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.
“Lo! Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. Who fulfilleth His covenant better than Allah? Rejoice then in your bargain that ye have made, for that is the supreme triumph.” (9:111)
“Lo! Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. Who fulfilleth His covenant better than Allah? Rejoice then in your bargain that ye have made, for that is the supreme triumph.” (9:111)
“Lo! Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. Who fulfilleth His covenant better than Allah? Rejoice then in your bargain that ye have made, for that is the supreme triumph.” (9:111)
“Lo! Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. Who fulfilleth His covenant better than Allah? Rejoice then in your bargain that ye have made, for that is the supreme triumph.” (9:111)
“Lo! Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. Who fulfilleth His covenant better than Allah? Rejoice then in your bargain that ye have made, for that is the supreme triumph.” (9:111)
So rejoice in the transaction which you have concluded.
And that is the great success.
“Lo! Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. Who fulfilleth His covenant better than Allah? Rejoice then in your bargain that ye have made, for that is the supreme triumph.” (9:111)
He has promised them Paradise, a promise binding upon Him in His revealed scriptures:
The Torah, the Gospel, and the Qur'an.
And who is truer to his covenant than Allah?
Rejoice, O believers who have been true to Allah in what they pledged,
In the transaction of your souls and wealth for what you have sold to your Lord.
For that is indeed the great success.
“(Triumphant) are those who turn repentant (to Allah), those who serve (Him), those who praise (Him), those who fast, those who bow down, those who fall prostrate (in worship), those who enjoin the right and who forbid the wrong and those who keep the limits (ordained) of Allah - And give glad tidings to believers!” (9:112)
And those who forbid what is evil.
And those who observe the limits set by Allah.
And give glad tidings to the believers.
“Lo! Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. Who fulfilleth His covenant better than Allah? Rejoice then in your bargain that ye have made, for that is the supreme triumph.” (9:111)
They are the repentant,
Those who turn to Allah in repentance from all sins,
The worshippers,
Those who humble themselves out of fear of Allah and modesty before Him,
The praisers,
Those who praise Allah for everything He tests them with, whether of good or evil,
The observers of fasting,
Those who pray, bowing in their prayer,
And prostrating therein,
Those who enjoin upon people the truth in their religion,
And forbid them from every deed and word that Allah has forbidden His servants,
Those who fulfill the obligatory duties of Allah,
And who adhere to His commands and prohibitions.
And give glad tidings to those who believe in what Allah has promised them.
“It is not for the Prophet, and those who believe, to pray for the forgiveness of idolaters even though they may be near of kin (to them) after it hath become clear that they are people of hell-fire.” (9:113)
Even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the companions of the Hellfire.
It is not for the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and those who believe with him,
To ask for forgiveness for the polytheists,
Even if the polytheists for whom they seek forgiveness are their own kin,
After it has become clear that they died in their state of polytheism against Allah,
And it has become evident that they are among the people of the Fire.
Because Allah has decreed that He will not forgive a polytheist.
So it is not fitting for them to ask their Lord to do what they already know He will not do.
“The prayer of Abraham for the forgiveness of his father was only because of a promise he had promised him, but when it had become clear unto him that he (his father) was an enemy to Allah he (Abraham) disowned him. Lo! Abraham was soft of heart, long-suffering.” (9:114)
“The prayer of Abraham for the forgiveness of his father was only because of a promise he had promised him, but when it had become clear unto him that he (his father) was an enemy to Allah he (Abraham) disowned him. Lo! Abraham was soft of heart, long-suffering.” (9:114)
“The prayer of Abraham for the forgiveness of his father was only because of a promise he had promised him, but when it had become clear unto him that he (his father) was an enemy to Allah he (Abraham) disowned him. Lo! Abraham was soft of heart, long-suffering.” (9:114)
“The prayer of Abraham for the forgiveness of his father was only because of a promise he had promised him, but when it had become clear unto him that he (his father) was an enemy to Allah he (Abraham) disowned him. Lo! Abraham was soft of heart, long-suffering.” (9:114)
So when it became clear to him that he died a polytheist to Allah, he disavowed him and ceased seeking forgiveness for him.
Indeed, Ibrahim, peace be upon him, was compassionate to his Lord, forbearing toward those who insulted him or harmed him.
“It was never Allah's (part) that He should send a folk astray after He had guided them until He had made clear unto them what they should avoid. Lo! Allah is Aware of all things.” (9:115)
Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing of all things.
And it was not for Allah to judge you regarding your seeking forgiveness for your polytheist dead who were in error,
After He had granted you guidance and enabled you to believe in Him and His Messenger,
Until He had sent down the prohibition concerning it.
Indeed, Allah is fully aware of what is in your hearts,
At the time Allah forbade you from seeking forgiveness for your polytheist dead,
Regarding the distress you felt over the seeking of forgiveness that had passed from you,
And other matters concerning His servants.
So He clarified His forbearance toward you in that regard,
To relieve you of the burden of grief over it.
Indeed, to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth.
He gives life and causes death.
And you have, other than Allah, no protector or helper.
Indeed, O people, Allah
Possesses the authority of the heavens and the earth and their dominion.
In His hand is their life and their death.
So do not despair, O believers,
And strive in His obedience,
For He grants honor to whom He wills,
And He brings low whom He wills.
And you have no one who is an ally for you besides Allah,
Nor any helper to aid you against Him.
“Say: Who is he who can preserve you from Allah if He intendeth harm for you, or intendeth mercy for you. They will not find that they have any friend or helper other than Allah.” (33:17)
So place your trust in Allah, and fear Him alone.
“Allah hath turned in mercy to the Prophet, and to the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of hardship. After the hearts of a party of them had almost swerved aside, then turned He unto them in mercy. Lo! He is Full of Pity, Merciful for them.” (9:117)
And the Ansar who followed him
In the hour of difficulty.
“Allah hath turned in mercy to the Prophet, and to the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of hardship. After the hearts of a party of them had almost swerved aside, then turned He unto them in mercy. Lo! He is Full of Pity, Merciful for them.” (9:117)
Then He accepted their repentance.
“Allah hath turned in mercy to the Prophet, and to the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of hardship. After the hearts of a party of them had almost swerved aside, then turned He unto them in mercy. Lo! He is Full of Pity, Merciful for them.” (9:117)
Allah has indeed granted the ability to turn in repentance to His command and obedience to His Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him,
And to the Emigrants who left their homes and kin for the abode of Islam,
And to the helpers of His Messenger for the sake of Allah,
Those who followed the Messenger of Allah in the hour of difficulty with their wealth,
After the hearts of some of them had almost swerved from the truth,
And they were doubting their religion and wavering.
Then He granted them, may His majesty be exalted, the ability to return to steadfastness in His religion.
Indeed, your Lord, regarding those whose hearts were affected by that,
Is Kind and Merciful to them, lest He destroy them and strip faith from them,
After they had been tested for the sake of Allah and had endured hardship and adversity.
“And to the three also (did He turn in mercy) who were left behind, when the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for them, and their own souls were straitened for them till they bethought them that there is no refuge from Allah save toward Him. Then turned He unto them in mercy that they (too) might turn (repentant unto Him). Lo! Allah! He is the Relenting, the Merciful.” (9:118)
“And to the three also (did He turn in mercy) who were left behind, when the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for them, and their own souls were straitened for them till they bethought them that there is no refuge from Allah save toward Him. Then turned He unto them in mercy that they (too) might turn (repentant unto Him). Lo! Allah! He is the Relenting, the Merciful.” (9:118)
“And to the three also (did He turn in mercy) who were left behind, when the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for them, and their own souls were straitened for them till they bethought them that there is no refuge from Allah save toward Him. Then turned He unto them in mercy that they (too) might turn (repentant unto Him). Lo! Allah! He is the Relenting, the Merciful.” (9:118)
Indeed, Allah is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.
“Allah hath turned in mercy to the Prophet, and to the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of hardship. After the hearts of a party of them had almost swerved aside, then turned He unto them in mercy. Lo! He is Full of Pity, Merciful for them.” (9:117)
“And to the three also (did He turn in mercy) who were left behind, when the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for them, and their own souls were straitened for them till they bethought them that there is no refuge from Allah save toward Him. Then turned He unto them in mercy that they (too) might turn (repentant unto Him). Lo! Allah! He is the Relenting, the Merciful.” (9:118)
So Allah left them behind regarding repentance.
He deferred them from those whom He accepted the repentance of, from those who stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,
Until the earth, despite its vastness, became constrained for them,
In grief and remorse for staying behind from the jihad,
And their own souls became constrained for them due to the distress and anguish they felt,
And they became certain in their hearts
That there is no refuge from the trial Allah sent down upon them except in Allah.
Then He granted them the ability to turn in repentance to His obedience so that they might return to Him.
Indeed, Allah is the Bestower of repentance to His servants,
Merciful to them, that He would not punish them after their repentance.
“O ye who believe! Be careful of your duty to Allah, and be with the truthful.” (9:119)
O you who have believed in Allah and His Messenger,
Fear Allah and be mindful of Him by performing His obligatory duties and adhering to His limits,
And be in this world among the people of Allah’s guardianship and obedience,
So that you may be in the Hereafter with the truthful in Paradise.
“It is not for the townsfolk of Al-Madinah and for those around them of the wandering Arabs so stay behind the messenger of Allah and prefer their lives to his life. That is because neither thirst nor toil nor hunger afflicteth them in the way of Allah, nor step they any step that angereth the disbelievers, nor gain they from the enemy a gain, but a good deed is recorded for them therefor. Lo! Allah loseth not the wages of the good.” (9:120)
“It is not for the townsfolk of Al-Madinah and for those around them of the wandering Arabs so stay behind the messenger of Allah and prefer their lives to his life. That is because neither thirst nor toil nor hunger afflicteth them in the way of Allah, nor step they any step that angereth the disbelievers, nor gain they from the enemy a gain, but a good deed is recorded for them therefor. Lo! Allah loseth not the wages of the good.” (9:120)
“It is not for the townsfolk of Al-Madinah and for those around them of the wandering Arabs so stay behind the messenger of Allah and prefer their lives to his life. That is because neither thirst nor toil nor hunger afflicteth them in the way of Allah, nor step they any step that angereth the disbelievers, nor gain they from the enemy a gain, but a good deed is recorded for them therefor. Lo! Allah loseth not the wages of the good.” (9:120)
That is because they do not suffer thirst or fatigue,
“It is not for the townsfolk of Al-Madinah and for those around them of the wandering Arabs so stay behind the messenger of Allah and prefer their lives to his life. That is because neither thirst nor toil nor hunger afflicteth them in the way of Allah, nor step they any step that angereth the disbelievers, nor gain they from the enemy a gain, but a good deed is recorded for them therefor. Lo! Allah loseth not the wages of the good.” (9:120)
Nor do they tread any ground that enrages the disbelievers,
Nor do they inflict any injury upon an enemy,
“It is not for the townsfolk of Al-Madinah and for those around them of the wandering Arabs so stay behind the messenger of Allah and prefer their lives to his life. That is because neither thirst nor toil nor hunger afflicteth them in the way of Allah, nor step they any step that angereth the disbelievers, nor gain they from the enemy a gain, but a good deed is recorded for them therefor. Lo! Allah loseth not the wages of the good.” (9:120)
Indeed, Allah does not allow the reward of the doers of good to be lost.
It was not for the people of the city of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,
And those around them from the dwellers of the desert,
To stay behind from the Messenger of Allah in their homes,
Nor to prefer their own lives over his life,
By accompanying him on his journey and in jihad with him,
Because they do not suffer in their journey thirst or fatigue,
Nor hunger in the establishment of the religion of Allah and supporting it,
Nor do they tread any land that enrages the disbelievers by their treading upon it,
Nor do they inflict upon an enemy of Allah anything regarding their wealth, lives, or children,
But that Allah records for them for all of that the reward of a righteous deed.
Indeed, Allah does not let any doer of good among His creation, who has done well in his work,
Go without rewarding him for his goodness and recompensing him for his righteous deed.
“Nor spend they any spending, small or great, nor do they cross a valley, but it is recorded for them, that Allah may repay them the best of what they used to do.” (9:121)
“Nor spend they any spending, small or great, nor do they cross a valley, but it is recorded for them, that Allah may repay them the best of what they used to do.” (9:121)
“Nor spend they any spending, small or great, nor do they cross a valley, but it is recorded for them, that Allah may repay them the best of what they used to do.” (9:121)
“Nor spend they any spending, small or great, nor do they cross a valley, but it is recorded for them, that Allah may repay them the best of what they used to do.” (9:121)
Nor do they cross any valley with the Messenger of Allah in his military expedition,
But that it is recorded for them as a reward for that deed of theirs,
As the best of what He rewards them for the best of the deeds they used to do,
While they were residing in their homes.