Surah 9 (At-Tauba), Verses 73-89 (Y6)

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.

Summary

Today’s selection is from Surah 9, At-Tauba or Repentance, verses 73-89. This selection discusses Allah’s order to make Jihãd against hypocrites and unbelievers and the behavior of hypocrites relating to the bounty of Allah. In historical context, these people did not join the Tabük expedition and subsequently God decreed a prohibition against offering funerary prayers for them.

[Reminder: this is the only Surah in which we do not say, “Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.”]

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Verses

O Prophet! Make Jihãd against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be firm against them. Hell shall be their home; and it is the worst of all homes.[73] They swear by Allah that they said nothing when in fact they uttered the words of unbelief and they committed Kufr after accepting Islam. They meditated a plot which they were unable to carry out. They had no reason to be revengeful, except that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them through His bounty. Therefore, if they repent it will indeed be better for them; but if they turn back (do not repent) Allah will punish them with a painful punishment in this life and in the Hereafter, and they shall have none on earth to protect or help them.[74] 9:[73-74]

There are some among them who made a covenant with Allah saying: “If He bestows on us His bounty, we will spend in charity and become truly of the righteous.”[75] But when He did bestow of His bounty they became stingy, turned back from their covenant and became evasive.[76] He put hypocrisy into their hearts to last till the Day wherein they shall meet Him as a consequence of their breach of covenant with Allah and the lies they told.[77] Are they not aware that Allah knows their secret thoughts and their secret counsels, and that Allah knows fully well all that is hidden?[78] As for those that taunt the believers who give freely and ridicule those who find nothing to give except the fruits of their labor; Allah will throw back their ridicule on them and they shall have a painful punishment.[79] O Prophet! It is the same, whether you ask forgiveness for them or not; even if you ask for their forgiveness seventy times, Allah is not going to forgive them: because they have disbelieved Allah and His Messenger. Allah does not guide those who are transgressors.[80] 9:[75-80]

Those who remained behind (did not join the Tabük expedition) were delighted to sit inactive behind Allah’s Messenger, and they hated to make Jihãd with their goods and their persons in the cause of Allah. They said to each other “Do not go forth in the heat.” Say to them: “The fire of hell is much more severe in heat.” If only they could understand![81] Let them laugh a little; much will they weep as a recompense for what they have earned.[82] From now on, if Allah brings you among them and any of them ask your permission to go forth for Jihãd, say: “You shall never be allowed to go forth with me nor fight an enemy in my company. You chose to sit inactive on the first occasion, therefore you shall now stay with those who stay behind.”[83] You shall never offer funeral prayer for any of them who dies, nor shall you attend their burial, for they have denied Allah and His Messenger and died while they were transgressors.[84] Let neither their wealth nor their children dazzle you. Through these Allah wants to punish them in this world and let their souls depart while they are still disbelievers.[85] Whenever a Sürah is revealed, saying: “ Believe in Allah and make Jihãd along with His Messenger,” capable people among them ask you for exemption, saying: “Please leave us with those who are to stay at home.”[86] They preferred to be with those who remain behind, as a result, a seal was set upon their hearts so that they do not understand.[87] But the Messenger and those who believe with him, make Jihãd with their wealth and their persons. They are the ones who will have all the goodness, and they are the ones who will be successful.[88] Allah has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, to live therein forever: that is the greatest achievement.[89] 9:[81-89]

Ameen.

This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.

Thank you and be well.