(3:167) And that He might make evident those who are hypocrites. For it was said to them, “Come, fight in the way of Allah or [at least] defend.” They said, “If we had known [there would be] fighting, we would have followed you.” They were nearer to disbelief that day than to faith, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah is most Knowing of what they conceal –
Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali and Muhammad Muhsin Khan,
(3:167) And that He might test the hypocrites, it was said to them: “Come, fight in the Way of Allah or (at least) defend yourselves.” They said: “Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you.” They were that day, nearer to disbelief than to Faith, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah has full knowledge of what they conceal.
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall
(3:167) And that He might know the hypocrites, unto whom it was said: Come, fight in the way of Allah, or defend yourselves. They answered: If we knew aught of fighting we would follow you. On that day they were nearer disbelief than faith. They utter with their mouths a thing which is not in their hearts. Allah is Best Aware of what they hide.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
(3:167) And the Hypocrites also. These were told: “Come, fight in the way of Allah, or (at least) drive (The foe from your city).” They said: “Had we known how to fight, we should certainly have followed you.” They were that day nearer to Unbelief than to Faith, saying with their lips what was not in their hearts but Allah hath full knowledge of all they conceal.
Mohammad Habib Shakir
(3:167) And that He might know the hypocrites; and it was said to them: Come, fight in Allah’s way, or defend yourselves. They said: If we knew fighting, we would certainly have followed you. They were on that day much nearer to unbelief than to belief. They say with their mouths what is not in their hearts, and Allah best knows what they conceal.
Dr. Ghali
(3:167) And that He might know the ones who acted the hypocrite (Literally: hypocrised) and to whom it was said, “Come, fight in the way of Allah or repel (the enemy).” They said, “If we knew (about) fighting, we would indeed closely follow you.” They, upon that day were nearer to disbelief than to belief; they say with their mouths that which is not in their hearts; and Allah best knows whatever (secrets) they keep back.
Ali Unal
(3:167) And that He might mark out those who acted in hypocrisy: when they were told, “Come and fight in Gods cause, or defend yourselves (actively, in order to keep the enemy outside the city),” they said: “If we but knew there would be fighting, we would indeed follow you.” They that day were nearer to unbelief than to faith, uttering with their mouths what was not in their hearts. God knows very well what they were concealing.
Amatul Rahman Omar
(3:167) And that He might distinguish those who practise hypocrisy. Indeed, it was said to them (- the hypocrites), `Come forward, fight in the cause of Allâh, or at least help the defences.´ They said, `If we but knew that it would be a fight we would surely follow you, (but the Muslims were going to a sure destruction).´ On that day, they were nearer to disbelief than to belief. They say with their mouths that which is not in their minds. And Allâh knows best all that they conceal.
Literal
(3:167) And to know those who exercised hypocrisy, and was said to them: “Come, fight in God`s sake or pay/push/repel.” They said: “If we know a fight we would have followed you.” They are to the disbelief that day nearer/closer, from them to the belief. They say with their mouths what is not in their hearts/minds ,and God (is) more knowing with what they hide/conceal .
Ahmed Ali
(3:167) And may distinguish the hypocrites who were told: “Fight in the way of God, or defend yourselves,” and who had replied: “If we knew of the fight we would have followed you.” They were nearer unbelief than faith on that day, and they said with their tongues what was not in their hearts; but God is aware of what they hide.
A. J. Arberry
(3:167) and that He might also know the hypocrites when it was said of them, ‘Come now, fight in the way of God, or repel!’ They said, ‘If only we knew how to fight, we would follow you.’ They that day were nearer to unbelief than to belief, saying with their mouths that which never was in their hearts; and God knows very well the things they hide;
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
(3:167) And that he might know those who played the hypocrite. And it was said unto them: come ye, fight in the way of Allah or defend. They said: if we knew it was to be a fair fight We would surely have followed you. Nearer were they on that day to infidelity than to belief. They say with their mouths that which is not in their hearts and Allah knoweth best that which they conceal.
Maulana Mohammad Ali
(3:167) And that which befell you on the day when the two armies met was by Allah’s permission, that He might know the believers,
Muhammad Sarwar
(3:167) and who were the hypocrites. When the hypocrites were asked to fight for the cause of God or to defend the city, they replied, “Had we known before that you would fight, we would certainly not have followed you.” At that time they were closer to disbelief than to faith. They speak words that do not come from their hearts. God knows well whatever they try to hide.
Hamid Abdul Aziz
(3:167) Those who said of their brethren, whilst they themselves stayed at home, “Had they been guided by us they would not have been killed.” Say (unto them), “Then repel from yourselves death, if you are truthful.”
Faridul Haque
(3:167) And in order to expose them who turned hypocrites
Talal Itani
(3:167) And that He may know the hypocrites. And it was said to them, Come, fight in the cause of God, or contribute. They said, If we knew how to fight, we would have followed you. On that day they were closer to infidelity than they were to faith. They say with their mouths what is not in their hearts; but God knows what they hide.
Ahmed Raza Khan
(3:167) And in order to expose them who turned hypocrites; and it was said to them, Come, fight in Allah’s cause, or repel the enemy; they answered, If we knew how to fight, we would certainly have been with you; and on that day they were nearer to open disbelief than to professed faith; they utter with their mouths what is not in their hearts; and Allah knows well what they hide.
Wahiduddin Khan
(3:167) and know those who acted hypocritically.” When they were told, “Come, fight in God’s cause and defend yourselves,” they replied, “If we knew that fighting would take place, we would surely follow you.” They were that day nearer to unbelief than to belief. The words they utter bear no relation to what is in their hearts. God knows well what they conceal.
Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
(3:167) And that He might test the hypocrites, it was said to them: “Come, fight in the way of Allah or defend yourselves.” They said: “Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you.” They were that day, nearer to disbelief than to faith, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah has full knowledge of what they conceal.
Ali Quli Qarai
(3:167) and ascertain the hypocrites. [When] they were told: Come, fight in the way of Allah, or defend [yourselves], they said, If we knew any fighting, we would have surely followed you. That day they were nearer to unfaith than to faith. They say with their mouths what is not in their hearts, and Allah knows well whatever they conceal.
Hasan al-Fatih Qaribullah and Ahmad Darwish
(3:167) and that He might know the hypocrites’ When it was said to them: ‘Come, fight or repel in the way of Allah’ They replied: ‘If only we knew how to fight, we would follow you’ On that day, they were nearer to disbelief than belief. They said with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah knows what they hide.
That is translated surah Ali ‘Imran ayat 167 (QS 3: 167) in arabic and english text, may be useful.
WaliyaAAlama allatheena nafaqoo waqeela lahum taAAalaw qatiloo fee sabeeli Allahi awi idfaAAoo qaloo law naAAlamu qitalan laittabaAAnakum hum lilkufri yawmaithin aqrabu minhum lileemani yaqooloona biafwahihim ma laysa fee quloobihim waAllahu aAAlamu bima yaktumoona
