وَعَلَى And on waʿalā the three l-thalāthati (of) those who alladhīna were left behind khullifū until ḥattā when idhā (was) straitened ḍāqat for them ʿalayhimu the earth l-arḍu though bimā it was vast raḥubat And (was) straitened waḍāqat for them ʿalayhim their own souls anfusuhum and they were certain waẓannū that an (there is) no lā refuge malja-a from mina Allah l-lahi except illā to Him ilayhi Then thumma He turned (in mercy) tāba to them ʿalayhim that they may repent liyatūbū Indeed inna Allah l-laha He huwa (is) the Acceptor of repentance l-tawābu the Most Merciful l-raḥīmu
And [He also forgave] the three who were left alone [i.e., boycotted, regretting their error] to the point that the earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness1 and their souls confined [i.e., anguished] them and they were certain that there is no refuge from Allāh except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could repent. Indeed, Allāh is the Accepting of Repentance,2 the Merciful.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا O you who believe yāayyuhā O you who believe alladhīna O you who believe āmanū Fear ittaqū Allah l-laha and be wakūnū with maʿa those who are truthful l-ṣādiqīna
O you who have believed, fear Allāh and be with those who are true.
مَا Not mā it was kāna (for) the people li-ahli of the Madinah l-madīnati and who waman were around them ḥawlahum of mina the bedouins l-aʿrābi that an they remain behind yatakhallafū after ʿan the Messenger rasūli of Allah l-lahi and not walā they prefer yarghabū their lives bi-anfusihim to ʿan his life nafsihi That is dhālika because [they] bi-annahum (does) not lā afflict them yuṣībuhum thirst ẓama-on and not walā fatigue naṣabun and not walā hunger makhmaṣatun in fī (the) way sabīli (of) Allah l-lahi and not walā they step yaṭaūna any step mawṭi-an that angers yaghīẓu the disbelievers l-kufāra and not walā they inflict yanālūna on min an enemy ʿaduwwin an infliction naylan except illā is recorded kutiba for them lahum in it bihi (as) a deed ʿamalun righteous ṣāliḥun Indeed inna Allah l-laha (does) not lā allow to be lost yuḍīʿu the reward ajra (of) the good-doers l-muḥ'sinīna
It was not [proper] for the people of Madīnah and those surrounding them of the bedouins that they remain behind after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allāh or that they prefer themselves over his self.1 That is because they are not afflicted by thirst or fatigue or hunger in the cause of Allāh, nor do they tread on any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they inflict upon an enemy any infliction but that it is registered for them as a righteous deed. Indeed, Allāh does not allow to be lost the reward of the doers of good.
وَلَا And not walā they spend yunfiqūna any spending nafaqatan small ṣaghīratan and not walā big kabīratan and not walā they cross yaqṭaʿūna a valley wādiyan but illā is recorded kutiba for them lahum that Allah may reward them liyajziyahumu that Allah may reward them l-lahu the best aḥsana (of) what mā they used (to) kānū do yaʿmalūna
Nor do they spend an expenditure, small or large, or cross a valley but that it is registered for them that Allāh may reward them for the best of what they were doing.
۞ وَمَا And not wamā is kāna (for) the believers l-mu'minūna that they go forth liyanfirū all together kāffatan So if not falawlā go forth nafara from min every kulli group fir'qatin among them min'hum a party ṭāifatun that they may obtain understanding liyatafaqqahū in fī the religion l-dīni and that they may warn waliyundhirū their people qawmahum when idhā they return rajaʿū to them ilayhim so that they may laʿallahum beware yaḥdharūna
And it is not for the believers to go forth [to battle] all at once. For there should separate from every division of them a group [remaining] to obtain understanding in the religion and warn [i.e., advise] their people when they return to them that they might be cautious.