Allāh has pardoned you, [O Muḥammad, but] why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.
Verse 43 of Surah At-Tawbah (9:43), a Medinan surah, is in juz 10, on page 194 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.
Listen to verse 43 of Surah At-Tawbah
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Tafsir of verse 43
Al-Mukhtasar
May Allah forgive the Messenger for his decision to permit them to stay behind! Why did he do so before it became apparent to him who had real excuses and who was lying? Then he could have excused those who were telling the truth, not those who were lying.
May Allah pardon you [O Prophet]! Why did you give them permission [to stay behind] before it became clear to you as to who were telling the truth, and who were liars44?
Notes
[44] None should have been given permission, so as to see who would set out with the Muslim army, the truthful; and who would not, the liars.
May Allâh forgive you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). Why did you grant them leave (for remaining behind; you should have persisted as regards your order to them to proceed on Jihâd ), until those who told the truth were seen by you in a clear light, and you had known the liars?
Allah forgive thee (O Muhammad)! Wherefor didst thou grant them leave ere those who told the truth were manifest to thee and thou didst know the liars?
Allah give thee grace! why didst thou grant them until those who told the truth were seen by thee in a clear light, and thou hadst proved the liars?
Allah pardon you! Why did you give them leave until those who spoke the truth had become manifest to you and you had known the liars?
Allah be clement towards you! (i.e., the prophet) Why did you give them permission, (i.e., permission to be excused form fighting) till it was evident to you the ones of them who (strive) sincerely, and you know the liars?.
The believers are only those who believe in Allāh and His Messenger and, when they are [meeting] with him for a matter of common interest, do not depart until they have asked his permission. Indeed, those who ask your permission, [O Muḥammad] - those are the ones who believe in Allāh and His Messenger. So when they ask your permission due to something of their affairs, then give permission to whom you will among them and ask forgiveness for them of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
