سورة آل عِمرَان
Surah Al-i-‘Imrân 3:167
Family of Amran · Verse 167 of 200
وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ نَافَقُوا ۚ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا قَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوِ ادْفَعُوا ۖ قَالُوا لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالًا لَاتَّبَعْنَاكُمْ ۗ هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلْإِيمَانِ ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ مَا لَيْسَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَكْتُمُونَ
Abdul Mannan Omar
And that He might distinguish those who practise hypocrisy. Indeed, it was said to them (- the hypocrites), `Come forward, fight in the cause of Allâh, or at least help the defences.´ They said, `If we but knew that it would be a fight we would surely follow you, (but the Muslims were going to a sure destruction).´ On that day, they were nearer to disbelief than to belief. They say with their mouths that which is not in their minds. And Allâh knows best all that they conceal.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
And the Hypocrites also. These were told: "Come, fight in the way of Allah, or (at least) drive (The foe from your city)." They said: "Had we known how to fight, we should certainly have followed you." They were that day nearer to Unbelief than to Faith, saying with their lips what was not in their hearts but Allah hath full knowledge of all they conceal.
Ahmed Ali
And may distinguish the hypocrites who were told: "Fight in the way of God, or defend yourselves," and who had replied: "If we knew of the fight we would have followed you." They were nearer unbelief than faith on that day, and they said with their tongues what was not in their hearts; but God is aware of what they hide.
12 more translations
Ali Unal
And that He might mark out those who acted in hypocrisy: when they were told, "Come and fight in God’s cause, or defend yourselves (actively, in order to keep the enemy outside the city)," they said: "If we but knew there would be fighting, we would indeed follow you." They that day were nearer to unbelief than to faith, uttering with their mouths what was not in their hearts. God knows very well what they were concealing.
Daryabadi
And that he might know those who played the hypocrite. And it was said unto them: come ye, fight in the way of Allah or defend. They said: if we knew it was to be a fair fight We would surely have followed you. Nearer were they on that day to infidelity than to belief. They say with their mouths that which is not in their hearts and Allah knoweth best that which they conceal.
Faridul Haque
And in order to expose them who turned hypocrites; and it was said to them, “Come, fight in Allah´s cause, or repel the enemy”; they answered, “If we knew how to fight, we would certainly have been with you”; and on that day they were nearer to open disbelief than to professed faith; they utter with their mouths what is not in their hearts; and Allah knows well what they hide. -
Maulana Muhammad Ali
And that He might know the hypocrites. And it was said to them: Come, fight in Allah
Maulvi Sher Ali
And that HE might cause the hypocrites to be distinguished. And it was said to them, `Come ye, fight in the cause of ALLAH and repel the attack of the enemy;' they said, `If we knew how to fight we would surely follow you.' They were that day, nearer to disbelief than belief. They say with their mouths what is not in their hearts. And ALLAH knows quite well what they hide.
Muhammad Asad
and mark out those who were tainted with hypocrisy and, when they were told, "Come, fight in God's cause" - or, "Defend yourselves" - answered, "If we but knew [that it would come to a] fight, we would indeed follow you." Unto apostasy were they nearer on that day than unto faith, uttering with their mouths something which was not in their hearts, the while God knew fully well what they were trying to conceal:
Muhammad Musin Khan
And that He might test the hypocrites, it was said to them: "Come, fight in the Way of Allah or (at least) defend yourselves." They said: "Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you." They were that day, nearer to disbelief than to Faith, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah has full knowledge of what they conceal.
Muhammad Pickthall
And that He might know the hypocrites, unto whom it was said: Come, fight in the way of Allah, or defend yourselves. They answered: If we knew aught of fighting we would follow you. On that day they were nearer disbelief than faith. They utter with their mouths a thing which is not in their hearts. Allah is Best Aware of what they hide.
Muhammad Sarwar
and who were the hypocrites. When the hypocrites were asked to fight for the cause of God or to defend the city, they replied, "Had we known before that you would fight, we would certainly not have followed you." At that time they were closer to disbelief than to faith. They speak words that do not come from their hearts. God knows well whatever they try to hide.
Muhammed ali Shakir
And that He might know the hypocrites; and it was said to them: Come, fight in Allah's way, or defend yourselves. They said: If we knew fighting, we would certainly have followed you. They were on that day much nearer to unbelief than to belief. They say with their mouths what is not in their hearts, and Allah best knows what they conceal.
Rashad Khalifa
And to expose the hypocrites who were told, "Come fight in the cause of GOD, or contribute." They said, "If we knew how to fight, we would have joined you." They were closer to disbelief then than they were to belief. They uttered with their mouths what was not in their hearts. GOD knows what they conceal.
Shabbir Ahmed
And that He might mark out those afflicted with hypocrisy. They had been told, “Come! Fight in the cause of God, or at least defend (the city).” They answered, “If we knew that confrontation was forthcoming, we would have joined you.” On that day they were closer to disbelief than belief, uttering with their mouths that was not in their hearts. But God was best Aware of what they were trying to conceal.
Commentary 3:167 The expression “If we but knew that it would be a fight” is an allusion to the desperate situation of the Muslim forces. By most rational analyses, their…
قَالُوا لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالًا لَّاتَّبَعْنَاكُمْ ۗ
3:167 The expression “If we but knew that it would be a fight” is an allusion to the desperate situation of the Muslim forces. By most rational analyses, their inferior armament and their smaller number suggested a desperate and hopeless mission that would have led to their destruction.