9. At-Tawbah

ٱنفِرُوا۟Go forthخِفَافًاlightوَثِقَالًاor heavyوَجَٰهِدُوا۟and striveبِأَمْوَٰلِكُمْwith your wealthوَأَنفُسِكُمْand your livesفِىinسَبِيلِ(the) wayٱللَّهِ(of) AllahذَٰلِكُمْThatخَيْرٌ(is) betterلَّكُمْfor youإِنifكُنتُمْyouتَعْلَمُونَknow﴿٤١﴾

Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. That is better for you, if you only knew

لَوْIfكَانَit had beenعَرَضًاa gainقَرِيبًاnearوَسَفَرًاand a journeyقَاصِدًاeasyلَّٱتَّبَعُوكَsurely they (would) have followed youوَلَٰكِنۢbutبَعُدَتْwas longعَلَيْهِمُfor themٱلشُّقَّةُthe distanceوَسَيَحْلِفُونَAnd they will swearبِٱللَّهِby AllahلَوِIfٱسْتَطَعْنَاwe were ableلَخَرَجْنَاcertainly we (would) have come forthمَعَكُمْwith youيُهْلِكُونَThey destroyأَنفُسَهُمْtheir own selvesوَٱللَّهُand Allahيَعْلَمُknowsإِنَّهُمْ(that) indeed, theyلَكَٰذِبُونَ(are) surely liars﴿٤٢﴾

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

عَفَا(May) Allah forgiveٱللَّهُ(May) Allah forgiveعَنكَyouلِمَWhy (did)أَذِنتَyou grant leaveلَهُمْto themحَتَّىٰuntilيَتَبَيَّنَ(became) evidentلَكَto youٱلَّذِينَthose whoصَدَقُوا۟were truthfulوَتَعْلَمَand you knewٱلْكَٰذِبِينَthe liars﴿٤٣﴾

May Allah pardon you, [O Muhammad]; why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars

لَا(Would) not ask your permissionيَسْتَـْٔذِنُكَ(Would) not ask your permissionٱلَّذِينَthose whoيُؤْمِنُونَbelieveبِٱللَّهِin Allahوَٱلْيَوْمِand the Dayٱلْءَاخِرِthe Lastأَنthatيُجَٰهِدُوا۟they striveبِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْwith their wealthوَأَنفُسِهِمْand their livesوَٱللَّهُAnd Allahعَلِيمٌۢ(is) All-Knowerبِٱلْمُتَّقِينَof the righteous﴿٤٤﴾

Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day would not ask permission of you to be excused from striving with their wealth and their lives. And Allah is Knowing of those who fear Him

إِنَّمَاOnlyيَسْتَـْٔذِنُكَask your leaveٱلَّذِينَthose whoلَا(do) notيُؤْمِنُونَbelieveبِٱللَّهِin Allahوَٱلْيَوْمِand the Dayٱلْءَاخِرِthe Lastوَٱرْتَابَتْand (are in) doubtsقُلُوبُهُمْtheir heartsفَهُمْso theyفِىinرَيْبِهِمْtheir doubtsيَتَرَدَّدُونَthey waver﴿٤٥﴾

Only those would ask permission of you who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts have doubted, and they, in their doubt, are hesitating

وَلَوْAnd ifأَرَادُوا۟they had wishedٱلْخُرُوجَ(to) go forthلَأَعَدُّوا۟surely they (would) have preparedلَهُۥfor itعُدَّةً(some) preparationوَلَٰكِنButكَرِهَAllah dislikedٱللَّهُAllah dislikedٱنۢبِعَاثَهُمْtheir being sentفَثَبَّطَهُمْso He made them lag behindوَقِيلَand it was saidٱقْعُدُوا۟Sitمَعَwithٱلْقَٰعِدِينَthose who sit﴿٤٦﴾

And if they had intended to go forth, they would have prepared for it [some] preparation. But Allah disliked their being sent, so He kept them back, and they were told, "Remain [behind] with those who remain

لَوْIfخَرَجُوا۟they (had) gone forthفِيكُمwith youمَّاnotزَادُوكُمْthey (would) have increased youإِلَّاexceptخَبَالًا(in) confusionوَلَأَوْضَعُوا۟and would have been activeخِلَٰلَكُمْin your midstيَبْغُونَكُمُseeking (for) youٱلْفِتْنَةَdissensionوَفِيكُمْAnd among you (are some)سَمَّٰعُونَwho would have listenedلَهُمْto themوَٱللَّهُAnd Allahعَلِيمٌۢ(is) All-Knowerبِٱلظَّٰلِمِينَof the wrongdoers﴿٤٧﴾

Had they gone forth with you, they would not have increased you except in confusion, and they would have been active among you, seeking [to cause] you fitnah. And among you are avid listeners to them. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers

لَقَدِVerilyٱبْتَغَوُا۟they had soughtٱلْفِتْنَةَdissensionمِنbeforeقَبْلُbeforeوَقَلَّبُوا۟and had upsetلَكَfor youٱلْأُمُورَthe mattersحَتَّىٰuntilجَآءَcameٱلْحَقُّthe truthوَظَهَرَand became manifestأَمْرُ(the) Order of Allahٱللَّهِ(the) Order of Allahوَهُمْwhile theyكَٰرِهُونَdisliked (it)﴿٤٨﴾

They had already desired dissension before and had upset matters for you until the truth came and the ordinance of Allah appeared, while they were averse

وَمِنْهُمAnd among themمَّن(is he) whoيَقُولُsaysٱئْذَنGrant me leaveلِّىGrant me leaveوَلَاand (do) notتَفْتِنِّىٓput me to trialأَلَاSurelyفِىinٱلْفِتْنَةِthe trialسَقَطُوا۟they have fallenوَإِنَّAnd indeedجَهَنَّمَHellلَمُحِيطَةٌۢ(will) surely surroundبِٱلْكَٰفِرِينَthe disbelievers﴿٤٩﴾

And among them is he who says, "Permit me [to remain at home] and do not put me to trial." Unquestionably, into trial they have fallen. And indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers

إِنIfتُصِبْكَbefalls youحَسَنَةٌgoodتَسُؤْهُمْit distresses themوَإِنbut ifتُصِبْكَbefalls youمُصِيبَةٌa calamityيَقُولُوا۟they sayقَدْVerilyأَخَذْنَآwe tookأَمْرَنَاour matterمِنbeforeقَبْلُbeforeوَيَتَوَلَّوا۟And they turn awayوَّهُمْwhile theyفَرِحُونَ(are) rejoicing﴿٥٠﴾

If good befalls you, it distresses them; but if disaster strikes you, they say, "We took our matter [in hand] before," and turn away while they are rejoicing

قُلSayلَّنNeverيُصِيبَنَآwill befall usإِلَّاexceptمَاwhatكَتَبَAllah has decreedٱللَّهُAllah has decreedلَنَاfor usهُوَHeمَوْلَىٰنَا(is) our ProtectorوَعَلَىAnd onٱللَّهِAllahفَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ[so] let the believers put (their) trustٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ[so] let the believers put (their) trust﴿٥١﴾

Say, "Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allah let the believers rely

قُلْSayهَلْDoتَرَبَّصُونَyou awaitبِنَآfor usإِلَّآexceptإِحْدَىoneٱلْحُسْنَيَيْنِ(of) the two best (things)وَنَحْنُwhile weنَتَرَبَّصُ[we] awaitبِكُمْfor youأَنthatيُصِيبَكُمُAllah will afflict youٱللَّهُAllah will afflict youبِعَذَابٍwith a punishmentمِّنْfromعِندِهِۦٓ[near] Himأَوْorبِأَيْدِينَاby our handsفَتَرَبَّصُوٓا۟So waitإِنَّاindeed, weمَعَكُمwith youمُّتَرَبِّصُونَ(are) waiting﴿٥٢﴾

Say, "Do you await for us except one of the two best things while we await for you that Allah will afflict you with punishment from Himself or at our hands? So wait; indeed we, along with you, are waiting

قُلْSayأَنفِقُوا۟Spendطَوْعًاwillinglyأَوْorكَرْهًاunwillinglyلَّنneverيُتَقَبَّلَwill be acceptedمِنكُمْfrom youإِنَّكُمْIndeed, youكُنتُمْ[you] areقَوْمًاa peopleفَٰسِقِينَdefiantly disobedient﴿٥٣﴾

Say, "Spend willingly or unwillingly; never will it be accepted from you. Indeed, you have been a defiantly disobedient people

وَمَاAnd notمَنَعَهُمْprevents themأَنthatتُقْبَلَis acceptedمِنْهُمْfrom themنَفَقَٰتُهُمْtheir contributionsإِلَّآexceptأَنَّهُمْthat theyكَفَرُوا۟disbelieveبِٱللَّهِin Allahوَبِرَسُولِهِۦand in His Messengerوَلَاand notيَأْتُونَthey comeٱلصَّلَوٰةَ(to) the prayerإِلَّاexceptوَهُمْwhile theyكُسَالَىٰ(are) lazyوَلَاand notيُنفِقُونَthey spendإِلَّاexceptوَهُمْwhile theyكَٰرِهُونَ(are) unwilling﴿٥٤﴾

And what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them but that they have disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger and that they come not to prayer except while they are lazy and that they do not spend except while they are unwilling

فَلَاSo (let) notتُعْجِبْكَimpress youأَمْوَٰلُهُمْtheir wealthوَلَآand notأَوْلَٰدُهُمْtheir childrenإِنَّمَاOnlyيُرِيدُAllah intendsٱللَّهُAllah intendsلِيُعَذِّبَهُمto punish themبِهَاwith itفِىinٱلْحَيَوٰةِthe lifeٱلدُّنْيَا(of) the worldوَتَزْهَقَand should departأَنفُسُهُمْtheir soulsوَهُمْwhile theyكَٰفِرُونَ(are) disbelievers﴿٥٥﴾

So let not their wealth or their children impress you. Allah only intends to punish them through them in worldly life and that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers

وَيَحْلِفُونَAnd they swearبِٱللَّهِby Allahإِنَّهُمْindeed, theyلَمِنكُمْsurely (are) of youوَمَاwhile notهُمtheyمِّنكُمْ(are) of youوَلَٰكِنَّهُمْbut theyقَوْمٌ(are) a peopleيَفْرَقُونَ(who) are afraid﴿٥٦﴾

And they swear by Allah that they are from among you while they are not from among you; but they are a people who are afraid

لَوْIfيَجِدُونَthey could findمَلْجَـًٔاa refugeأَوْorمَغَٰرَٰتٍcavesأَوْorمُدَّخَلًاa place to enterلَّوَلَّوْا۟surely, they would turnإِلَيْهِto itوَهُمْand theyيَجْمَحُونَrun wild﴿٥٧﴾

If they could find a refuge or some caves or any place to enter [and hide], they would turn to it while they run heedlessly

وَمِنْهُمAnd among themمَّن(is he) whoيَلْمِزُكَcriticizes youفِىconcerningٱلصَّدَقَٰتِthe charitiesفَإِنْThen ifأُعْطُوا۟they are givenمِنْهَاfrom itرَضُوا۟they are pleasedوَإِنbut ifلَّمْnotيُعْطَوْا۟they are givenمِنْهَآfrom itإِذَاthenهُمْtheyيَسْخَطُونَ(are) enraged﴿٥٨﴾

And among them are some who criticize you concerning the [distribution of] charities. If they are given from them, they approve; but if they are not given from them, at once they become angry

وَلَوْAnd ifأَنَّهُمْ[that] theyرَضُوا۟(were) satisfiedمَآ(with) whatءَاتَىٰهُمُAllah gave themٱللَّهُAllah gave themوَرَسُولُهُۥand His Messengerوَقَالُوا۟and saidحَسْبُنَاSufficient for usٱللَّهُ(is) AllahسَيُؤْتِينَاAllah will give usٱللَّهُAllah will give usمِنofفَضْلِهِۦHis Bountyوَرَسُولُهُۥٓand His MessengerإِنَّآIndeed, weإِلَىtoٱللَّهِAllahرَٰغِبُونَturn our hopes﴿٥٩﴾

If only they had been satisfied with what Allah and His Messenger gave them and said, "Sufficient for us is Allah; Allah will give us of His bounty, and [so will] His Messenger; indeed, we are desirous toward Allah," [it would have been better for them]

إِنَّمَاOnlyٱلصَّدَقَٰتُthe charitiesلِلْفُقَرَآءِ(are) for the poorوَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِand the needyوَٱلْعَٰمِلِينَand those who collectعَلَيْهَاthemوَٱلْمُؤَلَّفَةِand the ones inclinedقُلُوبُهُمْtheir heartsوَفِىand inٱلرِّقَابِthe (freeing of) the necksوَٱلْغَٰرِمِينَand for those in debtوَفِىand inسَبِيلِ(the) wayٱللَّهِ(of) Allahوَٱبْنِand the wayfarer ٱلسَّبِيلِand the wayfarer فَرِيضَةًan obligationمِّنَfromٱللَّهِAllahوَٱللَّهُAnd Allahعَلِيمٌ(is) All-KnowingحَكِيمٌAll-Wise﴿٦٠﴾

Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise