Surah 9 At-Tawbah

SURAH 9 AT-TAWBAH



(In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful)

This is a tale of those who have disassociated themselves from God and His Messenger, to those of the heathens whom you have contracted mutual alliances.

Travel as you may throughout the land, but know that you cannot cause failure to God, and that He will disgrace the Unbelievers.

And it is an announcement from God and His Messenger, to the people assembled on the day of the Great Pilgrimage, that God and His Messenger dissolve treaty obligations with the heathens. If then, you repent, it is best for you.  But, if you turn away, know that you cannot cause failure to God.  And, to those who DisBelieve, they will suffer a painful punishment. 

Excepted are those with whom you have made a treaty among the Disbelievers, and who have not subsequently failed you, nor aided anyone against you. So fulfill your engagements with them to the end of their term.  For Allah loves the Righteous.

But, when the forbidden months are past, find the heathens wherever you may find them, and overcome them with Knowledge.  But, if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the Way for them.  For Allah is the Most Forgiving, The Most Merciful.

If one among the heathens ask you for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the Word of God. And then escort him to where one may be safe. That is because they are people without Knowledge of the Truth.

How can there be a treaty before God and His Messenger with them except for those with whom you have made a treaty near the Sacred Mosque? As long as these people stand true to you, stand true to them.  For Allah loves the Righteous.

How can there be such a treaty while, if they get an advantage over you, they do not respect your kinship ties or promises of protection? With words from their mouths they make you believe that they are Believers, but their hearts refuse to Believe in God, and most of them are rebellious and wicked.

The Signs of God they have sold for a miserable price, and have averted many from His Way.  Evil indeed are the deeds they have done.

They do not observe toward a Believer any pact of kinship or covenant of protection! It is they who have transgressed all bounds.

But, even so, if they repent, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, they are your brethren in Faith.  Thus, do We explain the Signs in detail, for those who Understand.

But, if they violate their promises after their treaty, and taunt you about your Faith, confront the chiefs of the Unfaithful, for their promises are nothing to them. 
They, thus, must be restrained.

Would you not confront a people who broke their promises, plotted to expel the Messenger, and took the aggressive by being the first to assault you? Do you fear them? No, it is God whom you should more justly fear, if you Believe!

Confront them, and God will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, helping you to victory over them.  Thus, the heart of The Believers will be healed,
and the fury will be removed from their hearts. And, God turns with Forgiveness to whom He Wills.  And, God is the All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Or, do you think that you will be abandoned while Allah has not yet made evident those among you who strive for God's cause.  And, do not take any other God than Allah.  His Messenger and the Believers are well acquainted with all that you do.

As to those who join gods with Allah, they are forbidden to visit or maintain the mosques of Allah while their souls are filled with DisBelief. For those people, their deeds will be worthless, and in Fire they shall dwell eternally.

The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by those who Believe in God and the Last Day, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity.  And, fear none except God. It is they who are expected to be on True Guidance
 from their Lord God.

Does giving water to pilgrims, or maintaining the Sacred Mosque, equal to the pious service of those who Believe in God and the Last Day? Those who do not strive with might in God's causes, and are not sincere in Belief in God, are not comparable in the sight of God with those who Believe. And, God does not Guide those who do wrong.

Those who Believe, and suffer exile, and strive with might and steadfastness in God's causes, with their goods and their livelihood, have the highest rank in the sight of Allah. They are the people who will achieve salvation.

Their Lord does give them glad tidings of His pleasure, and bestows Mercy from Himself, and provides Gardens for them wherein are eternal delight and pleasure.

They will dwell therein forever. Indeed, in God's presence is the highest reward,
 the greatest of all.

O you who Believe! Do not take for protectors your fathers and your brothers if they do not have Faith in God. 
If any of you do so, then you are among the wrongdoers.

Say, "If it is that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your spouses, or your kindred; the wealth that you have gained; the commerce in which you fear a decline: or the dwellings in which you delight - are dearer to you than God, or His Messenger, or  striving in His cause; then wait until God brings about His decision. 
And, God does not Guide the rebellious.

Assuredly, God helped you in many battlefields, and on the day of Hunayn.  Behold! Your great numbers amazed you, but they did not avail you. 
The vast land held you back, and you turned back in retreat.

But, God poured His tranquility on the Messenger and on the Believers, and sent down forces which you did not see. He punished the Unbelievers;
 that is the recompense of the Disbelievers.

Again will God, after this, turn in Mercy to whom He wills. 
For Allah is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

O you who Believe! Truly the heathens are not pure; so let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the Sacred Mosque. And if you fear poverty, soon will God bless you, if He Wills to out of His bounty, for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Keep away from those who do not Believe in God or the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which has been forbidden by God and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, even if they are People of the Scripture, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

The Jews call Ezra the son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. Those are sayings from their mouth.  They but imitate what the UnBelievers of old used to say. God's curse will be on them. How deluded they are away from the Truth!

They take their priests and their monks to be their lords instead of God, and they take as their Lord... Christ the son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship none but the One True God. There is no other God but He.  Praise and glory be to Him!  Far is He from having partners they may associate with Him.

They want to extinguish the Light of God with their mouths, but God will not allow but that His Light should be perfected, although the UnBelievers may detest it.

It is He who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and with the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religions, even though the heathens may detest it. 

O you who Believe! There are indeed many among the priests and monks, who falsely devour the money of people, and hinder people away from the way of God. And, there are those who bury gold and silver, and do not spend it in charity or in God’s causes.  Give them a most grievous punishment.

On the Day when heat will be produced out of that wealth in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs - "This is the treasure which you buried for yourselves.  Taste ye, then, of the treasures you buried!"

The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve in a year, so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: that is the Right Path. So do not wrong yourselves therein,
and confront the heathens if they confront you.
But, know that Allah is with those who show some restraint in matters of aggression.

Verily, the transposing of a prohibited month is an addition to punishment for Unbelief. The Unbelievers are led to wrong thereby.  For they make it lawful one year, and forbidden another year, in order to adjust the number of months forbidden by Allah and make such forbidden ones lawful. The evil of their deeds seem pleasing to them.
 But, God does not Guide those who reject Faith and do not Believe in Him.

O you who Believe! What is the matter with you, that, when you are asked to go forth in the cause of God, you cling heavily to the earthly pleasures? Do you tenaciously prefer the life of this world to that of the Hereafter?
But, little is the comfort of this life, as compared to the Hereafter.

Unless you go forth towards your term, He will punish you with a grievous punishment, and put other people in your place; but God you cannot not harm in the least.
For God has power and competency over all matters.

If you do not help the Holy Prophet Muhammad, it does not matter.  For, God did indeed help him.  When the Unbelievers drove him out of Makkah, he had no more than one companion.  There were two in the cave, and he said to his companion, "Have no fear, for Allah is with us."  Then, God sent down His Peace upon him, and strengthened him with forces that you could not see, and humbled to the depths the word of the Unbelievers. But, the Word of God is exalted to the heights. 
For God is Exalted in Might, the Most Wise.

Go forth, whether heavily or lightly equipped, and strive and struggle, with your goods and your livelihood, in God's causes and give in charity.
That is best for you, if you but Knew.

If there had been immediate gain in sight, and the journey easy, they would without doubt have followed you.  But, the distance was long, and it weighed heavy on them. They would indeed swear by Allah, "If we only could, we would certainly have come with you." They destroyed their own souls.
But, God knows that they were really lying.

May God bless you with Grace! Why did you grant them respite until it was known to you clearly who were proven liars and hypocrites?

Those who Believe in God, and the Last Day, ask you for no exemption from striving with their goods and their livelihhod in God's causes and in charity.
And, God knows well those who do their duty to Him and to others.

Only those who ask you for exemption are those who do not Believe in Allah and the Last Day, and those whose hearts are undecided, and in doubt.

If they had intended to come with you on the Right Path, they would certainly have made some preparation for it.  But, Allah was averse to their being sent forward so He made them lag behind, and they were told, "Sit among those who sit still."

If they had come with you, they would not have added to your strength, but only made disorganized, hurrying to and fro in your midst, sowing dissension among you, and there would have been some of you who would have listened to them.
But, God Knows well those who do wrong.

Indeed, they had plotted dissension before, and upset matters for you, until the Truth arrived, and the Decree of God became manifest much to their disgust.

Among them is many a man who says, "Grant me exemption and do not draw me into trial." Have they not fallen into trial already?
And, indeed, Hell surrounds the Unbelievers on all sides.

If good befalls you, it grieves them.  But, if a misfortune befalls you, they say, "We took indeed our precautions beforehand,"
and they turn away rejoicing at your suffering.

Say, "Nothing will happen to us except what God has decreed for us. 
He is our protector." And, in God let the Believers put their trust.

Say, "Can you expect for us any fate other than one of two glorious things - martyrdom or victory? But, we can expect for you either that Allah will send his punishment from Himself, or by our hands. So wait expectantly.  We too will wait with you."

Saym "Spend for the cause willingly or unwillingly. 
It will not be accepted, for you are indeed a rebellious and wicked people."

The only reasons that their contributions are not accepted are: that they reject God and His Messenger; that they come to prayer without earnestness;
and that they offer contributions in charity unwillingly.

Let not their wealth, nor their progeny impress you. 
In reality, God's plan is to punish them with these things in this life, and that their souls may perish in their very denial of God.

They swear by God that they are your brethren; but they are not.
Yet, they are afraid to show their true colors.

If they could find a place to flee to, or caves, or any place to enter and hide,
they would surely run and turn therein heedlessly. 

And, among them are people who slander you in the matter of the distribution of charity. If they were given some part thereof, they are pleased, but if not, behold! 
They become angry!

If only they had been content with what God and His Messenger gave them, and had said, "Sufficient unto us is God. God and His Messenger will soon give us of His Bounty.  To God do we turn our hopes!"
 It would have been better for them. 

Charity is for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the funds;
 for those whose hearts have been recently reconciled to the Truth;
 for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of God; and for the wayfarer. 
Thus, it is ordained by God, and God is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.

Among them are people who defame the Prophet and say, "He is a man who Believes everything he hears." No, rather say, "He listens to what is best for you.  He Believes in God, has Faith in the Believers, and is a Mercy to those of you who Believe."
 But, those who defame the Messenger will receive a grievous punishment.

To you they swear by God in order to please you.  But, it is more fitting that they should please God and His Messenger, if they are truly Believers.

Do they not know that for those who oppose God and His Messenger, is the Fire of Hell wherein they shall dwell forever? That is the supreme disgrace.

The Hypocrites are afraid that a Surah should be sent down to them, showing them what is really in their hearts.
 Say to them, "Mock as you will, but indeed, God will bring to light all that they feared would be revealed."

If you question them, they declare with emphasis, "We were only talking and joking." Say, "Was it at God, and His Signs, and His Messenger that you were mocking?"

Make no excuses.  They have rejected Faith after having accepted it. If God pardons some of you, there will be others who are insincere, and they will be punished,
for they are in sin.

The Hypocrites, men and women, have an understanding with each other.  They enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and refuse to spend in charity or in God's causes.
 
They have forgotten God. So He has forgotten them.
Indeed, the hypocrites are rebellious and disobedient.

God promised the hypocrites, and the rejectors of Faith, the fire of Hell. Therein shall they dwell forever.  Sufficient it is for them. For them is the curse of God, and an enduring punishment.

As in the case of those before you: they were mightier than you in power, and more abundant in wealth and children. They had their enjoyment of their allotted portion in life, and you have yours, as did those before you; and you indulge in idle talk as they did. Their work is fruitless in this world, and in the Hereafter,
 and they will lose all spiritual good.

Has not the story reached them of those before them? The People of Noah, and 'Aad, and Thamud; the People of Abraham, the men of Madyan, and the cities that were overthrown. To them came their Messengers with Clear Signs. It is not God who wronged them, they wronged their own souls.

The Believers are protectors one of another.  They enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil.  They observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey God and His Messenger. On them, God will pour His Divine Mercy. 
For, God is the Most Exalted in Power, the Most Wise.

God promised to the Believers Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein eternally, with beautiful mansions in Gardens of Everlasting Bliss.
 
But, the greatest happiness is the good pleasure of Allah.
 That is the supreme attainment of happiness.

O Prophet! Strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites, and be steadfast against them. Their abode is Hell, an evil refuge indeed.

They swear by God that they said nothing evil, but indeed, they lied, and they did it after accepting Islam.  And, they meditated a plot that they were unable to carry out.  This revenge of theirs was their only return for the Bounty which God and His Messenger had enriched them! If they repent, it will be best for them.  But, if they turn back to their evil ways, God will punish them with a grievous punishment in this life, and in the Hereafter.  They shall have none on earth to protect, nor help them.

Among them are people who made a covenant with God,
that if He bestowed on them His bounty, they would give large amounts in charity,
 and be truly among those who are Righteous.

But, when He did bestow of His Bounty, they became stingy with it, and turned back from their Covenant, short from its fulfillment.

So, He has put as a consequence hypocrisy into their hearts, to last until the Day, whereupon they shall meet Him because they broke their Covenant with Him, and because they lied over and over again.

Do they not know that God knows their secret thoughts and their private conversations, and that Allah knows well all things unseen?

The people who slander and ridicule the Believers who give of themselves freely to deeds of charity will cast ridicule on themselves thereby. 
And, they shall have a grievous punishment.

Whether you ask for their forgiveness, or not, their sins are unforgivable.  If you ask seventy times for their forgiveness, God will not forgive them because they have rejected God and His Messenger.
And, God does not Guide people who are perversely and defiantly rebellious.

Those who were left behind rejoiced in their inaction behind the back of the Messenger of God. They hated to strive in God's causes with their goods and their livelihood.
 They said, "Do not go forth in the heat."
 Say to them, "The fire of Hell is fiercer in heat." If only they could understand!

So let them laugh a little, for one day they will weep
 for the recompense of the evil that they do.

If, then, God brings you back to any of them, and they ask permission to come with you, say to them, "Never shall you come with me, nor fight an enemy with me, for you preferred to sit back and do nothing on the first occasion.
Then, sit now with those who lag behind."

Nor did they ever pray for any of them that perished, nor stood by their graves. 
They have rejected God and His Messenger, and died in a state of defiant perverse disobedience to Him.

Do not let their wealth, nor progeny impress you.  God's plan is to punish them with these things in this world, and that their souls may perish in their very denial of God.

When a Surah is revealed, enjoining them to Believe in God, and to strive along with His Messenger, those with wealth and influence among them ask you for exemption, and say, "Leave us behind. We would like to be with those who sit at home."

They prefer to be with those who remain behind at home. 
Their hearts are sealed and they do not Understand.

But, the Messenger, and those who Believe, strive with their wealth and their livelihood in God's causes. For them are all good things, and it is they who will prosper.

Allah has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein.
  That is the supreme happiness!

And, there were among the desert Arabs also, people who made excuses and came to claim exemption; and those who were false to God and His Messenger and merely sat idly by. Soon will a grievous punishment seize the Unbelievers among them.

There is no blame on those who are infirm, or ill, or who have no resources to spend in God’s causes, if they are sincere in their duty to God and His Messenger.   No grounds of complaint can there be against those who do Right. 
And, Allah is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

There is also no blame on you when people come to you to be provided with horses, and you say, "I cannot find any horses for you to ride on.”  Their eyes stream with tears of grief because they have no money to spend in God’s causes.

There is blame on those who are wealthy and lazy, and feel they should sit with the people who remain behind.  God has sealed over their hearts; so they do not know what they are missing.

They will present their excuses to you when you return to them. Say to them, "Present no excuses.  We shall not believe anything you say. Allah has already informed us of the true state of affairs concerning you.  It is your actions that Allah and His Messenger will observe.  In the End, you will be brought back to Him who knows what is hidden and what is open. Then, He will show you the truth of all that you did."

They will swear to God that you leave them alone when you return. So leave them alone for they are an abomination and evil, and Hell is their dwelling place, a fitting recompense for the evil that they did.

They will swear unto you, that you may be pleased with them.  But, if you are pleased with them, indeed,
know that Allah is not pleased with those who are defiantly rebellious.

The desert dwellers are the worst in Unbelief and hypocrisy, and most likely to be ignorant to the limits set by the laws God sent down to His Messenger.
For, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Some of the desert dwellers look upon their payments as a replacement for their punishments, and wait for disaster to strike you.  On them, will be the disaster of evil, for God Hears and Knows all things.

But, yet, there are other desert dwellers who Believe in God and the Last Day, and look on their charities as pious gifts bringing them nearer to Allah, and heeding the prayers of the Messenger. Indeed, they bring them nearer to Him. 
Soon will Allah admit them to His Mercy. 
For Allah is The Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

The vanguard of Islam - the first of those who forsook their homes, and of those who gave them aid, and also those who follow them in doing good deeds, well pleased is God with them, as they are with Him.  For them, He has prepared Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. 
That is the supreme happiness and attainment.

Certainly some of the desert dwellers around you are hypocrites, as well as some of the Medina folk, they are obstinate in hypocrisy.  You do not know them. God Knows them and shall punish them twice. 
And, in addition, they shall be sent to a grievous punishment.

There are others who have acknowledged their wrongdoings.  They have mixed an act that was good with another that was evil. Perhaps, Allah will turn unto them with Mercy.  For Allah is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

From your goods, make charity, so that you may purify and sanctify them; and pray on their behalf. Verily, your prayers are a reassurance for them. 
And, God is the One who Hears and Knows all things.

Do they not Know that Allah does accept repentance from His sevants, and receives their gifts of charity, and that God is indeed the One to whom you will return,
the Most Merciful?  

And say to people, "Work righteously.  Soon God will see your good and kind deeds, as will the Messenger, and the Believers.  And, soon you will all be brought back to the All Knowing of what is hidden and what is open. 
Then, He will show you the truth of all that you did."

There are others, held in suspense for the Judgment of God, whether He will punish them, or turn in Mercy to them, which is unknown except by Him.
 And, God is the All-Knowing, the Most Wise.

And, there are those who put up a mosque by way of mischief and DisBelief - to disunite the Believers - and in preparation for one who warred against God and His Messenger beforehand. They will indeed swear that their intention is nothing but good.  However, God does declare that they certainly are liars and hypocrites.
Do not stand in prayer there ever.

A mosque whose foundation is laid with piety and respect for Allah from the first day is more worthy of prayer therein. In it are people who love to be purified with their hearts and souls, and God loves those who make themselves pure.

Which then is best?  He that lays the foundation with piety and reverence to God and His good pleasure, or one who lies the foundation on a shaky cliff ready to crumble away to pieces? And, it does crumble to pieces with them, into the fire of Hell.
And, God does not Guide people that do wrong.

Their building is never free from suspicion, nor shakiness in their hearts, until their hearts cease to beat. And, God is All-Knowing, and all Wise.

God has purchased from the Believers their livelihood and their goods in exchange for the Garden of Paradise.  They strive in His causes and in the Right Path.  This is a promise binding on Him in Truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur'an.  And, who is more Faithful to His Covenant than God?

 Then, rejoice in the bargain that you have contracted. That is the great achievement.

The Believers are those people that turn to God in repentance; that serve Him, and praise Him; that traverse their whole lives in devotion to God’s causes and charity; who bow down and prostrate themselves in prayer to Him alone; who enjoin good and forbid evil; and observe the limits set by Him. Proclaim the glad tidings to the Believers!

It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who Believe, that they should pray for forgiveness for heathens, even though they are related by blood, after it is clear that they are Companions of the Fire.

And, Abraham prayed for his father's forgiveness only because of a promise he had made to him. But, when it became clear to him that he was an enemy to God, he dissociated himself from him.  For, Abraham was most compassionate, forbearing.

And, God will not mislead a people after He has Guided them, in order that He may make clear to them what to fear and avoid, for God has Knowledge of all things. 

Unto God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He gives life and He takes it. Except for Him, you have no other protector, nor helper.

God turned with favor to the Prophet, the Muhajirs, and the Ansar, who followed Him in the hour of distress.  After that, some of them had almost begun to doubt; but, He turned to them in Mercy.  For, He is unto them the Most Kind, the Most Merciful.

He turned in Mercy also to the three who were left behind.  They felt guilty to such a degree that the earth seemed small to them, in spite of all its vastness, and their very souls seemed helpless to them, and they perceived that there was no fleeing from God, and no refuge but to Him. Then, God turned to them, so that they might repent. 
For Allah is to whom we all return, the Most Merciful. 

O you who Believe! Fear God and be with those who are true in their word and deeds.

It was not proper for the people of Medina and the desert dwellers of the vicinity, to refuse to follow God's Messenger, nor to prefer their own lives to His.  Because nothing could they suffer or do, but was reckoned to their credit as a deed of righteousness, whether they suffered thirst, or fatigue, or hunger, in the cause of God, or trod paths rising the anger the Unbelievers, or received any injury whatsoever from an enemy.  For God does not allow the reward to be lost of those who do good.

Nor could they spend anything for His causes - small or great- nor cut across a valley, but without God Knowing it,
and rewarding them for the best of their deeds to their credit.   

Nor should the Believers all go forth together.  A contingent from every expedition should remain behind, so they can devote themselves to studies in religion, and warn the people who return so that they may learn to guard themselves against evil.

O you who Believe! Confront the UnBelievers for their DisBelief, and let them find steadfastness in you. 
And, know that God is with those who fear Him and are Righteous.

Whenever a Surah is revealed, some of them say, "Which of you has had his Faith increased by it?" Yes, those who Believe, their Faith is increased, and they do rejoice!

But, those in whose hearts is a disease, it will only add DisBelief to their DisBelief,
 and they will die in a state of Unbelief.

Do they not see they are tried every year once or twice by God? But, yet, they do not turn in repentance to God, nor do they take any heed of God’s Word.

Whenever a Surah is revealed, they look at each other, saying, "Does anyone see you?" And, then they turn away. God has dismissed their hearts from the Light for they are a people who will not Understand.

Now has come unto you a Messenger from among yourselves.  He grieves for you when you suffer, and he is concerned about you. 
To the Believers, he is kind and merciful.

But, if they turn away from you O Holy Prophet, say to them, "Sufficient for me is God.  There is no God but He. On Him I place all my trust,
for He is the Lord of the Supreme Throne of Authority.  

Amen