Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 81

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Those who were left behind were happy with their sitting back to the displeasure of the Messenger of Allah, and they disliked carrying out Jihād in the way of Allah with their wealth and lives, and they said, “Do not march in this hot weather.” Say, “The fire of Jahannam is much more intense in heat,” only if they could understand.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Those ˹hypocrites˺ who remained behind rejoiced for doing so in defiance of the Messenger of Allah and hated ˹the prospect of˺ striving with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah. They said ˹to one another˺, “Do not march forth in the heat.” Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “The Fire of Hell is far hotter!” If only they could comprehend!

Ruwwad Translation Center

Those who remained behind rejoiced for doing so in defiance of the Messenger of Allah, and disliked to strive in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives, and said, “Do not march forth in this heat.” Say, “The Fire of Hell is more intense in heat.” – If only they could understand!

A. J. Arberry

Those who were left behind rejoiced in tarrying behind the Messenger of God, and were averse to struggle with their possessions and their selves in the way of God. They said, 'Go not forth in the heat.' Say: 'Gehenna's fire is hotter, did they but understand.'

Abdul Haleem

Those who were left behind were happy to stay behind when God’s Messenger set out; they hated the thought of striving in God’s way with their possessions and their persons. They said to one another, ‘Do not go [to war] in this heat.’ Say, ‘Hellfire is hotter.’ If only they understood!

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Those who were left rejoiced at their staying behind the apostle of Allah, and they detested to strive hard with their riches and their lives in the way of Allah, and they said: march not forth in the heat. - Say thou: hotter still is the Hell-Fire. Would that they understood!

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Those who were left behind (in the Tabuk expedition) rejoiced in their inaction behind the back of the Messenger of Allah; they hated to strive and fight, with their goods and their persons, in the cause of Allah; they said, "Go not forth in the heat." Say, "The fire of Hell is fiercer in heat." If only they could understand!

Abul Ala Maududi

Those who were allowed to stay behind rejoiced at remaining behind and not accompanying the Messenger of Allah. They were averse to striving in the Way of Allah with their belongings and their lives and told others: "Do not go forth in this fierce heat." Tell them: "The Hell is far fiercer in heat." Would that they understand!

Ahmed Ali

Those who were left behind rejoiced that they stayed at home against the wishes of God's Apostle, being averse to fighting in the way of God with their wealth and lives, and said: "Do not go in this heat." Tell them: "The heat of Hell is far more intense." If only they had cared to instruct themselves!

Ahmed Raza Khan

Those who were left behind rejoiced that behind the Noble Messenger of Allah they had remained seated, and they were unwilling to fight in Allah's cause with their lives or their wealth, and said “Do not venture out in the heat”; say, “The fire of hell is the hottest”; if only they understood!

Ali Quli Qarai

Those who were left behind boasted for sitting back against [the command of] the Apostle of Allah, and were reluctant to wage jihad with their possessions and persons in the way of Allah, and they said, ‘Do not go forth in this heat.’ Say, The fire of hell is severer in heat, should they understand.

Ali Ünal

Those who were left behind in opposition to God’s Messenger rejoiced at staying at home, and abhorred striving with their wealth and persons in God’s cause. And they said: "Do not go forth to war in this heat." Say (O Messenger): "The fire of Hell is fiercer in heat." If only they had been able to ponder and penetrate the essence of matters to grasp the truth!

Amatul Rahman Omar

Those who were left behind (in the Tabûk expedition because of their making false excuses) rejoiced in their staying (at home) behind the Messenger of Allâh. They found it hard to strive with their possessions and their persons in the cause of Allâh. And they said (one to another), `Go not forth to fight in the heat.´ Say, `The fire of Gehenna is even more intense in heat.´ If only they could understand (it).

English Literal

The remaining behind rejoiced/delighted with their seat/sitting place (position) opposite/behind God`s messenger, and they hated that they struggle/exert with their properties/wealths and themselves in Gods` sake , and they said: "Do not rush/hasten in the heat." Say: "Hell`s fire (is) stronger heat, if they were understanding/learning ."

Faridul Haque

Those who were left behind rejoiced that behind the Noble Messenger of Allah they had remained seated, and they were unwilling to fight in Allah´s cause with their lives or their wealth, and said "Do not venture out in the heat"; say, "The fire of hell is the hottest"; if only they understood!

Hamid S. Aziz

Those who were left behind rejoiced in staying behind the Messenger of Allah, and were averse to striving with their wealth and their persons in the way of Allah, and said, "March not forth in the heat." Say, "The fire of hell is hotter still, if you could but discern!"

Hilali & Khan

Those who stayed away (from Tabuk expedition) rejoiced in their staying behind the Messenger of Allah; they hated to strive and fight with their properties and their lives in the Cause of Allah, and they said: "March not forth in the heat." Say: "The Fire of Hell is more intense in heat", if only they could understand!

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Ask forgiveness for them or ask not forgiveness for them. Even if thou ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will not forgive them. This is because they disbelieve in Allah and His Messenger. And Allah guides not the transgressing people.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Those who were left behind were glad on account of their sitting behind Allah's Apostle and they were averse from striving in Allah's way with their property and their persons, and said: Do not go forth in the heat. Say: The fire of hell is much severe in heat. Would that they understood (it).

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Those who were left behind rejoiced at sitting still behind the messenger of Allah, and were averse to striving with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way. And they said: Go not forth in the heat! Say: The fire of hell is more intense of heat, if they but understood.

Muhammad Sarwar

Those who did not take part in the battle (of Tabuk), were glad about their staying home against the order of the Messenger of God. They did not want to fight for the cause of God with their property and in person and said, "Do not march (to the battle) on the hot days." (Muhammad), tell them, "The heat of hell fire is much more severe, if only you would understand."

Qaribullah & Darwish

Those who were left behind were glad that they were left behind by the Messenger of Allah, for they disliked to struggle in the Way of Allah with their wealth and their persons. They said: 'Do not go forth in the heat' Say: 'The Fire of Gehenna is more hot' Would that they understood!

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Those who stayed away (from Tabuk expedition) rejoiced in their staying behind the Messenger of Allah; they hated to strive and fight with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah, and they said: "March not forth in the heat." Say: "The fire of Hell is more intense in heat;" if only they could understand!

Wahiduddin Khan

Those who stayed at home were glad that they were left behind by God's Messenger. They hated the thought of striving for God's cause with their possessions and their persons. They said, "Do not go forth in this heat." Say, "The Fire of Hell is far hotter." If only they could understand.

Talal Itani

Those who stayed behind rejoiced at their staying behind the Messenger of God. And they hated to strive with their wealth and their lives in God’s way. And they said, “Do not venture out in the heat.” Say, “The Fire of Hell is much hotter, if they only understood.”

Tafsir jalalayn

Those who were left behind, from [the journey to] Tabk, rejoiced at remaining behind the Messenger of God, and were averse to striving with their wealth and their lives in the way of God. And they said, that is, they said to one another, `Do not go forth, do not set off to [join] the fight, in the heat!' Say; `The fire of Hell is hotter, than Tabk, and more worthy for them to guard against, by not staying behind, did they but understand', this, they would not have stayed behind.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Hypocrites rejoice because They remained behind from Tabuk!

Allah says;

فَرِحَ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ بِمَقْعَدِهِمْ خِلَفَ رَسُولِ اللّهِ



Those who stayed away (from Tabuk expedition) rejoiced in their staying behind the Messenger of Allah;

Allah admonishes the hypocrites who lagged behind from the battle of Tabuk with the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, rejoicing that they remained behind after the Messenger departed for the battle,

وَكَرِهُواْ أَن يُجَاهِدُواْ

they hated to strive and fight, (along with the Messenger),

بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَقَالُواْ

with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah, and they said, (to each other),

لَا تَنفِرُواْ فِي الْحَرِّ

"March not forth in the heat."

Tabuk occurred at a time when the heat was intense and the fruits and shades became delightful. This is why they said,
لَا تَنفِرُواْ فِي الْحَرِّ
("March not forth in the heat)."

Allah said to His Messenger,

قُلْ

Say, (to them),

نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ

"The fire of Hell...,

which will be your destination because of your disobedience,

أَشَدُّ حَرًّا

". ..is more intense in heat;"

than the heat that you sought to avoid; it is even more intense than fire.

Imam Malik narrated that Abu Az-Zinad said that Al-A`raj narrated that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

نَارُ بَنِي ادَمَ الَّتِي تُوقِدُونَهَا جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءًا مِنْ نَارِ جَهَنَّم

The fire that the son of Adam kindles is but one part of seventy parts of the Fire of Jahannam.

They said, "O Allah's Messenger! This fire alone is enough."

He said,

فُضِّلَتْ عَلَيْهَا بِتِسْعَةٍ وَسِتِّينَ جُزْءًا

(Hellfire) was favored by sixty-nine parts.

The Two Sahihs collected this Hadith.

Al-A`mash narrated that Abu Ishaq said that An-Nu`man bin Bashir said that the Messenger of Allah said,

إِنَّ أَهْوَنَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ عَذَابًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لِمَنْ لَهُ نَعْلَنِ وَشِرَاكَانِ مِنْ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ يَغْلِي مِنْهُمَا دِمَاغُهُ كَمَا يَغْلِي الْمِرْجَلُ لَا يَرَى أَنَّ أَحَدًا مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ أَشَدُّ عَذَابًا مِنْهُ وَإِنَّهُ أَهْوَنُهُمْ عَذَابًا

On the Day of Resurrection, the person who will receive the least punishment among the people of the Fire, wears two slippers made from the Fire of Jahannam causing his brain to boil, just as a pot boils. He thinks that none in the Fire is receiving a more severe torment than he, when in fact he is receiving the least torment.

The Two Sahihs collected this Hadith.

There are many other Ayat and Prophetic Hadiths on this subject.

Allah said in His Glorious Book,

كَلَّ إِنَّهَا لَظَى

نَزَّاعَةً لِّلشَّوَى

By no means! Verily, it will be the Fire of Hell. Taking away (burning completely) the scalp! (70;15-16)

هَـذَانِ خَصْمَانِ اخْتَصَمُواْ فِى رَبِّهِمْ فَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ قُطِّعَتْ لَهُمْ ثِيَابٌ مِّن نَّارِ يُصَبُّ مِن فَوْقِ رُءُوسِهِمُ الْحَمِيمُ

يُصْهَرُ بِهِ مَا فِى بُطُونِهِمْ وَالْجُلُودُ

وَلَهُمْ مَّقَامِعُ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ

كُلَّمَأ أَرَادُواْ أَن يَخْرُجُواْ مِنْهَا مِنْ غَمٍّ أُعِيدُواْ فِيهَا وَذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ
Al-Hamim (boiling water) will be poured down over their heads. With it will melt (or vanish away) what is within their bellies, as well as (their) skins. And for them are hooked rods of iron (to punish them). Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein, and (it will be said to them);"Taste the torment of burning!" (22;19-22)

and,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَا سَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِمْ نَاراً كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُمْ بَدَّلْنَـهُمْ جُلُوداً غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُواْ الْعَذَابَ

Surely, those who disbelieved in Our Ayat, We shall burn them in Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment. (4;56)

Allah said here,

قُلْ

نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرًّا

لَّوْ كَانُوا يَفْقَهُونَ



Say;"The fire of Hell is more intense in heat;" if only they could understand!

meaning, if they have any comprehension or understanding, they would have marched with the Messenger of Allah during the heat, so as to save themselves from the Fire of Jahannam, which is much more severe. Allah, the Exalted, then warns the hypocrites against their conduct