, to go forth, we would have gone forth with you,' destroying their souls, by swearing false oaths, and God knows that they truly are liars, in this saying of theirs.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Why Hypocrites would not join in Jihad

Allah admonishes those who lagged behind and did not join the Prophet for the battle of Tabuk, those who asked the Prophet for permission to remain behind, falsely pretending to have legitimate reasons to do so,

لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا

Had it been a near gain,

According to Ibn Abbas, booty right in front of them,

وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا

and an easy journey,

travel for only a short distance,

لااَّتَّبَعُوكَ

they would have followed you.

وَلَـكِن بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ

but, the distance was long for them), to Ash-Sham,

وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللّهِ

and they would swear by Allah,

when you return to them,

لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ

If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you,

had not there been a valid excuse, we would have gone out with you,

يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَاللّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ



They destroy themselves, and Allah knows that they are liars