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Muhammad Asad   
With all this, it is not desirable that all of the believers take the field [in time of war]. From within every group in their midst, some shall refrain from going forth to war, and shall devote themselves [instead] to acquiring a deeper knowledge of the Faith. and [thus be able to] teach their home-coming brethren, so that these [too] might guard themselves against evil
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
˹However,˺ it is not necessary for the believers to march forth all at once. Only a party from each group should march forth, leaving the rest to gain religious knowledge then enlighten their people when they return to them, so that they ˹too˺ may beware ˹of evil˺.
Safi Kaskas   
The believers shouldn't all go to battle. From within every group, some should devote themselves to acquiring deeper knowledge of the Faith; to teach their people when they return. So they might be on their guard.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
۞ وَمَا كَانَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ لِیَنفِرُوا۟ كَاۤفَّةࣰۚ فَلَوۡلَا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرۡقَةࣲ مِّنۡهُمۡ طَاۤىِٕفَةࣱ لِّیَتَفَقَّهُوا۟ فِی ٱلدِّینِ وَلِیُنذِرُوا۟ قَوۡمَهُمۡ إِذَا رَجَعُوۤا۟ إِلَیۡهِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ یَحۡذَرُونَ ۝١٢٢
Transliteration (2021)   
wamā kāna l-mu'minūna liyanfirū kāffatan falawlā nafara min kulli fir'qatin min'hum ṭāifatun liyatafaqqahū fī l-dīni waliyundhirū qawmahum idhā rajaʿū ilayhim laʿallahum yaḥdharūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And not is (for) the believers that they go forth all together. So if not go forth from every group among them a party that they may obtain understanding in the religion, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
With all this, it is not desirable that all of the believers take the field [in time of war]. From within every group in their midst, some shall refrain from going forth to war, and shall devote themselves [instead] to acquiring a deeper knowledge of the Faith. and [thus be able to] teach their home-coming brethren, so that these [too] might guard themselves against evil
M. M. Pickthall   
And the believers should not all go out to fight. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may gain sound knowledge in religion, and that they may warn their folk when they return to them, so that they may beware
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Nor should the Believers all go forth together: if a contingent from every expedition remained behind, they could devote themselves to studies in religion, and admonish the people when they return to them,- that thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against evil)
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
˹However,˺ it is not necessary for the believers to march forth all at once. Only a party from each group should march forth, leaving the rest to gain religious knowledge then enlighten their people when they return to them, so that they ˹too˺ may beware ˹of evil˺.
Safi Kaskas   
The believers shouldn't all go to battle. From within every group, some should devote themselves to acquiring deeper knowledge of the Faith; to teach their people when they return. So they might be on their guard.
Wahiduddin Khan   
It is not right that all the believers should go out [in time of war] all together. Why, then, does not a party from every group come to [the Prophet] in order to acquire a deeper knowledge of religion and to warn their people, so that they can guard themselves against evil
Shakir   
And it does not beseem the believers that they should go forth all together; why should not then a company from every party from among them go forth that they may apply themselves to obtain understanding in religion, and that they may warn their people when they come back to them that they may be cautious
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And it had not been for the ones who believe to move forward collectively. If every band moved not forward of them but a section of people only, that they become learned in the way of life and that they warn their folk when they returned to them so that perhaps they will beware?
T.B.Irving   
Believers should not march forth in a body; if a squadron from each division of them should march forth, they should still instruct [others] in religion and warn their folk when they return to them so that they may take precautions.
Abdul Hye   
And it is not proper for the believers to go out to fight all together. Of every troop of them, why not a party only should go forth, so that they (who are left behind) may get instructions in the religion (Islam), and they may warn their people when they return to them so that they may beware (of evil).
The Study Quran   
But it is not for the believers all to go forth. And why should not a party from each group go forth to gain understanding in religion, and to warn their people when they return to them, that haply they will beware
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
It is not for the believers to march out altogether. From every division that sets out, a group from each division should remain behind to gain knowledge in the religion, and to warn their people when they return to them, so that they may be cautious.
Talal Itani (2012)   
It is not advisable for the believers to march out altogether. Of every division that marches out, let a group remain behind, to gain understanding of the religion, and to notify their people when they have returned to them, that they may beware
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And the Believers are not (such) that they may march out, each and every one. So why not marched out from all sections amongst them a group (so that they who are scholars, they stay out of the encounters) so that they may think over about Religion, and so that they may warn their nation (against undesirable behaviour) when they returned back to these (scholars at their parent place of residence), so that they (the Muslim nation) may fully guard (against evil beliefs, concepts and practices)
M. Farook Malik   
It is not proper that the believers should go forth all together. Therefore, why not a squadron from each division stay behind so that they may obtain the understanding of Deen (Al-Islam), and admonish the people when they return to them so that they may refrain from un-Islamic conduct
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And in no way should the believers march out, as a whole; so, had only a section of every grouping marched out, (another section would have stayed) to comprehend for themselves in the religion, (i.e., to study the religion) and to warn their people when they return to them, that possibly they would beware
Muhammad Sarwar   
Not all believers have to become specialists in religious learning. Why do not some people from each group of believers seek to become specialists in religious learning and, after completing their studies, guide their group so that they will have fear of God
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
It is not (necessary) for all the believers to go forth.‘; So, why should it not be that a group from every section of them goes forth, so that they may acquire perfect understanding of the Faith, and so that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may take due care (of the rules of Shari‘ah )
Shabbir Ahmed   
The believers shall not all go to an expedition. Of every group of believers, let some of them come forth to gain sound knowledge of DEEN (the Qur'anic System of life). Then they can pass the knowledge on to their people when they return, so that they may remain aware
Dr. Munir Munshey   
It is not essential for all believers to (leave home and) go out to fight at the same time. But why didn´t a party of men leave from each group? (They should have), so as to acquire a better understanding of the matters of faith, and so that they may warn their folk when they returned to them. Perhaps, they would heed
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
And it is improper for (all) the believers to go away together (for Jihad). A (small) section from every expedition should remain behind, so they could devote themselves to studies in religion, and warn the people when they returned to them— That, thus they may guard themselves (against evil)
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And it is not for the believers to go forth [to battle] all at once. For there should separate from every division of them a group [remaining] to obtain understanding in the religion and warn their people when they return to them that they might be cautious
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And it is not advisable for the believers to march out in their entirety. For every battalion that marches out, let a group remain to study the system, and warn their people when they return to them, perhaps they will be aware
Abdel Haleem   
Yet it is not right for all the believers to go out [to battle] together: out of each community, a group should go out to gain understanding of the religion, so that they can teach their people when they return and so that they can guard themselves against evil
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And it is not for the believers to march forth all together. So why should not a band from each party of them march forth so that they may gain understanding in religion and that when they come back unto them, haply they might warn their people when they come back unto them, haply they may beware
Ahmed Ali   
It is not possible for all believers to go out (to fight). So a part of each section (of the population) should go (to fight) in order that the others may acquire understanding of law and divinity, and warn their companions on return so that they may take heed for themselves
Aisha Bewley   
It is not necessary for the muminun to go out all together. If a party from each group of them were to go out so they could increase their knowledge of the deen they would be able to notify their people when they returned to them so that hopefully they would take warning!
Ali Ünal   
And the believers should not go forth to war all together. But why should not a party from every community of them mobilize to acquire profound, correct knowledge and understanding of religion and warn their people when they return to them so that they may beware (of wrongful attitudes)
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Yet it is not for the faithful to go forth en masse. But why should not there go forth a group from each of their sections to become learned in religion, and to warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware
Hamid S. Aziz   
The believers should not march forth altogether. If a section from every troop remain behind, then they could devote themselves to gaining sound knowledge of their religion and teach their people when they return to them, that per chance (or possibly) th
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
It is not (appropriate) for the believers to go out all together. Why didn't a party from each group go out to thoroughly understand about the religion (way of life), and to warn their people when they return to them so that they may be wary?
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Nor should the believers go forth all together. A contingent from every deployment should remain behind and devote themselves to understanding the ways of life, that they may advise their people when they return to them, and so that they may stay current
Musharraf Hussain   
It isn’t right all the believers mobilise for fighting; rather a group from each community should stay behind and apply themselves to thorough understanding of the religion to warn their people on their return to them, so that they too might be mindful.
Maududi   
It was not necessary for the believers to go forth all together (to receive religious instruction), but why did not a party of them go forth that they may grow in religious understanding, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may avoid (erroneous attitudes)
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And it is not advisable for the believers to mobilize in their entirety. For every battalion that marches out, let a group remain to study the system, and warn their people when they return to them, perhaps they will be aware.
Mohammad Shafi   
And the believers cannot move out, all of them, at one time. Then why should not a group from among every section move out to get deeper understanding of the Religion, so that they may warn their people when they come back to them to be pious?

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And it is not possible for Muslims that all should come out. Then why should not a party from each group should come out that they may gain understanding of religion and warn their people after coming back to them, haply they may guard themselves.
Rashad Khalifa   
When the believers mobilize, not all of them shall do so. A few from each group shall mobilize by devoting their time to studying the religion. Thus, they can pass the knowledge on to their people when they return, that they may remain religiously informed.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
The believers should not go forth altogether, rather, a party from each section should go forth to become well versed in the religion, and when they return to their people warn them in order that they may beware
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And the believers should not go forth all together. Why, then, does not a company from every party from among them go forth that they may apply themselves to obtain understanding in religion, and that they may warn their people, when they come back to them, that they may be cautious
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And the believers were not to rush/hasten all (to battle) , so if only (there were) a group from every group/party from them, a group of people to learn/comprehend/have knowledge in the religion, and to warn/give notice (to) their nation if they returned to them, maybe/perhaps they be warned/cautioned
Bijan Moeinian   
It was not required that all the believers should leave to the front. It would have been nice if, those who stayed behind, devote their time to learn more about Islam so that when their fellow tribesmen would return, share their findings with them and avoid sinful acts
Faridul Haque   
And it is not possible for the Muslims that all of them go out; so it should be that a party from each group go forth in order to gain knowledge in religion, and upon returning warn their people in the hope that they may avoid
Sher Ali   
It is not possible for the believers to go forth all together. Why, then, does not a party from every section of them go forth that they may become well-versed in religion, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may guard against evil
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And it is not possible for all the Muslims to set out (together). So, why should a party from within every group (or tribe) not go forth in order that they may acquire deeper knowledge (i.e., thorough understanding and insight) of the Din (Religion), and warn their people when they return to them so that they may guard themselves (against a life of sins and disobedience)
Amatul Rahman Omar   
It is not possible for the believers to go forth (from their homes learning for religious learning) all together. Then, why should not a party from every section of them go forth, that they may (learn and) become well-versed in religion, and may warn their people when they return (home) to them, so that they too may guard against (unislamic ways of life)
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And it is not (proper) for the believers to go out to fight (Jihad) all together. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may get instructions in (Islamic) religion, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware (of evil)

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
It is not for the believers to go forth totally; but why should not a party of every section of them go forth, to become learned in religion, and to warn their people when they return to them, that haply they may beware
George Sale   
The believers are not obliged to go forth to war all together; If a part of every band of them go not forth, it is that they may diligently instruct themselves in their religion; and may admonish their people, when they return unto them, that they may take heed to themselves
Edward Henry Palmer   
The believers should not march forth altogether; and if a troop of every division of them march not forth, it is only that they may study their religion and warn their people when they return to them, that haply they may beware
John Medows Rodwell   
The faithful must not march forth all together to the wars: and if a party of every band of them march not out, it is that they may instruct themselves in their religion, and may warn their people when they come back to them, that they take heed to themselves
N J Dawood (2014)   
It is not right that all the faithful should go to war at once. A band from each community should stay behind to instruct themselves in Religion and to admonish their people when they return, so that they may be warned

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
And it is not right for the believers to go forth all together but if only a party goes forth out of every group of them in order to seek discernment in the religion and so that they may warn their people when they return back to them so that perhaps they will be on their guard.
Munir Mezyed   
It is not appropriate for all Monotheistic Believers to go forth to war all together. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may attain knowledge in religion and admonish their people when they return to them so that they may take close heed to themselves.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And the believers should not all move out as one. A party of every group amongst them should keep back to study the religion and warn their people when they return to them so that they are on guard.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
Believers should not go out all together [to fight]. Some of them should stay in order to devote themselves to studying religion. They could then teach the others when they return so they may all guard themselves against evil.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
And never would it befit the believers to mobilize collectively. So why should there not be, of every section of them, a faction which mobilizes to study the religion and to warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware?
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Believers should not march forth in a body; if a squadron from each division of them should march forth, they should still instruct [others] in religion and warn their folk when they return to them so that they may take precautions.
Samy Mahdy   
And it was not for the believers to advance forth all together. So, if only individuals from every team, among them a category to understand the religion, and to warn their kinfolk when they are returning to them, perhaps they may be cautious.
Sayyid Qutb   
It is not desirable that all the believers should go out to fight. From every section of them some should go forth, so that they may acquire a deeper knowledge of the faith and warn their people when they return to them, so that they may take heed.
Ahmed Hulusi   
It is not appropriate for the believers to go forth to battle all at once! A group from every division should remain behind to obtain a better understanding of Religion, so they warn the people when they return to them, that they might be cautious.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And it is not for the believers to go out (to fight) totally; why should not then a group from every party of them go forth to become learned in religion, and to warn their people when they return to them. So that they may beware?
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Nor should those who conformed to Islam go forth all at once to the Messenger, but only a group from each community should go to learn from him practical divinity and jurisprudence and convey back such divine knowledge to their people and caution them against provoking Allah's indignation that they may heed
Mir Aneesuddin   
And it is not (proper) for the believers that they should go out all together (to fight), so why not a group go out from every party among them, so that (those who remain behind) could develop sound understanding in religion and (through this religious knowledge) warn their people when they return to them (from war) so that they (too) could be cautious.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Nor should the Believers all go forth together: if a contingent from every expedition remained behind, they could devote themselves to studies in religion, and admonish the people when they return to them,- that thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against evil)
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And not is (for) the believers that they go forth all together. So if not go forth from every group among them a party that they may obtain understan in the religion, and that they may their people when they return to them, so that they may beware
OLD Transliteration   
Wama kana almu/minoona liyanfiroo kaffatan falawla nafara min kulli firqatin minhum ta-ifatun liyatafaqqahoo fee alddeeni waliyunthiroo qawmahum itha rajaAAoo ilayhim laAAallahum yahtharoona