Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 55–61

9. At-Tawba · The Repentance

Madinan129 verses

فَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَٰدُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَٰفِرُونَ

9:55So let not their wealth and children impress you: Allah only desires to punish them with these in the life of this world, and that their souls may depart while they are faithless.1

وَيَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ لَمِنكُمْ وَمَا هُم مِّنكُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌۭ يَفْرَقُونَ

9:56They swear by Allah that they belong to you, but they do not belong to you. Rather, they are a frightened lot.2

لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَـًٔا أَوْ مَغَٰرَٰتٍ أَوْ مُدَّخَلًۭا لَّوَلَّوْا۟ إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ

9:57If they could find a refuge, or a hideout, or a hole [to creep into], they would turn to it in frantic haste.

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَلْمِزُكَ فِى ٱلصَّدَقَٰتِ فَإِنْ أُعْطُوا۟ مِنْهَا رَضُوا۟ وَإِن لَّمْ يُعْطَوْا۟ مِنْهَآ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْخَطُونَ

9:58There are some of them who blame you regarding [the distribution of] the charities: if they are given from them, they are pleased, but if they are not given from them, behold, they are displeased.

وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ رَضُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَقَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ سَيُؤْتِينَا ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ رَٰغِبُونَ

9:59[It would have been better] if they had been pleased with what Allah and His Apostle gave them, and had said, ‘Allah is sufficient for us; Allah and His Apostle will give to us out of His grace. Indeed to Allah do we eagerly turn.’

۞ إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلْعَٰمِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَٱلْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلْغَٰرِمِينَ وَفِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۖ فَرِيضَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌۭ

9:60The charities are only for the poor and the needy, and those employed to collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and for [the freedom of] the slaves and the debtors, and in the way of Allah, and for the traveller. [This is] an ordinance from Allah, and Allah is all-knowing, all-wise.3

وَمِنْهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ أُذُنٌۭ ۚ قُلْ أُذُنُ خَيْرٍۢ لَّكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ

9:61Among them are those who torment the Prophet, and say, ‘He is an ear.’ Say, ‘An ear that is good for you. He has faith in Allah and trusts the faithful, and is a mercy for those of you who have faith.’ As for those who torment the Apostle of Allah, there is a painful punishment for them.

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 55

1.For the hypocrites of Medina wealth and children both became a cause for chastisement because their children adopted Islam and Ibne Ubayy’s son also became a Muslim so their property was also transferred to Islam against their will. This was a severe punishment for them; otherwise the punishment of hereafter is more severe than this.

Verse 58

2.Harkosh bin Zahir Zul Khwisra took objection at the time of distribution of the booty and said: Be just and do not be impartial. The Prophet (s.a.) said: If I do not do justice who would? Umar wanted to kill him but the Prophet (s.a.) said: Leave him. He has a large community behind him who apparently are pious but actually they are outside the fold of Islam. Their leader is a man whose hand is like a woman’s breast. Abu Sa’eed reports that when Ali (a.s.) killed the Khawarij, their chief was having this same attribute. (From Durre Manthur and Tafseer Tabari)

Verse 61

3.The Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.s.) acted on the apparent circumstances and did not decide on the basis of his knowledge. The hypocrites started saying he is only ears which listen to everyone. Allah replied: This is better for you. He verified the faithful and it is a blessing that common Muslims are not penalized for their statements; he acts with precaution only with regard to their apparent acts.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. Benefit

    The word innama in the ayat of charities proves that lazy persons and those who seek free things are not eligible for charity, The actual deserving people are those who are helpless due to circumstances or those who are engaged in a religious or community service.

  2. 1

    The Divine will is with regard to their death and not with their disbelief, Disbelief is their intended deed and has no relation with the will of Allah.

  3. 2

    Faraq denotes fear and sorrow. Malja is a place of refuge, Mugharat is the plural of Mughara, A low spot, a cave etc, Mudkhal is a place of burrowing where a person enters with difficulty. Jamah is that speed which cannot be excelled easily.

  4. 3

    Sadaqat denotes the obligatory Zakat, Poor and destitute denotes those who do not have to last them for a year. Amil - The person appointed by Imam or the Deputy of Imam (a.s.) to collect Zakat. Mulfatul Quloob - Those who are paid to attract them towards Islam or to safe guard the interests of Islam. Firraqaab: To spend for the emancipation of slaves. Gharmeen: People who are in debts. Fee Sabilillah: Any charitable deed for the good of Islam and welfare of the people. Ibnas Sabeel: An impoverished traveller.