9. Surah At Tawbah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُواْ كَآفَّةً...   

9: 122. Nor should the believers all go forth together:

فَلَوْلاَ نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ لِّيَتَفَقَّهُواْ فِي الدِّينِ... 

if a contingent from every expedition remained behind, they could devote themselves to studies in religion,

... وَلِيُنذِرُواْ قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُواْ إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ ﴿١٢٢﴾

and admonish the people when they return to them, that thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against evil).

C1373. Fighting may be inevitable, and where a call is made by the ruler of an Islamic State, it should be obeyed.

But fighting is not to be glorified to the exclusion of all else. Even among those who are able to go forth, a party should remain behind for purposes of study, so that when the fighters return home, their minds may be attuned again to the more normal interests of religious life, under properly instructed teachers.

The students and teachers are soldiers of the Jihad in their spirit of obedience and discipline. (R).

Other versions:

9: 122 [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, after Tabuk, 9H]

Yusuf Ali Nor should the believers all go forth together: if a contingent from every expedition remained behind they could devote themselves to studies in religion and admonish the people when they return to them that thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against evil).

Pickthall And the believers should not all go out to fight. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may gain sound knowledge in religion, and that they may warn their folk when they return to them, so that they may beware.

Transliteration Wa ma_ ka_nal mu'minu_na liyanfiru_ ka_ffah(tan), fa lau la_ nafara min kulli firqatim minhum ta_'ifatul liyatafaqqahu_ fid dini wa liyunziru_ qaumahum izu_ raja'u_ ilaihim la'allahum yahzaru_n(a).

[[ Ruby’s note – Here the emphasis on studying and learning about the Quran even during a war is made. And explains why it is important: so that people may guard themselves by learning about religion. ]]