9. Surah At Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H,

after Tabuk expedition, re: HYPOCRITES [munafiqun]]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَوْ أَرَادُواْ الْخُرُوجَ لأَعَدُّواْ لَهُ عُدَّةً...   

9: 46.  If they had intended to come out, they would certainly have made some preparation therefor;

...وَلَـكِن كَرِهَ اللّهُ انبِعَاثَهُمْ فَثَبَّطَهُمْ وَقِيلَ اقْعُدُواْ مَعَ الْقَاعِدِينَ ﴿٤٦﴾  

but Allah was averse to their being sent forth; so He made them lag behind and they were told,

"Sit ye among those who sit (inactive)."

لَوْ خَرَجُواْ فِيكُم مَّا زَادُوكُمْ إِلاَّ خَبَالاً...   

9: 47.  If they had come out with you, they would not have added to your (strength) but only (made for) disorder,

... ولأَوْضَعُواْ خِلاَلَكُمْ يَبْغُونَكُمُ الْفِتْنَةَ...

hurrying to and fro in your midst and sowing sedition among you,

C1310. Khilal has more than one meaning, but I follow the interpretation of Raghib and the majority of accepted Commentators, who take it to mean "in your midst".

...وَفِيكُمْ سَمَّاعُونَ لَهُمْ ...

and there would have been some among you who would have listened to them.

...وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٤٧﴾  

But Allah knoweth well those who do wrong.

لَقَدِ ابْتَغَوُاْ الْفِتْنَةَ مِن قَبْلُ وَقَلَّبُواْ لَكَ الأُمُورَ...   

9: 48.  Indeed they had plotted sedition before, and upset matters for thee,

...حَتَّى جَاء الْحَقُّ وَظَهَرَ أَمْرُ اللّهِ وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ ﴿٤٨﴾  

until The Truth arrived, and the Decree of Allah became manifest, much to their disgust.

C1311. Evil plotters against Truth are only too glad to get an opportunity of meddling from within with affairs which they want to spoil or upset.

They plot from outside, but they like to get into the inner circle, that their chances of intrigue may be all the greater. They are, however, unwilling to incur any danger or any self-sacrifice. Their whole activities are directed to mischief.

Great wisdom is required in a leader to deal with such a situation, and the best of such leaders must need divine guidance, as was forthcoming in this case.

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ ائْذَن لِّي وَلاَ تَفْتِنِّي ...

9: 49.  Among them is (many) a man who says:

"Grant me exemption and draw me not into trial."

C1312. Fitnah, as explained in n. 1198, 8:25, may mean either trial or temptation, or else tumult, turmoil, or sedition.

The Commentators here take the former meaning, and explain that some Hypocrites claimed exemption from service in the Tabuk expedition in the direction of Syria on the plea that they could not withstand the charms of Syrian women and ought best to stay at home. The answer is:

"But you have already fallen into temptation here by refusing service and disobeying the call."

But perhaps the other meaning of "turmoil" may also be permissible as a secondary echo; in that case they object to be drawn into the turmoil of war, but they are told that they arc already in a moral turmoil in advancing a disingenuous plea.

In using the English word "trial" in the translation, I have also had in my mind the two shades of meaning associated with that word in English.

...أَلاَ فِي الْفِتْنَةِ سَقَطُواْ...   

Have they not fallen into trial already?

...وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٤٩﴾  

And indeed hell surrounds the unbelievers (on all sides).

إِن تُصِبْكَ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْ ...

9: 50.  If good befalls thee, it grieves them;

...وَإِن تُصِبْكَ مُصِيبَةٌ يَقُولُواْ قَدْ أَخَذْنَا أَمْرَنَا مِن قَبْلُ...

but if a misfortune befalls thee, they say,

"We took indeed our precautions beforehand,"

...وَيَتَوَلَّواْ وَّهُمْ فَرِحُونَ ﴿٥٠﴾  

and they turn away rejoicing.

Other versions:

9: 46

Pickthall And if they had wished to go forth they would assuredly have made ready some equipment, but Allah was averse to their being sent forth and held them back and (it was said unto them ) : Sit ye with the sedentary!

Transliteration Wa lau ara_dul khuru_ja la'a'addu_ lahu_ 'uddataw wa la_kin karihalla_humbi'a_sahum fa sabbatahum wa qilaq'udu_ ma'al qa_'idin(a).

9: 47

Asad Had these [hypocrites] set out with you, [O believers,] they would have added nothing to you save the evil of corruption, and would surely have scurried to and fro in your midst, seeking to stir up discord among you, seeing that there are in your midst such as would have lent them ear: but God has full knowledge of the evildoers.

Pickthall Had they gone forth among you they had added to you naught save trouble and had hurried to and fro among you, seeking to cause sedition among you; and among you there are some who would have listened to them. Allah is Aware of evil-doers.

Transliteration Lau kharaju_ fikum ma_ za_du_kum illa_ khaba_law wa la'auda'u_ khila_lakum yabgu_nakumul fitnah(ta), wa fikum samma_'u_na lahum, walla_hu 'alimum biz za_limin(a).

9: 48

Pickthall Aforetime they sought to cause sedition and raised difficulties for thee till the Truth came and the decree of Allah was made manifest, though they were loth.

Transliteration Laqadibtagawul fitnata min qablu wa qallabu_ lakal umu_ra hatta_ ja_'al haqqu wa zahara amrulla_hi wa hum ka_rihu_n(a).

9:49

Pickthall Of them is he who saith: Grant me leave (to stay at home) and tempt me not. Surely it is into temptation that they (thus) have fallen. Lo! hell is all around the disbelievers.

Transliteration Wa minhum may yaqu_lu'zal li wa la_ taftinni, ala_ fil fitnati saqatu_, wa inna jahannama lamuhitatum bil ka_firin(a).

9: 50

.

Pickthall If good befalleth thee (O Muhammad) it afflicteth them, and if calamity befalleth thee, they say: We took precaution, and they turn away well pleased.

Transliteration In tusibka hasanatun tasu'hum, wa in tusibka musibatuy yaqu_lu_ qad akhazna_ amrana_ min qablu wa yatawallau wa hum farihu_n(a).