Popular Translations
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
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
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)
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