Overview (Verses 80 - 83)

Never to be Forgiven

You may pray for their forgiveness or may not pray for them, [for it will all be the same]. Even if you were to pray seventy times for their forgiveness, God will not forgive them, for they have denied God and His Messenger. God does not guide those who are transgressors. (Verse 80)

This verse refers to the hypocrites who deride the true believers when they come forward with their contributions and donations. Such people have a well-known destiny which will not change. They shall not benefit by any request for forgiveness. “God will not forgive them,” whether such requests are made on their behalf or not. It seems that the Prophet used to pray to God to forgive those who committed mistakes or sins in the hope that they would mend their ways and earn God’s forgiveness. As for the hypocrites, their fate has been sealed. There is no going back, and that is for a very good reason: “For they have denied God and His Messenger. God does not guide those who are transgressors.” (Verse 80)

These are the ones who have deviated so widely that there can be no hope of them ever mending their ways. Hence, God tells His Messenger: “Even if you were to pray seventy times for their forgiveness, God will not forgive them.” (Verse 80) The number seventy is normally mentioned to indicate a large, not specific, number. Hence the statement means that they cannot hope for forgiveness, because there is no way they will repent and mend their ways. That is because when a human heart reaches a certain stage of corruption, it becomes impossible to reform. Similarly when a person has gone so far astray, he cannot follow guidance. It is God who knows best how hearts respond.

Pleased with One’s Misdeeds

The sūrah resumes its comments on the attitude of those who stayed behind when the Prophet had marched to Tabūk: Those who were left behind rejoiced at having stayed at home after [the departure of] God’s Messenger, for they were averse to striving with their property and their lives in God’s cause. They said [to one another]: ‘Do not go to war in this heat. ‘Say: The fire of hell is far hotter.’ Would that they understood. They shall laugh but a little, and they will weep much, in return for what they have earned. If God brings you back and you meet some of them, and then they ask leave to go forth with you, say: ‘Never shall you go forth with me, nor shall you fight an enemy with me. You were happy to stay behind on the first occasion, so you stay now with those who remain behind.’ (Verses 81-83) 

Such people are so keen to ensure their continued personal comfort and are unwilling to spend anything of their wealth for God’s cause. They are devoid of all desire to strive because their hearts are devoid of faith. The adjective used in the Arabic text to refer to them has the added connotation of showing them to be left behind as if they were dispensable articles of little value. They are delighted at having secured their own safety when they stayed at home after the Prophet and his Companions had departed on their blessed mission. They spared themselves the toil and hardship willingly undertaken by the believers who were ready to strive for God’s cause, thinking that personal safety is a goal coveted by all men. Hence: “They were averse to striving with their property and their lives in God’s cause. They said [to one another]: ‘Do not go to war in this heat.’” (Verse 81) Such words are only said by a person who is keen to indulge himself in every luxury. Such a person is not fit to do anything which only men of endurance can undertake.

They are a fitting example of people with no will power. Numerous indeed are those who dislike to go through any hardship and turn away when they are required to make a real effort, preferring cheap comfort to noble effort and humble safety to a position of honour that involves taking risks. They collapse in utter exhaustion behind the rows of believers who move on with seriousness, knowing that the advocacy of the true message requires great sacrifices. Nevertheless, those believers march forth and pay little attention to the size of the opposition or the tough impediments they face, because they know that it is part of human nature to try to overcome impediments. This is far more befitting and satisfying to man than staying behind, betraying ineptitude and lack of will.

The sūrah answers them coupling the truth with sarcasm: “They said [to one another]: Do not go to war in this heat.’ Say: ‘The fire of hell is far hotter.’ Would that they understood.” (Verse 81) If they fear the heat of the summer and prefer the comfort of staying in the shade, how will they tolerate the heat of the Are of hell, when it is much more intense and longer lasting? Although this sounds like a remark full of derision, it only states the truth. The choice they had to make was between striving for a certain period in defence of God’s cause, tolerating the heat of the earthly summer or being thrown in hell for an extended period the length of which is known to God alone.

“They shall laugh but a little, and they will weep much, in return for what they have earned.” (Verse 82) Their laughter takes place in this life which lasts only for a certain number of days, but their tears are poured in the hereafter with its much longer days. Indeed each one of God’s days is equal to one thousand years of ours. Their tears are “in return for what they have earned.” It is then a befitting and just reward.

Those hypocrites who preferred to stay behind during a time of hardship, when all Muslims were called upon to join the jihād campaign, are not fit to join any campaign or to take part in any effort undertaken for God’s cause. Hence, leniency is not the proper policy to follow with them. They are not to be given the chance of earning the honour of participating in jihād at any time. The Prophet is directed to make this clear to them whenever the occasion arises: “If God brings you back and you meet some of them, and then they ask leave to go forth with you, say: ‘Never shall you go forth with me, nor shall you fight an enemy with me. You were happy to stay behind on the first occasion, so you stay now with those who remain behind.’” (Verse 83)

Every message or ideology is in need of people who are dedicated, willing to undertake any effort in their support and advocacy. When the ranks of any such ideology are infiltrated by weak elements, it cannot tolerate hardship. Hence, such weaklings must be isolated from its ranks which need to remain steadfast. If those who join the ranks at a time of ease and desert them at a time of hardship are to be easily tolerated, their continued presence will work to the detriment of the whole message and its true advocates. Hence, the Prophet is instructed to make it clear to them that they have no place in the ranks of the believers: “Say: ‘Never shall you go forth with me, nor shall you fight an enemy with me.’” (Verse 83) And the reason for this attitude is also made clear: “You were happy to stay behind on the first occasion.” (Verse 83) That deprived them of the privilege of being able to join the ranks of the fighters for God’s cause and the honour of going forth with the Prophet. Going on jihād is a responsibility which may only be shouldered by those who are fit to undertake it. This religion of Islam does not admit any partiality or favouritism. Hence they are told: “Stay now with those who remain behind.” (Verse 83) You may stay with such people as are like you in their attitude. You all prefer to absent yourselves when the occasion requires sacrifices.

This way of continuous striving, marked out by God Himself for His Messenger, remains the one to be followed by the advocates of this religion of Islam for as long as life continues on earth. Advocates of Islam should remain aware of this at all times.

Overview (Verses 80 - 83)

Never to be Forgiven

You may pray for their forgiveness or may not pray for them, [for it will all be the same]. Even if you were to pray seventy times for their forgiveness, God will not forgive them, for they have denied God and His Messenger. God does not guide those who are transgressors. (Verse 80)

This verse refers to the hypocrites who deride the true believers when they come forward with their contributions and donations. Such people have a well-known destiny which will not change. They shall not benefit by any request for forgiveness. “God will not forgive them,” whether such requests are made on their behalf or not. It seems that the Prophet used to pray to God to forgive those who committed mistakes or sins in the hope that they would mend their ways and earn God’s forgiveness. As for the hypocrites, their fate has been sealed. There is no going back, and that is for a very good reason: “For they have denied God and His Messenger. God does not guide those who are transgressors.” (Verse 80)

These are the ones who have deviated so widely that there can be no hope of them ever mending their ways. Hence, God tells His Messenger: “Even if you were to pray seventy times for their forgiveness, God will not forgive them.” (Verse 80) The number seventy is normally mentioned to indicate a large, not specific, number. Hence the statement means that they cannot hope for forgiveness, because there is no way they will repent and mend their ways. That is because when a human heart reaches a certain stage of corruption, it becomes impossible to reform. Similarly when a person has gone so far astray, he cannot follow guidance. It is God who knows best how hearts respond.

Pleased with One’s Misdeeds

The sūrah resumes its comments on the attitude of those who stayed behind when the Prophet had marched to Tabūk: Those who were left behind rejoiced at having stayed at home after [the departure of] God’s Messenger, for they were averse to striving with their property and their lives in God’s cause. They said [to one another]: ‘Do not go to war in this heat. ‘Say: The fire of hell is far hotter.’ Would that they understood. They shall laugh but a little, and they will weep much, in return for what they have earned. If God brings you back and you meet some of them, and then they ask leave to go forth with you, say: ‘Never shall you go forth with me, nor shall you fight an enemy with me. You were happy to stay behind on the first occasion, so you stay now with those who remain behind.’ (Verses 81-83) 

Such people are so keen to ensure their continued personal comfort and are unwilling to spend anything of their wealth for God’s cause. They are devoid of all desire to strive because their hearts are devoid of faith. The adjective used in the Arabic text to refer to them has the added connotation of showing them to be left behind as if they were dispensable articles of little value. They are delighted at having secured their own safety when they stayed at home after the Prophet and his Companions had departed on their blessed mission. They spared themselves the toil and hardship willingly undertaken by the believers who were ready to strive for God’s cause, thinking that personal safety is a goal coveted by all men. Hence: “They were averse to striving with their property and their lives in God’s cause. They said [to one another]: ‘Do not go to war in this heat.’” (Verse 81) Such words are only said by a person who is keen to indulge himself in every luxury. Such a person is not fit to do anything which only men of endurance can undertake.

They are a fitting example of people with no will power. Numerous indeed are those who dislike to go through any hardship and turn away when they are required to make a real effort, preferring cheap comfort to noble effort and humble safety to a position of honour that involves taking risks. They collapse in utter exhaustion behind the rows of believers who move on with seriousness, knowing that the advocacy of the true message requires great sacrifices. Nevertheless, those believers march forth and pay little attention to the size of the opposition or the tough impediments they face, because they know that it is part of human nature to try to overcome impediments. This is far more befitting and satisfying to man than staying behind, betraying ineptitude and lack of will.

The sūrah answers them coupling the truth with sarcasm: “They said [to one another]: Do not go to war in this heat.’ Say: ‘The fire of hell is far hotter.’ Would that they understood.” (Verse 81) If they fear the heat of the summer and prefer the comfort of staying in the shade, how will they tolerate the heat of the Are of hell, when it is much more intense and longer lasting? Although this sounds like a remark full of derision, it only states the truth. The choice they had to make was between striving for a certain period in defence of God’s cause, tolerating the heat of the earthly summer or being thrown in hell for an extended period the length of which is known to God alone.

“They shall laugh but a little, and they will weep much, in return for what they have earned.” (Verse 82) Their laughter takes place in this life which lasts only for a certain number of days, but their tears are poured in the hereafter with its much longer days. Indeed each one of God’s days is equal to one thousand years of ours. Their tears are “in return for what they have earned.” It is then a befitting and just reward.

Those hypocrites who preferred to stay behind during a time of hardship, when all Muslims were called upon to join the jihād campaign, are not fit to join any campaign or to take part in any effort undertaken for God’s cause. Hence, leniency is not the proper policy to follow with them. They are not to be given the chance of earning the honour of participating in jihād at any time. The Prophet is directed to make this clear to them whenever the occasion arises: “If God brings you back and you meet some of them, and then they ask leave to go forth with you, say: ‘Never shall you go forth with me, nor shall you fight an enemy with me. You were happy to stay behind on the first occasion, so you stay now with those who remain behind.’” (Verse 83)

Every message or ideology is in need of people who are dedicated, willing to undertake any effort in their support and advocacy. When the ranks of any such ideology are infiltrated by weak elements, it cannot tolerate hardship. Hence, such weaklings must be isolated from its ranks which need to remain steadfast. If those who join the ranks at a time of ease and desert them at a time of hardship are to be easily tolerated, their continued presence will work to the detriment of the whole message and its true advocates. Hence, the Prophet is instructed to make it clear to them that they have no place in the ranks of the believers: “Say: ‘Never shall you go forth with me, nor shall you fight an enemy with me.’” (Verse 83) And the reason for this attitude is also made clear: “You were happy to stay behind on the first occasion.” (Verse 83) That deprived them of the privilege of being able to join the ranks of the fighters for God’s cause and the honour of going forth with the Prophet. Going on jihād is a responsibility which may only be shouldered by those who are fit to undertake it. This religion of Islam does not admit any partiality or favouritism. Hence they are told: “Stay now with those who remain behind.” (Verse 83) You may stay with such people as are like you in their attitude. You all prefer to absent yourselves when the occasion requires sacrifices.

This way of continuous striving, marked out by God Himself for His Messenger, remains the one to be followed by the advocates of this religion of Islam for as long as life continues on earth. Advocates of Islam should remain aware of this at all times.