And when you [i.e., the commander of an army] are among them and lead them in prayer,1 let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allāh has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
فَيَمِيلُونَso (that) they (can) assaultfayamīlūna
عَلَيۡكُم[upon] youʿalaykum
مَّيۡلَةٗ(in) an attackmaylatan
وَٰحِدَةٗۚsinglewāḥidatan
وَلَاBut (there is) nowalā
جُنَاحَblamejunāḥa
عَلَيۡكُمۡupon youʿalaykum
إِنifin
كَانَwaskāna
بِكُمۡwith youbikum
أَذٗىany troubleadhan
مِّن(because) ofmin
مَّطَرٍrainmaṭarin
أَوۡoraw
كُنتُمyou arekuntum
مَّرۡضَىٰٓsickmarḍā
أَنthatan
تَضَعُوٓاْyou lay downtaḍaʿū
أَسۡلِحَتَكُمۡۖyour armsasliḥatakum
وَخُذُواْbut takewakhudhū
حِذۡرَكُمۡۗyour precautionsḥidh'rakum
إِنَّIndeedinna
ٱللَّهَAllahl-laha
أَعَدَّhas preparedaʿadda
لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَfor the disbelieverslil'kāfirīna
عَذَابٗاa punishmentʿadhāban
مُّهِينٗاhumiliatingmuhīnan
Tafsir
When you, O Messenger, are with them in the army, fighting the enemy, and you wish to lead them in prayer, then divide the army into two groups: one group should stand and pray with you, keeping their weapons with them during the prayer, whilst the other group guards you. When the first group has completed one unit of prayer with the Imam, it must complete the rest of the prayer on its own, and then go to the back to face the direction of the enemy. Then the other group, which was on guard and which has not prayed as yet, should come and pray one unit of prayer with the leader. When the leader completes the prayer with the salām, they should complete the balance of their prayer on their own. They should be careful of the enemy and keep their weapons with them. The disbelievers wish that you become unmindful of your weapons and your goods when you are in prayer, so that they can attack you in a single assault. There is no sin on you to put down your weapons when you are in difficulty because of rain, illness, and the like. but be careful of the enemy as much as possible. Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a punishment that will humiliate them.