Overview (Verses 86 - 90)

When a sūrah was revealed from on high calling on them to believe in God and to strive alongside His Messenger, those of them who were well able to do so asked you to give them leave and said to you: Allow us to stay with those who remain behind.’ They are well- pleased to remain with those who are left behind. And their hearts are sealed, so that they are unable to understand the truth. But the Messenger and those who have believed with him strive hard in God’s cause with their property and their lives. These shall have all the good things. These shall certainly prosper. God has prepared for them gardens through which running waters flow, where they shall abide. That is the supreme triumph. (Verses 86-89)

These verses tell of two different natures, one of hypocrisy, weakness, and self- abasement, and another full of faith, strength and sacrifice. These give rise to two different attitudes: one of deviousness, humbleness and lack of self-respect, and another which is straightforward, dignified and ready to sacrifice.

When a sūrah or a passage of the Qur’ān is revealed from on high, giving an explicit order to the believers to strive for God’s cause, then those who have the means to give physical and financial sacrifices come forward. They do not show up in order to take their positions in the front, as their ability and gratitude to God would require. They come forward to make stupid excuses and to request exemption so that they can stay behind with women, doing nothing to defend sanctity or home. 

They do not realize how abject and humiliating their request is. They are only interested in their own safety. Those who make their own safety paramount do not feel any shame, because “they are well- pleased to remain with those who are left behind. And their hearts are sealed, so that they are unable to understand the truth.” (Verse 87) Had they been able to understand it, they would have realized that it is when one strives for God’s cause that one feels strong, leading a life of dignity and honour, and when one stays behind, one lives in weakness and abject humiliation.

Humility imposes its tax on human beings like dignity does. However, the tax imposed by humility is often heavier by far. Weak people may think that the tax of dignity is much too heavy, and try to evade it by accepting an abject position of humility. They live in fear and anxiety, thinking each loud cry a call to attack them. They remain in constant fear for their lives. Such people pay a far heavier tax than that which would have been required by a dignified life. The tax they pay for their humble living is taken from their honour, prestige, social standing, reputation, security and often also from their lives, although they may not readily perceive this. But who are these? They are the ones who “are well pleased to remain with those who are left behind, and their hearts are sealed, so that they are unable to understand [the truth].” (Verse 87)

“But the Messenger and those who have believed with him” are a totally different type of people. These “strive in God’s cause with their property and their lives.” (Verse 88) They fulfil the duties imposed on them by their faith and work hard to achieve the dignity which cannot be attained while one stays behind. Hence, “these shall have all the good things.” (Verse 88) Such good things are of both the type enjoyed here in this life and the one attained in the life to come. In this world they enjoy dignity, honour and a position which guarantees that people respect what they say. In the hereafter, they receive the best and fullest reward, as they attain God’s acceptance. “These shall certainly prosper.” (Verse 88) They prosper in this life as they enjoy good living, and they prosper in the life to come as they receive their mighty reward. “God has prepared for them gardens through which running waters flow, where they shall abide. That is the supreme triumph.” (Verse 89)

Some of the Bedouins who had excuses to offer turned up, begging to be granted exemption; while those who denied God and His Messenger stayed behind. Grievous suffering shall befall those of them that disbelieved. (Verse 90)

The first group are the ones who have real excuses which merit their exemption. Hence no blame is attached to them for their request. The others have no real excuse. They stay behind and lie to God and His Messenger. The unbelievers among these have grievous punishment awaiting them. Those who repent and do not disbelieve are not discussed here because they may face a different fate.