Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 90

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And the excuse-makers from the Bedouins came, so that they might be allowed (to stay behind), while those who were false to Allah and His Messengers (just) stayed behind (without seeking permission). A painful punishment is about to fall upon those of them who disbelieve.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Some nomadic Arabs ˹also˺ came with excuses, seeking exemption. And those who were untrue to Allah and His Messenger remained behind ˹with no excuse˺. The unfaithful among them will be afflicted with a painful punishment.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Some of the Bedouin came with excuses, seeking to be exempted, while others who lied to Allah and His Messenger stayed behind. Those who disbelieved among them will be afflicted with a painful punishment.

A. J. Arberry

And the Bedouins came with their excuses, asking for leave; those who lied to God and His Messenger tarried; there shall befall the unbelievers of them a painful chastisement.

Abdul Haleem

Some of the desert Arabs, too, came to make excuses, asking to be granted exemption. Those who lied to God and His Messenger stayed behind at home. A painful punishment will afflict those of them who disbelieved,

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And there came the apologists from among dwellers of the desert men praying that leave may be given them and those Who had lied unto Allah and His apostle sat at home. An afflictive torment shall afflict those of them who disbelieve.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And there were, among the desert Arabs (also), men who made excuses and came to claim exemption; and those who were false to Allah and His Messenger (merely) sat inactive. Soon will a grievous penalty seize the Unbelievers among them.

Abul Ala Maududi

Many of the bedouin Arabs came with excuses, seeking leave to stay behind. Thus those who were false to Allah and His Messenger in their covenant remained behind. A painful chastisement shall befall those of them that disbelieved.

Ahmed Ali

Some Arabs of the desert came with ready excuses, asking for leave to stay behind. But those who had lied to God and His Prophet stayed at home doing nothing. So the punishment for those who disbelieve among them will be painful.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And came the ignorant* who make excuses seeking exemption, and those who lied to Allah and His Noble Messenger remained seated; a painful punishment will soon reach the disbelievers among them. (* of faith)

Ali Quli Qarai

Some of the Bedouins who sought to be excused came, so that they may be granted leave [to stay back]; while those who lied to Allah and His Apostle sat back. Soon there shall visit the faithless among them a painful punishment.

Ali Ünal

Some among the Bedouin Arabs having true excuses came (to the Messenger) to ask leave to stay behind, whereas those who are false to God and His Messenger (in their covenant and claim of adherence) stayed at home (without taking part in the campaign). A painful punishment will befall those of them who disbelieve.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And those who make false excuses from among the Arabs of the desert, came (with the request) that leave (- to stay away from defensive fighting) might be given them. And those who made false promises to Allâh and His Messenger stayed (at home). There shall befall those who stuck to disbelief from among them a grievous punishment.

English Literal

And the apologizers/excuse givers from the Arabs came to be permitted/allowed to them, and those who denied God and His messenger sat/remained behind , those who disbelieved from them a painful torture will strike/hit (them).

Faridul Haque

And came the ignorant * who make excuses seeking exemption, and those who lied to Allah and His Noble Messenger remained seated; a painful punishment will soon reach the disbelievers among them. (* of faith)

Hamid S. Aziz

There were among the desert Arabs some who had excuses and came to claim exemption, and those who lied to Allah and His Messenger sat at home inactive. There shall befall those of them who disbelieved, a mighty woe.

Hilali & Khan

And those who made excuses from the bedouins came (to you, O Prophet SAW) asking your permission to exempt them (from the battle), and those who had lied to Allah and His Messenger sat at home (without asking the permission for it); a painful torment will seize those of them who disbelieve.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Allah has prepared for them Gardens wherein flow rivers, to abide therein. That is the great achievement.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And the defaulters from among the dwellers of the desert came that permission may be given to them and they sat (at home) who lied to Allah and His Apostle; a painful chastisement shall afflict those of them who disbelieved.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And those among the wandering Arabs who had an excuse came in order that permission might be granted them. And those who lied to Allah and His messenger sat at home. A painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve.

Muhammad Sarwar

Some of the dwellers of the desert (who were not able to join the army) came to the Prophet seeking exemption from taking part in the battle. Those who called God and His Messengers liars also stayed home (with those who were truly exempt). The disbelievers will soon receive a painful punishment.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Some Arabs of the desert who had an excuse came asking permission to stay behind; whilst those who belied Allah and His Messenger remained behind. A painful punishment shall fall on those of them that disbelieved.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And those who made excuses from the bedouins came asking your permission to exempt them (from the battle), and those who had lied to Allah and His Messenger sat at home (without asking the permission for it); a painful torment will seize those of them who disbelieve.

Wahiduddin Khan

Some of the desert Arabs, too, came to make excuses, asking to be granted exemption. Those who lied to God and His Messenger stayed behind at home. Those who denied the truth among them will be afflicted with a painful chastisement,

Talal Itani

Some of the Desert-Arabs came to make excuses, asking to be granted exemption, while those who were untrue to God and His Messenger stayed behind. A painful punishment will afflict those among them who disbelieved.

Tafsir jalalayn

And those Bedouins who had an excuse (al-mu`adhdhirn; the original t' has been assimilated with the dl, in other words [it would usually be read as] al-mu`tadhirn, which [itself] is a variant reading), those [of them who were] excused, [came] to the Prophet (s), asking for leave, to stay behind on account of their excuses, and so he gave them leave to do so. And those who lied to God and His Messenger, by feigning belief, [those] hypocrites among the Bedouin, stayed behind, [refraining] from coming to give [their] excuses -- a painful chastisement shall befall those of them who disbelieve.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah says;

وَجَاء الْمُعَذِّرُونَ مِنَ الَاعْرَابِ لِيُوْذَنَ لَهُمْ



And those who made excuses from the Bedouins came asking your permission to exempt them (from the battle),

Allah describes here the condition of the Bedouins who lived around Al-Madinah, who asked for permission to remain behind from Jihad when they came to the Messenger to explain to him their weakness and inability to join the fighting.

Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas said that;

they were those who had valid excuses, for Allah said next,

وَقَعَدَ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُواْ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ

and those who had lied to Allah and His Messenger sat at home,

and did not ask for permission for it;

and Allah warned them of painful punishment,

سَيُصِيبُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ



a painful torment will seize those of them who disbelieve