Introduction Surah At Taubah

( Source: Ibn Kathir )

Surah At Taubah - Introduction.

• It is a madani surah.
• Revealed in the 9th year of hijri after the battle of Tabouk.
• One among the seven long surahs of the Qur'an.
• It is called At Taubah, as the word Taubah (repentance) is repeated 17 times.
• Also known as Al Bara, because of the first word being 'bara'.
• This honorable Surah (chapter 9) was one of the last Surahs to be revealed to the Messenger of Allah.
• The Basmalah was not mentioned in the beginning of this Surah because the Companions did not write it in the complete copy of the Qur'an (Mushaf) they collected, following the Commander of the faithful, `Uthman bin `Affan, may Allah be pleased with him.
• The first part of this honorable Surah was revealed to the Messenger of Allah when he returned from the battle of Tabuk, during the Hajj season, which the Prophet thought about attending. But he remembered that the idolators would still attend that Hajj, as was usual in past years, and that they perform Tawaf around the House while naked. He disliked to associate with them and sent Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, to lead Hajj that year and show the people their rituals, commanding him to inform the idolators that they would not be allowed to participate in Hajj after that season. He commanded him to proclaim, (Freedom from (all) obligations (is declared) from Allah and His Messenger ()...), to the people. When Abu Bakr had left, the Messenger sent `Ali bin Abu Talib to be the one to deliver this news to the idolators on behalf of the Messenger , for he was the Messenger's cousin.