ﱤ ﱥ ﱦ ﱧ ﱨ ﱩ ﱪ ﱫ ﱬ ﱭ ﱮ ﱯ ﱰ ﱱ ﱲ ﱳ ﱴ ﱵ ﱶ ﱷ ﱸ ﱹ ﱺ ﱻ ﱼ ﱽ ﱾ ﱿ ﲀ ﲁ
O you who have believed, what is [the matter] with you that, when you are told to go forth in the cause of Allah, you adhere heavily to the earth? Are you satisfied with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But what is the enjoyment of worldly life compared to the Hereafter except a [very] little.
Tafsir
Verse range: 9:38
Admonishing clinging to Life rather than rushing to perform Jihad Allah admonishes those who lagged behind the Messenger of Allah in the battle of Tabuk, at a time when fruits were ripe and shades tempting in the intense and terrible heat,
يا أيها الذين آمنوا ما لكم إذا قيل لكم انفروا في سبيل الله
O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the cause of Allah, if you are called to perform Jihad in the cause of Allah,
اثاقلتم إلى اﻻرض
you cling heavily to the earth, reclining to remain in peace, shade and ripe fruits.
أرضيتم بالحياة الدنيا من اﻻخرة
Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter, why do you do this, is it because you prefer this life instead of the Hereafter Allah. next diminishes the eagerness for this worldly life and increases it for the Hereafter,
فما متاع الحياة الدنيا في اﻻخرة إﻻ قليل
But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world compared to the Hereafter. Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Mustawrid, a member of Bani Fihr, said that the Messenger of Allah said,
ما الدنيا في اﻻخرة إﻻ كما يجعل أحدكم إصبعه هذه في اليم فلينظر بم ترجع
The life of this world, compared to the Hereafter, is just like when one of you dips his finger in the sea, let him contemplate how much of it his finger would carry? The Prophet pointed with his index finger. Muslim collected this Hadith. Ath-Thawri narrated that Al-A`mash said about the Ayah,
فما متاع الحياة الدنيا في اﻻخرة إﻻ قليل
(But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world compared to the Hereafter). "What compares to the provision a traveler takes.'' Abdul-Aziz bin Abi Hazim narrated that his father said, "When Abdul-Aziz bin Marwan was dying he said, `Bring the shroud I will be covered with so that I inspect it.' When it was placed before him, he looked at it and said, `Is this what I will end up with from this life!' He then turned his back and cried, while saying, `Woe to you, O life! Your abundance is truly little, your little is short lived, we were deceived by you.''' Allah warns those who do not join Jihad,
