Surah At-Tawbah (9:42)

لَوۡ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيۡبًا وَّسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَّاتَّبَعُوۡكَ وَلٰـكِنۡۢ بَعُدَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ ؕ وَسَيَحۡلِفُوۡنَ بِاللّٰهِ لَوِ اسۡتَطَعۡنَا لَخَـرَجۡنَا مَعَكُمۡ ۚ يُهۡلِكُوۡنَ اَنۡفُسَهُمۡ ۚ وَاللّٰهُ يَعۡلَمُ اِنَّهُمۡ لَـكٰذِبُوۡنَ‏ ۝

Law kana AAaradan qareebanwasafaran qasidan lattabaAAooka walakinbaAAudat AAalayhimu ashshuqqatu wasayahlifoona billahilawi istataAAna lakharajna maAAakumyuhlikoona anfusahum wallahu yaAAlamu innahum lakathiboon

Had it been a near i.e., easy gain and a moderate trip, they i.e., the hypocrites would have followed you, but distant to them was the journey. And they will swear by Allāh, "If we were able, we would have gone forth with you," destroying themselves through false oaths, and Allāh knows that indeed they are liars.

Tadabbur (Reflection)

Theme of the Ayat

This verse speaks to the core theme of **At-Tawbah**.

The Insight

Reflect on the meaning: "Had it been a near i.e., easy gain and a moderate trip, they i.e., the hypocrites would have followed you, but distant to them was the journey. And they will swear by Allāh, "If we were able, we would have gone forth with you," destroying themselves through false oaths, and Allāh knows that indeed they are liars.".