9: The Immunity (Al-Taubah / Al-Baraat)
Revealed at Madinah
The name of this chapter (which is also called Al-Taubah or Repentance) refers to the declaration in its opening verses that Muslims were now not subject to their agreements with certain idolatrous Arab tribes who had been constantly breaking them (verses 7–13). The chapter thus first deals with the subject of agreements with them as depending on their adherence to them, and goes on to prophesy the triumph of Islam in Arabia and later in the world. It then refers to the expedition to Tabūk by Muslims undertaken at great sacrifice, and deals with the subject of those who excused themselves and the hypocrites. At the end, Muslims are reminded of the importance of the propagation of Islam and contributing towards it, which was the real object of Islam. This chapter was revealed in 9 A.H. This is the only chapter of the Quran not opening with Bismillāh, “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful”, as it is, in a sense, a continuation of the last chapter.
Section 1 (Verses 9:1–9:6): Declaration of Immunity
9:1
بَرَآءَۃٌ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ وَ رَسُوۡلِہٖۤ اِلَی الَّذِیۡنَ عٰہَدۡتُّمۡ مِّنَ الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ ؕ﴿۱﴾
A declaration of immunity from Allah and His Messenger to those of the idolaters with whom you made an agreement.
This is a declaration of immunity from obligations with such of the idolatrous tribes of Arabia as had repeatedly broken their agreements with the Muslims. They broke their agreements again and again (8:56), yet the Muslims were enjoined to accept peace if the disbelievers consented to it, even after repeated violations (8:61). But this state of things could not continue long, for it was soon found that it was impossible to trust such neighbours. This repudiation of agreements took place on a large scale when the Muslims were absent on the Tabūk expedition.
9:2
فَسِیۡحُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ اَرۡبَعَۃَ اَشۡہُرٍ وَّ اعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّکُمۡ غَیۡرُ مُعۡجِزِی اللّٰہِ ۙ وَ اَنَّ اللّٰہَ مُخۡزِی الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۲﴾
So go about in the land for four months and know that you cannot escape Allah and that Allah will disgrace the disbelievers.
9:3
وَ اَذَانٌ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ وَ رَسُوۡلِہٖۤ اِلَی النَّاسِ یَوۡمَ الۡحَجِّ الۡاَکۡبَرِ اَنَّ اللّٰہَ بَرِیۡٓءٌ مِّنَ الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ ۬ۙ وَ رَسُوۡلُہٗ ؕ فَاِنۡ تُبۡتُمۡ فَہُوَ خَیۡرٌ لَّکُمۡ ۚ وَ اِنۡ تَوَلَّیۡتُمۡ فَاعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّکُمۡ غَیۡرُ مُعۡجِزِی اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ بَشِّرِ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا بِعَذَابٍ اَلِیۡمٍ ۙ﴿۳﴾
And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage that Allah is free from liability to the idolaters, and so is His Messenger. So if you repent, it will be better for you; and if you turn away, then know that you will not escape Allah. And announce painful punishment to those who disbelieve —
The first thirteen verses of this chapter were publicly proclaimed by Ali on the occasion of the pilgrimage in 9 A.H.
9:4
اِلَّا الَّذِیۡنَ عٰہَدۡتُّمۡ مِّنَ الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ ثُمَّ لَمۡ یَنۡقُصُوۡکُمۡ شَیۡئًا وَّ لَمۡ یُظَاہِرُوۡا عَلَیۡکُمۡ اَحَدًا فَاَتِمُّوۡۤا اِلَیۡہِمۡ عَہۡدَہُمۡ اِلٰی مُدَّتِہِمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یُحِبُّ الۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ ﴿۴﴾
except those of the idolaters with whom you made an agreement, then they have not failed you in anything and have not backed up anyone against you; so fulfil their agreement to the end of their term. Surely Allah loves those who keep their duty.
The exception given here makes it clear that the Muslims were not fighting with the idolaters on account of their religion, but on account of their having been untrue to their agreements.
9:5
فَاِذَا انۡسَلَخَ الۡاَشۡہُرُ الۡحُرُمُ فَاقۡتُلُوا الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ حَیۡثُ وَجَدۡتُّمُوۡہُمۡ وَ خُذُوۡہُمۡ وَ احۡصُرُوۡہُمۡ وَ اقۡعُدُوۡا لَہُمۡ کُلَّ مَرۡصَدٍ ۚ فَاِنۡ تَابُوۡا وَ اَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ اٰتَوُا الزَّکٰوۃَ فَخَلُّوۡا سَبِیۡلَہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۵﴾
So when the sacred months have passed, kill the idolaters, wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. But if they repent and keep up prayer and give the due charity, leave their way free. Surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
The clear exception of the last verse shows that by the idolaters here are meant, not all idolaters or polytheists wherever they may be found in the world, not even all idolaters of Arabia, but only those idolatrous tribes of Arabia assembled at the pilgrimage who had first made agreements with the Muslims and then violated them. The order to kill them and to make them prisoners and to besiege them and ambush them amounts clearly to an order to fight against them, as it is in war only that all these actions are made lawful. (Editor’s Note: The expression “kill them wherever you find them” has also been used in 2:190–191, where it is also declared clearly: “And fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you but do not be aggressive”. Thus “wherever you find them” means wherever you find those who are engaged in fighting against you, after they have been the first to attack you.)
9:6
وَ اِنۡ اَحَدٌ مِّنَ الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ اسۡتَجَارَکَ فَاَجِرۡہُ حَتّٰی یَسۡمَعَ کَلٰمَ اللّٰہِ ثُمَّ اَبۡلِغۡہُ مَاۡمَنَہٗ ؕ ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمۡ قَوۡمٌ لَّا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ٪﴿۶﴾
And if anyone of the idolaters seek your protection, protect him till he hears the word of Allah, then convey him to his place of safety. This is because they are a people who do not know.
This verse leaves no doubt that the Holy Prophet was never ordered by God to kill anyone on account of his religion. Any idolater seeking the protection of the Muslims in order to learn about Islam was to be granted safe conduct to return home in case he did not think it fit to embrace Islam.
Section 2 (Verses 9:7–9:16): Reasons for the Immunity
9:7
کَیۡفَ یَکُوۡنُ لِلۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ عَہۡدٌ عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ وَ عِنۡدَ رَسُوۡلِہٖۤ اِلَّا الَّذِیۡنَ عٰہَدۡتُّمۡ عِنۡدَ الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡحَرَامِ ۚ فَمَا اسۡتَقَامُوۡا لَکُمۡ فَاسۡتَقِیۡمُوۡا لَہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یُحِبُّ الۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ ﴿۷﴾
How can there be an agreement for the idolaters with Allah and with His Messenger, except those with whom you made an agreement at the Sacred Mosque? So as long as they are true to you, be true to them. Surely Allah loves those who keep their duty.
So long as the idolaters were true to their agreements, Muslims were required to be true to them. Just as in the case of war, Muslims were not allowed to fight until the enemy had first attacked, so, in the case of repudiation of agreements, it was the enemy who first repudiated the agreement.
9:8
کَیۡفَ وَ اِنۡ یَّظۡہَرُوۡا عَلَیۡکُمۡ لَا یَرۡقُبُوۡا فِیۡکُمۡ اِلًّا وَّ لَا ذِمَّۃً ؕ یُرۡضُوۡنَکُمۡ بِاَفۡوَاہِہِمۡ وَ تَاۡبٰی قُلُوۡبُہُمۡ ۚ وَ اَکۡثَرُہُمۡ فٰسِقُوۡنَ ۚ﴿۸﴾
How (can it be)? And if they prevail against you, they respect neither ties of relationship nor covenant in your case. They would please you with their mouths while their hearts refuse; and most of them are transgressors.
9:9
اِشۡتَرَوۡا بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ ثَمَنًا قَلِیۡلًا فَصَدُّوۡا عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِہٖ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ سَآءَ مَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۹﴾
They have taken a small price for the messages of Allah, so they hinder (people) from His way. Surely evil is what they do.
9:10
لَا یَرۡقُبُوۡنَ فِیۡ مُؤۡمِنٍ اِلًّا وَّ لَا ذِمَّۃً ؕ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡمُعۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰﴾
They respect neither ties of relationship nor covenant in the case of a believer. And these are they who go beyond the limits.
Note the repeated assertions of the Quran that the disbelievers were not to be fought against for their disbelief but for their being first in starting war or repudiating agreements.
9:11
فَاِنۡ تَابُوۡا وَ اَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ اٰتَوُا الزَّکٰوۃَ فَاِخۡوَانُکُمۡ فِی الدِّیۡنِ ؕ وَ نُفَصِّلُ الۡاٰیٰتِ لِقَوۡمٍ یَّعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
But if they repent and keep up prayer and give the due charity, they are your brethren in faith. And We make the messages clear for a people who know.
9:12
وَ اِنۡ نَّکَثُوۡۤا اَیۡمَانَہُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ عَہۡدِہِمۡ وَ طَعَنُوۡا فِیۡ دِیۡنِکُمۡ فَقَاتِلُوۡۤا اَئِمَّۃَ الۡکُفۡرِ ۙ اِنَّہُمۡ لَاۤ اَیۡمَانَ لَہُمۡ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَنۡتَہُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲﴾
And if they break their oaths after their agreement and revile your religion, then fight the leaders of disbelief — surely their oaths are nothing — so that they may cease.
Those leaders of disbelief are to be fought against who break their oaths after their agreements.
9:13
اَلَا تُقَاتِلُوۡنَ قَوۡمًا نَّکَثُوۡۤا اَیۡمَانَہُمۡ وَ ہَمُّوۡا بِاِخۡرَاجِ الرَّسُوۡلِ وَ ہُمۡ بَدَءُوۡکُمۡ اَوَّلَ مَرَّۃٍ ؕ اَتَخۡشَوۡنَہُمۡ ۚ فَاللّٰہُ اَحَقُّ اَنۡ تَخۡشَوۡہُ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۳﴾
Will you not fight a people who broke their oaths and aimed at the expulsion of the Messenger, and they attacked you first? Do you fear them? But Allah has more right that you should fear Him, if you are believers.
Editor’s Note: This again makes clear that Muslims are only required to fight those who attacked them first.
9:14
قَاتِلُوۡہُمۡ یُعَذِّبۡہُمُ اللّٰہُ بِاَیۡدِیۡکُمۡ وَ یُخۡزِہِمۡ وَ یَنۡصُرۡکُمۡ عَلَیۡہِمۡ وَ یَشۡفِ صُدُوۡرَ قَوۡمٍ مُّؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۴﴾
Fight them; Allah will punish them at your hands and bring them to disgrace, and assist you against them and relieve the hearts of a believing people,
9:15
وَ یُذۡہِبۡ غَیۡظَ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ ؕ وَ یَتُوۡبُ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلِیۡمٌ حَکِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۵﴾
and remove the rage of their hearts. And Allah turns (mercifully) to whom He pleases. And Allah is Knowing, Wise.
9:16
اَمۡ حَسِبۡتُمۡ اَنۡ تُتۡرَکُوۡا وَ لَمَّا یَعۡلَمِ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡنَ جٰہَدُوۡا مِنۡکُمۡ وَ لَمۡ یَتَّخِذُوۡا مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ وَ لَا رَسُوۡلِہٖ وَ لَا الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ وَلِیۡجَۃً ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ خَبِیۡرٌۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿٪۱۶﴾
Do you think that you would be left alone while Allah has not yet known those of you who struggle hard and do not take anyone as an intimate friend besides Allah and His Messenger and the believers? And Allah is Aware of what you do.
Section 3 (Verses 9:17–9:24): Idolaters’ Service of the Sacred House
9:17
مَا کَانَ لِلۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ اَنۡ یَّعۡمُرُوۡا مَسٰجِدَ اللّٰہِ شٰہِدِیۡنَ عَلٰۤی اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ بِالۡکُفۡرِ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ حَبِطَتۡ اَعۡمَالُہُمۡ ۚۖ وَ فِی النَّارِ ہُمۡ خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
The idolaters have no right to maintain the mosques of Allah, while bearing witness to disbelief against themselves. These it is whose deeds are fruitless; and in the Fire will they abide.
By the mosques of Allah is meant particularly the Sacred Mosque at Makkah, as being the centre of all the mosques of the world. This is made clear in v. 19. It had long remained in the hands of the idolaters, who visited and repaired it, having placed a large number of idols within it. With the conquest of Makkah the Sacred Mosque was denuded of all idols, and was now as pure an emblem of monotheism as in the time of Abraham. Hence the idol-worshippers had nothing to do with it now.
9:18
اِنَّمَا یَعۡمُرُ مَسٰجِدَ اللّٰہِ مَنۡ اٰمَنَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ الۡیَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ وَ اَقَامَ الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ اٰتَی الزَّکٰوۃَ وَ لَمۡ یَخۡشَ اِلَّا اللّٰہَ فَعَسٰۤی اُولٰٓئِکَ اَنۡ یَّکُوۡنُوۡا مِنَ الۡمُہۡتَدِیۡنَ ﴿۱۸﴾
Only he can maintain the mosques of Allah who believes in Allah and the Last Day, and keeps up prayer and gives the due charity and fears none but Allah. So these it is who may be of the guided ones.
9:19
اَجَعَلۡتُمۡ سِقَایَۃَ الۡحَآجِّ وَ عِمَارَۃَ الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡحَرَامِ کَمَنۡ اٰمَنَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ الۡیَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ وَ جٰہَدَ فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ ؕ لَا یَسۡتَوٗنَ عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ لَا یَہۡدِی الۡقَوۡمَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۘ۱۹﴾
Do you hold the giving of drink to the pilgrims and the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque equal to (the service of) one who believes in Allah and the Last Day and strives hard in Allah’s way? They are not equal in the sight of Allah. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.
9:20
اَلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ ہَاجَرُوۡا وَ جٰہَدُوۡا فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ بِاَمۡوَالِہِمۡ وَ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ ۙ اَعۡظَمُ دَرَجَۃً عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡفَآئِزُوۡنَ ﴿۲۰﴾
Those who believed and fled (their homes), and strove hard in Allah’s way with their wealth and their lives, are much higher in rank with Allah. And it is these that shall triumph.
9:21
یُبَشِّرُہُمۡ رَبُّہُمۡ بِرَحۡمَۃٍ مِّنۡہُ وَ رِضۡوَانٍ وَّ جَنّٰتٍ لَّہُمۡ فِیۡہَا نَعِیۡمٌ مُّقِیۡمٌ ﴿ۙ۲۱﴾
Their Lord gives them good news of mercy and pleasure, from Himself, and Gardens in which lasting blessings will be theirs,
9:22
خٰلِدِیۡنَ فِیۡہَاۤ اَبَدًا ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عِنۡدَہٗۤ اَجۡرٌ عَظِیۡمٌ ﴿۲۲﴾
abiding in them forever. Surely Allah has a mighty reward with Him.
9:23
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَتَّخِذُوۡۤا اٰبَآءَکُمۡ وَ اِخۡوَانَکُمۡ اَوۡلِیَآءَ اِنِ اسۡتَحَبُّوا الۡکُفۡرَ عَلَی الۡاِیۡمَانِ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یَّتَوَلَّہُمۡ مِّنۡکُمۡ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۲۳﴾
O you who believe, do not take your fathers and your brothers for friends if they love disbelief above faith. And whoever of you takes them for friends, such are the wrongdoers.
9:24
قُلۡ اِنۡ کَانَ اٰبَآؤُکُمۡ وَ اَبۡنَآؤُکُمۡ وَ اِخۡوَانُکُمۡ وَ اَزۡوَاجُکُمۡ وَ عَشِیۡرَتُکُمۡ وَ اَمۡوَالُۨ اقۡتَرَفۡتُمُوۡہَا وَ تِجَارَۃٌ تَخۡشَوۡنَ کَسَادَہَا وَ مَسٰکِنُ تَرۡضَوۡنَہَاۤ اَحَبَّ اِلَیۡکُمۡ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ وَ رَسُوۡلِہٖ وَ جِہَادٍ فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِہٖ فَتَرَبَّصُوۡا حَتّٰی یَاۡتِیَ اللّٰہُ بِاَمۡرِہٖ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ لَا یَہۡدِی الۡقَوۡمَ الۡفٰسِقِیۡنَ ﴿٪۲۴﴾
Say: If your fathers and your sons and your brethren and your wives and your kinsfolk and the wealth you have acquired, and trade whose dullness you fear, and dwellings you love, are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way, then wait till Allah brings His command to pass. And Allah does not guide the transgressing people.
A true Muslim may have wealth, may carry on trade, may have magnificent houses, but these should not be dearer to him than Allah and exertion in His path. He should be ready to sacrifice all these interests for a higher purpose, before which all these sink into insignificance. The Quran does not require one actually to hate riches, but rather not to be obsessed by wealth to the neglect of one’s higher duties. The acquisition of wealth is not harmful so long as it is not made the real aim of life, but has its proper place as the means to an end.
Section 4 (Verses 9:25–9:29): Islam made Triumphant in Arabia
9:25
لَقَدۡ نَصَرَکُمُ اللّٰہُ فِیۡ مَوَاطِنَ کَثِیۡرَۃٍ ۙ وَّ یَوۡمَ حُنَیۡنٍ ۙ اِذۡ اَعۡجَبَتۡکُمۡ کَثۡرَتُکُمۡ فَلَمۡ تُغۡنِ عَنۡکُمۡ شَیۡئًا وَّ ضَاقَتۡ عَلَیۡکُمُ الۡاَرۡضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتۡ ثُمَّ وَلَّیۡتُمۡ مُّدۡبِرِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۲۵﴾
Certainly Allah helped you in many battlefields, and on the day of Hunain, when your great numbers made you proud, but they availed you nothing, and the earth with all its vastness was narrowed for you, then you turned back retreating.
The battle of Hunain, fought in 8 A.H. in the valley of Hunain, about three miles from Makkah, differed from the other battles in that the Muslims here outnumbered the enemy. However, the archers of the enemy were good marksmen, and had occupied strong positions in the mountain passes. The Muslim army contained some men from Makkah still adhering to idolatry. Unfortunately this was the advance party of the army, and, unable to face the archers, they retreated causing disorder to the whole army. The Holy Prophet, however, led the assault, at first alone, in face of the archers, but was soon joined by others and a victory was obtained, as the next verse shows.
9:26
ثُمَّ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ سَکِیۡنَتَہٗ عَلٰی رَسُوۡلِہٖ وَ عَلَی الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ وَ اَنۡزَلَ جُنُوۡدًا لَّمۡ تَرَوۡہَا وَ عَذَّبَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا ؕ وَ ذٰلِکَ جَزَآءُ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۲۶﴾
Then Allah sent down His calm upon His Messenger and upon the believers, and sent armies which you did not see, and punished those who disbelieved. And such is the reward of the disbelievers.
9:27
ثُمَّ یَتُوۡبُ اللّٰہُ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ ذٰلِکَ عَلٰی مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۲۷﴾
Then will Allah, after this, turn mercifully to whom He pleases. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
9:28
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنَّمَا الۡمُشۡرِکُوۡنَ نَجَسٌ فَلَا یَقۡرَبُوا الۡمَسۡجِدَ الۡحَرَامَ بَعۡدَ عَامِہِمۡ ہٰذَا ۚ وَ اِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ عَیۡلَۃً فَسَوۡفَ یُغۡنِیۡکُمُ اللّٰہُ مِنۡ فَضۡلِہٖۤ اِنۡ شَآءَ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَلِیۡمٌ حَکِیۡمٌ ﴿۲۸﴾
O you who believe, the idolaters are surely unclean, so they shall not approach the Sacred Mosque after this year of theirs. And if you fear poverty, then Allah will enrich you out of His grace, if He please. Surely Allah is Knowing, Wise.
Because they indulged in evil practices and went naked round the Ka‘bah. Compare 5:90, where idols are declared to be unclean.
9:29
قَاتِلُوا الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ لَا بِالۡیَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ وَ لَا یُحَرِّمُوۡنَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللّٰہُ وَ رَسُوۡلُہٗ وَ لَا یَدِیۡنُوۡنَ دِیۡنَ الۡحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡکِتٰبَ حَتّٰی یُعۡطُوا الۡجِزۡیَۃَ عَنۡ یَّدٍ وَّ ہُمۡ صٰغِرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۲۹﴾
Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, nor follow the Religion of Truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgement of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.
The great Christian power, the Roman Empire, had just mobilized its forces for the subjection of the new religion, and the Tabūk expedition took place, which is dealt with further on in this chapter. As the object of this Christian power was simply the subjection of the Muslims, their final defeat by the Muslims is spoken of as subjection. It was not in any way the object of the Quran to bring the Christians into subjection. On the other hand, the Christians first moved themselves to bring Muslim Arabia under subjection. The jizyah or tax spoken of here is, according to Lane’s Lexicon, the tax that is taken from the free non-Muslim subjects of the Muslim Government whereby they ratify the compact that ensures them protection. The permission to fight given to Muslims is subject to the condition that the enemy should first take up the sword (2:190). The Holy Prophet never overstepped this limit, nor did his followers. He fought against the Arabs when they took up the sword to destroy the Muslims, and he led an expedition against the Christians when the Roman Empire first mobilized its forces with the object of subjugating the Muslims. When he found that the enemy had not yet taken the initiative, he did not attack the Roman Empire, but returned without fighting. Later on, however, the Roman Empire, like the Persians, fomented trouble against the newly established Muslim Kingdom, as a result of which both these empires came into conflict with the Muslims and, despite the fact that both the Persians and the Romans were very powerful nations with unlimited resources and strong military organizations, and that they both tried at the same time to subjugate Islam, the result was what is predicted here in clear words — they were both reduced to a state of subjection by an insignificant nation like the Arabs.
Section 5 (Verses 9:30–9:37): Islam will Triumph in the World
9:30
وَ قَالَتِ الۡیَہُوۡدُ عُزَیۡرُۨ ابۡنُ اللّٰہِ وَ قَالَتِ النَّصٰرَی الۡمَسِیۡحُ ابۡنُ اللّٰہِ ؕ ذٰلِکَ قَوۡلُہُمۡ بِاَفۡوَاہِہِمۡ ۚ یُضَاہِـُٔوۡنَ قَوۡلَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ؕ قٰتَلَہُمُ اللّٰہُ ۚ۫ اَنّٰی یُؤۡفَکُوۡنَ ﴿۳۰﴾
And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. These are the words of their mouths. They imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before. Allah’s curse be on them! How they are turned away (from truth)!
It has been shown by Muslim historians that there was a sect among the Jews who raised Ezra to the dignity of godhead or son of God. The Quran never blames the Jewish nation as a whole for entertaining this belief. However, the word son in case of Ezra may have been used here freely as meaning a special favourite, in the same way as elsewhere the Quran says of the Jews and the Christians that they call themselves the sons of Allah and His beloved ones (5:18).
9:31
اِتَّخَذُوۡۤا اَحۡبَارَہُمۡ وَ رُہۡبَانَہُمۡ اَرۡبَابًا مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ وَ الۡمَسِیۡحَ ابۡنَ مَرۡیَمَ ۚ وَ مَاۤ اُمِرُوۡۤا اِلَّا لِیَعۡبُدُوۡۤا اِلٰـہًا وَّاحِدًا ۚ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ ؕ سُبۡحٰنَہٗ عَمَّا یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿۳۱﴾
They take their doctors of law and their monks for lords besides Allah, and (also) the Messiah, son of Mary. And they were enjoined that they should serve one God only — there is no god but He. Glory be to Him from what they set up as partners (with Him)!
This does not mean that they took them actually for gods; the meaning is that they followed them blindly in what they enjoined and what they forbade, attaching to them a Divine dignity. Muslims who accord a similar position to their ulama, spiritual leaders or saints are guilty of the same error.
9:32
یُرِیۡدُوۡنَ اَنۡ یُّطۡفِـُٔوۡا نُوۡرَ اللّٰہِ بِاَفۡوَاہِہِمۡ وَ یَاۡبَی اللّٰہُ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ یُّتِمَّ نُوۡرَہٗ وَ لَوۡ کَرِہَ الۡکٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
They desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will allow nothing except the perfection of His light, though the disbelievers are averse.
This is a prophecy of the ultimate triumph of Islam in face of severe opposition. All opposition to truth, whether based on force or propaganda, is here compared with putting out the Divine light by blowing with the mouth to show that all such attempts would prove futile. The Divine light will be made perfect, by which is meant the triumph of Islam, as the next verse states clearly.
9:33
ہُوَ الَّذِیۡۤ اَرۡسَلَ رَسُوۡلَہٗ بِالۡہُدٰی وَ دِیۡنِ الۡحَقِّ لِیُظۡہِرَہٗ عَلَی الدِّیۡنِ کُلِّہٖ ۙ وَ لَوۡ کَرِہَ الۡمُشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾
He it is Who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the Religion of Truth that He may make it prevail over all religions, though those who set up partners (with Allah) are averse.
The prophecy of the ultimate triumph of Islam in the whole world is repeated three times in the Quran, in exactly the same words — here and in 48:28 and 61:9. In Arabia itself, Islam became triumphant in the lifetime of the Holy Prophet. After his death, the first century of the Muslim era saw vast Christian communities swelling the ranks of Islam, in Egypt, North Africa, Asia Minor, Persia and Central Asia. More amazing was the fact that Islam, coming in contact with other great religions, with Zoroastrianism in Persia, with Buddhism and Hinduism in India and Afghanistan, and with Confucianism in China, conquered the hearts of the followers of every religion and they accepted the message of Truth in vast numbers. And the final manifestation of this great prophecy is foreshadowed in the gradual acceptance of the principles of Islam in the whole world today, despite the fact that the political power of Islam is at its lowest ebb.
9:34
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنَّ کَثِیۡرًا مِّنَ الۡاَحۡبَارِ وَ الرُّہۡبَانِ لَیَاۡکُلُوۡنَ اَمۡوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالۡبَاطِلِ وَ یَصُدُّوۡنَ عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَکۡنِزُوۡنَ الذَّہَبَ وَ الۡفِضَّۃَ وَ لَا یُنۡفِقُوۡنَہَا فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ ۙ فَبَشِّرۡہُمۡ بِعَذَابٍ اَلِیۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۳۴﴾
O you who believe, surely many of the doctors of law and monks eat away people’s property falsely, and hinder (them) from Allah’s way. And those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend it in Allah’s way — announce to them a painful punishment,
9:35
یَّوۡمَ یُحۡمٰی عَلَیۡہَا فِیۡ نَارِ جَہَنَّمَ فَتُکۡوٰی بِہَا جِبَاہُہُمۡ وَ جُنُوۡبُہُمۡ وَ ظُہُوۡرُہُمۡ ؕ ہٰذَا مَا کَنَزۡتُمۡ لِاَنۡفُسِکُمۡ فَذُوۡقُوۡا مَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَکۡنِزُوۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
on the day when it will be heated in the Fire of hell, then their foreheads and their sides and their backs will be branded with it: This is what you hoarded up for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard.
The punishment of an evil is spoken of throughout the Quran as similar to the evil. Even in this world, a man feels a torment similar to the nature of the evil in which he indulges. Being branded with the hoarded wealth is thus a fit description of the punishment of the hoarders.
9:36
اِنَّ عِدَّۃَ الشُّہُوۡرِ عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ اثۡنَا عَشَرَ شَہۡرًا فِیۡ کِتٰبِ اللّٰہِ یَوۡمَ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ مِنۡہَاۤ اَرۡبَعَۃٌ حُرُمٌ ؕ ذٰلِکَ الدِّیۡنُ الۡقَیِّمُ ۬ۙ فَلَا تَظۡلِمُوۡا فِیۡہِنَّ اَنۡفُسَکُمۡ وَ قَاتِلُوا الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ کَآفَّۃً کَمَا یُقَاتِلُوۡنَکُمۡ کَآفَّۃً ؕ وَ اعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّ اللّٰہَ مَعَ الۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ ﴿۳۶﴾
Surely the number of months with Allah is twelve months by Allah’s ordinance, since the day when He created the heavens and the earth — of these four are sacred. That is the right religion; so do not wrong yourselves in regard to them. And fight the idolaters all together as they fight you all together. And know that Allah is with those who keep their duty.
The allusion here is to the Arab practice of postponing the pilgrimage to a month other than that in which it fell, for which see the next verse.
9:37
اِنَّمَا النَّسِیۡٓءُ زِیَادَۃٌ فِی الۡکُفۡرِ یُضَلُّ بِہِ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا یُحِلُّوۡنَہٗ عَامًا وَّ یُحَرِّمُوۡنَہٗ عَامًا لِّیُوَاطِـُٔوۡا عِدَّۃَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللّٰہُ فَیُحِلُّوۡا مَا حَرَّمَ اللّٰہُ ؕ زُیِّنَ لَہُمۡ سُوۡٓءُ اَعۡمَالِہِمۡ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ لَا یَہۡدِی الۡقَوۡمَ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿٪۳۷﴾
Postponing (of the sacred month) is only an addition in disbelief, by which those who disbelieve are led astray. They allow it one year and forbid it (another) year, that they may agree in the number (of months) which Allah has made sacred, and thus make lawful what Allah has forbidden. The evil of their doings is made to seem good to them. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.
The reference here is to the practice of postponing observance of the sacred month, thus allowing an ordinary month to be observed as sacred and a sacred month to be treated as ordinary. This practice interfered with the security of life which was guaranteed in the sacred months, and is, therefore, denounced.
Section 6 (Verses 9:38–9:42): The Tabuk Expedition
9:38
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مَا لَکُمۡ اِذَا قِیۡلَ لَکُمُ انۡفِرُوۡا فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ اثَّاقَلۡتُمۡ اِلَی الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ اَرَضِیۡتُمۡ بِالۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا مِنَ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَاعُ الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ اِلَّا قَلِیۡلٌ ﴿۳۸﴾
O you who believe, what (excuse) have you that when it is said to you, Go forth in Allah’s way, you should incline heavily to earth? Are you contented with this world’s life instead of the Hereafter? The provision of this world’s life is but little as compared with the Hereafter.
This refers to the expedition of Tabūk, which was undertaken in the middle of 9 A.H. owing to the threatening attitude of the Roman Empire. There were many hindrances to the raising of an army sufficient to meet the strong forces of the Roman Empire, the main ones being: a great drought, the length of the journey to Syria, the ripening of the fruits which were now ready to be gathered, the heat, and the organization and power of the Roman army. In spite of all these difficulties 30,000 men gathered round the Holy Prophet’s banner.
9:39
اِلَّا تَنۡفِرُوۡا یُعَذِّبۡکُمۡ عَذَابًا اَلِیۡمًا ۬ۙ وَّ یَسۡتَبۡدِلۡ قَوۡمًا غَیۡرَکُمۡ وَ لَا تَضُرُّوۡہُ شَیۡئًا ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ قَدِیۡرٌ ﴿۳۹﴾
If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment, and bring in your place a people other than you, and you can do Him no harm. And Allah is Powerful over all things.
The reference here and in what follows is to certain men, who, while professing belief, hesitated to accept the Holy Prophet’s call to get ready for the expedition.
9:40
اِلَّا تَنۡصُرُوۡہُ فَقَدۡ نَصَرَہُ اللّٰہُ اِذۡ اَخۡرَجَہُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا ثَانِیَ اثۡنَیۡنِ اِذۡ ہُمَا فِی الۡغَارِ اِذۡ یَقُوۡلُ لِصَاحِبِہٖ لَا تَحۡزَنۡ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ مَعَنَا ۚ فَاَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ سَکِیۡنَتَہٗ عَلَیۡہِ وَ اَیَّدَہٗ بِجُنُوۡدٍ لَّمۡ تَرَوۡہَا وَ جَعَلَ کَلِمَۃَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوا السُّفۡلٰی ؕ وَ کَلِمَۃُ اللّٰہِ ہِیَ الۡعُلۡیَا ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَزِیۡزٌ حَکِیۡمٌ ﴿۴۰﴾
If you do not help him, Allah certainly helped him when those who disbelieved expelled him — he being the second of the two; when they were both in the cave, when he said to his companion: Do not grieve, surely Allah is with us. So Allah sent down His tranquillity on him and strengthened him with forces which you did not see, and made lowest the word of those who disbelieved. And the word of Allah, that is the uppermost. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.
This refers to the Holy Prophet’s flight from Makkah, when he was forced to hide himself in a cave called Thaur, about three miles from Makkah, with only one companion, Abu Bakr, “the second of the two”. The believers are told that Allah saved the Prophet from the hands of his enemies when he had just one companion amidst a whole nation of enemies, and that Allah would help him now.
9:41
اِنۡفِرُوۡا خِفَافًا وَّ ثِقَالًا وَّ جَاہِدُوۡا بِاَمۡوَالِکُمۡ وَ اَنۡفُسِکُمۡ فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ ؕ ذٰلِکُمۡ خَیۡرٌ لَّکُمۡ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۱﴾
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.
That is, whether it is easy or difficult for you to proceed or whether you are sufficiently armed or not.
9:42
لَوۡ کَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِیۡبًا وَّ سَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَّاتَّبَعُوۡکَ وَ لٰکِنۡۢ بَعُدَتۡ عَلَیۡہِمُ الشُّقَّۃُ ؕ وَ سَیَحۡلِفُوۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ لَوِ اسۡتَطَعۡنَا لَخَرَجۡنَا مَعَکُمۡ ۚ یُہۡلِکُوۡنَ اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ ۚ وَ اللّٰہُ یَعۡلَمُ اِنَّہُمۡ لَکٰذِبُوۡنَ ﴿٪۴۲﴾
If it had been a near gain and a short journey, they would certainly have followed you, but the hard journey was too long for them. And they will swear by Allah: If we had been able, we would have gone forth with you. They cause their own souls to perish; and Allah knows that they are liars.
Tabūk was midway between Madinah and Damascus. The Arabs were accustomed to fighting near home; hence, the distance was one of the chief considerations which held back those who were insincere.
Section 7 (Verses 9:43–9:59): The Hypocrites
9:43
عَفَا اللّٰہُ عَنۡکَ ۚ لِمَ اَذِنۡتَ لَہُمۡ حَتّٰی یَتَبَیَّنَ لَکَ الَّذِیۡنَ صَدَقُوۡا وَ تَعۡلَمَ الۡکٰذِبِیۡنَ ﴿۴۳﴾
Allah pardon you! Why did you permit them until those who spoke the truth had become apparent to you and you had known the liars?
This expression does not convey the significance of pardon of sins; it is rather the equivalent of Allah bless you! or may Allah set your affairs aright! In previous battles, too, the hypocrites always stayed away, offering one excuse or another. But the Divine purpose in this last expedition of the Holy Prophet was to bring about a clear distinction, and to clean the Muslim society of the hypocritical element thoroughly. Such a distinction was really brought about later on as verses 83–84 point out.
9:44
لَا یَسۡتَاۡذِنُکَ الَّذِیۡنَ یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ الۡیَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ اَنۡ یُّجَاہِدُوۡا بِاَمۡوَالِہِمۡ وَ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلِیۡمٌۢ بِالۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ ﴿۴۴﴾
Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day do not ask permission from you (to stay away) from striving hard with their wealth and their persons. And Allah is Knower of those who keep their duty.
9:45
اِنَّمَا یَسۡتَاۡذِنُکَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ الۡیَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ وَ ارۡتَابَتۡ قُلُوۡبُہُمۡ فَہُمۡ فِیۡ رَیۡبِہِمۡ یَتَرَدَّدُوۡنَ ﴿۴۵﴾
They alone ask permission from you who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day, and their hearts are in doubt, so in their doubt they waver.
9:46
وَ لَوۡ اَرَادُوا الۡخُرُوۡجَ لَاَعَدُّوۡا لَہٗ عُدَّۃً وَّ لٰکِنۡ کَرِہَ اللّٰہُ انۡۢبِعَاثَہُمۡ فَثَبَّطَہُمۡ وَ قِیۡلَ اقۡعُدُوۡا مَعَ الۡقٰعِدِیۡنَ ﴿۴۶﴾
And if they had intended to go forth, they would certainly have provided equipment for it; but Allah did not like their going forth. So He withheld them, and it was said: Hold back with those who hold back.
9:47
لَوۡ خَرَجُوۡا فِیۡکُمۡ مَّا زَادُوۡکُمۡ اِلَّا خَبَالًا وَّ لَا۠اَوۡضَعُوۡا خِلٰلَکُمۡ یَبۡغُوۡنَکُمُ الۡفِتۡنَۃَ ۚ وَ فِیۡکُمۡ سَمّٰعُوۡنَ لَہُمۡ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلِیۡمٌۢ بِالظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۴۷﴾
If they had gone forth with you, they would have added to you nothing but trouble, and would have hurried to and fro among you seeking (to sow) dissension among you. And among you there are those who would listen to them. And Allah well knows the wrongdoers.
9:48
لَقَدِ ابۡتَغَوُا الۡفِتۡنَۃَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ وَ قَلَّبُوۡا لَکَ الۡاُمُوۡرَ حَتّٰی جَآءَ الۡحَقُّ وَ ظَہَرَ اَمۡرُ اللّٰہِ وَ ہُمۡ کٰرِہُوۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾
Certainly they sought (to sow) dissension before, and they devised plots against you till the Truth came, and Allah’s command prevailed, though they did not like (it).
9:49
وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ یَّقُوۡلُ ائۡذَنۡ لِّیۡ وَ لَا تَفۡتِنِّیۡ ؕ اَلَا فِی الۡفِتۡنَۃِ سَقَطُوۡا ؕ وَ اِنَّ جَہَنَّمَ لَمُحِیۡطَۃٌۢ بِالۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۴۹﴾
And among them is he who says: Excuse me and do not try me. Surely into trial have they already fallen, and truly hell encompasses the disbelievers.
9:50
اِنۡ تُصِبۡکَ حَسَنَۃٌ تَسُؤۡہُمۡ ۚ وَ اِنۡ تُصِبۡکَ مُصِیۡبَۃٌ یَّقُوۡلُوۡا قَدۡ اَخَذۡنَاۤ اَمۡرَنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلُ وَ یَتَوَلَّوۡا وَّ ہُمۡ فَرِحُوۡنَ ﴿۵۰﴾
If good befalls you, it grieves them; and if hardship afflicts you, they say: Indeed we had taken care of our affair before. And they turn away rejoicing.
9:51
قُلۡ لَّنۡ یُّصِیۡبَنَاۤ اِلَّا مَا کَتَبَ اللّٰہُ لَنَا ۚ ہُوَ مَوۡلٰىنَا ۚ وَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ فَلۡیَتَوَکَّلِ الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۵۱﴾
Say: Nothing will afflict us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Patron; and on Allah let the believers rely.
9:52
قُلۡ ہَلۡ تَرَبَّصُوۡنَ بِنَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اِحۡدَی الۡحُسۡنَیَیۡنِ ؕ وَ نَحۡنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِکُمۡ اَنۡ یُّصِیۡبَکُمُ اللّٰہُ بِعَذَابٍ مِّنۡ عِنۡدِہٖۤ اَوۡ بِاَیۡدِیۡنَا ۫ۖ فَتَرَبَّصُوۡۤا اِنَّا مَعَکُمۡ مُّتَرَبِّصُوۡنَ ﴿۵۲﴾
Say: Do you await for us but one of two most excellent things? And we await for you that Allah will afflict you with punishment from Himself or by our hands. So wait; we too are waiting with you.
The two most excellent things are: the laying down of life in the cause of Truth, or being sharer in the ultimate triumph of Truth.
9:53
قُلۡ اَنۡفِقُوۡا طَوۡعًا اَوۡ کَرۡہًا لَّنۡ یُّتَقَبَّلَ مِنۡکُمۡ ؕ اِنَّکُمۡ کُنۡتُمۡ قَوۡمًا فٰسِقِیۡنَ ﴿۵۳﴾
Say: Spend willingly or unwillingly, it will not be accepted from you. Surely you are a transgressing people.
9:54
وَ مَا مَنَعَہُمۡ اَنۡ تُقۡبَلَ مِنۡہُمۡ نَفَقٰتُہُمۡ اِلَّاۤ اَنَّہُمۡ کَفَرُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ وَ بِرَسُوۡلِہٖ وَ لَا یَاۡتُوۡنَ الصَّلٰوۃَ اِلَّا وَ ہُمۡ کُسَالٰی وَ لَا یُنۡفِقُوۡنَ اِلَّا وَ ہُمۡ کٰرِہُوۡنَ ﴿۵۴﴾
And nothing hinders their contributions being accepted from them, except that they disbelieve in Allah and in His Messenger and they do not come to prayer except as lazy people, nor do they spend (on good works) but reluctantly.
9:55
فَلَا تُعۡجِبۡکَ اَمۡوَالُہُمۡ وَ لَاۤ اَوۡلَادُہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّمَا یُرِیۡدُ اللّٰہُ لِیُعَذِّبَہُمۡ بِہَا فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا وَ تَزۡہَقَ اَنۡفُسُہُمۡ وَ ہُمۡ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۵۵﴾
Do not, then, let their wealth nor their children excite your admiration. Allah only wishes to punish them by means of these in this world’s life and (that) their souls may depart while they are disbelievers.
The hypocrites experienced earthly torture about their property and children for two reasons: (1) because, avowing their belief in Islam, they had to take some share in its defensive expeditions and thus spend part of their property, unwillingly though it was, in the cause of Islam; (2) the children of many of them were true believers, and they knew that after their death their property and their children were to become a source of strength to the very religion which they tried to extirpate.
9:56
وَ یَحۡلِفُوۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ اِنَّہُمۡ لَمِنۡکُمۡ ؕ وَ مَا ہُمۡ مِّنۡکُمۡ وَ لٰکِنَّہُمۡ قَوۡمٌ یَّفۡرَقُوۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾
And they swear by Allah that they are truly of you. And they are not of you, but they are a people who are afraid.
9:57
لَوۡ یَجِدُوۡنَ مَلۡجَاً اَوۡ مَغٰرٰتٍ اَوۡ مُدَّخَلًا لَّوَلَّوۡا اِلَیۡہِ وَ ہُمۡ یَجۡمَحُوۡنَ ﴿۵۷﴾
If they could find a refuge or caves or a place to enter, they would certainly have turned to it, running away in all haste.
9:58
وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ یَّلۡمِزُکَ فِی الصَّدَقٰتِ ۚ فَاِنۡ اُعۡطُوۡا مِنۡہَا رَضُوۡا وَ اِنۡ لَّمۡ یُعۡطَوۡا مِنۡہَاۤ اِذَا ہُمۡ یَسۡخَطُوۡنَ ﴿۵۸﴾
And some of them blame you in the matter of the (distribution of) charity. So if they are given out of it, they are pleased, and if they are not given out of it, lo! they are enraged.
9:59
وَ لَوۡ اَنَّہُمۡ رَضُوۡا مَاۤ اٰتٰىہُمُ اللّٰہُ وَ رَسُوۡلُہٗ ۙ وَ قَالُوۡا حَسۡبُنَا اللّٰہُ سَیُؤۡتِیۡنَا اللّٰہُ مِنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ وَ رَسُوۡلُہٗۤ ۙ اِنَّاۤ اِلَی اللّٰہِ رٰغِبُوۡنَ ﴿٪۵۹﴾
And (better it would be) if they were content with what Allah and His Messenger gave them, and had said: Allah is sufficient for us, Allah will soon give us (more) out of His grace and His Messenger too — surely to Allah we make petition.
Section 8 (Verses 9:60–9:66): The Hypocrites
9:60
اِنَّمَا الصَّدَقٰتُ لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ وَ الۡمَسٰکِیۡنِ وَ الۡعٰمِلِیۡنَ عَلَیۡہَا وَ الۡمُؤَلَّفَۃِ قُلُوۡبُہُمۡ وَ فِی الرِّقَابِ وَ الۡغٰرِمِیۡنَ وَ فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ وَ ابۡنِ السَّبِیۡلِ ؕ فَرِیۡضَۃً مِّنَ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلِیۡمٌ حَکِیۡمٌ ﴿۶۰﴾
(The due) charity is only for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer it, and those whose hearts are made to incline (to truth), and (to free) the captives, and those in debt, and in the way of Allah and for the traveller — an ordinance from Allah. And Allah is Knowing, Wise.
The word ṣadaqāt, used here for charity, refers in this verse to the obligatory charity called zakāt, and not to voluntary alms which is its common meaning. This is shown by the concluding words of the verse, which call it an ordinance from Allah.
9:61
وَ مِنۡہُمُ الَّذِیۡنَ یُؤۡذُوۡنَ النَّبِیَّ وَ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ ہُوَ اُذُنٌ ؕ قُلۡ اُذُنُ خَیۡرٍ لَّکُمۡ یُؤۡمِنُ بِاللّٰہِ وَ یُؤۡمِنُ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ وَ رَحۡمَۃٌ لِّلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مِنۡکُمۡ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ یُؤۡذُوۡنَ رَسُوۡلَ اللّٰہِ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۶۱﴾
And some of them molest the Prophet and say, He is (all) ear. Say: A hearer of good for you — he believes in Allah and believes the faithful, and is a mercy for those of you who believe. And those who molest the Messenger of Allah, for them is a painful punishment.
The hypocrites made various derogatory remarks concerning the Holy Prophet, saying among other things, that he was a man who believed everything that he heard, and they were therefore sure that they would make him believe their hypocritical professions.
9:62
یَحۡلِفُوۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ لَکُمۡ لِیُرۡضُوۡکُمۡ ۚ وَ اللّٰہُ وَ رَسُوۡلُہٗۤ اَحَقُّ اَنۡ یُّرۡضُوۡہُ اِنۡ کَانُوۡا مُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۶۲﴾
They swear by Allah to you to please you; and Allah — as well as His Messenger — has a greater right that they should please Him, if they are believers.
Though Allah and His Messenger are both mentioned together, the duty of the faithful is here said to be to please Him, i.e. Allah alone.
9:63
اَلَمۡ یَعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّہٗ مَنۡ یُّحَادِدِ اللّٰہَ وَ رَسُوۡلَہٗ فَاَنَّ لَہٗ نَارَ جَہَنَّمَ خَالِدًا فِیۡہَا ؕ ذٰلِکَ الۡخِزۡیُ الۡعَظِیۡمُ ﴿۶۳﴾
Do they not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger, for him is the Fire of hell to abide in it? That is the grievous disgrace.
9:64
یَحۡذَرُ الۡمُنٰفِقُوۡنَ اَنۡ تُنَزَّلَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ سُوۡرَۃٌ تُنَبِّئُہُمۡ بِمَا فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ ؕ قُلِ اسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡا ۚ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ مُخۡرِجٌ مَّا تَحۡذَرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۴﴾
The hypocrites fear that a chapter may be sent down concerning them, telling them plainly of what is in their hearts. Say: Go on mocking, surely Allah will bring to light what you fear.
9:65
وَ لَئِنۡ سَاَلۡتَہُمۡ لَیَقُوۡلُنَّ اِنَّمَا کُنَّا نَخُوۡضُ وَ نَلۡعَبُ ؕ قُلۡ اَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ اٰیٰتِہٖ وَ رَسُوۡلِہٖ کُنۡتُمۡ تَسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡنَ ﴿۶۵﴾
And if you ask them, they would certainly say: We were only talking idly and sporting. Say: Was it Allah and His messages and His Messenger that you mocked?
9:66
لَا تَعۡتَذِرُوۡا قَدۡ کَفَرۡتُمۡ بَعۡدَ اِیۡمَانِکُمۡ ؕ اِنۡ نَّعۡفُ عَنۡ طَآئِفَۃٍ مِّنۡکُمۡ نُعَذِّبۡ طَآئِفَۃًۢ بِاَنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا مُجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۶۶﴾
Make no excuse, you disbelieved after your believing. If We pardon some of you, We shall punish others because they are guilty.
History shows that most of the hypocrites ultimately repented and sincerely joined the ranks of the faithful.
Section 9 (Verses 9:67–9:72): The Hypocrites
9:67
اَلۡمُنٰفِقُوۡنَ وَ الۡمُنٰفِقٰتُ بَعۡضُہُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡضٍ ۘ یَاۡمُرُوۡنَ بِالۡمُنۡکَرِ وَ یَنۡہَوۡنَ عَنِ الۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ وَ یَقۡبِضُوۡنَ اَیۡدِیَہُمۡ ؕ نَسُوا اللّٰہَ فَنَسِیَہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ ہُمُ الۡفٰسِقُوۡنَ ﴿۶۷﴾
The hypocrites, men and women, are all alike. They enjoin evil and forbid good and withhold their hands. They have forsaken Allah, so He has forsaken them. Surely the hypocrites are the transgressors.
9:68
وَعَدَ اللّٰہُ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ وَ الۡمُنٰفِقٰتِ وَ الۡکُفَّارَ نَارَ جَہَنَّمَ خٰلِدِیۡنَ فِیۡہَا ؕ ہِیَ حَسۡبُہُمۡ ۚ وَ لَعَنَہُمُ اللّٰہُ ۚ وَ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ مُّقِیۡمٌ ﴿ۙ۶۸﴾
Allah promises the hypocrites, men and women, and the disbelievers the Fire of hell to abide in it. It is enough for them. And Allah curses them, and for them is a lasting punishment.
9:69
کَالَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکُمۡ کَانُوۡۤا اَشَدَّ مِنۡکُمۡ قُوَّۃً وَّ اَکۡثَرَ اَمۡوَالًا وَّ اَوۡلَادًا ؕ فَاسۡتَمۡتَعُوۡا بِخَلَاقِہِمۡ فَاسۡتَمۡتَعۡتُمۡ بِخَلَاقِکُمۡ کَمَا اسۡتَمۡتَعَ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکُمۡ بِخَلَاقِہِمۡ وَ خُضۡتُمۡ کَالَّذِیۡ خَاضُوۡا ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ حَبِطَتۡ اَعۡمَالُہُمۡ فِی الدُّنۡیَا وَ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ۚ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡخٰسِرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۹﴾
Like those before you — they were stronger than you in power and had more wealth and children. So they enjoyed their portion; thus have you enjoyed your portion as those before you enjoyed their portion, and you indulge in idle talk as they did. These are they whose deeds are fruitless in this world and the Hereafter, and these are they who are the losers.
9:70
اَلَمۡ یَاۡتِہِمۡ نَبَاُ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ قَوۡمِ نُوۡحٍ وَّ عَادٍ وَّ ثَمُوۡدَ ۬ۙ وَ قَوۡمِ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ وَ اَصۡحٰبِ مَدۡیَنَ وَ الۡمُؤۡتَفِکٰتِ ؕ اَتَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُہُمۡ بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ ۚ فَمَا کَانَ اللّٰہُ لِیَظۡلِمَہُمۡ وَ لٰکِنۡ کَانُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ یَظۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۷۰﴾
Has not the story reached them of those before them — of the people of Noah and Ād and Thamūd, and the people of Abraham and the dwellers of Midian and the overthrown cities? Their messengers came to them with clear arguments. So Allah did not wrong them but they wronged themselves.
9:71
وَ الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ وَ الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتُ بَعۡضُہُمۡ اَوۡلِیَآءُ بَعۡضٍ ۘ یَاۡمُرُوۡنَ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ وَ یَنۡہَوۡنَ عَنِ الۡمُنۡکَرِ وَ یُقِیۡمُوۡنَ الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ یُؤۡتُوۡنَ الزَّکٰوۃَ وَ یُطِیۡعُوۡنَ اللّٰہَ وَ رَسُوۡلَہٗ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ سَیَرۡحَمُہُمُ اللّٰہُ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَزِیۡزٌ حَکِیۡمٌ ﴿۷۱﴾
And the believers, men and women, are friends of one another. They enjoin good and forbid evil and keep up prayer and give the due charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. As for these, Allah will have mercy on them. Surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.
9:72
وَعَدَ اللّٰہُ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ وَ الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ جَنّٰتٍ تَجۡرِیۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِہَا الۡاَنۡہٰرُ خٰلِدِیۡنَ فِیۡہَا وَ مَسٰکِنَ طَیِّبَۃً فِیۡ جَنّٰتِ عَدۡنٍ ؕ وَ رِضۡوَانٌ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ اَکۡبَرُ ؕ ذٰلِکَ ہُوَ الۡفَوۡزُ الۡعَظِیۡمُ ﴿٪۷۲﴾
Allah has promised to the believers, men and women, Gardens, in which rivers flow, to abide in them, and goodly dwellings in Gardens of perpetual abode. And greatest of all is Allah’s goodly pleasure. That is the mighty achievement.
Section 10 (Verses 9:73–9:80): The Hypocrites
9:73
یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّبِیُّ جَاہِدِ الۡکُفَّارَ وَ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ وَ اغۡلُظۡ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ وَ مَاۡوٰىہُمۡ جَہَنَّمُ ؕ وَ بِئۡسَ الۡمَصِیۡرُ ﴿۷۳﴾
O Prophet, strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be firm against them. And their abode is hell, and evil is the destination.
Jihād signifies striving hard. It is in a secondary sense that the word signifies fighting, and it is repeatedly used in the Quran in its primary significance. It is a fact that those who professed Islam insincerely were never fought against by the Muslims — as on this occasion and on the occasion of the battle of Uhud. The Holy Prophet is commanded here to carry on a jihad against disbelievers as well as hypocrites. Hence the only significance that can be attached to these words is that he must continue to exert himself hard in preaching both to the disbelievers and the hypocrites.
9:74
یَحۡلِفُوۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ مَا قَالُوۡا ؕ وَ لَقَدۡ قَالُوۡا کَلِمَۃَ الۡکُفۡرِ وَ کَفَرُوۡا بَعۡدَ اِسۡلَامِہِمۡ وَ ہَمُّوۡا بِمَا لَمۡ یَنَالُوۡا ۚ وَ مَا نَقَمُوۡۤا اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ اَغۡنٰہُمُ اللّٰہُ وَ رَسُوۡلُہٗ مِنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ ۚ فَاِنۡ یَّتُوۡبُوۡا یَکُ خَیۡرًا لَّہُمۡ ۚ وَ اِنۡ یَّتَوَلَّوۡا یُعَذِّبۡہُمُ اللّٰہُ عَذَابًا اَلِیۡمًا ۙ فِی الدُّنۡیَا وَ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ۚ وَ مَا لَہُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ مِنۡ وَّلِیٍّ وَّ لَا نَصِیۡرٍ ﴿۷۴﴾
They swear by Allah that they said nothing. And certainly they did speak the word of disbelief, and disbelieved after their Islam, and they aimed (to do) what they could not attain. And they sought revenge only because Allah — as well as His Messenger — had enriched them out of His grace. So if they repent, it will be good for them; and if they turn away, Allah will punish them with a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter; and they shall have in the earth neither a friend nor a helper.
They did their best to put an end to the life of the Holy Prophet and bring about the extirpation of Islam.
9:75
وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ عٰہَدَ اللّٰہَ لَئِنۡ اٰتٰىنَا مِنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَ لَنَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۷۵﴾
And some of them made a covenant with Allah: If He give us out of His grace, we will certainly give in charity and be of the righteous.
9:76
فَلَمَّاۤ اٰتٰہُمۡ مِّنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ بَخِلُوۡا بِہٖ وَ تَوَلَّوۡا وَّ ہُمۡ مُّعۡرِضُوۡنَ ﴿۷۶﴾
But when He gave them out of His grace, they became miserly with it and they turned away and they are averse.
9:77
فَاَعۡقَبَہُمۡ نِفَاقًا فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ اِلٰی یَوۡمِ یَلۡقَوۡنَہٗ بِمَاۤ اَخۡلَفُوا اللّٰہَ مَا وَعَدُوۡہُ وَ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَکۡذِبُوۡنَ ﴿۷۷﴾
So He repaid them with hypocrisy in their hearts till the day when they meet Him, because they broke their promise with Allah and because they lied.
9:78
اَلَمۡ یَعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّ اللّٰہَ یَعۡلَمُ سِرَّہُمۡ وَ نَجۡوٰىہُمۡ وَ اَنَّ اللّٰہَ عَلَّامُ الۡغُیُوۡبِ ﴿ۚ۷۸﴾
Do they not know that Allah knows their hidden thoughts and their secret counsels, and that Allah is the great Knower of the unseen things?
9:79
اَلَّذِیۡنَ یَلۡمِزُوۡنَ الۡمُطَّوِّعِیۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ فِی الصَّدَقٰتِ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یَجِدُوۡنَ اِلَّا جُہۡدَہُمۡ فَیَسۡخَرُوۡنَ مِنۡہُمۡ ؕ سَخِرَ اللّٰہُ مِنۡہُمۡ ۫ وَ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۷۹﴾
Those who taunt the free givers of charity among the believers as well as those who cannot find anything (to give) but with their hard labour — they scoff at them. Allah will pay them back their mockery; and for them is a painful punishment.
When subscriptions were raised for the expedition to Tabūk, the wealthier members of the Muslim community gave large donations, while the poorer ones, the labourers, also paid their mite out of their hard earnings. The hypocrites taunted both, the former as making a show of their wealth, the latter as bringing in their small subscriptions only to be counted among the subscribers.
9:80
اِسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَہُمۡ اَوۡ لَا تَسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَہُمۡ ؕ اِنۡ تَسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَہُمۡ سَبۡعِیۡنَ مَرَّۃً فَلَنۡ یَّغۡفِرَ اللّٰہُ لَہُمۡ ؕ ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمۡ کَفَرُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ وَ رَسُوۡلِہٖ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ لَا یَہۡدِی الۡقَوۡمَ الۡفٰسِقِیۡنَ ﴿٪۸۰﴾
Ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them. Even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will not forgive them. This is because they disbelieve in Allah and His Messenger. And Allah does not guide the transgressing people.
Spiritual relations with the hypocrites were henceforth cut off. The mention of seventy may not indicate the specific number here. When Abdullah ibn Ubayy, the recognized leader of the hypocrites, died, the Holy Prophet was asked to conduct the burial service. The Holy Prophet got up, but Umar objected on the ground that Abdullah was a hypocrite, and referred to his hostile attitude throughout his life. The Holy Prophet replied that Allah had given him a choice (referring to the words of this verse: Ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them), and that he would ask forgiveness for him for over seventy times, so that forgiveness could be extended to the dead man. Then he offered prayers for him. Verse 84 is said to have been revealed then to stop the offering of prayers for those who were known to be hypocrites (Bukhari, 23:84). The incident shows how kind and forgiving the Holy Prophet was to his severest enemies. Abdullah ibn Ubayy was the man who had led the hypocrite movement against him, and thus was not only one of his worst enemies, but a most dangerous one, because he was aware of all the movements of the Muslims and deceived them at the most critical moments. Yet the Holy Prophet forgave him entirely.
Section 11 (Verses 9:81–9:89): The Hypocrites
9:81
فَرِحَ الۡمُخَلَّفُوۡنَ بِمَقۡعَدِہِمۡ خِلٰفَ رَسُوۡلِ اللّٰہِ وَ کَرِہُوۡۤا اَنۡ یُّجَاہِدُوۡا بِاَمۡوَالِہِمۡ وَ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ وَ قَالُوۡا لَا تَنۡفِرُوۡا فِی الۡحَرِّ ؕ قُلۡ نَارُ جَہَنَّمَ اَشَدُّ حَرًّا ؕ لَوۡ کَانُوۡا یَفۡقَہُوۡنَ ﴿۸۱﴾
Those who were left behind were glad on account of their remaining behind Allah’s Messenger, and they disliked to strive in Allah’s way with their property and their persons, and said: Do not go forth in the heat. Say: The Fire of hell is fiercer in heat. If only they could understand!
9:82
فَلۡیَضۡحَکُوۡا قَلِیۡلًا وَّ لۡیَبۡکُوۡا کَثِیۡرًا ۚ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَکۡسِبُوۡنَ ﴿۸۲﴾
Then let them laugh a little and weep much — a recompense for what they earned.
9:83
فَاِنۡ رَّجَعَکَ اللّٰہُ اِلٰی طَآئِفَۃٍ مِّنۡہُمۡ فَاسۡتَاۡذَنُوۡکَ لِلۡخُرُوۡجِ فَقُلۡ لَّنۡ تَخۡرُجُوۡا مَعِیَ اَبَدًا وَّ لَنۡ تُقَاتِلُوۡا مَعِیَ عَدُوًّا ؕ اِنَّکُمۡ رَضِیۡتُمۡ بِالۡقُعُوۡدِ اَوَّلَ مَرَّۃٍ فَاقۡعُدُوۡا مَعَ الۡخٰلِفِیۡنَ ﴿۸۳﴾
So if Allah bring you back to some of them, then they ask your permission to go forth, say: Never shall you go forth with me and never shall you fight an enemy with me. You chose to sit (at home) the first time, so sit (now) with those who remain behind.
This is the only punishment given to the hypocrites, namely, that they were not allowed to take part in future expeditions against the enemies of the Muslims. It is also related that from one of them the Holy Prophet and the three Caliphs who followed him refused to accept the zakāt. These were the only disadvantages, if it is right to call them so, which the hypocrites suffered. They were not looked upon as members of the Muslim community, but as citizens they enjoyed all the rights of other citizens.
9:84
وَ لَا تُصَلِّ عَلٰۤی اَحَدٍ مِّنۡہُمۡ مَّاتَ اَبَدًا وَّ لَا تَقُمۡ عَلٰی قَبۡرِہٖ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ کَفَرُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ وَ رَسُوۡلِہٖ وَ مَا تُوۡا وَ ہُمۡ فٰسِقُوۡنَ ﴿۸۴﴾
And never offer prayer for anyone of them who dies, nor stand by his grave. Surely they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and they died in transgression.
The Prophet is now told that, though they professed Islam outwardly, they were disbelievers at heart, and the burial service, which was only for Muslims, should not be extended to them. But it was through Divine revelation that the Prophet learnt that they were really disbelievers. It is, further, clear from these words that those who were known to be hypocrites were not fought against but lived to die a natural death. There is not a single case on record of any one of them having been put to death. Standing by the grave refers to the Holy Prophet’s practice of praying for the deceased standing by his grave after the burial.
9:85
وَ لَا تُعۡجِبۡکَ اَمۡوَالُہُمۡ وَ اَوۡلَادُہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّمَا یُرِیۡدُ اللّٰہُ اَنۡ یُّعَذِّبَہُمۡ بِہَا فِی الدُّنۡیَا وَ تَزۡہَقَ اَنۡفُسُہُمۡ وَ ہُمۡ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۸۵﴾
And do not let their wealth and their children excite your admiration. Allah only intends to punish them thereby in this world, and (that) their souls may depart while they are disbelievers.
9:86
وَ اِذَاۤ اُنۡزِلَتۡ سُوۡرَۃٌ اَنۡ اٰمِنُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ وَ جَاہِدُوۡا مَعَ رَسُوۡلِہِ اسۡتَاۡذَنَکَ اُولُوا الطَّوۡلِ مِنۡہُمۡ وَ قَالُوۡا ذَرۡنَا نَکُنۡ مَّعَ الۡقٰعِدِیۡنَ ﴿۸۶﴾
And when a chapter is revealed, saying, Believe in Allah and strive hard along with His Messenger, the wealthy among them ask permission of you and say: Leave us (behind), that we may be with those who sit (at home).
9:87
رَضُوۡا بِاَنۡ یَّکُوۡنُوۡا مَعَ الۡخَوَالِفِ وَ طُبِعَ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ فَہُمۡ لَا یَفۡقَہُوۡنَ ﴿۸۷﴾
They prefer to be with those who remain behind, and their hearts are sealed so they do not understand.
9:88
لٰکِنِ الرَّسُوۡلُ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مَعَہٗ جٰہَدُوۡا بِاَمۡوَالِہِمۡ وَ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ ؕ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ لَہُمُ الۡخَیۡرٰتُ ۫ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۸۸﴾
But the Messenger and those who believe with him strive hard with their property and their persons. And these it is for whom are the good things and these it is who are successful.
9:89
اَعَدَّ اللّٰہُ لَہُمۡ جَنّٰتٍ تَجۡرِیۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِہَا الۡاَنۡہٰرُ خٰلِدِیۡنَ فِیۡہَا ؕ ذٰلِکَ الۡفَوۡزُ الۡعَظِیۡمُ ﴿٪۸۹﴾
Allah has prepared for them Gardens in which rivers flow, to abide therein. That is the mighty achievement.
Section 12 (Verses 9:90–9:99): The Hypocrites
9:90
وَ جَآءَ الۡمُعَذِّرُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡاَعۡرَابِ لِیُؤۡذَنَ لَہُمۡ وَ قَعَدَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَبُوا اللّٰہَ وَ رَسُوۡلَہٗ ؕ سَیُصِیۡبُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مِنۡہُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۹۰﴾
And the defaulters from among the dwellers of the desert came that permission might be given to them, and they sat (at home) who lied to Allah and His Messenger. A painful punishment will afflict those of them who disbelieve.
9:91
لَیۡسَ عَلَی الضُّعَفَآءِ وَ لَا عَلَی الۡمَرۡضٰی وَ لَا عَلَی الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یَجِدُوۡنَ مَا یُنۡفِقُوۡنَ حَرَجٌ اِذَا نَصَحُوۡا لِلّٰہِ وَ رَسُوۡلِہٖ ؕ مَا عَلَی الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ مِنۡ سَبِیۡلٍ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿ۙ۹۱﴾
No blame lies on the weak, nor on the sick, nor on those who can find nothing to spend, if they are sincere to Allah and His Messenger. There is no way (to blame) against the doers of good. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful —
9:92
وَّ لَا عَلَی الَّذِیۡنَ اِذَا مَاۤ اَتَوۡکَ لِتَحۡمِلَہُمۡ قُلۡتَ لَاۤ اَجِدُ مَاۤ اَحۡمِلُکُمۡ عَلَیۡہِ ۪ تَوَلَّوۡا وَّ اَعۡیُنُہُمۡ تَفِیۡضُ مِنَ الدَّمۡعِ حَزَنًا اَلَّا یَجِدُوۡا مَا یُنۡفِقُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۹۲﴾
nor on those to whom, when they came to you that you should carry them, you said: I cannot find anything on which to carry you. They went back, their eyes overflowing with tears of grief that they could not find anything to spend.
What they wanted in order to join the expedition, and what the Holy Prophet could not find for them, were beasts on which they should be carried, along with their provisions and necessaries. See also 19:27 footnote 1.
9:93
اِنَّمَا السَّبِیۡلُ عَلَی الَّذِیۡنَ یَسۡتَاۡذِنُوۡنَکَ وَ ہُمۡ اَغۡنِیَآءُ ۚ رَضُوۡا بِاَنۡ یَّکُوۡنُوۡا مَعَ الۡخَوَالِفِ ۙ وَ طَبَعَ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ فَہُمۡ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۹۳﴾
The way (to blame) is only against those who ask permission of you, though they are rich. They have chosen to be with those who remained behind; and Allah has sealed their hearts, so they do not know.
9:94
یَعۡتَذِرُوۡنَ اِلَیۡکُمۡ اِذَا رَجَعۡتُمۡ اِلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ قُلۡ لَّا تَعۡتَذِرُوۡا لَنۡ نُّؤۡمِنَ لَکُمۡ قَدۡ نَبَّاَنَا اللّٰہُ مِنۡ اَخۡبَارِکُمۡ ؕ وَ سَیَرَی اللّٰہُ عَمَلَکُمۡ وَ رَسُوۡلُہٗ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّوۡنَ اِلٰی عٰلِمِ الۡغَیۡبِ وَ الشَّہَادَۃِ فَیُنَبِّئُکُمۡ بِمَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۹۴﴾
They will make excuses to you when you return to them. Say: Make no excuse, we shall not believe you; Allah has informed us of matters relating to you. And Allah and His Messenger will now see your actions, then you will be brought back to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, then He will inform you of what you did.
Evidently these verses were revealed when the Holy Prophet was away from Madinah, and the statements made in them are therefore prophetical, being exactly fulfilled on his return.
9:95
سَیَحۡلِفُوۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ لَکُمۡ اِذَا انۡقَلَبۡتُمۡ اِلَیۡہِمۡ لِتُعۡرِضُوۡا عَنۡہُمۡ ؕ فَاَعۡرِضُوۡا عَنۡہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ رِجۡسٌ ۫ وَّ مَاۡوٰىہُمۡ جَہَنَّمُ ۚ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَکۡسِبُوۡنَ ﴿۹۵﴾
They will swear by Allah to you, when you return to them, so that you may leave them alone. So leave them alone. Surely they are unclean and their refuge is hell — a recompense for what they earned.
On his return from Tabūk, the Holy Prophet forbade Muslims to have any relations with the hypocrites.
9:96
یَحۡلِفُوۡنَ لَکُمۡ لِتَرۡضَوۡا عَنۡہُمۡ ۚ فَاِنۡ تَرۡضَوۡا عَنۡہُمۡ فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَرۡضٰی عَنِ الۡقَوۡمِ الۡفٰسِقِیۡنَ ﴿۹۶﴾
They will swear to you that you may be pleased with them. But if you are pleased with them, yet surely Allah is not pleased with the transgressing people.
9:97
اَلۡاَعۡرَابُ اَشَدُّ کُفۡرًا وَّ نِفَاقًا وَّ اَجۡدَرُ اَلَّا یَعۡلَمُوۡا حُدُوۡدَ مَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی رَسُوۡلِہٖ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلِیۡمٌ حَکِیۡمٌ ﴿۹۷﴾
The dwellers of the desert are hardest in disbelief and hypocrisy, and most disposed not to know the limits of what Allah has revealed to His Messenger. And Allah is Knowing, Wise.
9:98
وَ مِنَ الۡاَعۡرَابِ مَنۡ یَّتَّخِذُ مَا یُنۡفِقُ مَغۡرَمًا وَّ یَتَرَبَّصُ بِکُمُ الدَّوَآئِرَ ؕ عَلَیۡہِمۡ دَآئِرَۃُ السَّوۡءِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ سَمِیۡعٌ عَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۹۸﴾
And some of the dwellers of the desert take what they spend to be a fine, and they wait for an evil turn of fortune for you. On them is the evil turn. And Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
The hypocrites had to contribute something for the sake of appearance; they also paid the zakāt so that they might be treated as Muslims.
9:99
وَ مِنَ الۡاَعۡرَابِ مَنۡ یُّؤۡمِنُ بِاللّٰہِ وَ الۡیَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ وَ یَتَّخِذُ مَا یُنۡفِقُ قُرُبٰتٍ عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ وَ صَلَوٰتِ الرَّسُوۡلِ ؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّہَا قُرۡبَۃٌ لَّہُمۡ ؕ سَیُدۡخِلُہُمُ اللّٰہُ فِیۡ رَحۡمَتِہٖ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿٪۹۹﴾
And some of the dwellers of the desert believe in Allah and the Last Day, and consider what they spend and the prayers of the Messenger as bringing them nearer to Allah. Surely they bring them nearer (to Allah); Allah will admit them into His mercy. Surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Section 13 (Verses 9:100–9:110): The Hypocrites
9:100
وَ السّٰبِقُوۡنَ الۡاَوَّلُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُہٰجِرِیۡنَ وَ الۡاَنۡصَارِ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّبَعُوۡہُمۡ بِاِحۡسَانٍ ۙ رَّضِیَ اللّٰہُ عَنۡہُمۡ وَ رَضُوۡا عَنۡہُ وَ اَعَدَّ لَہُمۡ جَنّٰتٍ تَجۡرِیۡ تَحۡتَہَا الۡاَنۡہٰرُ خٰلِدِیۡنَ فِیۡہَاۤ اَبَدًا ؕ ذٰلِکَ الۡفَوۡزُ الۡعَظِیۡمُ ﴿۱۰۰﴾
And the foremost, the first of the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them in goodness — Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them Gardens in which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. That is the mighty achievement.
In the history of Islam, the word ‘Emigrants’ (muhājirīn) came to signify all those Companions of the Holy Prophet who, having embraced Islam at Makkah, had to flee from their homes either to Abyssinia (present day Ethiopia) or to Madinah. The latter flight, including nearly all the Muslims of Makkah, is known as the Hijra or Flight, and the Muslim era dates from it. The word ‘Helpers’ (Anṣār) signifies the Muslims of Madinah who, having accepted Islam before the Flight, gave shelter to those who fled from Makkah. By “those who followed them in goodness” are meant the Muslims who came after the Companions and followed their good deeds.
9:101
وَ مِمَّنۡ حَوۡلَکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡاَعۡرَابِ مُنٰفِقُوۡنَ ؕۛ وَ مِنۡ اَہۡلِ الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ ۟ۛؔ مَرَدُوۡا عَلَی النِّفَاقِ ۟ لَا تَعۡلَمُہُمۡ ؕ نَحۡنُ نَعۡلَمُہُمۡ ؕ سَنُعَذِّبُہُمۡ مَّرَّتَیۡنِ ثُمَّ یُرَدُّوۡنَ اِلٰی عَذَابٍ عَظِیۡمٍ ﴿۱۰۱﴾ۚ
And some of the dwellers of the desert around you are hypocrites; and some of the people of Madinah (also) — they persist in hypocrisy. You do not know them; We know them. We will punish them twice, then they will be turned back to a severe punishment.
The insincerity of the heart could not be known to a mortal — it is known only to Allah.
9:102
وَ اٰخَرُوۡنَ اعۡتَرَفُوۡا بِذُنُوۡبِہِمۡ خَلَطُوۡا عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَّ اٰخَرَ سَیِّئًا ؕ عَسَی اللّٰہُ اَنۡ یَّتُوۡبَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۰۲﴾
And others have acknowledged their faults — they mixed a good deed with another that was evil. It may be that Allah will turn to them (mercifully). Surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
According to different reports, the number of these men varied from three to ten. They were sincere and acknowledged their fault.
9:103
خُذۡ مِنۡ اَمۡوَالِہِمۡ صَدَقَۃً تُطَہِّرُہُمۡ وَ تُزَکِّیۡہِمۡ بِہَا وَ صَلِّ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ اِنَّ صَلٰوتَکَ سَکَنٌ لَّہُمۡ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ سَمِیۡعٌ عَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۰۳﴾
Take charity out of their property — you would cleanse them and purify them thereby — and pray for them. Surely your prayer is a relief to them. And Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
Because they showed sincerity in confessing their faults, they were dealt with leniently. Their charity was not to be rejected.
9:104
اَلَمۡ یَعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّ اللّٰہَ ہُوَ یَقۡبَلُ التَّوۡبَۃَ عَنۡ عِبَادِہٖ وَ یَاۡخُذُ الصَّدَقٰتِ وَ اَنَّ اللّٰہَ ہُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِیۡمُ ﴿۱۰۴﴾
Do they not know that Allah is He Who accepts repentance from His servants and takes the charity, and that Allah — He is the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful?
9:105
وَ قُلِ اعۡمَلُوۡا فَسَیَرَی اللّٰہُ عَمَلَکُمۡ وَ رَسُوۡلُہٗ وَ الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ؕ وَ سَتُرَدُّوۡنَ اِلٰی عٰلِمِ الۡغَیۡبِ وَ الشَّہَادَۃِ فَیُنَبِّئُکُمۡ بِمَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۵﴾ۚ
And say, Work; so Allah will see your work and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, then He will inform you of what you did.
9:106
وَ اٰخَرُوۡنَ مُرۡجَوۡنَ لِاَمۡرِ اللّٰہِ اِمَّا یُعَذِّبُہُمۡ وَ اِمَّا یَتُوۡبُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلِیۡمٌ حَکِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۰۶﴾
And others are made to await Allah’s command, whether He will punish them or turn to them (mercifully). And Allah is Knowing, Wise.
This is generally supposed to refer to three of the believers who held back from the expedition (Bukhari, 64:81).
9:107
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّخَذُوۡا مَسۡجِدًا ضِرَارًا وَّ کُفۡرًا وَّ تَفۡرِیۡقًۢا بَیۡنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ وَ اِرۡصَادًا لِّمَنۡ حَارَبَ اللّٰہَ وَ رَسُوۡلَہٗ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ؕ وَ لَیَحۡلِفُنَّ اِنۡ اَرَدۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡحُسۡنٰی ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ یَشۡہَدُ اِنَّہُمۡ لَکٰذِبُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۷﴾
And those who built a mosque to cause harm (to Islam) and (to help) disbelief, and to cause disunion among the believers, and a refuge for him who made war against Allah and His Messenger before. And they will certainly swear: We desired nothing but good. And Allah bears witness that they are certainly liars.
Some hypocrites built a mosque at the instigation of Abu Āmir, with the object of causing harm to that mosque. Abu Āmir, who after fighting against the Holy Prophet for a long time, had fled to Syria after the battle of Hunain, had written to his friends at Madinah that he was coming with a formidable army to crush the Prophet, and that they should build a mosque for him. But Abu Āmir died in Syria, and the founders desired the Holy Prophet to give it a blessing by his presence, which he was forbidden to do by Divine revelation, and the mosque was demolished.
9:108
لَا تَقُمۡ فِیۡہِ اَبَدًا ؕ لَمَسۡجِدٌ اُسِّسَ عَلَی التَّقۡوٰی مِنۡ اَوَّلِ یَوۡمٍ اَحَقُّ اَنۡ تَقُوۡمَ فِیۡہِ ؕ فِیۡہِ رِجَالٌ یُّحِبُّوۡنَ اَنۡ یَّتَطَہَّرُوۡا ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ یُحِبُّ الۡمُطَّہِّرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۸﴾
Never stand in it. Certainly a mosque founded on observance of duty from the first day is more deserving that you should stand in it. In it are men who love to purify themselves. And Allah loves those who purify themselves.
The words are general and every mosque raised for the service of Allah may be included in this description.
9:109
اَفَمَنۡ اَسَّسَ بُنۡیَانَہٗ عَلٰی تَقۡوٰی مِنَ اللّٰہِ وَ رِضۡوَانٍ خَیۡرٌ اَمۡ مَّنۡ اَسَّسَ بُنۡیَانَہٗ عَلٰی شَفَا جُرُفٍ ہَارٍ فَانۡہَارَ بِہٖ فِیۡ نَارِ جَہَنَّمَ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ لَا یَہۡدِی الۡقَوۡمَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۹﴾
Is he, then, who lays his foundation on duty to Allah and (His) good pleasure better, or he who lays his foundation on the edge of a cracking hollowed bank, so it broke down with him into the Fire of hell? And Allah does not guide the unjust people.
9:110
لَا یَزَالُ بُنۡیَانُہُمُ الَّذِیۡ بَنَوۡا رِیۡبَۃً فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ تَقَطَّعَ قُلُوۡبُہُمۡ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلِیۡمٌ حَکِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۱۰﴾٪
The building which they have built will ever continue to be a source of disquiet in their hearts, unless their hearts be torn to pieces. And Allah is Knowing, Wise.
Their hearts could be torn to pieces by severe regret or by sincere repentance.
Section 14 (Verses 9:111–9:118): The Faithful
9:111
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ اشۡتَرٰی مِنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ وَ اَمۡوَالَہُمۡ بِاَنَّ لَہُمُ الۡجَنَّۃَ ؕ یُقَاتِلُوۡنَ فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ فَیَقۡتُلُوۡنَ وَ یُقۡتَلُوۡنَ ۟ وَعۡدًا عَلَیۡہِ حَقًّا فِی التَّوۡرٰىۃِ وَ الۡاِنۡجِیۡلِ وَ الۡقُرۡاٰنِ ؕ وَ مَنۡ اَوۡفٰی بِعَہۡدِہٖ مِنَ اللّٰہِ فَاسۡتَبۡشِرُوۡا بِبَیۡعِکُمُ الَّذِیۡ بَایَعۡتُمۡ بِہٖ ؕ وَ ذٰلِکَ ہُوَ الۡفَوۡزُ الۡعَظِیۡمُ ﴿۱۱۱﴾
Surely Allah has bought from the believers their persons and their property — theirs (in return) is the Garden. They fight in Allah’s way, so they kill and are killed. It is a promise which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Quran. And who is more faithful to his promise than Allah? Rejoice therefore in your bargain which you have made. And that is the mighty achievement.
The promise binding on Allah is that Allah will grant the believers His blessings, if they exert themselves with their persons and their property in His way. The Gospels give the same promise: “If you want to be perfect”, said Jesus to a wealthy man, “go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Matthew, 19:21). To Peter he said: “everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life” (Matthew, 19:29). Moses’ teaching contains similar promises. For instance, the promise of “a land flowing with milk and honey” is made conditional on “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy, 6:3–5), which is the same as exerting oneself to the utmost in the way of God with one’s person and property. It should be borne in mind that the words, they fight in Allah’s way, so they kill and are killed, are not a part of the promise, but are expressive of the condition of the Companions, and show that they were true to their promise. The promise to spend one’s person and property may be carried out in various ways under different circumstances, and the Companions of the Holy Prophet were as true to this promise during the thirteen years at Makkah as during the ten years at Madinah.
9:112
اَلتَّآئِبُوۡنَ الۡعٰبِدُوۡنَ الۡحٰمِدُوۡنَ السَّآئِحُوۡنَ الرّٰکِعُوۡنَ السّٰجِدُوۡنَ الۡاٰمِرُوۡنَ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ وَ النَّاہُوۡنَ عَنِ الۡمُنۡکَرِ وَ الۡحٰفِظُوۡنَ لِحُدُوۡدِ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ بَشِّرِ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۲﴾
They who turn (to Allah), who serve (Him), who praise (Him), who fast, who bow down, who prostrate themselves, who enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and who keep the limits of Allah — and give good news to the believers.
9:113
مَا کَانَ لِلنَّبِیِّ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اَنۡ یَّسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡا لِلۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ وَ لَوۡ کَانُوۡۤا اُولِیۡ قُرۡبٰی مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَیَّنَ لَہُمۡ اَنَّہُمۡ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡجَحِیۡمِ ﴿۱۱۳﴾
It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness for those who set up partners (with Allah), even though they should be near relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of the flaming fire.
This verse does not prohibit praying for the forgiveness of the disbelievers in general, but only such disbelievers about whom it became clear that they were doomed to the Fire. When the Holy Prophet was asked to pray for the destruction of a people who were fighting against him, he prayed thus: “My Lord, forgive them because they do not know”. So long as a man is alive, however hard he may be in his disbelief, it is not forbidden to pray for his forgiveness or guidance. But when he is dead, God will deal with him as He pleases, and He is the most Merciful of all merciful ones. According to a hadith, after all intercessions have taken place, the most Merciful of all will take a handful — and the handful with God is as vast as the heavens and the earth (39:67) — out of hell and throw them into the river of Life, and these would be the people who never did any good (Bukhari 98:24). But under this verse the burial service, which is a prayer for forgiveness, is held only for Muslims, and not for those who die in disbelief.
9:114
وَ مَا کَانَ اسۡتِغۡفَارُ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ لِاَبِیۡہِ اِلَّا عَنۡ مَّوۡعِدَۃٍ وَّعَدَہَاۤ اِیَّاہُ ۚ فَلَمَّا تَبَیَّنَ لَہٗۤ اَنَّہٗ عَدُوٌّ لِّلّٰہِ تَبَرَّاَ مِنۡہُ ؕ اِنَّ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ لَاَوَّاہٌ حَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۱۴﴾
And Abraham’s asking forgiveness for his sire was only owing to a promise which he had made to him; but when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he dissociated himself from him. Surely Abraham was tender-hearted, forbearing.
9:115
وَ مَا کَانَ اللّٰہُ لِیُضِلَّ قَوۡمًۢا بَعۡدَ اِذۡ ہَدٰىہُمۡ حَتّٰی یُبَیِّنَ لَہُمۡ مَّا یَتَّقُوۡنَ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ بِکُلِّ شَیۡءٍ عَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۱۵﴾
And it is not (attribu-table to) Allah that He should lead a people astray after He has guided them, so far so that He makes clear to them what they should guard against. Surely Allah is Knower of all things.
This verse establishes in clear words that Allah never leads a people astray; and how could He lead astray, says the Quran, when He it is Who gives them guidance, and makes clear to them the evils they should guard against?
9:116
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَہٗ مُلۡکُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ یُحۡیٖ وَ یُمِیۡتُ ؕ وَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ مِنۡ وَّلِیٍّ وَّ لَا نَصِیۡرٍ ﴿۱۱۶﴾
Surely Allah’s is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He gives life and causes death. And besides Allah you have no friend nor helper.
9:117
لَقَدۡ تَّابَ اللّٰہُ عَلَی النَّبِیِّ وَ الۡمُہٰجِرِیۡنَ وَ الۡاَنۡصَارِ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّبَعُوۡہُ فِیۡ سَاعَۃِ الۡعُسۡرَۃِ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا کَادَ یَزِیۡغُ قُلُوۡبُ فَرِیۡقٍ مِّنۡہُمۡ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ بِہِمۡ رَءُوۡفٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۱۷﴾ۙ
Certainly Allah has turned in mercy to the Prophet and the Emigrants and the Helpers who followed him in the hour of hardship, after the hearts of a group of them were about to deviate; then He turned to them in mercy. Surely to them He is Compassionate, Merciful;
Taubah on the part of Allah means His turning to His servant and changing one state to another which is higher than it. Allah’s turning mercifully is in relation to the Prophet and those sincere believers who are plainly stated to have followed the Prophet in the hour of difficulty. The group whose hearts were about to deviate is referred to in the next verse.
9:118
وَّ عَلَی الثَّلٰثَۃِ الَّذِیۡنَ خُلِّفُوۡا ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَا ضَاقَتۡ عَلَیۡہِمُ الۡاَرۡضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتۡ وَ ضَاقَتۡ عَلَیۡہِمۡ اَنۡفُسُہُمۡ وَ ظَنُّوۡۤا اَنۡ لَّا مَلۡجَاَ مِنَ اللّٰہِ اِلَّاۤ اِلَیۡہِ ؕ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ لِیَتُوۡبُوۡا ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ ہُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِیۡمُ ﴿۱۱۸﴾٪
and (He turned in mercy) to the three who were left behind; until the earth, vast as it is, became narrow to them and their souls were also narrowed to them; and they knew that there was no refuge from Allah but in Him. Then He turned to them in mercy that they might turn (to Him). Surely Allah — He is the Oft-returning to mercy, the Merciful.
These were three men from among the Anṣār, referred to in v. 106. The words were left behind may mean left behind with respect to the commandment of Allah concerning them, as v. 106 speaks of them as being “made to await Allah’s command”. They remained cut off from all relations with the Muslims for fifty days. Ka‘b ibn Mālik, one of the three men, was a man of importance, and when he received a letter from the king of Ghassān, offering him a position under him if he deserted the Prophet, he burned the letter, showing his contempt for the offer, and gave no reply.
Section 15 (Verses 9:119–9:122): What the Faithful should Do
9:119
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ وَ کُوۡنُوۡا مَعَ الصّٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۹﴾
O you who believe, keep your duty to Allah and be with the truthful.
9:120
مَا کَانَ لِاَہۡلِ الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ وَ مَنۡ حَوۡلَہُمۡ مِّنَ الۡاَعۡرَابِ اَنۡ یَّتَخَلَّفُوۡا عَنۡ رَّسُوۡلِ اللّٰہِ وَ لَا یَرۡغَبُوۡا بِاَنۡفُسِہِمۡ عَنۡ نَّفۡسِہٖ ؕ ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمۡ لَا یُصِیۡبُہُمۡ ظَمَاٌ وَّ لَا نَصَبٌ وَّ لَا مَخۡمَصَۃٌ فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ وَ لَا یَطَـُٔوۡنَ مَوۡطِئًا یَّغِیۡظُ الۡکُفَّارَ وَ لَا یَنَالُوۡنَ مِنۡ عَدُوٍّ نَّیۡلًا اِلَّا کُتِبَ لَہُمۡ بِہٖ عَمَلٌ صَالِحٌ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یُضِیۡعُ اَجۡرَ الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۲۰﴾ۙ
It was not proper for the people of Madinah and those round about them of the dwellers of the desert to remain behind the Messenger of Allah, nor to prefer their own lives to his life. That is because neither thirst nor fatigue nor hunger afflicts them in Allah’s way, nor do they tread a path which enrages the disbelievers, nor do they cause any harm to an enemy, but a good work is written down for them on account of it. Surely Allah does not waste the reward of the doers of good;
The meaning is that they should neither desire rest for themselves, nor comfort, nor protection, in preference to the Prophet; in other words, they should accompany him in difficulty and distress.
9:121
وَ لَا یُنۡفِقُوۡنَ نَفَقَۃً صَغِیۡرَۃً وَّ لَا کَبِیۡرَۃً وَّ لَا یَقۡطَعُوۡنَ وَادِیًا اِلَّا کُتِبَ لَہُمۡ لِیَجۡزِیَہُمُ اللّٰہُ اَحۡسَنَ مَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲۱﴾
nor do they spend anything, small or great, nor do they traverse a valley but it is written down for them, that Allah may reward them for the best of what they did.
9:122
وَ مَا کَانَ الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ لِیَنۡفِرُوۡا کَآفَّۃً ؕ فَلَوۡ لَا نَفَرَ مِنۡ کُلِّ فِرۡقَۃٍ مِّنۡہُمۡ طَآئِفَۃٌ لِّیَتَفَقَّہُوۡا فِی الدِّیۡنِ وَ لِیُنۡذِرُوۡا قَوۡمَہُمۡ اِذَا رَجَعُوۡۤا اِلَیۡہِمۡ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَحۡذَرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲۲﴾٪
And the believers should not go forth all together. Why, then, does not a group 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?
In the midst of the ordinances relating to fighting, the Quran introduces the subject of the preparation of a missionary force, thus showing that this was the greatest necessity of Islam. It was only by means of a missionary effort that truth could be spread, and the ultimate object was not to be lost sight of, even when the community was engaged in a life-and-death struggle against overwhelming forces of the enemy.
Section 16 (Verses 9:123–9:129): The Prophet’s Great Anxiety
9:123
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا قَاتِلُوا الَّذِیۡنَ یَلُوۡنَکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡکُفَّارِ وَ لۡیَجِدُوۡا فِیۡکُمۡ غِلۡظَۃً ؕ وَ اعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّ اللّٰہَ مَعَ الۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ ﴿۱۲۳﴾
O you who believe, fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you and let them find firmness in you. And know that Allah is with those who keep their duty.
Because it was those who were near who persecuted the Muslims. The object was to stop persecution. Muslims must be firm and not yield to them.
9:124
وَ اِذَا مَاۤ اُنۡزِلَتۡ سُوۡرَۃٌ فَمِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ یَّقُوۡلُ اَیُّکُمۡ زَادَتۡہُ ہٰذِہٖۤ اِیۡمَانًا ۚ فَاَمَّا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا فَزَادَتۡہُمۡ اِیۡمَانًا وَّ ہُمۡ یَسۡتَبۡشِرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲۴﴾
And whenever a chapter is revealed, there are some of them who say: Which of you has it strengthened in faith? So as for those who believe, it strengthens them in faith and they rejoice.
9:125
وَ اَمَّا الَّذِیۡنَ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَتۡہُمۡ رِجۡسًا اِلٰی رِجۡسِہِمۡ وَ مَا تُوۡا وَ ہُمۡ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲۵﴾
And as for those in whose hearts is a disease, it adds uncleanness to their uncleanness, and they die while they are disbelievers.
The uncleanness of their hearts increased with new revelation, because it increased them in stubbornness, and their hearts were more and more hardened against truth. See also 71:6 footnote.
9:126
اَوَ لَا یَرَوۡنَ اَنَّہُمۡ یُفۡتَنُوۡنَ فِیۡ کُلِّ عَامٍ مَّرَّۃً اَوۡ مَرَّتَیۡنِ ثُمَّ لَا یَتُوۡبُوۡنَ وَ لَا ہُمۡ یَذَّکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲۶﴾
Do they not see that they are tried once or twice in every year, yet they do not repent, nor do they become mindful.
These trials consisted of the expeditions which the Muslims had to undertake every now and then, and in which the hypocrites were distinguished from the true believers.
9:127
وَ اِذَا مَاۤ اُنۡزِلَتۡ سُوۡرَۃٌ نَّظَرَ بَعۡضُہُمۡ اِلٰی بَعۡضٍ ؕ ہَلۡ یَرٰىکُمۡ مِّنۡ اَحَدٍ ثُمَّ انۡصَرَفُوۡا ؕ صَرَفَ اللّٰہُ قُلُوۡبَہُمۡ بِاَنَّہُمۡ قَوۡمٌ لَّا یَفۡقَہُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲۷﴾
And whenever a chapter is revealed, they look at one another: Does anyone see you? Then they turn away. Allah has turned away their hearts because they are a people who do not understand.
9:128
لَقَدۡ جَآءَکُمۡ رَسُوۡلٌ مِّنۡ اَنۡفُسِکُمۡ عَزِیۡزٌ عَلَیۡہِ مَا عَنِتُّمۡ حَرِیۡصٌ عَلَیۡکُمۡ بِالۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ رَءُوۡفٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۲۸﴾
Certainly a Messenger has come to you from among yourselves; very painful for him is your falling into distress, most concerned (he is) for you, to the believers (he is) compassionate, merciful.
This is the true picture of the heart which grieved, not for his followers alone, not for one nation or country, but for all humanity. He grieves for the burdens of all, and he is most concerned for the welfare of all. The whole of humanity is meant here because the concluding words refer additionally to the believers. There is a special relation he bears to those who follow him; to them he is, in addition, compassionate and merciful.
9:129
فَاِنۡ تَوَلَّوۡا فَقُلۡ حَسۡبِیَ اللّٰہُ ۫٭ۖ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ ؕ عَلَیۡہِ تَوَکَّلۡتُ وَ ہُوَ رَبُّ الۡعَرۡشِ الۡعَظِیۡمِ ﴿۱۲۹﴾٪
But if they turn away, say: Allah is sufficient for me — there is no god but He. On Him do I rely, and He is the Lord of the mighty Throne.