Surah At-Tawbah, Ayah 49

Among the hypocrites were those who used various excuses, asking the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to permit them to stay behind from fighting, for fear of being tested by the women of the Roman enemy and hence falling into sin. But they fell into a greater sin than the one they claimed they feared: the sin of hypocrisy, and staying behind. On the Day of Judgement, Hell will surround the disbelievers, none of them escaping it or getting away from it.

And among them is he who says: "Grant me leave and put me not into trial." Surely, they have fallen into trial. And verily, Hell is surrounding the disbelievers (49)

Allah says, some hypocrites say to you, O Muhammad ﷺ,

ائْذَن لِّي

(Grant me leave), to stay behind,

وَلَا تَفْتِنِّي

(and put me not into trial.), if I go with you and see the women of the Romans. Allah, the Exalted, replied,

أَلَا فِي الْفِتْنَةِ سَقَطُوا

(Surely, they have fallen into trial) because of the statement they uttered. Muhammad bin Ishaq reported from Az-Zuhri, Yazid bin Ruwman, 'Abdullah bin Abi Bakr, 'Asim bin Qatadah and several others that they said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Al-Jadd bin Qays from Bani Salimah,

هَلْ لَكَ يَا جَدُّ الْعَامَ فِي جَلَادِ بَنِي الْأَصْفَرِ؟

('Would you like to fight the yellow ones (Romans) this year?)

He said, 'O Allah's Messenger! Give me permission (to remain behind) and do not cause Fitnah for me. By Allah! My people know that there is not a man who is more fond of women than I. I fear that if I see the women of the yellow ones, I would not be patient.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned away from him and said,

قَدْ أَذِنْتُ لَكَ

(I give you permission.) In Al-Jadd's case, this Ayah was revealed,

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ ائْذَن لِّي وَلَا تَفْتِنِّي

(And among them is he who says: "Grant me leave and put me not into trial.")

Therefore, Allah says that the Fitnah that he fell into because of not joining the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (in Jihad) and preferring his safety to the safety of the Messenger ﷺ is worse than the Fitnah that he falsely claimed to fear." It was reported from Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid and several others that this Ayah was revealed in the case of Al-Jadd bin Qays, who was among the chiefs of Bani Salimah. It is also recorded in the Sahih that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked,

مَنْ سَيِّدُكُمْ يَا بَنِي سَلَمَةَ؟

(Who is your chief, O Bani Salamah?)

They said, "Al-Jadd bin Qays, although we consider him a miser." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

وَأَيُّ دَاءٍ أَدْوَأُ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ! وَلَكِنْ سَيِّدُكُمْ الْفَتَى الْجَعْدُ الْأَبْيَضُ بِشْرُ بْنُ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ مَعْرُورٍ

(There is not a disease worse than stinginess! Therefore, your chief is the white young man with curly hair, Bishr bin Al-Bara' bin Ma'rur.) Allah said next,

وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ

(And verily, Hell is surrounding the disbelievers.) and they will never be able to avoid, avert, or escape from it.