Surah At Tawbah Tafseer

لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَأً

Should they find a refuge,

such as a fort in which they hide and fortify themselves,

أَوْ مَغَارَاتٍ

or caves, (in some mountains),

أَوْ مُدَّخَلً

or a place of concealment,

According to the explanation given by Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah,

a tunnel or a hole in the ground,

لَّوَلَّوْاْ إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ

they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush.

away from you because they associate with you unwillingly, not because they are fond of you. They prefer that they do not have to mix with you, but necessity has its rules! It is because of this that they feel grief, sadness and sorrow, seeing Islam and its people enjoying ever more might, triumph and glory. Therefore, whatever pleases Muslims brings them grief, and this is why they prefer to disassociate themselves from the believers. Hence Allah's statement,

لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَأً أَوْ مَغَارَاتٍ

أَوْ مُدَّخَلً

لَّوَلَّوْاْ إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ

Should they find a refuge, or caves, or a place of concealment, they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush