(This is the
only Sürah that starts without the opening words “In the name of
Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful,” since the Prophet did
not dictate so.) |
SECTION: 1
A declaration of immunity from Allah and His Rasool is hereby
made to those of the mushrikďn with whom you have made a
treaty:[1] “You have four months to go around in the land
unmolested; but you should know that you cannot frustrate the
will of Allah, and that Allah will humiliate the
unbelievers."[2] This is a public proclamation from Allah and
His Rasool to the people on the day of the Great Hajj (Pilgrimage)
that Allah and His Rasool do hereby dissolve treaty obligations
with the mushrikďn. Therefore, if you repent, it will be better
for you but if you turn away, then you should know that you
cannot frustrate the Will of Allah. O Prophet,
proclaim a painful punishment to those who are unbelievers.[3]
Except (this proclamation does not apply to) those
mushrikďn who honored their treaties with you in every detail
and aided none against you. So fulfill your treaties with them
to the end of their term; for Allah loves the righteous.[4] When
the forbidden months (10,11,12 & 1 of the Islamic calendar)
are over, then fight the mushrikďn wherever you find them, seize
them, besiege them, and lie in ambush for them in every
stratagem of war, but if they repent, establish Salah and pay
Zakah, then let them go their way: surely Allah is Forgiving,
Merciful.[5] If anyone from the mushrikďn asks you for asylum,
grant it to him so that he may hear the Word of Allah, and then
escort him to his place of safety: this should be done because
these people do not know the truth.[6]
9:[1-6] |
Proclamation to dissolve the "Treaty of Hudeybiyah" |
SECTION: 2
How can there be a treaty with the mushrikďn on the part of
Allah and His Rasool - except for those with whom you ratified a
treaty at the Masjid-al-Harăm? So long as they honor it, you
also honor: for Allah loves the righteous.[7] How can you trust
them? If they prevail against you, they respect neither treaty
nor ties of relationship. They just flatter you with their
tongues, but their hearts reject you, and most of them are
transgressors.[8] They have sold the revelations of Allah for
paltry worldly gain and they have hindered others from His way;
indeed evil are the deeds that they have done.[9] They neither
honor the ties of relationship nor observe the obligations of
treaties with the believers; it is they who are the
transgressors.[10] However, if they repent, establish Salah and
pay Zakah, then they shall be your brethren in Deen (faith
and way of life based on Divine guidance): thus do We spell
out Our revelations for people of understanding.[11]
9:[7-11] |
Commandment of Allah to honor the treaty so long as the
unbelievers honor it |
But if they violate their treaty once they
have sworn it and insult your Deen, then fight with the
ringleaders of the unbelief - for their oaths are nothing to
them - so that they may be stopped.[12] Will you not fight
against those people who have broken their oaths, conspired to
expel the Rasool and were the first to attack you? Do you fear
them? Nay, it is Allah Who is more deserving of your fear, if
you are true believers.[13] Fight them; Allah will punish them
by your hands and humiliate them. He will grant you victory over
them and soothe the hearts of a believing people.[14] He will
take away all rancor from their hearts. Allah shows mercy to
whom He pleases, and Allah is All-Knowledgeable, All-Wise.[15]
Do you think that you will be left alone (without trial)?
While Allah has not yet demonstrated which of you had exerted
your utmost struggle (in the path of Allah) and did not
take any intimate friends other than Allah, His Rasool and the
believers? Allah is well aware of all your actions.[16]
9:[12-16] |
If
the unbelievers violate the treaty, then fight against their
ringleaders |
SECTION: 3
It is not for the mushrikďn to maintain the mosques of Allah
while they bear witness against themselves about their unbelief.
It is they whose deeds are in vain and in the hellfire shall
they live forever.[17] The mosques of Allah should be maintained
by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish Salah
(prayers), and pay Zakah (poor due) and fear none
except Allah. It is they who are expected to follow the true
guidance.[18]
9:[17-18] |
Mushrikďn are forbidden to be the caretakers of Masăjid
|
Have you made those who provide water to the
pilgrims and maintain the Masjid-al-Harăm equal to those who
believe in Allah, the Last Day and make Jihăd (striving in
the cause of Allah)? They are not equal in the sight of
Allah, and Allah does not guide the wrongdoers.[19] Those who
believe (embrace Islam), leave their homes (migrate),
and make Jihăd with their wealth and persons in the cause of
Allah, have higher rank in the sight of Allah. It is they who
will be truly successful.[20] Their Rabb gives them good news of
His mercy, His good pleasure, and paradise with everlasting
bliss.[21] They will live therein forever. Surely it is Allah
with Whom is the mighty reward.[22]
9:[19-22] |
Service to pilgrims is not equal to true belief in Allah, in the
Last Day, and making Jihăd |
O believers! Do not take your fathers and
your brothers as your friends if they prefer Kufr (unbelief)
over Imăn (belief); for those who turn away from this
commandment shall be considered wrongdoers.[23] O Prophet,
tell them: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your
spouses, your relatives, the wealth that you have acquired, the
business in which you fear a loss, and the homes which you like
are dearer to you than Allah, His Rasool, and making Jihăd (struggle)
in His Way, then wait until Allah brings about His decision.
Allah does not guide the transgressors.[24]
9:[23-24]
|
Do
not take your fathers and brothers as your friends if they
prefer Kufr (unbelief) over Imăn (belief) |
SECTION: 4
Allah has indeed helped you in many battlefields and (recently)
on the day of Hunain: when you were proud of your great numbers
(the Muslim army was 12,000 strong and the unbelievers were
only 4,000), but the numbers availed you nothing. The earth,
with all its vastness, seemed to close in upon you, and you
turned your backs and fled.[25] But Allah sent down His sakeenah
(peace and tranquility) upon His Rasool and the believers
and sent down to your aid those forces which you could not see,
and punished the unbelievers. Thus was the recompense for the
unbelievers.[26] Then after that, you also witnessed that
Allah guided to repent some of them whom He wanted, for Allah is
Forgiving, Merciful.[27]
9:[25-27] |
Allah's help is with the quality and not the quantity of the
believers |
O believers! Know that mushrikďn are unclean;
therefore, do not let them come near the Masjid-al-Harăm after
this year's pilgrimage. If you fear poverty, soon Allah -
if He so wills - will enrich you out of His bounty. Allah is
All-Knowledgeable, All-Wise.[28] Fight those people of the Book
(Jews and Christians) who do not believe in Allah and the
Last Day, do not refrain from what has been prohibited by Allah
and His Rasool and do not embrace the religion of truth (Al-Islam),
until they pay Jizya (protection tax) with their own
hands and feel themselves subdued.[29]
9:[28-29] |
The
prohibition of mushrikďn from entering Masjid-al-Harăm
|
SECTION: 5
The Jews say: “Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah,” and the
Christians say: “ Messiah (Christ) is the son of Allah."
That is what they say with their mouths, imitating the sayings
of the former unbelievers. May Allah destroy them! How perverted
they are![30] They (Jews and Christians) have taken their
rabbis and priests to be their Lords beside Allah and so they
did with Messiah (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary),
although they were commanded in the Torah and the Gospel to
worship none but One Ilăh (Allah); besides Whom there is
none worthy of worship. Exalted be He above those whom they
associate with Him.[31] They desire to extinguish the light of
Allah with their mouths but Allah will not allow it to
happen, for He seeks to perfect His light even though the
disbelievers may dislike it.[32] It is He Who has sent His
Rasool with guidance and true Deen (faith) to make it
prevail over all other deens (faiths) even though the
mushrikďn may hate it.[33]
9:[30-33] |
The
Jews and Christians, who call Azra and Jesus the sons of God,
are mushrikďn |
O believers! Indeed most of the (Jewish)
rabbis and (Christian) priests misappropriate the wealth
of people and hinder them from the way of Allah. To those who
hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah,
proclaim a painful punishment.[34] The Day will surely come when
their treasure will be heated up in the fire of hell, and their
foreheads, sides and backs branded with it. They will be told:
“This is the treasure which you hoarded. Now taste what you were
hoarding!” [35]
9:[34-35] |
Do
not be like Rabbis and Priests who misappropriate the wealth of
people |
The number of months ordained by Allah is
twelve in the Book of Allah since the day He created the heavens
and the earth. Of these, four are sacred; that is the
established principle of Deen. Therefore, do not wrong
yourselves by violating them. But you may fight against the
mushrikďn in all these months if they fight against you in all
of them. Know that Allah is with the righteous.[36] Transposing
a prohibited month is only an addition to unbelief, thereby the
disbelievers are misguided. They make a certain month lawful one
year and in another year they make the same a forbidden month,
so that they make up for the months which Allah has sanctified,
thus making lawful what Allah has forbidden. Their evil actions
seem pleasing to them. Allah does not guide the disbelieving
people.[37]
9:[36-37] |
The
number of months in the book of Allah is 12, of which 4 are
sacred |
SECTION: 6
O believers! What is the matter with you that when you are asked
to march forth in the way of Allah, you cling to the earth? Do
you prefer the life of this world to the life of the hereafter?
If it is so, then you should know that the comforts of
this life are little compared to the life of the hereafter.[38]
If you do not march forth, He will inflict on you a painful
punishment and replace you with other people, and you cannot
harm Him at all, for Allah has power over everything.[39] If you
do not help the Prophet, it does not matter: Allah did
help him when the unbelievers drove him out of his town, the
second of the two, while the two were in the cave and (the
enemy came to the opening of the cave) he said to his
companion (Abu Bakr, later the first of the rightly-guided
caliphs), “Do not worry, Allah is with us." So Allah sent
down his serenity on him and strengthened him with forces which
you can not see, thus, He made the word of the unbelievers
lowest, while words of Allah remain supreme. Allah is
All-Mighty, All-Wise.[40] March forth whether you are
equipped lightly or heavily and make Jihăd (exert your
utmost) in the way of Allah with your wealth and your
persons. That is best for you if you understand.[41] As for
the hypocrites, if the gain would have been immediate and
the journey short, they would have certainly accompanied you,
but the long journey (in Tabük expedition) was too hard
for them. To justify their not accompanying you, they
would even swear by Allah, “If we were able, we would certainly
have marched with you." By doing so, they are destroying
their own souls, for Allah knows that they are liars.[42]
9:[38-42] |
Allah's order to bear arms against the unbelievers, if necessary
|
SECTION: 7
Allah forgives you! But why did you (O Muhammad) give
them leave to stay behind? (You yourself should have not
given them leave) so that it would have become clear which
of them spoke the truth and which of them invented false
excuses.[43] Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day will
never ask you for exemption from fighting with their wealth and
their persons. Allah is aware of those who are righteous.[44]
Only those people ask for exemption who do not believe in Allah
and the Last Day and whose hearts are filled with doubt, and are
wavering because of their doubts.[45] If they had intended to
march forth, they would certainly have made some preparation for
it; but Allah did not like their going forth; so He made them
lag behind and they were told “stay behind with those who stay
behind."[46] Had they gone with you they would have added
nothing but mischief, and they would have made efforts to create
disorder among your ranks, and there would have been some among
you who would have listened to them. Allah knows the
wrongdoers.[47] Indeed they had plotted sedition before and
created disturbance to make you unsuccessful until the truth
came through and the decree of Allah prevailed, even though they
disliked it.[48]
9:[43-48] |
Those
who do not participate in Jihăd are hypocrites |
Among them there is someone (Jad-bin-Qais)
who said: “Grant me exemption and do not expose me to temptation
(of Roman women’s beauty)." Have they not fallen into
temptation (of telling lies, double dealings and hypocrisy)
already? Surely hell has encircled these disbelievers.[49] If
you gain success, it grieves them, but if you face a setback,
they say “We had taken our precautionary measures,” and turn
away, rejoicing.[50] O Prophet, tell them: “Nothing will happen
to us except what Allah has ordained for us; He is our
protector;” and in Allah let the believers put their trust.[51]
Further tell them: “Can you expect for us anything other than
two excellent things (victory or martyrdom)? But we are
waiting for Allah to afflict you with punishment either from
Himself or by our hands. So wait if you will; we too are
waiting."[52] Say: “Whether you give willingly or with
reluctance, it will not be accepted from you; for you are the
people who are transgressors."[53] The reasons which prevent
their contributions from being accepted are: that they
disbelieve in Allah and His Rasool, that they come to offer
Salah but reluctantly, and that they offer contributions but
unwillingly.[54] Let neither their wealth nor their children
dazzle you: in reality Allah intends to punish them with these
things in this life and that their souls may depart while they
are still unbelievers.[55] They swear by Allah that they are
indeed believers like you; yet they are not of you; in fact,
they are afraid to appear to you in their true colors.[56]
If they could find a place of refuge or a cave, or any
hiding-place, they would certainly run to it with an obstinate
rush.[57] There are some among them who criticize you (O
Muhammad) concerning the distribution of sadaqăt. If they
are given from it they are pleased, and if they are not given
from it, lo! They are full of rage.[58] It would have been
better for them, if they had only been pleased with what Allah
and His Rasool had given them and said: “Allah is all-sufficient
to us! Soon Allah will give us of His bounty, and so will His
Rasool. Indeed to Allah do we turn our hopes."[59]
9:[49-59] |
Excuses of the hypocrites for not bearing arms against the
unbelievers |
SECTION: 8
In fact the sadaqăt (Zakah) collection is for the poor,
the helpless, those employed to administer the funds, those
whose hearts need to be won over to the truth, ransoming
the captives, helping the destitute, in the Way of Allah and for
the wayfarer. That is a duty enjoined by Allah; and Allah is
All-Knowledgeable, Wise.[60]
9:[60] |
Categories for the distribution of Zakah |
There are some people among them who hurt the
Prophet saying: “He is one who believes everything that he
hears." Say: “It is good for you that he listens to what is best
for you; he believes in Allah, has faith in the believers, and
is a blessing for those of you who are true believers." As for
those who hurt the Rasool, they will have a painful
punishment.[61] They swear to you by Allah in order to please
you. But it is more fitting that they should please Allah and
His Rasool if they are true believers.[62] Don’t they know that
anyone who opposes Allah and His Rasool shall live forever in
the fire of hell? That surely is the worst humiliation.[63]
9:[61-63] |
Order
of Allah not to molest the Prophet |
The hypocrites are afraid lest a Sürah should
be sent down about them revealing to the Muslims what is
in their hearts. Say: “Mock if you will, Allah will surely bring
to light all that you fear."[64] If you ask them, "what were
you talking about?" They will promptly say: “We were only
jesting and having fun." Say: “What, then! Were you mocking at
Allah, His revelations and His Rasool?”[65] Make no excuses now:
you have rejected faith after your belief; even if We may pardon
some of you who were not serious in participating, We
will punish others amongst you, because they are criminals.[66]
9:[64-66] |
Punishment for those who make fun of the religion |
SECTION: 9
The hypocrite men and the hypocrite women, they are all alike.
They enjoin what is evil, forbid what is just, and withhold
their hands from doing good. They have forgotten Allah; so He
has forgotten them. In fact the hypocrites are
transgressors.[67] Allah has promised the hypocrite men, the
hypocrite women, and the unbelievers the fire of hell to live
therein forever, a sufficient recompense. Allah has cursed them
and they shall have a lasting punishment.[68] Your behavior is
just like those who have gone before you. They were mightier
than you in power and more flourishing in wealth and children.
They enjoyed their portion of this worldly life; thus have you
enjoyed your portion as did those before you; and you have
entered into vain discourses as they did. Consequently their
deeds were fruitless in this world and in the Hereafter, and
they are the ones who are the losers.[69] Have they not heard
the news of those who have gone before them? The people of Nüh (Noah),
Ad and Thamüd; the people of Ibrăhďm (Abraham), the men
of Madyan and the cities which were overthrown. Their Rasools
came to them with clear warnings; but they did not listen,
Allah did not wrong them, but they wronged their own souls.[70]
9:[67-70] |
Hypocritical actions and their punishment |
The true believers, both men and women, are
protectors of one another. They enjoin what is just and forbid
what is evil; they establish Salah, pay Zakah, and obey Allah
and His Rasool. It is they on whom Allah will have His mercy;
surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.[71] Allah has promised to the
believers, both men and women, gardens beneath which rivers
flow, to live therein forever, and they will have beautiful
mansions in these gardens of everlasting bliss. Best of all,
they will have the good pleasure of Allah. Now that is the
highest achievement.[72]
9:[71-72] |
Believers' actions and their rewards |
SECTION: 10
O Prophet! Make Jihăd 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 Rasool 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] |
Allah's order to make Jihăd against hypocrites and unbelievers
|
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 Rasool. Allah does
not guide those who are transgressors.[80]
9:[75-80] |
Behavior of the hypocrites relating to the bounties of Allah
|
SECTION: 11
Those who remained behind (did not join the Tabük expedition)
were delighted to sit inactive behind Allah’s Rasool, and they
hated to make Jihăd 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 Jihăd, 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 Rasool 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 Jihăd
along with His Rasool,” 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 Rasool and those who believe with
him, make Jihăd 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] |
The
hypocrites did not join the war against the unbelievers
The prohibition of offering Funeral prayer for the hypocrites
|
SECTION: 12
Some from among the desert Arabs also came with their excuses,
begging exemption to stay behind; thus, those who lied to Allah
and His Rasool sat inactive. Soon a painful punishment shall
seize those of them who disbelieved.[90] There is no blame on
the disabled, the sick, and those lacking the means, to stay
behind so long as they are sincere to Allah and His Rasool.
There is no way (blame) against those righteous people.
Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.[91] Likewise, there is no blame
on those who came to you and requested the conveyance to the
battlefront and you said: “I am unable to provide you the
conveyance,” and they returned with their eyes streaming with
tears; they were filled with sorrow that they had no resources
of going forth to the battlefield at their own
expense.[92] The way (blame) is only against those who
begged exemption although they are rich. They preferred to be
with those who remained behind. Allah has set a seal upon their
hearts; so they do not know what they missed.[93]
9:[90-93] |
Genuine exemptions for staying behind from the battlefront
|
They will apologize to you with all sorts
of excuses when you return to them. Say: “Present no
excuses: we shall not believe you: Allah has already revealed to
us the whole truth about you. Now Allah and His Rasool will keep
a watch over your conduct: in the end you will return to Him Who
knows what is hidden and what is open, and He will tell you all
that you have been doing."[94] They will swear to you by Allah
when you return to them so that you may leave them alone. So
leave them alone: they are filth. Hell shall be their abode, a
punishment for their misdeeds.[95] They will swear to you in
order to please you, but even if you be pleased with them (accept
their excuses), Allah will never be pleased with these
transgressors.[96] The Arabs of the desert are the worst in
disbelief and hypocrisy, and are least inclined to acknowledge
the limits that Allah has revealed to his Rasool. Allah is
All-Knowledgeable, All-Wise.[97] Some of the desert Arabs look
upon whatever they spend in the way of Allah as a penalty
and wait for some misfortune to befall you. May misfortune
befall them! Allah hears all and knows all.[98] But some of the
desert Arabs believe in Allah and the Last Day, and look on what
they spend in the way of Allah as a means of bringing them close
to Allah and to the prayers of the Rasool. Indeed, closer they
shall be brought: soon Allah will admit them to His mercy. Allah
is Forgiving, Merciful.[99]
9:[94-99] |
Those
who make excuses to avoid serving in armed struggle for the
cause of Allah (when needed) are hypocrites |
SECTION: 13
As for the first pioneers who accepted Islam from the
Muhăjir (immigrants) and Ansăr (supporters in Madinah)
and those who follow them in good deeds, Allah is well pleased
with them and they are pleased with Him. He has prepared for
them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they shall live
forever: that is the mighty achievement.[100] Some of the desert
Arabs around you are hypocrites, and so are some of the
residents of Madinah, who are fanatical in their hypocrisy. You
do not know them, but We know them. Soon We shall give them
double punishment: then they shall be turned to the most severe
chastisement.[101] There are some who have confessed their sins:
they have mixed records of good and bad deeds. It is quite
possible that Allah may turn to them in mercy, for Allah is
Forgiving, Merciful.[102] Take sadaqăt (this commanded
sadaqăt means - Zakat-ul-Mall) from their wealth, so that
they may thereby be cleansed and purified, and pray for them;
for your prayer will give them comfort. Allah hears all and
knows all.[103] Do they not know that Allah accepts repentance
from His servants and takes their sadaqăt (charity), and
surely Allah is the One Who is the Accepter of Repentance, the
Merciful?[104] Tell them: “Do as you will. Allah, His Rasool and
the believers will now keep a watch over your conduct; then you
shall be brought to His court Who knows the hidden and the open,
and He will inform you of all that you have done."[105] There
are yet others whose case is held in suspense for the decision
of Allah. He will either punish them or turn to them in mercy;
and Allah is Knowledgeable, Wise.[106] There are others who
built a Masjid for mischievous motives (Masjid-e-Zirar),
to spread disbelief and to disunite the believers, and an
outpost for one (Abu ‘Amir) who had made war against
Allah and His Rasool before. They will indeed swear that their
intentions are nothing but good; but Allah declares that they
are absolute liars.[107] You should never stand to offer
Salah in it. Certainly the Masjid founded on piety from the
very first day is more deserving that you should stand to
offer Salah in it; for in it there are men who love to be
purified; and Allah loves those who purify themselves.[108] Who
is a better person; he who lays the foundation of his building
on piety to Allah and His good pleasure, or he who lays the
foundation of his building on an undermined bank that will
tumble down with him into the fire of Hell? Allah does not guide
such wrongdoers.[109] The foundation of those who so build is
never free from suspicion and shakiness in their hearts until
their hearts are cut to pieces. Allah is Knowledgeable,
Wise.[110]
9:[100-110] |
The categories of hypocrites
Commandment for the collection of Al-Zakah |
SECTION: 14
Indeed Allah has purchased from the believers their persons and
their wealth and in return has promised them paradise; they
fight in the cause of Allah and slay and are slain. This is a
true promise which is binding on Him mentioned in Taurăt (Torah),
the Injeel (Gospel) and the Qur’an; and who is more true
in fulfilling his promise than Allah? Rejoice, therefore, in the
bargain which you have made, and that is a mighty
achievement.[111] Those that turn to Allah in repentance,
serve Him, praise Him, move about in the land for His sake, make
Raküh (bow down in prayer) and Sajüd (prostrate
themselves in prayer), enjoin what is good and forbid what
is evil, and observe the limits (permissions and prohibitions)
set by Allah (they are the ones who make such a bargain with
Allah). O Prophet, proclaim the good news to such
believers.[112]
9:[111-112] |
Allah
has purchased the persons and wealth of the Believers and in
return has promised them paradise |
It is not proper for the Prophet and those
who believe that they should beg forgiveness for the mushrikďn,
even though they be their relatives, after it has been explained
to them that they are the inmates of hellfire.[113] Ibrăhďm (Abraham)
prayed for his father’s forgiveness only to fulfill a promise he
had made to him. But when it became clear to him that he was an
enemy of Allah he disassociated himself from him. The fact is
that Ibrăhďm was tenderhearted, forbearing.[114] It is not the
way of Allah to confound people after He has guided them, until
He makes clear to them what they should guard against; surely
Allah has the knowledge of everything.[115] Surely it is Allah
to Whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He
gives life and causes to die. You have none besides Allah to
protect or to help.[116]
9:[113-116] |
Do
not seek forgiveness for the mushrikďn |
Allah forgave the Prophet and those Muhăjir
and the Ansăr who stood by him in the time of distress, when
some were on the point of losing heart. He turned to them in
mercy. Surely to them He is Most Kind, Most Merciful.[117] He
also turned in mercy to the three, the decision of
whose case was deferred. So despondent were they that the earth,
with all its vastness, and their own souls, seemed to close in
upon them. They knew for certain that there was no refuge from
Allah except in Him. Then He turned to them in mercy so that
they could repent. Surely Allah is the One Who is Oft-Returning,
the Merciful.[118]
9:[117-118] |
Allah
forgave those three who lagged behind but were sincere
|
SECTION: 15
O believers! Have fear of Allah and be with those who are
truthful in word and deed.[119] It is not proper for the
people of Madinah and the beduin Arabs of the neighborhood to
forsake the Rasool of Allah or to jeopardize his life so as to
safeguard their own: because they do not suffer any thirst or
hunger or any ordeal for the sake of Allah, or take any step
which may provoke the unbelievers, or receive any injury from an
enemy, but shall be written down as a good deed to their
account; for Allah does not waste the reward of the
righteous.[120] Likewise, they do not spend anything
for the cause of Allah, be it small or large, or cut across
a valley in Jihăd, but is written down to their credit;
so that Allah may reward them based on the best of their
deeds.[121] It is not proper that the believers should go forth
all together. Therefore, why not a squadron from each
division stay behind so that they may obtain the understanding
of Deen (Al-Islam), and admonish the people when they
return to them so that they may refrain from un-Islamic
conduct![122]
9:[119-122] |
Believers are only those who prefer the life of the Rasool over
their own
The requirement of obtaining understanding of religion
|
SECTION: 16
O believers! Fight the unbelievers who hem you in, to let them
know how strong you are; you should know that Allah is on the
side of the Godfearing.[123] Whenever a Sürah is revealed, some
of them ask: “Whose faith from among you has increased by this?"
Certainly the faith of the believers is increased and they do
rejoice.[124] As for those whose hearts contain malice, it will
add filth to their existing filth, and they will die while they
are still disbelievers.[125] Do they not see that they are
tested every year once or twice? Yet they neither repent nor
learn a lesson from this.[126] Whenever a Sürah is revealed they
look at each other as if to ask, “Is anyone watching?”
Then they silently slip away. Allah has slipped their hearts (from
the guidance), for they are a people who do not want to
understand.[127]
9:[123-127] |
Qur'anic verses do increase the faith of the believers
|
Now, there has come to you a Rasool from
among yourselves, the one who grieves at your loss and who is
excessively anxious for your success in both worlds, and
who is compassionate and merciful towards the believers.[128]
Now, if they turn away from you, (O Prophet) say:
“Allah is all-sufficient for me. There is no god but Him. In Him
I have put my trust. He is the Rabb of the Mighty Throne."[129]
9:[128-129] |
Character of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
A Prayer taught by Allah |
Major Issues, Divine
Law and Guidance:
* Policy towards the mushrikďn.
* Commandments relating to participation in Jihăd.
* Regulations relating to hypocrisy, weak faith, and negligence.
* Campaign of Tabük.
* Establishment of a Dar-ul-Islam (an Islamic state).
* Extending the influence of Islam to adjoining countries.
* Crushing the mischief of the hypocrites.
* Preparing the Muslims for a struggle in the cause of Islam.
Now that the administration of the whole
of Arabia had come into the hands of the believers, and all the
opposing powers had become subservient, it was necessary to make
a clear declaration of the policy which was to be adopted to
make this newly formed Islamic state a perfect Dar-ul-Islam. In
order to accomplish this objective, the following measures were
taken:
- A declaration was made that all the treaties with the
mushrikďn were abolished and the Muslims would be released
from the treaty obligations with them after the expiration of
four months notice.
- A decree was issued that the guardianship of the Ka'bah
should be taken away from the mushrikďn and placed permanently
in the hands of the believers (vv. 12-18), that all the
customs and practices relating to the era of "ignorance"
should be abolished, and that the mushrikďn should not be
allowed in the vicinity of the Ka'bah (v. 28). A decree was
issued to crush the non-Muslim powers forcing them to accept
the sovereignty of the Islamic State. The object of Jihăd was
not to coerce them to accept Islam, as they were free to
accept or not accept it. The object was to allow them the
freedom to remain misguided, if they chose to be so, provided
that they paid Jizya, the protection tax (v. 29), as a sign of
their subjugation to the Islamic State.
- To ensure the stability of the Islamic State, gangs of the
hypocrites who were being tolerated despite their flagrant
crimes, were crushed. The Muslims were enjoined to treat them
openly as disbelievers (v. 73). Accordingly, the Prophet set
on fire the house of Swailim, where the hypocrites used to
gather for consultations in order to dissuade the people from
joining the expedition of Tabük. When the Prophet returned
from Tabük, he ordered pulled down and burned, the "masjid,"
which was being used by the hypocrites as a place for hatching
plots against the true believers.
- Those people who lagged behind in the Campaign of Tabük or
showed the least negligence, were severely taken to task if
they had no plausible excuse for not fulfilling that
obligation. For there could be no greater internal danger to
the Islamic community than weakness of faith,
especially on the eve of a conflict with the whole non-Muslim
world.
- A declaration was made that in the future, the sole
criterion of an individual's true faith would be the exertion
that individuals make for spreading the Word of Allah and the
role they play in the conflict between Islam and Kufr.
Therefore, if anyone shows any hesitation in sacrificing his
life, money, time, and energies, his faith shall not be
regarded as genuine. (vv. 81-96)
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