Surah At-Tawba: Verse 120 - ما كان لأهل المدينة ومن... - English
Tafsir of Verse 120, Surah At-Tawba
English Translation
It was not [proper] for the people of Madinah and those surrounding them of the bedouins that they remain behind after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allah or that they prefer themselves over his self. That is because they are not afflicted by thirst or fatigue or hunger in the cause of Allah, nor do they tread on any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they inflict upon an enemy any infliction but that is registered for them as a righteous deed. Indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of the doers of good.English Transliteration
Ma kana liahli almadeenati waman hawlahum mina alaAArabi an yatakhallafoo AAan rasooli Allahi wala yarghaboo bianfusihim AAan nafsihi thalika biannahum la yuseebuhum thamaon wala nasabun wala makhmasatun fee sabeeli Allahi wala yataoona mawtian yagheethu alkuffara wala yanaloona min AAaduwwin naylan illa kutiba lahum bihi AAamalun salihun inna Allaha la yudeeAAu ajra almuhsineenaTafsir of Verse 120
Commentary
The two verses cited above admonish those who missed to join the expedition of Tabuk for no valid reason. They have also been told that they did what was not proper. Then the verses describe the merits of people who take part in Jihad and tell us about the great rewards they get for everything they do there. Included here is the causing of hurt or loss to the enemy and the using of a strategy that infuriates the adversary. All these are good deeds, and worthy of thawab (reward from Allah).
Rewards of Jihad
Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored, criticizes the people of Al-Madinah and the bedouins around it, who did not participate in the battle of Tabuk with the Messenger of Allah . They sought to preserve themselves rather than comfort the Messenger during the hardship that he suffered in that battle. They incurred a loss in their share of the reward, since,
(they suffer neither Zama'), thirst,
(nor Nasab), fatigue,
(nor Makhmasah), hunger,
(nor they take any step to raise the anger of disbelievers), by strategies of war that would terrify their enemy,
(nor inflict), a defeat on the enemy,
(but is written to their credit) as compensation for these steps that are not under their control, but a consequence of performing good deeds that earn them tremendous rewards,
(Surely, Allah wastes not the reward of the doers of good.) Allah said in a similar Ayah,
(Certainly We shall not make the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds in the most perfect manner to be lost)
