Sūrah At-Tawbah

āyāt 2–3

The disbelievers are given four months to travel freely throughout the land, but they are warned that they cannot escape Allah's power, and that Allah will bring disgrace upon them. There is an announcement from Allah and His Messenger ﷺ to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage, declaring that Allah and His Messenger ﷺ disassociate themselves from the disbelievers. If they repent, it is better for them; but if they turn away, they should know they cannot escape Allah's power. Those who disbelieve are warned of a painful punishment.

āyāt 2–4

The disbelievers are given four months to travel freely throughout the land, but they should know that they cannot escape Allāh, and Allāh will bring disgrace upon them. This is an announcement from Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage, declaring that Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ are disassociated from the disbelievers. If they repent, it is better for them, but if they turn away, they cannot escape Allāh, and the Prophet ﷺ is instructed to give tidings of a painful punishment to those who disbelieve. However, this does not apply to polytheists with whom a treaty was made, provided they have not broken it or supported anyone against the believers; their treaties should be honored until their term ends, for Allāh loves those who are righteous.

āyāt 6–8

The divine message instructs that if any polytheist seeks protection, it should be granted so they can hear the words of Allāh, and then they should be safely escorted back. It then questions how polytheists can maintain a treaty with Allāh and His Messenger, except for those with whom an agreement was made near the Ka'bah; for these, loyalty should be reciprocated as long as they remain loyal, for Allāh loves the righteous. It further explains that a treaty is difficult because if these polytheists were to overpower the believers, they would disregard all agreements and ties of kinship, saying pleasant words but harboring disobedience in their hearts.

āyāt 9–11

These verses speak about certain people who exchanged God's messages for a small worldly price and consequently turned others away from His path, which was indeed an evil thing for them to do. It then explains that these same people do not uphold any ties of kinship or agreements of protection with believers; they are the ones who transgress limits. However, the passage offers a path: if they repent, establish the prayer, and give zakāh, then they become brothers in faith. God clarifies these messages for people who understand.

āyāt 12–14

If those who made a treaty with you break their agreements and insult your faith, then you are commanded to fight the leaders of disbelief, because they have no sacred pledges, so that they may stop their aggression. You should fight these people who broke their promises and intended to expel the Messenger ﷺ, and who initiated hostilities against you in the first place. Do not be afraid of them, but rather fear Allāh, if you are truly believers, for He will punish them by your hands, disgrace them, give you victory over them, and satisfy the hearts of the believers.

āyāt 15–17

This passage explains that God will remove anger from the hearts of believers and grants forgiveness to whomever He wills, for He is all-Knowing and Wise. It then asks if people believe they will be left alone without God making it clear who among them truly strives for His cause and takes only God, His Messenger, and the believers as close allies. Finally, it states that those who associate partners with God are not fit to maintain God's places of worship because their disbelief makes their deeds worthless, and they will live in the Fire forever.

āyāt 18–20

The mosques of God should only be maintained by those who believe in God and the Last Day, establish prayer, give charity, and fear none but God; these are the ones expected to be rightly guided. Do not consider providing water for pilgrims or maintaining the Sacred Mosque to be equal to believing in God and the Last Day and striving in God's cause, for these actions are not equal in God's sight, and God does not guide wrongdoing people. Those who believe, emigrate, and strive in God's cause with their wealth and lives hold a greater rank with God, and it is they who will achieve true success.

āyāt 21–23

Allāh gives the believers good news of His mercy, His approval, and Gardens where they will find lasting delight. They will remain there forever, for Allāh has a great reward awaiting them. Believers, do not take your fathers or brothers as allies if they choose disbelief over faith, because those who do so are truly wrongdoers.

āyāt 24–26

This stretch of āyāt begins by instructing the Prophet ﷺ to tell people that if their fathers, sons, brothers, wives, relatives, acquired wealth, businesses they fear losing money in, and homes they enjoy are dearer to them than Allāh, His Messenger ﷺ, and striving in His cause, then they should await Allāh's command. Allāh does not guide those who are openly disobedient. The text then reminds the believers that Allāh has already given them victory in many places, including the day of Ḥunayn when their large numbers made them confident, but this didn't help them at all. The earth, despite its vastness, felt small to them, and they turned and fled. After that, Allāh sent down His tranquility upon His Messenger ﷺ and upon the believers, and He sent down unseen soldiers. He also punished those who disbelieved, and this is the consequence for disbelievers.

āyāt 27–28

Allāh accepts the repentance of whomever He wills, for He is Forgiving and Merciful. Believers are told that the polytheists are unclean, and therefore should not approach al-Masjid al-Ḥarām after this year. If people fear poverty because of this, Allāh promises to enrich them from His bounty if He wills, for Allāh is Knowing and Wise.

āyāt 30–32

This passage tells us that the Jews claim Ezra is the son of Allāh, and the Christians claim the Messiah عليه السلام is the son of Allāh. These are just their baseless assertions, imitating earlier disbelievers, and Allāh condemns them for such delusion. It further states that they have taken their religious scholars and monks, and the Messiah عليه السلام, as lords alongside Allāh, even though they were only commanded to worship one God, and there is no deity worthy of worship but Him, far exalted is He above what they associate with Him. They wish to extinguish Allāh's light with their words, but Allāh intends to perfect His light, even if those who reject faith dislike it.

āyāt 33–35

God sent His Messenger with guidance and the true religion to make it superior over all other ways, even though those who associate partners with God dislike this. Believers are warned that many scholars and monks unjustly consume people's wealth and turn them away from God's path. Those who hoard gold and silver without spending it in God's cause should be informed of a painful punishment awaiting them. This will be on a Day when their stored treasures will be heated in the fire of Hell and used to brand their foreheads, sides, and backs, with the declaration: 'This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard.'

āyāt 36–37

Allāh states that the number of months in His register is twelve, from the day He created the heavens and the earth, and four of these months are sacred. This is the correct way, so people should not wrong themselves during these months, and they should fight the disbelievers collectively, just as the disbelievers fight them collectively, knowing that Allāh is with those who are mindful of Him. Changing the sacred months is an increase in disbelief, leading those who disbelieve further astray; they make a sacred month permissible one year and forbidden another year to match a number they determine, thus making lawful what Allāh has made unlawful. Their evil deeds have been made pleasing to them, but Allāh does not guide people who disbelieve.

āyāt 38–39

This passage asks those who believe why they hesitate and cling to worldly life when called to strive for the sake of Allāh. It questions whether they prefer this life over the Hereafter, emphasizing that the enjoyment of this world is very little compared to what awaits in the next. It then warns that if they do not go forth, Allāh will inflict a painful punishment upon them, replace them with another people, and their inaction will not harm Him in the slightest, for Allāh is capable of all things.

āyāt 41

This āyah calls upon believers to go forth and strive in God's cause, whether they are in an easy or difficult state. It emphasizes that they should do so with their wealth and their lives, explaining that this effort is better for them, if they were to truly understand.

āyāt 38–40

This passage asks believers why they hesitate and cling to worldly life when called to fight in God's cause, reminding them that the enjoyment of this world is tiny compared to the Hereafter. It warns that if they do not go forth, God will inflict a painful punishment upon them and replace them with other people, as they cannot harm Him. It also reminds them that even if they don't support the Prophet ﷺ, God already helped him when disbelievers drove him out, granting him tranquility and invisible support, making God's word supreme.

āyāt 42–44

This passage tells us that if a gain had been easy and the journey short, the hypocrites would have followed the Prophet ﷺ. They would then swear by God that if they had been able, they would have gone forth, but God knows they are liars. God forgave the Prophet ﷺ for allowing them to stay behind before it was clear who was truthful and who was lying. Those who truly believe in God and the Last Day would never ask to be excused from striving with their wealth and lives, and God knows who truly fears Him.

āyāt 45–47

This passage explains that those who seek permission to stay behind are only those who lack belief in God and the Last Day, their hearts full of doubt and hesitation. If they had truly intended to participate, they would have made preparations, but God did not wish for them to go forth, so He held them back and told them to stay with the women and children. It further clarifies that if they had joined, they would have only caused disorder and division among the believers, as there were some among the companions who would have listened to their mischief, and God is fully aware of those who do wrong.

āyāt 48–50

This passage speaks of some who had previously sought to create division and disrupt matters, until God's truth and victory became manifest, even though they disliked it. Among these people are those who ask to be excused from duty, claiming they fear being tempted, but in reality, they have already fallen into temptation, and Hell will ultimately surround those who disbelieve. Furthermore, if good fortune comes to you, it troubles them, but if misfortune strikes, they say they had already taken precautions and turn away happily.

āyāt 51–53

The believers are told to affirm that nothing will befall them except what Allāh has decreed, for He is their Protector, and upon Him alone they should rely. The Prophet ﷺ is instructed to ask those who oppose if they expect anything for the believers other than one of two excellent outcomes, while the believers expect for them either a punishment from Allāh directly or through the believers' hands. Therefore, both parties are waiting to see what will transpire. The Prophet ﷺ is further commanded to tell them that their spending, whether done willingly or unwillingly, will never be accepted because they are a people who have defiantly disobeyed Allāh.

āyāt 54–56

What prevents their charitable giving from being accepted is that they disbelieve in God and His Messenger, and they only come to prayer reluctantly, and they only spend unwillingly. Therefore, do not be impressed by their wealth or their children, for God intends to punish them through these things in this worldly life, and for their souls to depart while they are still disbelievers. They swear by God that they are among you, but they are not; rather, they are a people driven by fear.

āyāt 57–59

This section describes those who, if they found any place to hide or escape, would run to it recklessly. It then mentions some among them who criticize the Prophet ﷺ regarding the distribution of charity, being pleased if they receive some but becoming angry if they do not. It would have been better for them if they had been content with what Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ gave them, saying that Allāh is sufficient for them and that Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ would give them from His bounty, expressing their longing for Allāh.

āyāt 60–62

This stretch of āyāt begins by listing the specific categories for which zakāh funds are to be spent: the poor, the needy, those who collect and administer it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled to Islām, freeing captives, those in debt, in the cause of Allāh, and the stranded traveler. This is an obligation established by Allāh, who is All-Knowing and All-Wise. Next, it mentions some people who verbally abuse the Prophet ﷺ, saying he is merely someone who listens to everything. The Prophet ﷺ should tell them that he is indeed an ear, but one that hears good for them, believes in Allāh, and trusts the believers, and is a mercy to those who believe among them. For those who abuse the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, a painful punishment awaits them. These individuals swear by Allāh to the believers to try and please them, but Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ are more deserving of their efforts to please, if they truly were believers.

āyāt 63–65

These verses warn that anyone who opposes Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ will enter the Fire of Hell, to remain there forever, which is the ultimate humiliation. The hypocrites are worried that a sūrah might be revealed that exposes what they conceal in their hearts, but the Prophet ﷺ is told to tell them to mock as they please, for Allāh will indeed bring to light what they fear. If you question these hypocrites, they will claim they were just talking and joking, but the Prophet ﷺ is to ask them if it was Allāh, His verses, and His Messenger ﷺ that they were ridiculing.

āyāt 66–68

This passage begins by stating that those who have disbelieved after believing should not make excuses; if some are forgiven, others will be punished for their criminal behavior. It then describes hypocrite men and women as being alike, commanding evil, forbidding good, and being stingy; they have forgotten God, so He has forgotten them, and they are truly disobedient. Finally, God has promised all hypocrites and disbelievers the Fire of Hell, where they will remain forever, for which God has cursed them with lasting punishment.

āyāt 69–71

This passage tells those who disbelieve that they are like earlier nations who were more powerful, wealthier, and had more children. Those earlier nations enjoyed their worldly share, and these disbelievers are doing the same, engaging in vanities just as their predecessors did. The deeds of such people are useless in this life and the next, and they are the ones who lose everything. It then asks if they haven't heard about past nations like the people of Noah عليه السلام, ʿĀd, Thamūd, Abraham عليه السلام, Madyan, and the overturned towns, to whom messengers brought clear signs; God never wronged them, but they wronged themselves. In contrast, believing men and women support each other, encouraging good, forbidding wrong, establishing prayer, giving charity, and obeying God and His Messenger ﷺ. God will show mercy to these believers, for He is All-Mighty and All-Wise.

āyāt 72–74

Allāh promises believing men and women gardens with flowing rivers, where they will live forever in pleasant homes. He also promises His approval, which is the greatest success. O Prophet ﷺ, Allāh commands you to fight against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and to be firm with them, for their ultimate dwelling will be Hell, a wretched destination. The hypocrites swear by Allāh that they said nothing wrong, even though they spoke words of disbelief and disbelieved after claiming Islām, and they plotted things they could not achieve. Their only resentment was that Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ had enriched them with His bounty. Allāh says that if they repent, it will be better for them, but if they turn away, He will punish them with a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter, and they will find no protector or helper on earth.

āyāt 75–77

This passage speaks of some people who made a promise to Allāh that if He granted them abundance, they would give in charity and be among the righteous. However, when Allāh did bestow His bounty upon them, they became stingy with it and turned away, refusing to fulfill their word. Consequently, Allāh afflicted their hearts with hypocrisy, which will remain with them until the Day they meet Him, because they broke their promise to Allāh and were accustomed to lying.

āyāt 78–80

These verses ask if people are unaware that Allāh knows their hidden thoughts and private discussions, for He is the Knower of everything unseen. Then, it speaks about those who mock the believers who give charity, whether they give generously or only offer what little effort they have; Allāh will mock them in return, and they will face a painful punishment. Lastly, the Prophet ﷺ is told that whether he asks Allāh to forgive these people or not, even if he were to ask seventy times, Allāh will never forgive them, because they disbelieved in Allāh and His Messenger, and Allāh does not guide such disobedient people.

āyāt 81–83

The people who stayed behind were happy to remain at home after the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ departed for battle, and they did not like to strive with their possessions and their lives for God's cause. They told others not to go out in the heat, but they are told that the fire of Hell is even more intense in heat, if only they understood. Therefore, they will laugh a little now and weep much later, as a consequence of their actions. If God brings you, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, back to some of these people after the expedition and they ask to join you in battle, you should tell them they will never go out with you or fight alongside you against an enemy, because they were content to stay behind the first time, so they should remain with those who stay behind.

āyāt 84–86

The Prophet ﷺ is instructed never to pray for the dead among certain people or to stand at their graves, because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died in disobedience. Their wealth and children should not impress anyone, as Allah intends for these to be a means of their punishment in this world, and for them to die as disbelievers. When a sūrah was revealed ordering belief in Allah and fighting alongside His Messenger, the wealthy among them sought permission to stay behind, saying they wished to remain with those who stayed at home.

āyāt 87–89

Some people were content to stay behind from the expedition, and because of this, their hearts were sealed, so they do not comprehend. In contrast, the Messenger ﷺ and those who believed with him struggled with their possessions and their lives. These are the ones who will receive all good things and achieve success. Allāh has prepared for them gardens graced with flowing rivers, where they will live forever. This is indeed the supreme triumph.

āyāt 90–92

Some Bedouins came making excuses to be allowed to stay behind, while others who had lied to Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ simply stayed at home. A painful punishment awaits those among them who disbelieved. However, there is no blame on the weak, the sick, or those who lack resources to contribute, as long as they are sincere to Allāh and His Messenger ﷺ, for Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful. Similarly, there is no blame on those who came to the Prophet ﷺ asking to join, but he عليه السلام told them he had no mounts for them, and they turned away with tears in their eyes out of sadness that they couldn't find anything to spend for the cause.

āyāt 93–95

The blameworthy ones are those wealthy individuals who sought permission not to join the expedition, content to remain behind. God has sealed their hearts, so they do not understand the consequences of their actions. When the Prophet ﷺ and his companions return, these people will come to them with excuses. The Prophet ﷺ is told to say that their excuses are not accepted, as God has already revealed their true intentions. God and His Messenger ﷺ will observe their future actions, and eventually, they will all return to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, Who will inform them of everything they used to do. These people will try to make others swear by God upon their return to leave them alone, and indeed, they should be left alone, for their actions are evil, and Hell will be their final destination as a consequence of their earnings.

āyāt 96–98

This passage describes people who swear oaths to you, hoping to gain your satisfaction. However, even if you were satisfied, Allāh is not pleased with those who are defiantly disobedient. It then mentions that the desert dwellers are often stronger in disbelief and hypocrisy, and are less likely to understand the limits of Allāh's laws revealed to His Messenger ﷺ, for Allāh is All-Knowing and All-Wise. Among these desert dwellers are some who consider their spending in the way of Allāh to be a loss, and they await misfortunes to befall you; indeed, a misfortune of evil awaits them, for Allāh is All-Hearing and All-Knowing.

āyāt 99

Among the desert dwellers, some believe in God and the Last Day. They consider their charitable spending a way to draw closer to God and to receive prayers from the Messenger ﷺ. This is indeed a means for them to draw near to God, and God will admit them into His mercy, for God is forgiving and merciful.

āyāt 100–102

This passage begins by mentioning the first believers who migrated to Madīnah (the Muhājirīn) and those who supported them there (the Anṣār), along with all who followed their good example. It states that God is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared Gardens for them, flowing with rivers, where they will live eternally, which is the ultimate success. It then speaks of hypocrites among the desert dwellers and the people of Madīnah who are persistent in their hypocrisy. It tells the Prophet ﷺ that he does not know them, but God knows them and will punish them twice in this world, after which they will face a severe punishment. Finally, it mentions others who confessed their sins, having mixed good deeds with bad ones, and suggests that God may turn to them in forgiveness, for God is indeed Forgiving and Merciful.

āyāt 103–105

The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ is instructed to take charity from the believers' wealth, which will purify them and increase their blessings. He should also pray for them, as his prayers bring comfort to them, and Allāh hears and knows all. These āyāt remind people that Allāh is the One who accepts repentance from His servants and receives their charities, for He is the Acceptor of Repentance and the Most Merciful. Therefore, people are told to do whatever deeds they choose, as Allāh, His Messenger ﷺ, and the believers will see their actions. Ultimately, everyone will return to the One who knows all that is hidden and all that is apparent, and He will inform them of everything they used to do.

āyāt 106

There are other people whose fate is left for Allāh to decide; He may choose to punish them, or He may choose to forgive them. Allāh is All-Knowing of all things and All-Wise in His decisions.

āyāt 109–110

This stretch of āyāt presents a choice between two foundations: one built on fear of Allāh and seeking His pleasure, and another built on the edge of a crumbling bank. It asks if the one who built on a solid, righteous foundation is better than the one whose foundation is unstable and collapses into the Fire of Hell, clarifying that Allāh does not guide those who do wrong. The āyāt then add that the structure built by the wrongdoers will continue to cause doubt and unease in their hearts until their hearts cease to beat, for Allāh is All-Knowing and All-Wise.

āyāt 111–113

Allāh informs us that He has made a profound transaction with the believers: He has bought their lives and their wealth in return for Paradise. These believers fight in the cause of Allāh, both killing and being killed, and this promise of Paradise is a true one, affirmed in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Qur’ān, and no one is more faithful to His covenant than Allāh. Believers should therefore rejoice in this magnificent exchange, for it is the greatest success. These believers are described as those who sincerely turn to Allāh, worship Him devotedly, praise Him, travel for His cause, humble themselves in prayer, encourage good and forbid evil, and always stay within Allāh's boundaries. The Prophet ﷺ and the believers are told not to seek forgiveness for those who associate partners with Allāh, even if they are their close relatives, once it becomes clear that such people are destined for the Hellfire.

āyāt 114–116

Ibrāhīm عليه السلام only asked Allāh for forgiveness for his father because of a promise he had made to him. However, when it became clear to Ibrāhīm عليه السلام that his father was an enemy of Allāh, he distanced himself from him. Indeed, Ibrāhīm عليه السلام was very compassionate and patient. Allāh would not lead a people astray after guiding them until He has made clear to them what they should guard against, for Allāh knows all things. Truly, the dominion of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allāh; He gives life and causes death, and you have no protector or helper besides Him.

āyāt 117

Allāh has already forgiven the Prophet ﷺ, as well as the emigrants and the supporters who followed him during a time of great difficulty. This was after a group among them had almost wavered in their resolve, but Allāh then forgave them. Indeed, Allāh has always been Most Kind and Merciful towards them.

āyāt 119–121

This section begins by calling on those who believe to be mindful of Allāh and to align themselves with those who are truthful. It then states that it was not fitting for the people of Madīnah and the surrounding Bedouins to lag behind when the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ departed, or to value their own comfort more than his. This is because any hardship they face—such as thirst, fatigue, or hunger in the path of Allāh, or traversing lands that provoke disbelievers, or inflicting any harm upon an enemy—is recorded for them as a good deed, for Allāh never lets the reward of those who do good go to waste. Similarly, any expense they incur, whether small or large, or any valley they cross, is also recorded for them, so that Allāh may reward them for the best of their deeds.

āyāt 122–124

Believers are not expected to all go out for battle at the same time; instead, from every group, some should remain behind to study their religion deeply and then warn their people when they return, so they may be cautious. Then, the believers are instructed to fight those disbelievers who are near them, and to let them find firmness in the believers, for God is with the righteous. When a sūrah is revealed, some among the hypocrites question who has had their faith increased by it, but for those who truly believe, it increases their faith, and they rejoice in it.

āyāt 125–127

For those whose hearts are ailing, the revelation only adds to their wickedness, and they will die as disbelievers. Do they not observe that they are tested once or twice every year, yet they neither turn to Allāh nor reflect upon it? When a sūrah is sent down, they glance at each other, asking if anyone is watching them, and then they slip away. Allāh has turned their hearts away because they are a people who do not comprehend.