9. At-Tawba

(But if they repent) from idolatry and believe in Allah (and establish worship) acknowledge the prayers (and pay the poor-due) and acknowledge the poor-due, (then are they your brethren in religion) in Islam. (We detail Our revelations) We explain the Qur'an by means of expositing the commands and prohibitions (for a people who have knowledge) and believe.

(And if they) the people of Mecca (break their pledges) which are between you and them (after their treaty (has been made with you) and assail your religion) and defame the Religion of Islam, (then fight the heads of disbelief) fight the leaders of disbelief: Abu Sufyan and his host. (Lo! they have no binding oaths in order that they may desist) from breaking their pledges.

(Will ye not fight a folk) why is it that you do not fight a people, i.e. the people of Mecca (who broke their solemn pledges) which are between them and you, (and purposed to drive out the messenger) and wanted to kill the Messenger when they entered Dar al-Nadwah (and did attack you first) by breaking their pledge when they helped the Banu Bakr, their allies, against the Banu Khuza'ah, the allies of the Prophet (pbuh)? (What! Fear ye them?) O believers, do you fear fighting them? (Now Allah hath more right that you should fear Him) because of leaving His command, (if ye are believers).

(Fight them! Allah will chastise them at your hands) He will chastise them by means of your swords, i.e. by killing them, (and He will lay them low) He will abase them by means of defeat (and give you victory over them, and He will heal the breasts of folk who are believers) by the exultation of the Banu Khuza'ah, in that they were allowed to kill their enemies for a while in the Sacred Precinct upon the Conquest of Mecca.

(And He will remove the anger of their hearts. Allah relenteth towards whom He will) He will relent towards whoever repents of them. (Allah is Knower) of those who repent and of those who do not, (Wise) in that which He decreed for them; it is also said that this means: He ordained their defeat and killing.

(Or deemed ye) O believers (that ye would be left (in peace)) that you would be given respite and not commanded to fight (when Allah yet knoweth not) has not yet seen (those of you who strive) in the way of Allah, (choosing for familiar none) of the disbelievers (save Allah and His messenger and the) sincere (believers? Allah is Informed of what ye do) of good or evil during jihad and at other places and times.

(It is not for the idolaters) the idolaters ought not (to tend Allah's sanctuaries, bearing witness against themselves) through their calling (of disbelief. As for such, their works are vain) their works are thwarted for as long as they remain disbelievers (and in the Fire they will abide) never to die or leave it.

(He only shall tend Allah's sanctuaries) the Inviolable Place of Worship (who believeth in Allah and the Last Day) believes in resurrection after death (and observeth proper worship) fulfils the five daily prayers (and payeth the poor-due) which is obligated (and feareth) and worships (none save Allah. For such (only) is it possible that they can be of the rightly guided) by means of Allah's Religion and clear proof.

The following was revealed about a man among the idolaters who was taken prisoner on the Day of Badr. He boasted to 'Ali or to another believer who took part in the battle of Badr, saying: �we give water to the pilgrims and tend to the Sacred House, and do this and that, etc.�, so Allah, Exalted is He, said: (Count ye the slaking of a pilgrim's thirst) did you say that giving water to the pilgrim (and tendance of the Inviolable Place of Worship as (equal to the worth of him) who believeth in Allah) is like the faith of he who believes in Allah, i.e. the believer who took part in the battle of Badr (and the Last Day) and believes in resurrection after death, (and striveth in the way of Allah) and strives in obedience of Allah on the Day of Badr? (They are not equal in the sight of Allah) as far as obedience and reward are concerned. (Allah guideth not) leads not to His religion (wrong-doing folk) the idolaters, those who do not deserve it.