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Ayah
Word by Word
وَلَا
And not
عَلَى
on
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
إِذَا
when
مَآ
when
أَتَوۡكَ
they came to you
لِتَحۡمِلَهُمۡ
that you provide them with mounts
قُلۡتَ
you said
لَآ
Not
أَجِدُ
I find
مَآ
what
أَحۡمِلُكُمۡ
to mount you
عَلَيۡهِ
on [it]
تَوَلَّواْ
They turned back
وَّأَعۡيُنُهُمۡ
with their eyes
تَفِيضُ
flowing
مِنَ
[of]
ٱلدَّمۡعِ
(with) the tears
حَزَنًا
(of) sorrow
أَلَّا
that not
يَجِدُواْ
they find
مَا
what
يُنفِقُونَ
they (could) spend
وَلَا
And not
عَلَى
on
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
إِذَا
when
مَآ
when
أَتَوۡكَ
they came to you
لِتَحۡمِلَهُمۡ
that you provide them with mounts
قُلۡتَ
you said
لَآ
Not
أَجِدُ
I find
مَآ
what
أَحۡمِلُكُمۡ
to mount you
عَلَيۡهِ
on [it]
تَوَلَّواْ
They turned back
وَّأَعۡيُنُهُمۡ
with their eyes
تَفِيضُ
flowing
مِنَ
[of]
ٱلدَّمۡعِ
(with) the tears
حَزَنًا
(of) sorrow
أَلَّا
that not
يَجِدُواْ
they find
مَا
what
يُنفِقُونَ
they (could) spend
Translation
Nor [is there blame] upon those who, when they came to you for you to take them along, you said, "I can find nothing upon which to carry you."1 They turned back while their eyes overflowed with tears out of grief that they could not find something to spend [for the cause of Allāh].
Footnotes
1 - No mounts or even shoes were available.
Tafsir
Nor against those who, when they came to you so that you might give them a mount, [to ride] with you on the raid - these were seven men of the Ansaar; but it is also said that they were the Banoo Muqrin - you having said to them, 'I cannot find [a mount] whereon to mount you' (this [last sentence] is a circumstantial qualifier), turned back (this is the response to the [clause beginning with] idhaa, 'when'), that is, they departed, their eyes flowing, pouring, with tears (min al-dam'i: min is explicative) for sorrow that they could not find the means to expend, for the [campaign] struggle.
"Legitimate Excuses for staying away from Jihad
Allah says;
لَّيْسَ عَلَى الضُّعَفَاء وَلَا عَلَى الْمَرْضَى وَلَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُواْ لِلّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ
There is no blame on those who are weak or ill or who find no resources to spend, if they are sincere and true (in duty) to Allah and His Messenger.
Allah mentions here the valid excuses that permit one to stay away from fighting. He first mentions the excuses that remain with a person, the weakness in the body that disallows one from Jihad, such as blindness, limping, and so forth. He then mentions the excuses that are not permanent, such as an illness that would prevent one from fighting in the cause of Allah, or poverty that prevents preparing for Jihad. There is no sin in these cases if they remain behind, providing that when they remain behind, they do not spread malice or try to discourage Muslims from fighting, but all the while observing good behavior in this state, just as Allah said,
مَا عَلَى الْمُحْسِنِينَ مِن سَبِيلٍ وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
No means (of complaint) can there be against the doers of good. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Al-Awza`i said,
""The people went out for the Istisqa' (rain) prayer. Bilal bin Sa`d stood up, praised Allah and thanked Him then said, `O those who are present! Do you concur that wrong has been done!'
They said, `Yes, by Allah!'
He said, `O Allah! We hear your statement,
مَا عَلَى الْمُحْسِنِينَ مِن سَبِيلٍ
(No means (of complaint) can there be against the doers of good). O Allah! We admit our errors, so forgive us and give us mercy and rain.'
He then raised his hands and the people also raised their hands, and rain was sent down on them.
وَلَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ إِذَا مَا أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ
Nor (is there blame) on those who came to you to be provided with mounts,
Mujahid said;
""It was revealed about Bani Muqarrin from the tribe of Muzaynah.""
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Al-Hasan said that the Messenger of Allah said,
لَقَدْ خَلَّفْتُمْ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَقْوَامًا مَا أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ نَفَقَةٍ وَلَا قَطَعْتُمْ وَادِيًا وَلَا نِلْتُمْ مِنْ عَدُوَ نَيْلً إِلاَّ وَقَدْ شَرَكُوكُمْ فِي الاَْجْر
Some people have remained behind you in Al-Madinah; and you never spent anything, crossed a valley, or afflicted hardship on an enemy, but they were sharing the reward with you.
He then recited the Ayah,
وَلَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ إِذَا مَا أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ
قُلْتَ لَا أَجِدُ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ
Nor (is there blame) on those who came to you to be provided with mounts, when you said:""I can find no mounts for you.""
This Hadith has a basis in the Two Sahihs from Anas, the Messenger of Allah said,
إِنَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَقْوَامًا مَا قَطَعْتُمْ وَادِيًا وَلَا سِرْتُمْ سَيْرًا إِلاَّ وَهُمْ مَعَكُم
Some people have remained behind in Al-Madinah and you never crossed a valley or marched forth, but they were with you.
They said, ""While they are still at Al-Madinah?""
He said,
نَعَمْ حَبَسَهُمُ الْعُذْر
Yes, as they have been held back by a (legal) excuse.
تَوَلَّواْ وَّأَعْيُنُهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ حَزَنًا أَلاَّ يَجِدُواْ مَا يُنفِقُونَ
they turned back, with their eyes overflowing with tears of grief that they could not find anything to spend.
Then Allah says;
إِنَّمَا السَّبِيلُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَسْتَأْذِنُونَكَ وَهُمْ أَغْنِيَاء رَضُواْ بِأَن يَكُونُواْ مَعَ الْخَوَالِفِ
The means (of complaint) is only against those who are rich, and yet ask exemption. They are content to be with (the women) who sit behind (at home),
Allah criticized those who seek permission to remain behind while they are rich, admonishing them for wanting to stay behind with women who remained in their homes,
وَطَبَعَ اللّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
and Allah has sealed up their hearts, so that they know not (what they are losing)."
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