In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. 'Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari.
Surah al-Tawbah.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
“And the believers should not all go out to fight. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may gain sound knowledge in religion, and that they may warn their folk when they return to them, so that they may beware.” (9:122)
“And the believers should not all go out to fight. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may gain sound knowledge in religion, and that they may warn their folk when they return to them, so that they may beware.” (9:122)
“And the believers should not all go out to fight. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may gain sound knowledge in religion, and that they may warn their folk when they return to them, so that they may beware.” (9:122)
It was not for the believers to go forth all at once, leaving the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) alone.
Rather, when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sets out on an expedition,
a group from every tribe of the Arabs should go forth with him.
So that the group that goes forth may gain understanding through witnessing the victory Allah grants to the people of His religion.
Through this witnessing, they may grasp the reality of the knowledge of Islam’s affairs and its triumph over all other religions.
And so that they may warn their people, cautioning them against the punishment of Allah befalling them,
similar to what befell those whom the Muslims conquered and witnessed upon their return from their expedition.
Perhaps their people will take heed and believe in Allah and His Messenger.
Fearing that what befell those whose news they were told might also befall them.
“O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him).” (9:123)
And let them find in you harshness, and know that Allah is with the righteous.
O you who have believed in Allah and His Messenger,
fight those of the disbelievers who are near you, rather than those who are distant.
Begin by fighting those who are closest to you in proximity,
rather than those who are further away.
And let these disbelievers whom you fight find in you a severity toward them.
And be certain, when you fight them, that Allah is with you and is your helper against them.
For if you fear Allah by performing His obligatory duties and avoiding His prohibitions,
then Allah is the helper of those who fear Him.
“And whenever a surah is revealed there are some of them who say: Which one of you hath thus increased in faith? As for those who believe, it hath increased them in faith and they rejoice (therefor).” (9:124)
“And whenever a surah is revealed there are some of them who say: Which one of you hath thus increased in faith? As for those who believe, it hath increased them in faith and they rejoice (therefor).” (9:124)
“And whenever a surah is revealed there are some of them who say: Which one of you hath thus increased in faith? As for those who believe, it hath increased them in faith and they rejoice (therefor).” (9:124)
And when Allah reveals a surah from the Qur'an to His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),
some of these hypocrites say,
"O people,
which of you has this surah increased in belief in Allah and His signs?"
As for those who believe, the surah that was revealed increased them in faith,
and they rejoice in the faith and certainty that Allah has granted them.
“But as for those in whose hearts is disease, it only addeth wickedness to their wickedness, and they die while they are disbelievers.” (9:125)
But as for those in whose hearts is a disease of hypocrisy and doubt regarding the religion of Allah,
the surah that was revealed was an increase in doubt for them regarding what Allah has sent down.
They did not believe in it.
Thus, it was an increase in the filth of their deeds, added to their previous filth and hypocrisy.
And these hypocrites died while they were disbelievers in Allah and His signs.
“See they not that they are tested once or twice in every year? Still they turn not in repentance, neither pay they heed.” (9:126)
Do these hypocrites not see
that Allah tests them once or twice in some years?
Yet, despite the affliction that befalls them from Allah, they do not repent from their hypocrisy,
nor do they take heed from the proofs of Allah they see and the signs they witness.
Rather, they persist in their hypocrisy.
“And whenever a surah is revealed, they look one at another (as who should say): Doth anybody see you? Then they turn away. Allah turneth away their hearts because they are a folk who understand not.” (9:127)
“And whenever a surah is revealed, they look one at another (as who should say): Doth anybody see you? Then they turn away. Allah turneth away their hearts because they are a folk who understand not.” (9:127)
“And whenever a surah is revealed, they look one at another (as who should say): Doth anybody see you? Then they turn away. Allah turneth away their hearts because they are a folk who understand not.” (9:127)
And whenever a surah of the Qur'an is revealed that exposes the faults of these hypocrites,
while they are in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him),
“And whenever a surah is revealed, they look one at another (as who should say): Doth anybody see you? Then they turn away. Allah turneth away their hearts because they are a folk who understand not.” (9:127)
"Does anyone see you?" If they speak or whisper about the faults of the people, he informs them of it.
Then they rise and depart from the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him),
and they do not listen to the recitation of the surah that contains their faults.
Allah has turned the hearts of these hypocrites away from goodness and guidance,
because they are a people who do not understand the admonitions of Allah,
out of arrogance and hypocrisy.
There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves, who is distressed by your suffering, concerned for you, and to the believers is kind and merciful.
There has come to you, O people, a Messenger of Allah from among yourselves, whom you know well.
It distresses him that you should suffer, or face hardship or harm.
He is eager for your guidance from misguidance and for your repentance, and to the believers, he is kind and merciful.
“Now, if they turn away (O Muhammad) say: Allah sufficeth me. There is no Allah save Him. In Him have I put my trust, and He is Lord of the Tremendous Throne.” (9:129)
“Now, if they turn away (O Muhammad) say: Allah sufficeth me. There is no Allah save Him. In Him have I put my trust, and He is Lord of the Tremendous Throne.” (9:129)
But if they turn away, O Muhammad,
and do not accept the sincere advice you brought them regarding Allah,
then say, "Allah is sufficient for me; there is no deity worthy of worship but Him."
In Him I have placed my trust, and upon His aid I rely.
For He is my helper and my supporter.
And He is the One who possesses everything beneath Him.
All kings are His subjects and His servants,
for the Great Throne belongs only to the King of kings.
And He is the Great King, besides whom there is no other.