9. At-Tawba

(And the believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another) they follow the religion of one another inwardly and outwardly; (they enjoin the right) the confession of Allah's divine unity and the following of Muhammad (pbuh) (and forbid the wrong) disbelief, idolatry and abstention from following Muhammad (pbuh) (and they establish worship) they perform the five daily prayers (and they pay the poor-due) from their wealth, (and they obey Allah and His messenger) in secret and in the open. (As for these, Allah will have mercy on them) He will not punish them. (Lo! Allah is Mighty) in his dominion and sovereignty, (Wise) in His command and ordinance.

(Allah promiseth to the believers, men and women, Gardens beneath which) beneath its tress and habitations (rivers) rivers of wine, water, honey and milk (flow, wherein they will abide) in Paradise (blessed dwellings) seemly dwellings which Allah has made fragrant with musk and sweet basil; it is also said that (blessed dwellings) means: beautiful dwellings; and it is said that this means: dwellings filled with people (in Gardens of Eden) a high degree. (And greater (far)! acceptance from Allah) the good pleasure of Allah is greater than that which they are in. (That) which I have mentioned (is the Supreme Triumph) abounding safety.

(O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers) with the sword (and the hypocrites) with words! (Be harsh) be tough (with them) with both parties with words and actions. (Their ultimate abode is hell) their destiny is hell, (a hapless journey's end) they shall come to.

(They swear by Allah that they said nothing (wrong)) Jallas Ibn Suwayd swore by Allah that he did not say what 'Amir Ibn Qays said he did, (yet they did say the word of disbelief) the word of the disbelievers because when the Prophet (pbuh) mentioned the defects of the hypocrites and their inward illnesses, Jallas Ibn Suwayd said: �by Allah, if Muhammad is true in what he says about our brothers, we are worse than asses�. When 'Amir Ibn Qays informed the Prophet (pbuh) Jallas swore by Allah that he did not say this. But Allah gave him the lie and said (yet they did say the word of disbelief, and did disbelieve after their Surrender (to Allah). And they purposed that which they could not attain) they wanted to expel and kill the Messenger without success, (and they sought revenge) they could not find anything wrong with the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions (only that Allah by His messenger should enrich them of His bounty) through the spoils of war. (If they repent) from disbelief and hypocrisy (it will be better for them) than disbelief and hypocrisy; (and if they turn away) from repentance, (Allah will afflict them with a painful doom in the world and the Hereafter, and they have no protecting friend) who will protect them (nor helper in the earth) to prevent them from that which is wanted with them.

(And of them) i.e. of the hypocrites (is he who made a covenant with Allah) he who swore by Allah, the reference here is to Hatib Ibn Abi Balta'ah ((saying): If He give us of His bounty) the wealth that he has in Historic Syria (We will give alms) for the sake of Allah's religion: we shall give from it what is due to Allah and will use it to keep our ties of kinship (and become of the righteous) of the thankful.

(Yet when He gave them of His bounty) of the wealth which was in Historic Syria, (they hoarded it) they failed to give the right due to Allah as they had promised (and turned away) from their promise, (averse) denying;

(So He hath made the consequence (to be) hypocrisy in their hearts) his end was that Allah cast hypocrisy in his heart (until the day when they shall meet Him) until the day of Judgement, (because they broke their word to Allah that they promised Him) because of breaking his promise, (and because they lied) and because he lied about what he said.

(Know they not) i.e. the hypocrites (that Allah knoweth both their secret) that which is between them (and the thought that they confide) when they are alone, (and that Allah is the Knower of Things Hidden) from His servants?

(Those who point at such of the believers as give the alms willingly) those who find fault with 'Abd al-Rahman [Ibn 'Awf] and his fellow Companions who give alms, accusing them of showing off and seeking fame (and such as can find naught to give but their endeavours) and discredit those who do not find anything to give away except their effort. This refers to Abu 'Uqayl 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn Tijan who could not find anything to give for alms except a measure of dates, (and deride them) because of the little alms he gave. The hypocrites said about him: he did not bring this except that he wished to be mentioned and be given more alms than he gave himself, (Allah (Himself) derideth them) on the day of Judgement. (Theirs will be a painful doom) in the Hereafter.

(Ask forgiveness for them (O Muhammad)) Allah says: if you ask forgiveness for 'Abdullah Ibn Ubayy, Jadd Ibn Qays, and Mu'attib Ibn Qushayr and their followers-who were about 70 men-, (or ask not forgiveness for them) it is all the same for them; (though thou ask forgiveness for them seventy times Allah will not forgive them) that punishment. (That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His messenger) in secret, (and Allah guideth not) forgives not (wrong-doing folk) the hypocrites: 'Abdullah Ibn Ubayy and his host.