9. Surah At Tawbah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَرِحَ
الْمُخَلَّفُونَ
بِمَقْعَدِهِمْ
خِلاَفَ رَسُولِ
اللّهِ...
9: 81. Those who were left behind (in the Tabuk expedition) rejoiced in their inaction behind the back of the Messenger of Allah:
...وَكَرِهُواْ أَن يُجَاهِدُواْ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَقَالُواْ لاَ تَنفِرُواْ فِي الْحَرِّ...
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."
C1335. The Tabuk expedition had to be undertaken hurriedly in the heat of summer, because of a threat or fear of Byzantine invasion. They marched from Madinah about the month of September or October in the solar calendar.
...قُلْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرًّا لَّوْ كَانُوا يَفْقَهُونَ ﴿٨١﴾
Say,
"The fire of Hell is fiercer in heat."
If only they could understand!
Other versions:
9: 81
Asad Those [hypocrites] who were left behind rejoiced in their staying away [from war] [note 112] after [the departure of] God’s Apostle, for they hated the thought of striving with their possessions and their lives in God’s cause; and they had [even] said [to the others], “Do not go forth to war in this heat! Say: “The fire of hell is hotter by far!” Had they but grasped this truth!
Yusuf Ali Those who were left behind (in the Tabuk expedition) rejoiced in their inaction behind the back of the apostle 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!
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 heat of hell is more intense of heat, if they but understood.
Transliteration Farihal mukhallafu_na bi maq'adihim khila_fa rasu_lilla_hi wa karihu_ ay yuja_hidu_ bi amwa_lihim wa anfisihim fi sabililla_hi wa qa_lu_ la_ tanfiru_ fil harr(i), qul na_ru jahannama asyaddu harra_(n), lau ka_nu_ yafqahu_n(a).