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Ayah
Word by Word
لَّيۡسَ
Not
عَلَى
on
ٱلضُّعَفَآءِ
the weak
وَلَا
and not
عَلَى
on
ٱلۡمَرۡضَىٰ
the sick
وَلَا
and not
عَلَى
on
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
لَا
not
يَجِدُونَ
they find
مَا
what
يُنفِقُونَ
they (can) spend
حَرَجٌ
any blame
إِذَا
if
نَصَحُواْ
they (are) sincere
لِلَّهِ
to Allah
وَرَسُولِهِۦۚ
and His Messenger
مَا
Not
عَلَى
(is) on
ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ
the good-doers
مِن
[of]
سَبِيلٖۚ
any way (for blame)
وَٱللَّهُ
And Allah
غَفُورٞ
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٞ
Most Merciful
لَّيۡسَ
Not
عَلَى
on
ٱلضُّعَفَآءِ
the weak
وَلَا
and not
عَلَى
on
ٱلۡمَرۡضَىٰ
the sick
وَلَا
and not
عَلَى
on
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
لَا
not
يَجِدُونَ
they find
مَا
what
يُنفِقُونَ
they (can) spend
حَرَجٌ
any blame
إِذَا
if
نَصَحُواْ
they (are) sincere
لِلَّهِ
to Allah
وَرَسُولِهِۦۚ
and His Messenger
مَا
Not
عَلَى
(is) on
ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ
the good-doers
مِن
[of]
سَبِيلٖۚ
any way (for blame)
وَٱللَّهُ
And Allah
غَفُورٞ
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٞ
Most Merciful
Translation
There is not upon the weak or upon the ill or upon those who do not find anything to spend any discomfort [i.e., guilt] when they are sincere to Allāh and His Messenger. There is not upon the doers of good any cause [for blame]. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Tafsir
As for the weak, such as the old, and the sick, the blind and the chronically ill, and those who find nothing to expend, for the struggle, no blame, no sin, falls upon them, should they stay away from it, if they remain true to God and to His Messenger, when they stay behind, by not spreading false rumours or impeding [others from joining the struggle], but by [adhering to] obedience. There is no way [of blame], no way of reproach, against those who are virtuous, through such [behaviour]. And God is Forgiving, Merciful, to them, by granting them such leeway [in this matter].
"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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