وَاعْلَمُوا 435 التوبة
وَلَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ إِذَا مَا أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ قُلْتَ لَا أَجِدُ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ تَوَلَّوْا وَأَعْيُنُهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ حَزَنًا أَلَّا يَجِدُوا مَا يُنْفِقُونَ ﴿۹۲﴾ إِنَّمَا السَّبِيلُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَسْتَأْذِنُونَكَ وَهُمْ أَغْنِيَاءُ رَضُوا بِأَنْ يَكُونُوا مَعَ الْخَوَالِفِ وَطَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿۹۳﴾
﴾92﴿ Wa laa 'alal lazeena izaa maaa atawka litahmilahum qulta laaa ajidu maaa ahmilukum 'alaihi tawallaw wa a'yunuhum tafeedu minaddam'i hazanan allaa yajidoo maa yunfiqoon
﴾93﴿ Innamas sabeelu 'alal lazeena yasta'zinoonaka wa hum aghniyaaa'; radoo biany-yakoonoo ma'al khawaalifi wa taba'al laahu 'alaa quloobihim fahum laa ya'lamoon
﴾92﴿ And there is no sin on those who, when they came to you to give them mounts, then you said, I cannot find anything to ride you on So they returned, their eyes streaming with tears from grief, because they could not find what to spend
﴾93﴿ Indeed, there is blame on those who ask your permission (to refrain from Jihad) while they are wealthy They are happy to be with those who remain behind, and Allah Almighty has placed a seal on their hearts, but they do not know
[92] In this verse, the fourth category of the excused (ma‘dhūrīn) is mentioned: those who could not find a mount (animal to ride) for jihad.
This refers to seven men during the expedition of Tabuk who came to the Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace) asking for a mount so they could join the campaign.
However, he did not have the means to provide them with any.
They returned weeping deeply, and were known as “al-Bakkā’ūn” (those who weep).
Another narration says that they had asked for sandals or shoes, not just mounts.
(تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ) – this phrase conveys a strong expression of grief and sorrow.
Originally, it implies: “tears flow from their eyes” or “their eyes fill with tears, then they overflow.”
This is a powerful image showing their sincere regret at being unable to participate in jihad.
Benefit: This verse is proof that even in his lifetime, the Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace) did not have control or authority to provide rides for jihad unless Allah gave him the means.
So it follows logically that after his passing, he has no such power, and this serves as a refutation against those polytheists who ask the dead for mounts, provisions, or other needs.
[93] This verse is a warning to the wealthy hypocrites, and it comes in contrast to the earlier verses: (لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنْفِقُونَ) and (أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ)—which described the sincere believers who had no means for spending or mounts.
(أَغْنِيَاءُ) – means these hypocrites had the means to spend and provide their own transport, so they were not excused.
(رَضُوا) – is an independent sentence explaining the reason they came to seek permission not to go to jihad: they were content to sit back while others strove in the cause of Allah.
A similar message appears in verses 86 and 87, but in those verses, it referred to the extremely wealthy—hence they were called (أُولُو الْطَّوْلِ) (those of great means).
In this verse, the focus is on moderately wealthy individuals—those who were at least capable of covering their own expenses and transport, but still chose to stay behind.