sayaqūlu l-mukhalafūna idhā inṭalaqtum ilā maghānima litakhudhūhā dharūnā nattabiʿ'kum yurīdūna an yubaddilū kalāma l-lahi qul lan tattabiʿūnā kadhālikum qāla l-lahu min qablu fasayaqūlūna bal taḥsudūnanā bal kānū lā yafqahūna illā qalīlan
Translation
Those who remained1511 behind will say when you set out toward the war booty to take it, "Let us follow you." They wish to change the words of Allāh. Say, "Never will you follow us. Thus did Allāh say before." So they will say, "Rather, you envy us." But [in fact] they were not understanding except a little.1512
Notes
[1511] See footnote to 9:81.
[1512] i.e., they only understood the material aspects of life.
Verse 15 of Surah Al-Fath (48:15), a Medinan surah, is in juz 26, on page 512 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 74 reciters.
Listen to verse 15 of Surah Al-Fath
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Those whom Allah had kept behind - when you, O believers, set off to take the spoils of Khaybar which Allah had promised you after the Treaty of Hudaibiyya, will say: ‘Let us go out with you to get some of it.’ These people who were left behind want to change, by this request of theirs, Allah’s promise that He made to the believers after the Treaty of Hudaibiyya to give them alone the spoils of Khaybar. Say to them, O Messenger: You will never follow us to those spoils, because Allah has promised us that the spoils of Khaybar are only for those who were present at Hudaibiyya. They will say: Your preventing us from following you to Khaybar is not an instruction from Allah, but because you are jealous of us. The matter is not as these people who were left behind claim. Rather, they do not understand Allah’s instructions and prohibitions except a little, and therefore they have fallen into going against Him.
Those who lagged behind will say when you set out to collect the spoils of war, “Let us follow you.” They wish to change the word of Allah5. Say, “You will never follow us; this is what Allah has already decreed.” They will then say, “Rather, you are jealous of us6.” Rather, they do not understand but a little7.
Notes
[5] Allah promised those of the believers who pledged allegiance at Hudaybiyah that the spoils of war obtained from the Jews of Khaybar be exclusively for them.
[6] i.e., you only ask us not to go with you to the spoils of Khsybar to deprive us of our share.
[7] i.e., they do not understand but the material aspects of life.
Those who lagged behind will say, when you set forth to take the spoils, "Allow us to follow you." They want to change Allâh’s Words. Say: "You shall not follow us; thus Allâh has said beforehand." Then they will say: "Nay, you envy us." Nay, but they understand not except a little.
Those who were left behind will say, when ye set forth to capture booty: Let us go with you. They fain would change the verdict of Allah. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Ye shall not go with us. Thus hath Allah said beforehand. Then they will say: Ye are envious of us. Nay, but they understand not, save a little.
Those who lagged behind (will say), when ye (are free to) march and take booty (in war): "Permit us to follow you." They wish to change Allah's decree: Say: "Not thus will ye follow us: Allah has already declared (this) beforehand": then they will say, "But ye are jealous of us." Nay, but little do they understand (such things).
Those who are left behind will say when you set forth for the gaining of acquisitions: Allow us (that) we may follow you. They desire to change the world of Allah. Say: By no means shall you follow us; thus did Allah say before. But they will say: Nay! you are jealous of us. Nay! they do not understand but a little.
The ones who were left behind will soon say, when you go off after booty (The Arabic word is plural) to take it, "Give us leave to follow you closely, " willing to exchange the Speech of Allah (for their own lies). Say, "You will never closely follow us; even thus Allah said earlier." Then they will soon say, "No indeed, (but) you envy us." No indeed, (but) they have not comprehended except a little.
If Allāh should return you to a faction of them [after the expedition] and then they ask your permission to go out [to battle], say, "You will not go out with me, ever, and you will never fight with me an enemy. Indeed, you were satisfied with sitting [at home] the first time, so sit [now] with those who stay behind."
