9. At-Tawba

The Repentance · Medinan · 129 ayahs

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ

Reading Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn 'Abbas by Attributed to Ibn 'Abbas

Ayahs 41–50 of 129

ٱنفِرُوا۟ خِفَافًۭا وَثِقَالًۭا وَجَٰهِدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. That is better for you, if you only knew.

(Go forth) with your Prophet to the Battle of Tabuk, (light armed and heavy armed) young and old; it is also said that this means: whether you are enthusiastic for it or not; it is also said that this means: light with property and children and heavy with property and children, (and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah) in obedience of Allah! (That) jihad (is best for you) than sitting remaining in one place (if ye but knew) and believed.

At-Tawba 9:41Listen in Qur'an →

لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًۭا قَرِيبًۭا وَسَفَرًۭا قَاصِدًۭا لَّٱتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَٰكِنۢ بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَوِ ٱسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَٰذِبُونَ

Had it been an easy gain and a moderate trip, the hypocrites would have followed you, but distant to them was the journey. And they will swear by Allah, "If we were able, we would have gone forth with you," destroying themselves [through false oaths], and Allah knows that indeed they are liars.

(Had it been a near adventure) a near spoil of war (and an easy journey they had followed thee) to the Battle of Tabuk with a good disposition of the soul, (but the distance seemed too far for them) Historic Syria seemed too far for them. (Yet will they swear by Allah) to you when you come back from the Battle of Tabuk, i.e. 'Abdullah Ibn Abi Wajd Ibn Qays, Mu'attib Ibn Qushayr and their companions who did not take part in the battle of Tabuk ((saying): If we had been able) to acquire provision and mount (we would surely have set out with you) to the Battle of Tabuk. (They destroy their souls) by lying in their oaths, (and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars) because they were able to set out with the Prophet (pbuh).

At-Tawba 9:42Listen in Qur'an →

عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَتَعْلَمَ ٱلْكَٰذِبِينَ

May Allah pardon you, [O Muhammad]; why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.

(Allah forgive thee) O Muhammad! (Wherefore didst thou grant them leave) give leave to the hypocrites to stay behind and not go to Tabuk (ere those who told the Truth were manifest to you) until those who are genuine in their faith are manifest to you upon going forth with you (and thou didst know the liars) about their faith, when they fail to set forth with you without leave?

At-Tawba 9:43Listen in Qur'an →

لَا يَسْتَـْٔذِنُكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ أَن يُجَٰهِدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day would not ask permission of you to be excused from striving with their wealth and their lives. And Allah is Knowing of those who fear Him.

(Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day ask no leave) after the Battle of Tabuk (of thee) in secret or in the open (lest they should strive with their wealth and their lives. Allah is Aware of those who keep their duty (unto Him)) those who ward off disbelief and idolatry.

At-Tawba 9:44Listen in Qur'an →

إِنَّمَا يَسْتَـْٔذِنُكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ وَٱرْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِى رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ

Only those would ask permission of you who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts have doubted, and they, in their doubt, are hesitating.

(They alone ask leave of you) to stay behind and not take part in jihad (who believe not in Allah and the Last Day) in the depth of their hearts, (and whose hearts feel doubt, so in their doubt they waver) they are bewildered.

At-Tawba 9:45Listen in Qur'an →

۞ وَلَوْ أَرَادُوا۟ ٱلْخُرُوجَ لَأَعَدُّوا۟ لَهُۥ عُدَّةًۭ وَلَٰكِن كَرِهَ ٱللَّهُ ٱنۢبِعَاثَهُمْ فَثَبَّطَهُمْ وَقِيلَ ٱقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْقَٰعِدِينَ

And if they had intended to go forth, they would have prepared for it [some] preparation. But Allah disliked their being sent, so He kept them back, and they were told, "Remain [behind] with those who remain."

(And if they had wished to go forth) with you to the Battle of Tabuk (they would assuredly have made ready some equipment) weapons and provision, (but Allah was averse to their being sent forth) with you to the battle of Tabuk (and back and (it was said unto them): Sit ye with the sedentary!) with those who stayed back without an excuse.

At-Tawba 9:46Listen in Qur'an →

لَوْ خَرَجُوا۟ فِيكُم مَّا زَادُوكُمْ إِلَّا خَبَالًۭا وَلَأَوْضَعُوا۟ خِلَٰلَكُمْ يَبْغُونَكُمُ ٱلْفِتْنَةَ وَفِيكُمْ سَمَّٰعُونَ لَهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Had they gone forth with you, they would not have increased you except in confusion, and they would have been active among you, seeking [to cause] you fitnah. And among you are avid listeners to them. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers.

(Had they gone forth among you) with you (they had added to you naught save trouble) evil and corruption (and had hurried to and fro among you) they would have marched riding their camels in the middle of you, (seeking to cause sedition among you) seeking to cause evil, corruption, humiliation and damage; (and among you there are some who would have listened to them) among you there are spies for the disbelievers. (Allah is Aware of evil-doers) i.e. the hypocrites: 'Abdullah Ibn Ubayy and his hosts.

At-Tawba 9:47Listen in Qur'an →

لَقَدِ ٱبْتَغَوُا۟ ٱلْفِتْنَةَ مِن قَبْلُ وَقَلَّبُوا۟ لَكَ ٱلْأُمُورَ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَظَهَرَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَهُمْ كَٰرِهُونَ

They had already desired dissension before and had upset matters for you until the truth came and the ordinance of Allah appeared, while they were averse.

(Aforetime) before the battle of Tabuk (they sought to cause sedition) they sought to cause you evil things (and raised difficulties for you) right and left (till the Truth came) until the believers became many (and the decree of Allah) the religion of Allah: Islam (was made manifest, though they were loth) of it.

At-Tawba 9:48Listen in Qur'an →

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ ٱئْذَن لِّى وَلَا تَفْتِنِّىٓ ۚ أَلَا فِى ٱلْفِتْنَةِ سَقَطُوا۟ ۗ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌۢ بِٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

And among them is he who says, "Permit me [to remain at home] and do not put me to trial." Unquestionably, into trial they have fallen. And indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers.

(Of them) of the hypocrites (is he who saith) the reference here is to Jadd Ibn Qays: (Grant me leave) to stay at home (and tempt me not) by the women of Historic Syria. (Surely it is into temptation) idolatry and hypocrisy (that they (thus) have fallen. Lo! Hell is all around) will be all around (the disbelievers) on the Day of Judgement.

At-Tawba 9:49Listen in Qur'an →

إِن تُصِبْكَ حَسَنَةٌۭ تَسُؤْهُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْكَ مُصِيبَةٌۭ يَقُولُوا۟ قَدْ أَخَذْنَآ أَمْرَنَا مِن قَبْلُ وَيَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُمْ فَرِحُونَ

If good befalls you, it distresses them; but if disaster strikes you, they say, "We took our matter [in hand] before," and turn away while they are rejoicing.

(If good) conquest and the spoils of war as on the Day of Badr (befalleth thee (O Muhammad) it afflicteth them) i.e. the hypocrites, (and if calamity) killings and defeat (befalleth thee) such as during the Battle of Uhud, (they say) the hypocrites, 'Abdullah Ibn Ubayy and his host, say: (We took precaution) by staying at home before the calamity took place, (and they turn away) from jihad (well pleased) with that which has befallen the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions on the Day of Uhud.

At-Tawba 9:50Listen in Qur'an →

Commentary: Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn 'Abbas by Attributed to Ibn 'Abbas. Qur'an text and translation via AlQuran Cloud.