Surah Tawbah ayat 42 Tafsir Quran 9:42

﴿لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَّاتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَٰكِن بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ﴾
[ التوبة: 42]

9:42 Had it been an easy gain and a moderate trip, the hypocrites would have followed you, but distant to them was the journey. And they will swear by Allah, "If we were able, we would have gone forth with you," destroying themselves [through false oaths], and Allah knows that indeed they are liars.

The following was revealed regarding the hypocrites who stayed behind away from the campaign Had it — that to which you summon them — been a near easily acquired gain a transient pleasure of this world and an easy journey of moderate length they would have followed you seeking spoils; but the distance the hardship was too great for them and so they stayed behind. Still they will swear by God when you return to them saying ‘Had we been able to go forth we would have gone forth with you’ destroying their souls by swearing false oaths and God knows that they truly are liars in this saying of theirs.

Had the expedition been a short distance and they were confident their march would attain its worldly end, they would have followed you. But the distance disenchanted their minds and appeared toilsome. They will swear to you O Muhammad that they would have gone out with you to fight had they been able to do so. They are the cause of their own destruction, and Allah knows that they are liars

Why Hypocrites would not join in Jihad Allah admonishes those who lagged behind and did not join the Prophet for the battle of Tabuk, those who asked the Prophet for permission to remain behind, falsely pretending to have legitimate reasons to do so, لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا ( Had it been a near gain ), booty right in front of them, according to Ibn `Abbas, وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا ( and an easy journey ), travel for only a short distance, لاَّتَّبَعُوكَ ( they would have followed you. ) But, وَلَـكِن بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ ( the distance was long for them ), to Ash-Sham, وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ ( and they would swear by Allah ), when you return to them, لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ ( If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you ), had not there been a valid excuse, we would have gone out with you, يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـذِبُونَ ( They destroy themselves, and Allah knows that they are liars. )

(9:42) O Prophet, had there been a prospect of immediate gain and an easy journey, most certainly they would have been quite ready to follow you; but the journey seemed too hard to them. *44 Still they will swear by Allah and say, "Had we been able to go forth, we would certainly have marched along with you"; they are incurring destruction on themselves: for Allah knows well that they are liars.

Had it been an easy gain and meaning

*44) They felt the journey to Tabuk to be hard because they had to fight with the army of the great and powerful Roman Empire: because they had to journey in the scorching heat of the summer season of the desert: because there was a famine in the country and the new harvest on which they had pinned their hopes, was ready for reaping.

 

Why Hypocrites would not join in Jihad Allah admonishes those who lagged behind and did not join the Prophet for the battle of Tabuk, those who asked the Prophet for permission to remain behind, falsely pretending to have legitimate reasons to do so, لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا ( Had it been a near gain ), booty right in front of them, according to Ibn `Abbas, وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا ( and an easy journey ), travel for only a short distance, لاَّتَّبَعُوكَ ( they would have followed you. ) But, وَلَـكِن بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ ( the distance was long for them ), to Ash-Sham, وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ ( and they would swear by Allah ), when you return to them, لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ ( If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you ), had not there been a valid excuse, we would have gone out with you, يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـذِبُونَ ( They destroy themselves, and Allah knows that they are liars. )

( Had it been a near adventure ) a near spoil of war ( and an easy journey they had followed thee ) to the Battle of Tabuk with a good disposition of the soul, ( but the distance seemed too far for them ) Historic Syria seemed too far for them. ( Yet will they swear by Allah ) to you when you come back from the Battle of Tabuk, i.e. ’Abdullah Ibn Abi Wajd Ibn Qays, Mu’attib Ibn Qushayr and their companions who did not take part in the battle of Tabuk ( (saying ): If we had been able) to acquire provision and mount ( we would surely have set out with you ) to the Battle of Tabuk. ( They destroy their souls ) by lying in their oaths, ( and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars ) because they were able to set out with the Prophet ( pbuh ).

Had it been a near gain (booty in front of them) and an easy journey, they would have followed you, but the distance (Tabuk expedition) was long for them, and they would swear by Allah, "If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you." They destroy their ownselves, and Allah knows that they are liars.

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