Verses about Remaining behind the Jihad

Have you not considered the assembly of the Children of Israel after [the time of] Moses when they said to a prophet of theirs, ‘ Send to us a king, and we will fight in the way of Allah ‘ ? He said, ‘ Would you perhaps refrain from fighting if fighting was prescribed for you?’ They said, ‘ And why should we not fight in the cause of Allah when we have been driven out from our homes and from our children?’ But when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, except for a few of them. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers.

O you who have believed, when you meet those who disbelieve advancing [for battle], do not turn to them your backs [in flight].

Then after distress, He sent down upon you security [in the form of] drowsiness, overcoming a faction of you, while another faction worried about themselves, thinking of Allah other than the truth - the thought of ignorance, saying, ‘ Is there anything for us [to have done] in this matter?’ Say, ‘ Indeed, the matter belongs completely to Allah.’ They conceal within themselves what they will not reveal to you. They say, ‘ If there was anything we could have done in the matter, some of us would not have been killed right here.’ Say, ‘ Even if you had been inside your houses, those decreed to be killed would have come out to their death beds.’ [It was] so that Allah might test what is in your breasts and purify what is in your hearts. And Allah is Knowing of that within the breasts.

And when a faction of them said, ‘ O people of Yathrib, there is no stability for you [here], so return [home].’ And a party of them asked permission of the Prophet, saying, ‘ Indeed, our houses are unprotected,’ while they were not exposed. They did not intend except to flee.

Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] - other than the disabled - and the mujahideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred the mujahideen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain [behind], by degrees. And to both Allah has promised the best [reward]. But Allah has preferred the mujahideen over those who remain [behind] with a great reward -

Those who remained behind of the bedouins will say to you, ‘ Our properties and our families occupied us, so ask forgiveness for us.’ They say with their tongues what is not within their hearts. Say, ‘ Then who could prevent Allah at all if He intended for you harm or intended for you benefit? Rather, ever is Allah, with what you do, Acquainted.

Say, [O Muhammad], ‘ If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.’

Had it been an easy gain and a moderate trip, the hypocrites would have followed you, but distant to them was the journey. And they will swear by Allah, ‘ If we were able, we would have gone forth with you,’ destroying themselves [through false oaths], and Allah knows that indeed they are liars.

Those who remained behind rejoiced in their staying [at home] after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allah and disliked to strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah and said, ‘ Do not go forth in the heat.’ Say, ‘ The fire of Hell is more intensive in heat’ - if they would but understand.

It was not [proper] for the people of Madinah and those surrounding them of the bedouins that they remain behind after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allah or that they prefer themselves over his self. That is because they are not afflicted by thirst or fatigue or hunger in the cause of Allah, nor do they tread on any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they inflict upon an enemy any infliction but that is registered for them as a righteous deed. Indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of the doers of good.