Those who remained behind1 rejoiced in their staying [at home] after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allāh and disliked to strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allāh and said, "Do not go forth in the heat." Say, "The fire of Hell is more intense in heat" - if they would but understand.
Translation: Saheeh International (English)
1 Literally, "were left behind [as Allāh willed]" due to their false excuses having been accepted by the Prophet (ﷺ). While pleased with their assumed deception, in reality, Allāh had prevented their participation knowing of their hypocrisy and evil intent.
ٱلۡمُخَلَّفُونَthose who remained behindl-mukhalafūna
بِمَقۡعَدِهِمۡin their stayingbimaqʿadihim
خِلَٰفَbehindkhilāfa
رَسُولِ(the) Messengerrasūli
ٱللَّهِ(of) Allahl-lahi
وَكَرِهُوٓاْand they dislikedwakarihū
أَنtoan
يُجَٰهِدُواْstriveyujāhidū
بِأَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡwith their wealthbi-amwālihim
وَأَنفُسِهِمۡand their liveswa-anfusihim
فِيinfī
سَبِيلِ(the) waysabīli
ٱللَّهِ(of) Allahl-lahi
وَقَالُواْand they saidwaqālū
لَا(Do) notlā
تَنفِرُواْgo forthtanfirū
فِيinfī
ٱلۡحَرِّۗthe heatl-ḥari
قُلۡSayqul
نَارُ(The) Firenāru
جَهَنَّمَ(of) Helljahannama
أَشَدُّ(is) more intenseashaddu
حَرّٗاۚ(in) heatḥarran
لَّوۡIf (only)law
كَانُواْthey couldkānū
يَفۡقَهُونَunderstandyafqahūna
Tafsir
Those hypocrites who failed to join the battle of Tabūk were happy not to strive in Allah’s path, in opposition to the Messenger of Allah. They were reluctant to strive with their wealth and live in Allah’s path as the believers did. They said to their fellow hypocrites, in order to keep them behind, ‘Do not march in the heat!’ The battle of Tabūk was during the hot season. Say to them, O Messenger: The fire of Hell that awaits the hypocrites is much hotter than this heat that they are running away from, if they only knew.