Translation
Some of the tribes came to seek exemption (from participating in the Tabuk campaign) while others stayed at home in a state of denial of God and His Messenger. There are serious consequences for those who neglect and deny (truth and justice). But those who are weak or sick or have no means and they were sincere with God and His Messenger will have no blame to suffer. There is no way a doer of good can be blamed. God is Ever Forgiving, Merciful!
Neither can there be any blame who came to you looking for transport and provision, but you said: “I have no more provision and transport to give you.” As such they went back, full of sorrow, that they were unable to support them to participate. The blame is due on those who came to you to seek exemption though they had means. They choose deliberately to stay back with others. God let their hearts stay sealed, so they are unable to comprehend.
These people will offer excuses (again) when you are back. Say to them: “Make no more excuses—we are not willing to believe you (anymore). God had informed us your affairs. God and His Messenger will continue to observe your conducts; eventually you will find yourselves back to the God, the Knower of all that is exposed and hidden and He will make you comprehend what you did.” They will swear by God when you are back so that you leave them be (without any repercussion). So, leave them alone; they are unworthy of your attention. They will suffer the consequences [of hell]—a rightful result for what they strive for!
Their swearing is only to be in your good grace. While you may be inclined to them, God is not pleased with people who repeatedly and deliberately transgress, especially the Bedouins, who are filled with denial and hypocrisy and fail to know the meaning and boundary of what God reveals as guidance to His Messenger. God is full of knowledge and wisdom! These Bedouins takes these calls for spending as an undue burden and wait for misfortune to fall on you. The turn of misfortune is really on them. God Hears, and God Knows! But there are among them those who do have faith in God and in the Last Day and consider what they need to spend (for common cause) as a mean to come closer to God and to secure good grace of the Messenger. Indeed, they achieve such closeness (to God) and God will take them into His mercy. God is Forgiving and Merciful! 444
Interpretation
444 Again, contrast is drawn regarding the Bedouins of the desert, some of whom wished to be excused from expeditions and spending for common cause under false pretext and as a consequence of denial of their faith and their lack of alignment with God and His message, whereas another group considered these as opportunities to support a common cause and to build a relationship with God to demonstrate their genuine faith and commitment to truth and justice. The Prophet and his followers were also cautioned that while they might find some of these denials and lack of support acceptable, perhaps not having full knowledge of the condition of their mind, God is fully aware and will not be pleased or accepting of such people unless they show genuine remorse and turn back.
***
REFLECTION
The call and need for sacrifice and hardship for the cause of truth and justice is an ever-recurring phenomenon in human existence and in human history. Those with genuine faith and goodness rise to the occasion every time and in every generation, while those who have doubts about God and human goodness will seek excuses to forgo such sacrifices and hardships.
ACTION
The message from God is very clear in that genuine faith in God and human goodness should propel each one of us to rise in response against any form of injustice and lies that people and societies initiate or perpetuate. Without such activism and stances, human societies will degenerate, and each person who failed to respond will have to face the consequence, not only in their lifetime but also in the afterlife.
_____________________
Key Arabic Term
127. rizsun (unworthy, unclean) (9:95)