The Holy Quran 33:20 — Surah Al-Ahzab

Arabic text

يَحْسَبُونَ ٱلْأَحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا۟ ۖ وَإِن يَأْتِ ٱلْأَحْزَابُ يَوَدُّوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِى ٱلْأَعْرَابِ يَسْـَٔلُونَ عَنْ أَنۢبَآئِكُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ فِيكُم مَّا قَـٰتَلُوٓا۟ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

Translation

They (the Munaafiqeen are so cowardly that even when informed that the Mushrikeen armies had retreated and returned to Makkah, they) think that the armies have not retreated. If the armies were to arrive (to attack you Muslims), they (the Munaafiqeen) hope that (instead of fighting) they were rather to the outback (away from the scene of the battle only to do some) inquiring about your condition (rather than having to actively fight). (In fact) Even if they (the Munaafiqeen) were with you (the Mu'mineen in battle), they would fight only a little (without being of any help to you).

Tafsir (excerpt) — التفسير الميسر

يظن المنافقون أن الأحزاب الذين هزمهم الله تعالى شر هزيمة لم يذهبوا؛ ذلك من شدة الخوف والجبن، ولو عاد الأحزاب إلى «المدينة» لتمنَّى أولئك المنافقون أنهم كانوا غائبين عن «المدينة» بين أعراب البادية، يستخبرون عن أخباركم ويسألون عن أنبائكم، ولو كانوا فيكم ما قاتلوا معكم إلا قليلا لكثرة جبنهم وذلتهم وضعف يقينهم.

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