Al-Ahzab

And ˹remember˺ when a group of them said, “O people of Yathrib!¹ There is no point in you staying ˹here˺, so retreat!” Another group of them asked the Prophet’s permission ˹to leave˺, saying, “Our homes are vulnerable,” while ˹in fact˺ they were not vulnerable. They only wished to flee.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And when a faction of them said, "O people of Yathrib,¹ there is no stability for you [here], so return [home]." And a party of them asked permission of the Prophet, saying, "Indeed, our houses are exposed [i.e., unprotected]," while they were not exposed. They did not intend except to flee.

— Saheeh International

Had their city been sacked from all sides and they had been asked to abandon faith, they would have done so with little hesitation.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And if they had been entered upon from all its [surrounding] regions and fitnah [i.e., disbelief] had been demanded of them, they would have done it and not hesitated over it except briefly.

— Saheeh International

They had already pledged to Allah earlier never to turn their backs ˹in retreat˺. And a pledge to Allah must be answered for.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And they had already promised Allah before not to turn their backs [i.e., flee]. And ever is the promise to Allah [that about which one will be] questioned.

— Saheeh International

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Fleeing will not benefit you if you ˹try to˺ escape a natural or violent death. ˹If it is not your time,˺ you will only be allowed enjoyment for a little while.”¹

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Say, [O Muḥammad], "Never will fleeing benefit you if you should flee from death or killing; and then [if you did], you would not be given enjoyment [of life] except for a little."

— Saheeh International

Ask ˹them, O  Prophet˺, “Who can put you out of Allah’s reach if He intends to harm you or show you mercy?” They can never find any protector or helper besides Allah.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Say, "Who is it that can protect you from Allah¹ if He intends for you an ill or intends for you a mercy?" And they will not find for themselves besides Allah any protector or any helper.

— Saheeh International

Allah knows well those among you who discourage ˹others from fighting˺, saying ˹secretly˺ to their brothers, “Stay with us,” and who themselves hardly take part in fighting.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Already Allah knows the hinderers¹ among you and those [hypocrites] who say to their brothers, "Come to us,"² and do not go to battle, except for a few,³

— Saheeh International

˹They are˺ totally unwilling to assist you. When danger comes, you see them staring at you with their eyes rolling like someone in the throes of death. But once the danger is over, they slash you with razor-sharp tongues, ravenous for ˹worldly˺ gains. Such people have not ˹truly˺ believed, so Allah has rendered their deeds void. And that is easy for Allah.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Indisposed¹ toward you. And when fear comes, you see them looking at you, their eyes revolving like one being overcome by death. But when fear departs, they lash you with sharp tongues, indisposed toward [any] good. Those have not believed, so Allah has rendered their deeds worthless, and ever is that, for Allah, easy.

— Saheeh International

They ˹still˺ think that the enemy alliance has not ˹yet˺ withdrawn. And if the allies were to come ˹again˺, the hypocrites would wish to be away in the desert among nomadic Arabs, ˹only˺ asking for news about you ˹believers˺. And if the hypocrites were in your midst, they would hardly take part in the fight.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

They think the companies have not [yet] withdrawn.¹ 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.

— Saheeh International

Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah often.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern¹ for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.

— Saheeh International

When the believers saw the enemy alliance, they said, “This is what Allah and His Messenger had promised us. The promise of Allah and His Messenger has come true.” And this only increased them in faith and submission.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And when the believers saw the companies, they said, "This is what Allah and His Messenger had promised us, and Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth." And it increased them only in faith and acceptance.

— Saheeh International

Among the believers are men who have proven true to what they pledged to Allah.¹ Some of them have fulfilled their pledge ˹with their lives˺, others are waiting ˹their turn˺. They have never changed ˹their commitment˺ in the least.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allah. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to the death], and among them is he who awaits [his chance]. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration -

— Saheeh International