Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 112–117

9. At-Tawba · The Repentance

Madinan129 verses

ٱلتَّٰٓئِبُونَ ٱلْعَٰبِدُونَ ٱلْحَٰمِدُونَ ٱلسَّٰٓئِحُونَ ٱلرَّٰكِعُونَ ٱلسَّٰجِدُونَ ٱلْءَامِرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَٱلنَّاهُونَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْحَٰفِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

9:112[The faithful are] penitent, devout, celebrators of Allah’s praise, wayfarers, who bow [and] prostrate [in prayer], bid what is right and forbid what is wrong, and keep Allah’s bounds—and give good news to the faithful.

مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوٓا۟ أُو۟لِى قُرْبَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

9:113The Prophet and the faithful may not plead for the forgiveness of the polytheists, even if they should be [their] relatives, after it has become clear to them that they will be the inmates of hell.

وَمَا كَانَ ٱسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍۢ وَعَدَهَآ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُۥٓ أَنَّهُۥ عَدُوٌّۭ لِّلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ ۚ إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لَأَوَّٰهٌ حَلِيمٌۭ

9:114Abraham’s pleading forgiveness for his father was only to fulfill a promise he had made him. So when it became manifest to him that he was an enemy of God, he repudiated him. Indeed Abraham was most plaintive and forbearing.12

وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِلَّ قَوْمًۢا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَىٰهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يُبَيِّنَ لَهُم مَّا يَتَّقُونَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

9:115Allah does not lead any people astray after He has guided them until He has made clear to them what they should beware of. Indeed Allah has knowledge of all things.

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۚ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّۢ وَلَا نَصِيرٍۢ

9:116Indeed to Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He gives life and brings death. And besides Allah you do not have any guardian or helper.

لَّقَد تَّابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ فِى سَاعَةِ ٱلْعُسْرَةِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

9:117Certainly Allah turned clemently to the Prophet and the Emigrants and the Helpers, who followed him in the hour of difficulty, after the hearts of a part of them were about to swerve. Then He turned clemently to them—indeed, He is most kind and merciful to them

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 113

1.The commentators have given three probabilities about this verse (i) Some Muslims requested the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) for seeking forgiveness for polytheists elders, Allah revealed this verse that this was not correct. (ii) The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) himself sought Allah’s forgiveness for his own mother, and this verse was revealed. (iii) The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) sought pardon for Abu Talib (a.s.) but Allah forbade him because he was not a Muslim. Anyhow this third statement is not at all correct because Abu Talib (a.s.) expired three years before the migration and this Surah was revealed in 9th year of the Muslim era. Then what was the standard of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) up till now? The same applies to Amina and she expired before this incident. Therefore the remaining option is that the Muslims requested thus and it was only the Umayyad tradition writers who included the name of Abu Talib due to their enmity to Ali (a.s.).

Verse 117

2.The condition of Battle of Tabuk was so miserable that Muslims used to ride in turns. They quenched their thirst by the water that was collected in the hump of camels and were living on very simple food. That is why the Holy Quran has appreciated those travelers.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. Benefit

    The 112th ayat shows that those Who purchase Paradise from the Lord of the worlds are having every type of individual and social virtue and in spite of being in power they guard the boundaries of religion. Without which no one deserves to purchase Paradise from the Lord of the worlds and be praised for the same.

  2. 1

    Since Ibrahim (a.s.) was brought up by Aazr he is compared to a father and regarding the promise also some commentators are of the view that Ibrahim (a,s.) had promised that he would become a believer that is why Ibrahim (a.s.) prayed for him. Anyway after this incident it is not permitted for any believer to seek forgiveness on behalf of a polytheist.

  3. 2

    This indicates that till Allah has not announced the illegality of Isteghfar - there shall be no accountability of the Isteghfar of the believers.

  4. *

    It should be clear that the ayat of Isteghfar is in no way connected to Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) because he passed away before Hijrat and the Surah Tawba was revealed in 9AH. It is only a conspiracy of the enemies of Islam. Through which they make unsuccessful attempts to malign the patron of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) and the first benefactor of Islam.