Surah Al-Ahzaab: Verse 20 - يحسبون الأحزاب لم يذهبوا ۖ... - English

Tafsir of Verse 20, Surah Al-Ahzaab

يَحْسَبُونَ ٱلْأَحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا۟ ۖ وَإِن يَأْتِ ٱلْأَحْزَابُ يَوَدُّوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِى ٱلْأَعْرَابِ يَسْـَٔلُونَ عَنْ أَنۢبَآئِكُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ فِيكُم مَّا قَٰتَلُوٓا۟ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

English Translation

They think the companies have not [yet] withdrawn.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.

English Transliteration

Yahsaboona alahzaba lam yathhaboo wain yati alahzabu yawaddoo law annahum badoona fee alaAArabi yasaloona AAan anbaikum walaw kanoo feekum ma qataloo illa qaleelan

Tafsir of Verse 20

They think the Confederates have not departed; and if the Confederates come, they will wish that they were desert-dwellers among the Bedoums asking for news of you. If they were among you, they would fight but little.

They think that the Confederates have not withdrawn; and if the Confederates should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the Bedouins, and seeking news about you (from a safe distance); and if they were in your midst, they would fight but little.

يَحْسَبُونَ الاٌّحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُواْ

(They think that the Confederates have not yet withdrawn;) and that they are still close by and will return.

وَإِن يَأْتِ الاٌّحْزَابُ يَوَدُّواْ لَوْ أَنَّهُمْ بَادُونَ فِى الاٌّعْرَابِ يَسْأَلُونَ عَنْ أَنبَآئِكُمْ

(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.'

وَلَوْ كَانُواْ فِيكُمْ مَّا قَاتَلُواْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً

(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.

Verse 20 - Surah Al-Ahzaab: (يحسبون الأحزاب لم يذهبوا ۖ وإن يأت الأحزاب يودوا لو أنهم بادون في الأعراب يسألون عن أنبائكم ۖ ولو كانوا...) - English