(9:42) 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.
Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali and Muhammad Muhsin Khan,
(9:42) Had it been a near gain (booty in front of them) and an easy journey, they would have followed you, but the distance (Tabuk expedition) was long for them, and they would swear by Allah, “If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you.” They destroy their ownselves, and Allah knows that they are liars.
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall
(9:42) Had it been a near adventure and an easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying): If we had been able we would surely have set out with you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
(9:42) If there had been immediate gain (in sight), and the journey easy, they would (all) without doubt have followed thee, but the distance was long, (and weighed) on them. They would indeed swear by Allah, “If we only could, we should certainly have come out with you”: They would destroy their own souls; for Allah doth know that they are certainly lying.
Mohammad Habib Shakir
(9:42) Had it been a near advantage and a short journey, they would certainly have followed you, but the tedious journey was too long for them; and they swear by Allah: If we had been able, we would certainly have gone forth with you; they cause their own souls to perish, and Allah knows that they are most surely
Dr. Ghali
(9:42) If it had been (some) advantage near at hand, and a moderately (smooth) journey, they would indeed have closely followed you; but the distance was too far for them, and they will soon swear by Allah, “If we had been able, indeed we would have gone out with you; They bring perdition (i.e; permission to be excused form fighting) upon their selves; and Allah knows that surely they are liars indeed..
Ali Unal
(9:42) Had there been an immediate gain, and an easy journey, those (who stayed behind because of hypocrisy) would surely have followed you, but the difficult journey was too distant for them. Yet they will swear by God: “If only we had been able to, we would surely have gone forth with you.” They destroy their own selves, for God knows that they are truly liars.
Amatul Rahman Omar
(9:42) Had it been an immediate gain and a short journey these (hypocrites) would certainly have followed you, but the hard journey seemed too distant to them, still they will swear (after your successful return) by Allâh (saying), `If only we could, we would surely have marched forth with you.´ They spell their own ruin, Allâh knows well that they are liars.
Literal
(9:42) If (it) was near/close enjoyable accessories/vanities , and an easy and light journey/trip , they would have followed you, and but the hard to reach distance it became distant/far on (for) them, and they will swear/take oath by God: “If we were able we would have gotten out/emerged with you.” They perish/destroy themselves, and God knows that they truly are lying/denying (E) .
Ahmed Ali
(9:42) (O Prophet), had the gain been close at hand, and easy the journey, they would surely have followed you; but hard was the journey and long the going. Even then they swear by God (and say): “If we had the strength we would surely have gone out with you.” They are only ruining themselves, for God is aware they lie.
A. J. Arberry
(9:42) Were it a gain near at hand, and an easy journey, they would have followed thee; but the distance was too far for them. Still they will swear by God, ‘Had we been able, we would have gone out with you,’ so destroying their souls; and God knows that they are truly liars.
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
(9:42) Were there a gear nigh and a journey moderate, they would have surely followed thee, but the distance seemed far unto them. And anon they will be swearing by Allah: if only we could we would surely have come forth with you. They destroy their own souls: and Allah knoweth that verily they are liars.
Maulana Mohammad Ali
(9:42) Go forth, light and heavy, and strive hard in Allah’s way with your wealth and your lives. This is better for you, if you know.
Muhammad Sarwar
(9:42) Had the gain been immediate or the journey shorter, they (hypocrites) would certainly have followed you, (Muhammad), but it was too far for them. They will swear by God, “Had we had the ability, we would certainly have marched with you.” They destroy only themselves and God knows that they are lying.
Hamid Abdul Aziz
(9:42) Had there been an immediate gain, and an easy journey, they would have followed you; but the distance was too far for them; yet they will swear by Allah, “If we could, we would have gone forth with you.” They destroy their own souls, but Allah knows that they lie!
Faridul Haque
(9:42) Had there been some wealth near at hand or a short journey, they would have certainly accompanied you, but the difficult path became very distant for them
Talal Itani
(9:42) Had the gain been immediate, and the journey shorter, they would have followed you; but the distance seemed too long for them. Still they swear by God: Had we been able, we would have marched out with you. They damn their own souls, and God knows that they are lying.
Ahmed Raza Khan
(9:42) Had there been some wealth near at hand or a short journey, they would have certainly accompanied you, but the difficult path became very distant for them; and they will now swear by Allah that Had we been able, we would have surely accompanied you; they destroy their own souls; and Allah knows that undoubtedly, they are indeed liars.
Wahiduddin Khan
(9:42) Had the gain been immediate and the journey shorter, they would have followed you: but the distance seemed too great for them. Yet they will swear by God, “Had we been able, we would have gone out with you.” They bring ruin upon themselves. God knows that they are surely lying.
Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
(9:42) Had it been a near gain and an easy journey, they would have followed you, but the distance was long for them; and they would swear by Allah: “If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you.” They destroy themselves, and Allah knows that they are liars.
Ali Quli Qarai
(9:42) Were it an accessible gain or a short journey, they would have surely followed you; but the distance seemed too far to them. Yet they will swear by Allah: If we could, we would have surely gone forth with you. They [merely] destroy themselves. Allah knows that they are indeed liars.
Hasan al-Fatih Qaribullah and Ahmad Darwish
(9:42) Had the gain been immediate or the journey easy, they would have followed you; but the distance seemed far to them. Yet they will swear by Allah: ‘Had we been able, we would have gone out with you’ They bring destruction upon their souls. Allah knows that they are lying.
That is translated surah At Taubah ayat 42 (QS 9: 42) in arabic and english text, may be useful.
Law kana AAaradan qareeban wasafaran qasidan laittabaAAooka walakin baAAudat AAalayhimu alshshuqqatu wasayahlifoona biAllahi lawi istataAAna lakharajna maAAakum yuhlikoona anfusahum waAllahu yaAAlamu innahum lakathiboona
