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Ayah
Word by Word
إِنَّمَا
Only
ٱلسَّبِيلُ
the way (blame)
عَلَى
(is) on
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
يَسۡتَـٔۡذِنُونَكَ
ask your permission
وَهُمۡ
while they
أَغۡنِيَآءُۚ
(are) rich
رَضُواْ
They (are) satisfied
بِأَن
to
يَكُونُواْ
be
مَعَ
with
ٱلۡخَوَالِفِ
those who stay behind
وَطَبَعَ
and Allah sealed
ٱللَّهُ
and Allah sealed
عَلَىٰ
[on]
قُلُوبِهِمۡ
their hearts
فَهُمۡ
so they
لَا
(do) not
يَعۡلَمُونَ
know
إِنَّمَا
Only
ٱلسَّبِيلُ
the way (blame)
عَلَى
(is) on
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
يَسۡتَـٔۡذِنُونَكَ
ask your permission
وَهُمۡ
while they
أَغۡنِيَآءُۚ
(are) rich
رَضُواْ
They (are) satisfied
بِأَن
to
يَكُونُواْ
be
مَعَ
with
ٱلۡخَوَالِفِ
those who stay behind
وَطَبَعَ
and Allah sealed
ٱللَّهُ
and Allah sealed
عَلَىٰ
[on]
قُلُوبِهِمۡ
their hearts
فَهُمۡ
so they
لَا
(do) not
يَعۡلَمُونَ
know
Translation
The cause [for blame] is only upon those who ask permission of you while they are rich. They are satisfied to be with those who stay behind, and Allāh has sealed over their hearts, so they do not know.
Tafsir
The way [of blame] is only against those who ask leave of you, to stay behind, when they are rich. They are content to be with those who stay behind and God has set a seal on their hearts, so that they do not know: a similar statement has already been made.
"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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