9. At-Tawba

The believers, men and women, are supporters of one another; they enjoin good, and forbid evil; they perform the Salah, and give the Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His mercy on them. Surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise (71)

Qualities of Faithful Believers

After Allah mentioned the evil characteristics of the hypocrites, He then mentioned the good qualities of the believers,

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ

(The believers, men and women, are supporters of one another;) they help and aid each other. Surely, an authentic Hadith states,

الْمُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ كَالْبُنْيَانِ يَشُدُّ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضًا

(The believer to the believer is just like a building, its parts support each other.) and the Prophet ﷺ crossed his fingers together. In the Sahih it is recorded,

مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي تَوَادِّهِمْ وَتَرَاحُمِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ الْجَسَدِ الْوَاحِدِ، إِذَا اشْتَكَى مِنْهُ عُضْوٌ تَدَاعَى لَهُ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بِالْحُمَّى وَالسَّهَرِ

(The example of the believers in the compassion and mercy they have for each other, is the example of one body: if a part of it falls ill, the rest of the body suffers with fever and sleeplessness.)

Allah's statement,

يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ

(...they enjoin good, and forbid evil), this is similar to,

وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ

(Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining Al-Ma'ruf and forbidding the Munkar...)[3:104]. Allah said next,

وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ

(they perform the Salah, and give the Zakah), they obey Allah and are kind to His creation,

وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ

(and obey Allah and His Messenger), concerning what he commands and refraining from what he prohibits,

أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ

(Allah will have mercy on them.) Therefore, Allah will give mercy to those who have these qualities,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ

(Surely, Allah is All-Mighty), He grants glory to those who obey Him, for indeed, might and glory is from Allah Who gives it to His Messenger ﷺ and the believers,

حَكِيمٌ

(All-Wise), in granting these qualities to the believers, while giving evil characteristics to hypocrites. Surely, Allah's wisdom is perfect in all His actions; praise and glory be to Him.

Allah has promised the believers – men and women, – Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever, and beautiful mansions in gardens of 'Adn (Eden; Paradise). But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of Allah. That is the supreme success (72)

Good News for the Believers of Eternal Delight

Allah describes the joys and eternal delight He has prepared for the believers, men and women in,

جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا

(Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever) for eternity,

وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً

(and beautiful mansions), built beautifully in good surroundings. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Musa, 'Abdullah bin Qays Al-Ash'ari said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

جَنَّتَانِ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ آنِيَتُهُمَا وَمَا فِيهِمَا، وَجَنَّتَانِ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ آنِيَتُهُمَا وَمَا فِيهِمَا، وَمَا بَيْنَ الْقَوْمِ وَبَيْنَ أَنْ يَنْظُرُوا إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا رِدَاءُ الْكِبْرِيَاءِ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ فِي جَنَّةِ عَدْنٍ

(Two gardens, their pots and whatever is in them are made of gold, and two gardens, their pots and whatever is in them are made of silver. Only the Veil of Pride of Allah's Face separates the people from gazing at Him, in the garden of Eden.) He also narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

إِنَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لَـخَيْمَةً مِنْ لُؤْلُؤَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ مُـجَوَّفَةٍ، طُولُـهَا سِتُّونَ مِيلًا فِي السَّمَاءِ! لِلْمُؤْمِنِ فِيهَا أَهْلُونَ يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ لَا يَرَى بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا

(For the believer in Paradise there is a tent like a hollow pearl which is sixty miles high in the sky, and in the tent the believer will have (so large) a family that he visits them all and some of them would not be able to see the others.)

The Two Sahihs collected this Hadith. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَصَامَ رَمَضَانَ، فَإِنَّ حَقًّا عَلَى اللهِ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ هَاجَرَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ، أَوْ (جَلَسَ) فِي أَرْضِهِ الَّتِي وُلِدَ فِيهَا

قالوا: يا رسول الله أفلا نخبر الناس؟ قال:

إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِائَةَ دَرَجَةٍ أَعَدَّهَا اللهُ لِلْمُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ بَيْنَ كُلِّ دَرَجَتَيْنِ كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ، فَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُ اللهَ فَاسْأَلُوهُ الْفِرْدَوْسَ فَإِنَّهُ أَعْلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَأَوْسَطُ الْجَنَّةِ، وَمِنْهُ تَفَجَّرُ أَنْهَارُ الْجَنَّةِ، وَفَوْقَهُ عَرْشُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ

(Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger, offers prayer perfectly and fasts the month of Ramadan, will rightfully be granted Paradise by Allah, no matter whether he emigrates in Allah's cause, or remains in the land where he is born.) The people said, "O Allah's Messenger! Shall we acquaint the people with this good news?" He said, (Paradise has one-hundred grades which Allah has prepared for the Mujahidin who fight in His cause, the distance between each two grades is like the distance between the heaven and the earth. So, when you ask Allah, ask Him for Al-Firdaws which is the best and highest part of Paradise, from it gush forth the rivers of Paradise and above it is the 'Arsh (Throne) of the Beneficent.)

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah …

O Prophet! Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them, their abode is Hell, – and worst indeed is that destination (73)They swear by Allah that they said nothing (bad), but really they said the word of disbelief, and they disbelieved after accepting Islam, and they resolved that (plot) which they were unable to carry out, and they could not find any cause to do so except that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them of His bounty. If then they repent, it will be better for them, but if they turn away; Allah will punish them with a painful torment in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. And there is none for them on earth as a protector or a helper (74)

The Order for Jihad against the Disbelievers and Hypocrites

Allah commanded His Messenger ﷺ to strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and to be harsh against them. Allah also commanded him to be merciful with the believers who followed him, informing him that the destination of the disbelievers and hypocrites is the Fire in the Hereafter. Ibn Mas'ud commented on Allah's statement,

جَاهِدِ الْكُفَّارَ وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ

(Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites)

"With the hand, or at least have a stern face with them." Ibn 'Abbas said, "Allah commanded the Prophet ﷺ to fight the disbelievers with the sword, to strive against the hypocrites with the tongue and annulled lenient treatment of them." Ad-Dahhak commented, "Perform Jihad against the disbelievers with the sword and be harsh with the hypocrites with words, and this is the Jihad performed against them." Similar was said by Muqatil and Ar-Rabi'. Al-Hasan and Qatadah said, "Striving against them includes establishing the (Islamic Penal) Law of equality against them." In combining these statements, we could say that Allah causes punishment of the disbelievers and hypocrites with all of these methods in various conditions and situations, and Allah knows best.

Reason behind revealing Ayah 9:74

Al-Amawi said in his Book on Battles, "Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Az-Zuhri said that 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Abdullah bin Ka'b bin Malik narrated from his father, from his grandfather that he said, 'Among the hypocrites who lagged behind [from battle] and concerning whom the Qur'an was revealed, was Al-Julas bin Suwayd bin As-Samit, who was married to the mother of 'Umayr bin Sa'd. 'Umayr was under the care of Al-Julas. When the Qur'an was revealed about the hypocrites, exposing their practices, Al-Julas said, 'By Allah! If this man (Muhammad) is saying the truth, then we are worse than donkeys.' 'Umayr bin Sa'd heard him and said, 'By Allah, O Julas! You are the dearest person to me, has the most favor on me and I would hate that harm should touch you, more than I do concerning anyone else! You have uttered a statement that if I exposed, will expose you, but if I hide, it will destroy me. One of them is a lesser evil than the other.' So 'Umayr went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and told him what Al-Julas said. On realizing this, Al-Julas went to the Prophet ﷺ and swore by Allah that he did not say what 'Umayr bin Sa'd conveyed he said. 'He lied on me,' Al-Julas said. Allah …

O Prophet! Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them, their abode is Hell, – and worst indeed is that destination (73)They swear by Allah that they said nothing (bad), but really they said the word of disbelief, and they disbelieved after accepting Islam, and they resolved that (plot) which they were unable to carry out, and they could not find any cause to do so except that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them of His bounty. If then they repent, it will be better for them, but if they turn away; Allah will punish them with a painful torment in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. And there is none for them on earth as a protector or a helper (74)

The Order for Jihad against the Disbelievers and Hypocrites

Allah commanded His Messenger ﷺ to strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and to be harsh against them. Allah also commanded him to be merciful with the believers who followed him, informing him that the destination of the disbelievers and hypocrites is the Fire in the Hereafter. Ibn Mas'ud commented on Allah's statement,

جَاهِدِ الْكُفَّارَ وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ

(Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites)

"With the hand, or at least have a stern face with them." Ibn 'Abbas said, "Allah commanded the Prophet ﷺ to fight the disbelievers with the sword, to strive against the hypocrites with the tongue and annulled lenient treatment of them." Ad-Dahhak commented, "Perform Jihad against the disbelievers with the sword and be harsh with the hypocrites with words, and this is the Jihad performed against them." Similar was said by Muqatil and Ar-Rabi'. Al-Hasan and Qatadah said, "Striving against them includes establishing the (Islamic Penal) Law of equality against them." In combining these statements, we could say that Allah causes punishment of the disbelievers and hypocrites with all of these methods in various conditions and situations, and Allah knows best.

Reason behind revealing Ayah 9:74

Al-Amawi said in his Book on Battles, "Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Az-Zuhri said that 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Abdullah bin Ka'b bin Malik narrated from his father, from his grandfather that he said, 'Among the hypocrites who lagged behind [from battle] and concerning whom the Qur'an was revealed, was Al-Julas bin Suwayd bin As-Samit, who was married to the mother of 'Umayr bin Sa'd. 'Umayr was under the care of Al-Julas. When the Qur'an was revealed about the hypocrites, exposing their practices, Al-Julas said, 'By Allah! If this man (Muhammad) is saying the truth, then we are worse than donkeys.' 'Umayr bin Sa'd heard him and said, 'By Allah, O Julas! You are the dearest person to me, has the most favor on me and I would hate that harm should touch you, more than I do concerning anyone else! You have uttered a statement that if I exposed, will expose you, but if I hide, it will destroy me. One of them is a lesser evil than the other.' So 'Umayr went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and told him what Al-Julas said. On realizing this, Al-Julas went to the Prophet ﷺ and swore by Allah that he did not say what 'Umayr bin Sa'd conveyed he said. 'He lied on me,' Al-Julas said. Allah …

And of them are some who made a covenant with Allah (saying): "If He bestowed on us of His bounty, we will verily, give Sadaqah and will be certainly among the righteous. (75)Then when He gave them of His bounty, they became stingy, and turned away, averse (76)So He punished them by putting hypocrisy into their hearts till the Day whereon they shall meet Him, because they broke that (covenant) with Allah which they had promised to Him and because they used to tell lies (77)Know they not that Allah knows their secret ideas, and their Najwa (secret counsels), and that Allah is the All-Knower of things unseen (78)

Hypocrites seek Wealth but are Stingy with Alms

Allah says, some hypocrites give Allah their strongest oaths that if He enriches them from His bounty, they will give away alms and be among the righteous. However, they did not fulfill their vows or say the truth with their words. The consequence of this action is that hypocrisy was placed in their hearts until the Day they meet Allah the Exalted, on the Day of Resurrection. We seek refuge with Allah from such an end. Allah said,

بِمَا أَخْلَفُوا اللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ

(...because they broke that (covenant) with Allah which they had promised to Him) He placed hypocrisy in their hearts because they broke their promise and lied. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلَاثٌ: إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ، وَإِذَا ائْتُمِنَ خَانَ

(There are three signs for a hypocrite: if he speaks, he lies; if he promises, he breaks the promise; and if he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.) Allah said,

أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَاهُمْ

(Know they not that Allah knows their secret ideas, and their Najwa,)

Allah states that He knows the secret and what is more hidden than the secret. He has full knowledge of what is in their hearts, even when they pretend that they will give away alms, if they acquire wealth, and will be grateful to Allah for it. Truly, Allah knows them better than they know themselves, for He is the All-Knower of all unseen and apparent things, every secret, every session of counsel, and all that is seen and hidden.

And of them are some who made a covenant with Allah (saying): "If He bestowed on us of His bounty, we will verily, give Sadaqah and will be certainly among the righteous. (75)Then when He gave them of His bounty, they became stingy, and turned away, averse (76)So He punished them by putting hypocrisy into their hearts till the Day whereon they shall meet Him, because they broke that (covenant) with Allah which they had promised to Him and because they used to tell lies (77)Know they not that Allah knows their secret ideas, and their Najwa (secret counsels), and that Allah is the All-Knower of things unseen (78)

Hypocrites seek Wealth but are Stingy with Alms

Allah says, some hypocrites give Allah their strongest oaths that if He enriches them from His bounty, they will give away alms and be among the righteous. However, they did not fulfill their vows or say the truth with their words. The consequence of this action is that hypocrisy was placed in their hearts until the Day they meet Allah the Exalted, on the Day of Resurrection. We seek refuge with Allah from such an end. Allah said,

بِمَا أَخْلَفُوا اللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ

(...because they broke that (covenant) with Allah which they had promised to Him) He placed hypocrisy in their hearts because they broke their promise and lied. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلَاثٌ: إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ، وَإِذَا ائْتُمِنَ خَانَ

(There are three signs for a hypocrite: if he speaks, he lies; if he promises, he breaks the promise; and if he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.) Allah said,

أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَاهُمْ

(Know they not that Allah knows their secret ideas, and their Najwa,)

Allah states that He knows the secret and what is more hidden than the secret. He has full knowledge of what is in their hearts, even when they pretend that they will give away alms, if they acquire wealth, and will be grateful to Allah for it. Truly, Allah knows them better than they know themselves, for He is the All-Knower of all unseen and apparent things, every secret, every session of counsel, and all that is seen and hidden.

And of them are some who made a covenant with Allah (saying): "If He bestowed on us of His bounty, we will verily, give Sadaqah and will be certainly among the righteous. (75)Then when He gave them of His bounty, they became stingy, and turned away, averse (76)So He punished them by putting hypocrisy into their hearts till the Day whereon they shall meet Him, because they broke that (covenant) with Allah which they had promised to Him and because they used to tell lies (77)Know they not that Allah knows their secret ideas, and their Najwa (secret counsels), and that Allah is the All-Knower of things unseen (78)

Hypocrites seek Wealth but are Stingy with Alms

Allah says, some hypocrites give Allah their strongest oaths that if He enriches them from His bounty, they will give away alms and be among the righteous. However, they did not fulfill their vows or say the truth with their words. The consequence of this action is that hypocrisy was placed in their hearts until the Day they meet Allah the Exalted, on the Day of Resurrection. We seek refuge with Allah from such an end. Allah said,

بِمَا أَخْلَفُوا اللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ

(...because they broke that (covenant) with Allah which they had promised to Him) He placed hypocrisy in their hearts because they broke their promise and lied. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلَاثٌ: إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ، وَإِذَا ائْتُمِنَ خَانَ

(There are three signs for a hypocrite: if he speaks, he lies; if he promises, he breaks the promise; and if he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.) Allah said,

أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَاهُمْ

(Know they not that Allah knows their secret ideas, and their Najwa,)

Allah states that He knows the secret and what is more hidden than the secret. He has full knowledge of what is in their hearts, even when they pretend that they will give away alms, if they acquire wealth, and will be grateful to Allah for it. Truly, Allah knows them better than they know themselves, for He is the All-Knower of all unseen and apparent things, every secret, every session of counsel, and all that is seen and hidden.

Those who defame such of the believers who give charity voluntarily, and such who could not find to give charity except what is available to them – so they mock at them (believers); Allah will throw back their mockery on them, and they shall have a painful torment (79)

Hypocrites defame Believers Who give the Little Charity They can afford

Among the traits of the hypocrites is that they will not leave anyone without defaming and ridiculing him in all circumstances even those who give away charity. If, for instance, someone gives away a large amount, the hypocrites say that he is showing off. If someone gives away a small amount they say that Allah stands not in need of this man's charity. Al-Bukhari recorded that 'Ubaydullah bin Sa'id said that Abu An-Nu'man Al-Basri said that Shu'bah narrated that Sulayman said that Abu Wa'il said that Abu Mas'ud said, "When the verses of charity were revealed, we used to work as porters. A man came and distributed objects of charity in abundance and they (hypocrites) said, 'He is showing off.' Another man came and gave a Sa' (a small measure of food grains); they said, 'Allah is not in need of this small amount of charity.' Then the Ayah was revealed;

الَّذِينَ يَلْمِزُونَ الْمُطَّوِّعِينَ

(Those who defame the volunteers...)"

Muslim collected this Hadith in the Sahih.

Al-'Awfi narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said, "One day, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out to the people and called them to bring forth their charity, and they started bringing their charity. Among the last to come forth was a man who brought a Sa' of dates, saying, 'O Allah's Messenger! This is a Sa' of dates. I spent the night bringing water and earned two Sa' of dates for my work. I kept one Sa' and brought you the other Sa'. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered him to add it to the charity. Some men mocked that man, saying, 'Allah and His Messenger are not in need of this charity. What benefit would this Sa' of yours bring?' 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf asked Allah's Messenger ﷺ, 'Are there any more people who give charity?' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

لَمْ يَبْقَ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُكَ

(None besides you!) 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf said, 'I will give a hundred Uqiyah of gold as a charity.' 'Umar bin Al-Khattab said to him, 'Are you crazy?' 'Abdur-Rahman said, 'I am not crazy.' 'Umar said, 'Have you given what you said would give?' 'Abdur-Rahman said, 'Yes. I have eight thousand (Dirhams), four thousand I give as a loan to my Lord and four thousand I keep for myself.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

بَارَكَ اللهُ لَكَ فِيمَا أَمْسَكْتَ وَفِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ

(May Allah bless you for what you kept and what you gave away).

However, the hypocrites defamed him, 'By Allah! 'Abdur-Rahman gave what he gave just to show off.' They lied, for 'Abdur-Rahman willingly gave that money, and Allah revealed about his innocence and the innocence of the fellow who was poor and brought only a Sa' of dates. Allah said in His Book,

الَّذِينَ يَلْمِزُونَ الْمُطَّوِّعِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الصَّدَقَاتِ

(Those who defame such of the believers who give charity voluntarily)[9:79].'"

A similar story was narrated from Mujahid and several others. Ibn Ishaq said, "Among the …

Whether you (O Muhammad ﷺ) ask forgiveness for them (hypocrites) or ask not forgiveness for them – (and even) if you ask seventy times for their forgiveness – Allah will not forgive them because they have disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger. And Allah guides not those people who are rebellious (80)

The Prohibition of asking for Forgiveness for Hypocrites

Allah says to His Prophet ﷺ that hypocrites are not worthy of seeking forgiveness for them and that if he asks Allah to forgive them seventy times, Allah will not forgive them. The number seventy here was mentioned to close the door on this subject, for Arabs use this number when they exaggerate, not that they actually mean seventy or more than seventy. Ash-Sha'bi said that when 'Abdullah bin Ubayy was dying, his son went to the Prophet ﷺ and said to him, "My father has died, I wish you could attend him and pray the funeral prayer for him." The Prophet ﷺ said,

مَا اسْمُكَ

("What is you name?) He said, "Al-Hubab bin 'Abdullah." The Prophet ﷺ said,

بَلْ أَنْتَ عَبْدُاللهِ بْنُ عَبْدِاللهِ إِنَّ الْحُبَابَ اسْمَ شَيْطَانٍ

(Rather, you are 'Abdullah bin 'Abdullah, for Al-Hubab is a devil's name.)

The Prophet ﷺ went along with him, attended his father's funeral, gave him his shirt as a shroud and prayed the funeral prayer for him. He was asked, "Would you pray on him, when he is a hypocrite?" He said,

إِنَّ اللهَ قَالَ:

إِن تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً

وَلَأسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَهُمْ سَبْعِينَ وَسَبْعِينَ وَسَبْعِينَ

(Allah said, "...(and even) if you ask seventy times for their forgiveness..."

Verily, I will ask Allah to forgive them seventy times and seventy more and seventy more.)" Similar narrations were collected from 'Urwah bin Az-Zubayr, Mujahid, Qatadah bin Di'amah and Ibn Jarir.