Those who remained behind will say when you set out toward the war booty to take it, "Let us follow you." They wish to change the words of Allah . Say, "Never will you follow us. Thus did Allah say before." So they will say, "Rather, you envy us." But [in fact] they were not understanding except a little.
Tafseer
{ سيقول المخلفون } المذكورون { إذا انطقتم إلى مغانم } هي مغانم خيبر، { لتأخذوها ذرونا } اتركونا { نتبعكم } لنأخذ منها { يريدون } بذلك { أن يبدّلوا كلام الله } وفي قراءة: كلِم الله بكسر اللام أي مواعيده بغنائم خيبر أهل الحديبية خاصة { قل لن تتبعونا كذالكم قال الله من قبل } أي قبل عودنا { فسيقولون بل تحسدوننا } أن نصيب معكم من الغنائم فقلتم ذلك { بل كانوا لا يفقهون } من الدين { إلا قليلا } منهم .
{The ones who stayed behind} mentioned {will say, when you speak about the spoils} they are the spoils of Khaybar, {to take them, leave us} leave us {to follow you} so that we may take from them {wanting} by that {to change the word of God} and in another reading: the word of God with a broken lam, meaning His promises regarding the spoils of Khaybar, specifically the people of Hudaybiyyah {Say, "You will not follow us. Thus said God before} meaning before our return {they will say, "Rather, you envy us} that we share with you from the spoils, so you said that {rather, they did not understand} of the religion {except a little} of them.
