Surah At Taubah Notes (104-106)

( Source: Ibn Kathir )

 (104) Know they not that Allah accepts repentance from His slaves and takes the Sadaqat (alms, charities) and that Allah Alone is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful?

(Know they not that Allah accepts repentance from His servants and accepts the Sadaqat) This Ayah encourages reverting to repentance and giving charity, for each of these actions erases, deletes and eradicate sins. Allah states that He accepts the repentance of those who repent to Him, as well as charity from pure resources, for Allah accepts it with His Right Hand and raises it for its giver until even a date becomes as large as Mount Uhud. 

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, (Verily, Allah accepts charity, receives it in His Right Hand and develops it for its giver, just as one of you raises his pony, until the bite ﴿of food﴾ becomes as large as Uhud.)

(Allah will destroy Riba and will give increase for Sadaqat.) ﴿2:276﴾ 

`Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "Charity falls in Allah's Hand before it falls in the needy's hand,''

Warning the Disobedient

(105) And say (O Muhammad SAW) "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do."

(Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers.) 

(That Day shall you be brought to Judgement, not a secret of you will be hidden.) ﴿69:18﴾,

(The Day when all the secrets will be examined.)﴿86:9﴾

(And that which is in the breasts (of men) shall be made known.)﴿100:10﴾

 Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah said, (Do not be pleased with someone's deeds until you see what his deeds in the end will be like. Verily, one might work for some time of his life with good deeds, so that if he dies while doing it, he will enter Paradise. However, he changes and commits evil deeds. one might commit evil deeds for some time in his life, so that if he dies while doing them he will enter the Fire. However, he changes and performs good deeds. If Allah wants the good of a servant He employs him before he dies.) He was asked, "How would Allah employ him, O Allah's Messenger'' He said, (He directs him to perform good deeds and takes his life in that condition.) 

Delaying the Decision about the Three Companions Who stayed away from the Battle of Tabuk

(106) And others await Allah's Decree, whether He will punish them or will forgive them. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

The three who were made to wait to know if their repentance was accepted; Mararah bin Ar-Rabi`, Ka`b bin Malik and Hilal bin Umayyah. 
Some Companions stayed behind from the battle of Tabuk due to laziness, preferring comfort, ease, ripe fruits and shade. They did not lag behind because of hypocrisy or doubts. Some of them tied themselves to the pillars (of the Masjid) like Abu Lubabah and several of his friends did. Some of them did not do that, and they are the three mentioned here. Those who tied themselves received their pardon before these three men whose pardon was delayed, until this Ayah was revealed, (Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirin and the Ansar...) 

(whether He will punish them or will forgive them. ) meaning, they are at Allah's mercy, if He wills, He pardons them or punishes them. However, Allah's mercy comes before His anger, 

(And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.) ﴿9:106﴾ Allah knows those who deserve the punishment and those who deserve the pardon. He is All-Wise in His actions and statements, there is no deity worthy of worship nor Lord besides Him.

Surah At Taubah Notes (98-103)

( Source: Ibn Kathir )

(98) And of the bedouins there are some who look upon what they spend (in Allah's Cause) as a fine and watch for calamities for you, on them be the calamity of evil. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

(who look upon what they spend), in the cause of Allah,

(as a fine), as a loss and a burden,

(and watch for calamities for you), awaiting afflictions and disasters to strike you,

(on them be the calamity of evil), evil will touch them instead,

(And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.) Allah hears the invocation of His servants and knows who deserves victory, who deserve failure. 

(99) And of the bedouins there are some who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and look upon what they spend in Allah's Cause as approaches to Allah, and a cause of receiving the Messenger's invocations. Indeed these (spendings in Allah's Cause) are an approach for them. Allah will admit them to His Mercy. Certainly Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

(And of the bedouins there are some who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and look upon what they spend (in Allah's cause) as means of nearness to Allah, and a cause of receiving the Messenger's invocations.) This is the type of praiseworthy bedouins. They give charity in Allah's cause as way of achieving nearness to Allah and seeking the Messenger's invocation for their benefit.

(Indeed these are a means of nearness for them.) they will attain what they sought,

(Allah will admit them to His mercy. Certainly Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.)

Virtues of the Muhajirin, Ansar and Those Who followed Them in Faith

(100) And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhajirun (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansar (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhajirun) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.

The foremost Muhajirin and Ansar) are those who conducted the pledge of Ar-Ridwan in the year of Hudaybiyyah. Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari, Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib, Muhammad bin Sirin, Al-Hasan and Qatadah said that they are those who performed the prayer towards the two Qiblahs with the Messenger of Allah ﴿first toward Jerusalem and later toward the Ka`bah﴾. 

Allah, the Most Great, stated that He is pleased foremost with the Muhajirin, the Ansar and those who followed their lead with excellence. Therefore, woe to those who dislike or curse them, or dislike or curse any of them, especially their master after the Messenger, the best and most righteous among them, the Siddiq (the great truthful one) and the grand Khalifah, Abu Bakr bin Abi Quhafah, may Allah be pleased with him. 

The failure group, the Rafidah (a sect of Shiites), are the enemies of the best Companions, they hate and curse them, we seek refuge with Allah from such evil. This indicates that the minds of these people are twisted and their hearts turned upside down, for where are they in relation to believing in the Qur'an They curse those whom Allah stated He is pleased with! 

As for the followers of the Sunnah, they are pleased with those whom Allah is pleased with, curse whomever Allah and His Messenger curse, and give their loyalty to Allah's friends and show enmity to the enemies of Allah. They are followers not innovators, imitating ﴿the Sunnah﴾ they do not initiate it on their own. They are indeed the party of Allah, the successful, and Allah's faithful servants.

Hypocrites among the Bedouins and Residents of Al-Madinah

(101) And among the bedouins round about you, some are hypocrites, and so are some among the people of Al-Madinah, they exaggerate and persist in hypocrisy, you (O Muhammad SAW) know them not, We know them. We shall punish them twice, and thereafter they shall be brought back to a great (horrible) torment.

(Had We willed, We could have shown them to you, and you should have known them by their marks; but surely, you will know them by the tone of their speech!)﴿47:30﴾,

 because the latter Ayah describes them by their characteristics, not that the Messenger knows all those who have doubts and hypocrisy. The Messenger knew that some of those who associated with him from the people of Al-Madinah were hypocrites, and he used to see them day and night ﴿but did not know who they were exactly﴾. 

(...and they resolved that (plot) which they were unable to carry out...)﴿9:74﴾ that the Prophet informed Hudhayfah of the names of fourteen or fifteen hypocrites. This knowledge is specific in this case, not that the Messenger of Allah was informed of all their names, and Allah knows best. `

(We shall punish them twice), "By killing and capture.'' In another narration he said, "By hunger and torment in the grave,

Some Believers stayed away from Battle because They were Lazy

(102) And (there are) others who have acknowledged their sins, they have mixed a deed that was righteous with another that was evil. Perhaps Allah will turn unto them in forgiveness. Surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

After Allah explained the characteristics of the hypocrites who stayed away from battle because they sought to avoid it out of denial and doubt, He then mentioned the disobedient who stayed away from Jihad due to laziness and preferring comfort, even though they truely believed.

(And others who have acknowledged their sins,) These people admitted their error to themselves and their Lord. They had performed good deeds before, as well as, this evil deed that they committed. For them there was forgiveness and pardon of Allah. This Ayah is general, covering all sinners who combine good and evil deeds, thus becoming partly impure, even though it was revealed about some people in specific.

 Ibn `Abbas said that,

(And (there are) others), refers to Abu Lubabah and some of his friends who stayed away from the battle of Tabuk and the Messenger of Allah . When the Messenger of Allah returned from that battle, this group, Abu Lubabah and five, seven or nine with him, tied themselves to the pillars of the Masjid and refused to let anyone untie them except the Messenger of Allah . When this Ayah was revealed,

 Al-Bukhari recorded that Samurah bin Jundub said that the Messenger of Allah said to us, (Last Night, two (angels) came to me (in a vision) and took me to a city, built with bricks made of gold and silver. We met some men who, part of their bodies were as handsome as you ever saw and the part as ugly as you ever saw. The two (angels) ordered these men to go to a river and submerge themselves in it; they did that and came back to us, and the ugliness went away from them, thus becoming the most beautiful form. The two said to me, `This is the garden of Eden, and this is your residence in it.' The two said, `As for the men who had part of their body handsome and part ugly, they have mixed a deed that was righteous with another that was evil. Allah has pardoned them.') 

The Command to collect the Zakah and Its Benefits

(103) Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Allah commanded His Messenger to take Sadaqah from the Muslims' money to purify and sanctify them with it. This Ayah is general, even though some said that it refers specifically to those who mixed good and evil deeds, who admitted to their errors. Some bedouin later thought that paying Zakah to the Leader was not legislated except to the Messenger himself.

(Take Sadaqah from their wealth.) Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and other Companions refuted this ill comprehension and fought against them until they paid the Zakah to the Khalifah, just as they used to pay it to the Messenger of Allah .

(and Salli for them), means, supplicate for them, and ask Allah to forgive them. In the Sahih, Muslim recorded that `Abdullah bin Abi Awfa said, "Whenever the Prophet was brought charity, he used to invoke Allah for those who brought it. My father also brought his charity and the Prophet said, (O Allah! I invoke You for the family of Abu Awfa.) 

Surah At Taubah Notes (94-97)

( Source: Ibn Kathir )

Exposing the Deceitful Ways of Hypocrites

 (94)  They (the hypocrites) will present their excuses to you (Muslims), when you return to them. Say (O Muhammad SAW) "Present no excuses, we shall not believe you. Allah has already informed us of the news concerning you. Allah and His Messenger will observe your deeds. In the end you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen, then He (Allah) will inform you of what you used to do." [Tafsir At-Tabari]

(9:94:1) yaʿtadhirūna They will make excuses

V – 3rd person masculine plural (form VIII) imperfect verb PRON – subject pronoun فعل مضارع والواو ضمير متصل في محل رفع فاعل

(9:94:4) rajaʿtum you (have) returned

V – 2nd person masculine plural perfect verb PRON – subject pronoun فعل ماض والتاء ضمير متصل في محل رفع فاعل

(9:94:8) taʿtadhirū make excuse,

V – 2nd person masculine plural (form VIII) imperfect verb, jussive mood PRON – subject pronoun فعل مضارع مجزوم والواو ضمير متصل في محل رفع فاعل

(9:94:13) nabba-anā Allah (has) informed us

V – 3rd person masculine singular (form II) perfect verb PRON – 1st person plural object pronoun فعل ماض و«نا» ضمير متصل في محل نصب مفعول به

(9:94:16) akhbārikum your news,		N – genitive masculine plural noun PRON – 2nd person masculine plural possessive pronoun اسم مجرور والكاف ضمير متصل في محل جر بالاضافة
(9:94:17) wasayarā and Allah will see		CONJ – prefixed conjunction wa (and) FUT – prefixed future particle sa V – 3rd person masculine singular imperfect verb, subjunctive mood الواو عاطفة حرف استقبال فعل مضارع منصوب

9:94:22) turaddūna you will be brought back

V – 2nd person masculine plural passive imperfect verb PRON – subject pronoun فعل مضارع مبني للمجهول والواو ضمير متصل في محل رفع نائب فاعل

(9:94:27) fayunabbi-ukum then He will inform you

REM – prefixed resumption particle V – 3rd person masculine singular (form II) imperfect verb PRON – 2nd person masculine plural object pronoun الفاء استئنافية

(In the end you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen, then He (Allah) will inform you of what you used to do.) Allah will inform you of your deeds, whether they were good or evil, and will recompense you for them. Allah said that the hypocrites will swear to the believers in apology, so that the believers turn away from them without admonishing them. Therefore, Allah ordered disgracing them by turning away from them, for they are.

(95) They will swear by Allah to you (Muslims) when you return to them, that you may turn away from them. So turn away from them. Surely, they are Rijsun [i.e. Najasun (impure) because of their evil deeds], and Hell is their dwelling place, - a recompense for that which they used to earn.

(9:95:1) sayaḥlifūna They will swear

حرف استقبالFUT – prefixed future particle sa V – 3rd person masculine plural imperfect verb PRON – subject pronoun فعل مضارع والواو ضمير متصل في محل رفع فاعل

(9:95:5) inqalabtum you returned

V – 2nd person masculine plural (form VII) perfect verb PRON – subject pronoun فعل ماض والتاء ضمير متصل في محل رفع فاعل

(9:95:7) lituʿ'riḍū that you may turn away

PRP – prefixed particle of purpose lām V – 2nd person masculine plural (form IV) imperfect verb, subjunctive mood PRON – subject pronoun اللام لام التعليل فعل مضارع منصوب والواو ضمير متصل في محل رفع فاعل

(9:95:9) fa-aʿriḍū So turn away

REM – prefixed resumption particle V – 2nd person masculine plural (form IV) imperative verb PRON – subject pronoun الفاء استئنافية فعل أمر والواو ضمير متصل في محل رفع فاعل

(9:95:12) rij'sun (are) impure

N – nominative masculine indefinite noun اسم مرفوع

(Rijs) meaning, impure inwardly and in their creed. Their destination in the end will be Jahannam,

(96) They (the hypocrites) swear to you (Muslims) that you may be pleased with them, but if you are pleased with them, certainly Allah is not pleased with the people who are Al-Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).

(9:96:1) yaḥlifūna They swear

V – 3rd person masculine plural imperfect verb PRON – subject pronoun فعل مضارع والواو ضمير متصل في محل رفع فاعل

(9:96:3) litarḍaw that you may be pleased

PRP – prefixed particle of purpose lām V – 2nd person masculine plural imperfect verb, subjunctive mood PRON – subject pronoun اللام لام التعليل فعل مضارع منصوب والواو ضمير متصل في محل رفع فاعل

(9:96:6) tarḍaw you are pleased

V – 2nd person masculine plural imperfect verb, subjunctive mood PRON – subject pronoun فعل مضارع منصوب والواو ضمير متصل في محل رفع فاعل

(9:96:11) yarḍā (is) not pleased

V – 3rd person masculine singular imperfect verb, subjunctive mood فعل مضارع منصوب

(certainly Allah is not pleased with the people who are Fasiqin.) who rebel against the obedience of Allah and His Messenger . `Fisq', means, `deviation'.

The Bedouins are the Worst in Disbelief and Hypocrisy

(97) The bedouins are the worst in disbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be in ignorance of the limits (Allah's Commandments and His Legal Laws, etc.) which Allah has revealed to His Messenger. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.

(9:97:1) al-aʿrābu The bedouins

N – nominative masculine plural noun → Bedouin اسم مرفوع

(9:97:5) wa-ajdaru and more likely

CONJ – prefixed conjunction wa (and) N – nominative masculine singular noun الواو عاطفة اسم مرفوع

(9:97:8) ḥudūda (the) limits

N – accusative masculine plural noun اسم منصوب

Allah states that there are disbelievers, hypocrites and believers among the bedouins. He also states that the disbelief and hypocrisy of the bedouins is worse and deeper than the disbelief and hypocrisy of others. They are the most likely of being ignorant of the commandments that Allah has revealed to His Messenger .

 Al-A`mash narrated that Ibrahim said, "A bedouin man sat next to Zayd bin Sawhan while he was speaking to his friends. Zayd had lost his hand during the battle of Nahawand. The bedouin man said, `By Allah! I like your speech. However, your hand causes me suspicion.' Zayd said, `Why are you suspicious because of my hand, it is the left hand ﴿that is cut﴾' The bedouin man said, `By Allah! I do not know which hand they cut off (for committing theft), is it the right or the left' Zayd bin Sawhan said, `Allah has said the truth,

(The bedouins are the worst in disbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to not know the limits which Allah has revealed to His Messenger.)'' Imam Ahmad narrated that Ibn `Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah said, (He who lives in the desert becomes hard-hearted, he who follows the game becomes heedless, and he who associates with the rulers falls into Fitnah.)

Surah At Taubah Notes (85-93)

( Source: Ibn Kathir )

 (85) And let not their wealth or their children amaze you. Allah's Plan is to punish them with these things in this world, and that their souls shall depart (die) while they are disbelievers.

Admonishing Those Who did not join the Jihad

(86) And when a Surah (chapter from the Quran) is revealed, enjoining them to believe in Allah and to strive hard and fight along with His Messenger, the wealthy among them ask your leave to exempt them (from Jihad) and say, "Leave us (behind), we would be with those who sit (at home)."

Allah chastises and admonishes those who stayed away from Jihad and refrained from performing it, even though they had the supplies, means and ability to join it. They asked the Messenger for permission to stay behind, saying,

("Leave us (behind), we would be with those who sit (at home)'') thus accepting for themselves the shame of lagging behind with women, after the army had left. If war starts, such people are the most cowardice, but when it is safe, they are the most boastful among men.

(87) They are content to be with those (the women) who sit behind (at home). Their hearts are sealed up (from all kinds of goodness and right guidance), so they understand not.

(Their hearts are sealed up) because of their staying away from Jihad and from accompanying the Messenger in Allah's cause,

(so they understand not.) they neither understand what benefits them so that they perform it nor what hurts them so that they avoid it.

After Allah mentioned the sins of the hypocrites, He praised the faithful believers and described ..

 (88) But the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) and those who believed with him (in Islamic Monotheism) strove hard and fought with their wealth and their lives (in Allah's Cause). Such are they for whom are the good things, and it is they who will be successful.

(But the Messenger and those who believed with him strove hard and fought) until the end of these two Ayat ﴿9:88-89﴾. This describes the qualities, as well as, the reward of faithful believers. Allah said, Such are they for whom are the good things), in the Hereafter, in the gardens of Al-Firdaws and the high grades.

 (89) For them Allah has got ready Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.

(90) And those who made excuses from the bedouins came (to you, O Prophet SAW) asking your permission to exempt them (from the battle), and those who had lied to Allah and His Messenger sat at home (without asking the permission for it); a painful torment will seize those of them who disbelieve.

Allah describes here the condition of the bedouins who lived around Al-Madinah, who asked for permission to remain behind from Jihad when they came to the Messenger to explain to him their weakness and inability to join the fighting. Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn `Abbas said that they were those who had valid excuses,

(and those who had lied to Allah and His Messenger sat at home), and did not ask for permission for it; and Allah warned them of painful punishment,

(a painful torment will seize those of them who disbelieve.)

Legitimate Excuses for staying away from Jihad

(91) There is no blame on those who are weak or ill or who find no resources to spend [in holy fighting (Jihad)], if they are sincere and true (in duty) to Allah and His Messenger. No ground (of complaint) can there be against the Muhsinun (good-doers). And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Allah mentions here the valid excuses that permit one to stay away from fighting. He first mentions the excuses that remain with a person, the weakness in the body that disallows one from Jihad, such as blindness, limping, and so forth. He then mentions the excuses that are not permanent, such as an illness that would prevent one from fighting in the cause of Allah, or poverty that prevents preparing for Jihad. There is no sin in these cases if they remain behind, providing that when they remain behind, they do not spread malice or try to discourage Muslims from fighting, but all the while observing good behavior in this state.

(No means (of complaint) can there be against the doers of good.) O Allah! We admit our errors, so forgive us and give us mercy and rain.' He then raised his hands and the people also raised their hands, and rain was sent down on them.''

 (92) Nor (is there blame) on those who came to you to be provided with mounts, and when you said: "I can find no mounts for you," they turned back, while their eyes overflowing with tears of grief that they could not find anything to spend (for Jihad).

(Nor (is there blame) on those who came to you to be provided with mounts, when you said: "I can find no mounts for you.'') This Hadith has a basis in the Two Sahihs from Anas, the Messenger of Allah said, (Some people have remained behind in Al-Madinah and you never crossed a valley or marched forth, but they were with you.) They said, "While they are still at Al-Madinah'' He said, (Yes, as they have been held back by a (legal) excuse.) 

(93) The ground (of complaint) is only against those who are rich, and yet ask exemption. They are content to be with (the women) who sit behind (at home) and Allah has sealed up their hearts (from all kinds of goodness and right guidance) so that they know not (what they are losing).

Then, Allah criticized those who seek permission to remain behind while they are rich, admonishing them for wanting to stay behind with women who remained in their homes,(and Allah has sealed up their hearts, so that they know not (what they are losing).)