Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] - other than the disabled - and the mujāhideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allāh with their wealth and their lives. Allāh has preferred the mujāhideen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain [behind], by degrees. And to all [i.e., both] Allāh has promised the best [reward]. But Allāh has preferred the mujāhideen over those who remain [behind] with a great reward -
وَٱلۡمُجَٰهِدُونَand the ones who strivewal-mujāhidūna
فِيinfī
سَبِيلِ(the) waysabīli
ٱللَّهِ(of) Allahl-lahi
بِأَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡwith their wealthbi-amwālihim
وَأَنفُسِهِمۡۚand their liveswa-anfusihim
فَضَّلَPreferredfaḍḍala
ٱللَّهُ(has) Allahl-lahu
ٱلۡمُجَٰهِدِينَthe ones who strivel-mujāhidīna
بِأَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡwith their wealthbi-amwālihim
وَأَنفُسِهِمۡand their liveswa-anfusihim
عَلَىtoʿalā
ٱلۡقَٰعِدِينَthe ones who sitl-qāʿidīna
دَرَجَةٗۚ(in) rankdarajatan
وَكُلّٗاAnd (to) allwakullan
وَعَدَpromisedwaʿada
ٱللَّهُ(has) Allahl-lahu
ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰۚthe bestl-ḥus'nā
وَفَضَّلَpreferredwafaḍḍala
ٱللَّهُ(has) Allahl-lahu
ٱلۡمُجَٰهِدِينَthe ones who strivel-mujāhidīna
عَلَىoverʿalā
ٱلۡقَٰعِدِينَthe ones who sitl-qāʿidīna
أَجۡرًا(with) a rewardajran
عَظِيمٗاgreatʿaẓīman
Tafsir
Those believers who remain behind from striving in Allah’s path – besides those who have an excuse, such as sickness – are not equal to those who strive in Allah’s path, spending their wealth and giving their time. Allah has given those who strive in His path a rank above those who remain behind. Those who strive, as well as those who remain behind with a valid excuse, shall receive the reward they deserve. Allah has preferred those who strive over those who sit back by giving them a greater reward from Him.