Tafseer of The Women · An-Nisaa · 4:73
But if bounty comes to you from Allah, he will surely say, as if there had never been between you and him any affection. "Oh, I wish I had been with them so I could have attained a great attainment."
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The discourse on the explanation of His statement: And if a bounty from Allah befalls you, he will surely say — as if there had never been any affection between you and him —: "Would that I had been with them, then I would have attained a great triumph!" (4:73)
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted, whose praise is exalted, says: "And if a bounty from Allah befalls you" — and if Allah grants you the victory over your enemy and you take from them a spoil of war (ghanīmah), then this hypocrite (munāfiq), who holds the Muslims back from the jihād at your side in the path of Allah, will surely say: "as if there had never been any affection between you and him: Would that I had been with them, then I would have triumphed" — on account of the spoils that were seized with them — "with a great triumph."
This is a report from Allah, the Exalted, whose mention is exalted, concerning these hypocrites: that their presence in the battle together with the Muslims — were they to be present in it — takes place only in order to pursue spoils; and if they stay behind, then that is on account of the doubt that dwells in their hearts, and because they expect no reward for their participation, nor do they fear any punishment from Allah by staying behind.
Qatāda and Ibn Jurayj said: The one among the hypocrites who said "Would that I had been with them," when the victory fell to the Muslims, said that only out of envy toward them.
9940 - Bishr ibn Muʿādh related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His statement: "And if a bounty from Allah befalls you, he will surely say — as if there had never been any affection between you and him —: Would that I had been with them, then I would have attained a great triumph" — he said: this is the statement of an envious person.
9941 - Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: Al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, concerning His statement: "And if a bounty from Allah befalls you" — he said: the victory of the Muslims over their enemy, in which they took spoils; "he will surely say: Would that I had been with them, then I would have attained a great triumph" — he said: this is the statement of the envious one.
