And it is not for the believers to go forth [to battle] all at once. For there should separate from every division of them a group [remaining] to obtain understanding in the religion and warn [i.e., advise] their people when they return to them that they might be cautious.
لِّيَتَفَقَّهُواْthat they may obtain understandingliyatafaqqahū
فِيinfī
ٱلدِّينِthe religionl-dīni
وَلِيُنذِرُواْand that they may warnwaliyundhirū
قَوۡمَهُمۡtheir peopleqawmahum
إِذَاwhenidhā
رَجَعُوٓاْthey returnrajaʿū
إِلَيۡهِمۡto themilayhim
لَعَلَّهُمۡso that they maylaʿallahum
يَحۡذَرُونَbewareyaḥdharūna
Tafsir
The believers should not go out all together to fight, so that they are not wiped out if their enemy overcomes them, and they should not all stay behind. A group should go out to strive for Allah’s sake, and a group should remain behind to accompany the messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and to gain understanding of the religion through the Qur’ān and sacred laws they hear from him, peace and blessings be upon him, to advise their people when they return to them of what they have learned, so that they are aware of Allah’s punishment and His consequences and they follow what He instructs and stay away from what He has not allowed. This was concerning the companies that the messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, would send to different areas, choosing a group from among his companions.