Tafsir of Al-Ahzab 33:20

Surah Al-Ahzab 33:20

ﲤ ﲥ ﲦ ﲧ ﲨ ﲩ ﲪ ﲫ ﲬ ﲭ ﲮ ﲯ ﲰ ﲱ ﲲ ﲳ ﲴ ﲵ ﲶ ﲷ ﲸ ﲹ ﲺ ﲻ ﲼ

They think the companies have not [yet] withdrawn. And if the companies should come [again], they would wish they were in the desert among the bedouins, inquiring [from afar] about your news. And if they should be among you, they would not fight except for a little.

Tafsir

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Verse range: 33:20

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Another aspect of their abhorrent attribute of cowardice and fear: Allah tells;

يحسبون اﻻحزاب لم يذهبوا

They think that the Confederates have not yet withdrawn; and that they are still close by and will return.

وإن يٲت اﻻإحزاب يودوا لو أنهم بادون في اﻻإعراب يسٲلون عن أنبايكم

and if the Confederates should come, they would wish they were in the deserts among the Bedouins, seeking news about you; means, `if the Confederates should come back, they hope that they will not be present with you in Al-Madinah, but that they will be in the desert, asking about news of you and what happened to you with your enemy.'

ولو كانوا فيكم ما قاتلوا إﻻ قليﻼ

and if they were to be among you, they would not fight but little. means, `if they are among you, they will not fight alongside you very much,' because they are so cowardly and weak, and have so little faith, but Allah knows best about them