Surah 33:20
Show Full Scripture Context (33:20) — 1 Verse
يَحۡسَبُونَ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابَ لَمۡ يَذۡهَبُواْۖ وَإِن يَأۡتِ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابُ يَوَدُّواْ لَوۡ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَعۡرَابِ يَسۡـَٔلُونَ عَنۡ أَنۢبَآئِكُمۡۖ وَلَوۡ كَانُواْ فِيكُم مَّا قَٰتَلُوٓاْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا
They think (that) the factions have not gone away. If the factions come (again), they will wish that they were living in the desert among the Arabs, asking for news of you. Yet (even) if they were among you, they would seldom fight.
This is another aspect of their abhorrent attribute of cowardice and fear:
}They think that the Confederates have not yet withdrawn;}
and that they are still close by and will return.
}and if the Confederates should come, they would wish they were in the deserts among the bedouins, seeking news about you;}
means, "if the Confederates should come back, they hope that they will not be present with you in Al-Madinah, but that they will be in the desert, asking about news of you and what happened to you with your enemy."
}and if they were to be among you, they would not fight but little.}
means, 'If they are among you, they will not fight alongside you very much,' because they are so cowardly and weak, and have so little faith, but Allah knows best about them.