Surah At-Tawbah

Facts at a glance

Introduction

Surah At-Tawbah is the ninth surah of the Quran. It is Madani, has 129 ayat and 16 rukus, and belongs to the last period of revelation. It was revealed in 9 AH, after the conquest of Makkah, when Islam had become the strongest power in Arabia and the question was how to deal with the polytheists who broke their treaties, the hypocrites inside Madinah, and the Roman threat on the northern border.

Its special feature is that «بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ» is not written at its beginning. It opens with the end of the treaties with the polytheists and a declaration of disassociation. It exposes the plots, false excuses and oaths of the hypocrites, gives the rules of jihad, and tells of the battle of Tabuk, the trial of those who stayed behind and the acceptance of their repentance.

Names of the surah and the reasons

• At-Tawbah: the surah speaks of Allah accepting the repentance of the believers, and especially of the three companions who stayed behind from Tabuk (9:117 to 118). So it is called At-Tawbah.
• Al-Bara'ah: it opens with the declaration of disassociation (bara'ah) from the polytheists by Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) (9:1).
• Al-Fadihah (the Exposer): it uncovers the secrets, plots and hidden thoughts of the hypocrites, so it exposed them.
• Other names given in tafsir are Al-Muqashqishah (the one that cures from hypocrisy and polytheism) and Al-Mudamdimah (the one that destroys the enemies).

Why «بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ» is not written at the beginning

• The surah opens with a declaration of disassociation and war against those who broke their treaties. «بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ» is a message of mercy and peace, which does not suit such a beginning. This view is reported from Hazrat Ali (RA): «بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ» means safety, and this surah was revealed with the sword.
• Hazrat Uthman (RA) said that the Prophet (ﷺ) did not tell the Companions to write «بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ» between Al-Anfal and At-Tawbah. Its subject is very close to Al-Anfal, and the Prophet (ﷺ) passed away without explaining whether it was a part of Al-Anfal. So the two were placed together, with no «بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ» between them (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud).

Period of revelation

The surah was revealed in 9 AH in three parts, and it is not one single revelation.

• The opening ayat (9:1 to about 9:37) came before the Hajj of 9 AH, at the time of the declaration of disassociation. The Prophet (ﷺ) sent Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) as the leader of the Hajj. Then these ayat were revealed, and the Prophet (ﷺ) sent Hazrat Ali (RA) after him to announce the bara'ah to the gathering of Hajj.
• The middle part was revealed around the battle of Tabuk (Rajab 9 AH), before, during and after the march, and speaks of the hypocrites and those who stayed behind.
• The last part was revealed after the return from Tabuk, and speaks of the sincere believers, the mosque of dirar and the repentance of the three companions.

Background

By 9 AH the Arabian peninsula was largely under Islam. Makkah had been conquered in 8 AH, and Hunayn and Taif had followed. The year is known as the Year of Delegations, because tribes came to Madinah to accept Islam. The polytheists who still had treaties kept breaking them, the hypocrites of Madinah plotted from inside, and news came that the Roman empire was preparing an army on the Syrian border.

The Prophet (ﷺ) therefore marched towards Tabuk in Rajab 9 AH with about 30,000 men in extreme heat. This hard journey separated the sincere from the hypocrites, and most of the surah deals with it. See the separate section on the battle of Tabuk.

Central themes

• The end of treaties with the polytheists: loyalty to those who kept their treaty, war against those who broke it (9:1 to 16).
• Who may look after the mosques of Allah; the qualities of the believers; love of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) above everything (9:17 to 24).
• The battle of Hunayn, jizya, the false beliefs of the People of the Book, hoarding of wealth and the sacred months (9:25 to 37).
• Call to jihad, the event of the cave of Thawr and the excuses of the hypocrites (9:38 to 42).
• The plots of the hypocrites, the eight recipients of zakat, and the qualities of believers and hypocrites (9:43 to 80).
• Those who stayed behind from Tabuk, the first believers, the mosque of dirar and the mosque of taqwa (9:81 to 110).
• The bargain of life and wealth for Paradise, the repentance of the three companions and the call to learn the religion (9:111 to 122).
• Fighting the nearby disbelievers, increase in faith, the compassion of the Prophet (ﷺ) and tawakkul (9:123 to 129).

Points for the exam

• It is called Al-Bara'ah because it opens with the declaration of disassociation from the polytheists (9:1).
• It is called At-Tawbah because of the acceptance of repentance (9:117 to 118), and Al-Fadihah because it exposed the hypocrites.
• There is no «بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ» at its beginning: the opening is a declaration of disassociation; and the Prophet (ﷺ) did not tell the Companions to write it, its subject being close to Al-Anfal.
• The cause of Tabuk was the Roman threat; about 30,000 Muslims; no battle took place.
• The three companions who stayed behind were forgiven after 50 days (9:118).
• Eight recipients of zakat: 9:60. Jizya: 9:29. Cave of Thawr: 9:40. Hunayn: 9:25 to 26. Sacred months: 9:36 to 37.
• The last ayat (9:128 to 129) describe the compassion of the Prophet (ﷺ) and tawakkul.

Introduction

The battle of Tabuk took place in Rajab 9 AH and was the last expedition led by the Prophet (ﷺ) himself. Most of Surah At-Tawbah (from ayah 38 to ayah 122) was revealed in connection with it. It is called Ghazwah Tabuk after the place Tabuk, on the northern border of Arabia towards Syria, and also Jaish al-Usrah (the army of hardship).

Cause of the battle

• News reached Madinah that the Roman (Byzantine) empire was gathering a large army on the Syrian border to attack the Muslims.
• The Muslims had met the Romans at Mutah in 8 AH, and the Prophet (ﷺ) judged that the threat must be met at the border before the Romans reached Madinah.
• Unlike other expeditions, the Prophet (ﷺ) openly announced the destination, so that everyone could prepare for the long journey.

The army and the difficulties

• The Prophet (ﷺ) marched in Rajab 9 AH with about 30,000 Muslims, the largest Muslim army until then.
• It was a time of extreme heat, and the journey to Tabuk was very long.
• It was the season when the harvest and fruits were ripe, so people were unwilling to leave their gardens and crops.
• There was a shortage of mounts, provisions and money, and a year of scarcity. Several men had to share one camel by turns.
• The Quran calls this time «سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ» (the hour of hardship) in 9:117, so the army is called Jaish al-Usrah.

Generosity of the Companions

The Prophet (ﷺ) called on the Muslims to give for the army, and the Companions competed in generosity.

• Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) brought all his wealth, and when asked what he had left for his family, he said: Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ).
• Hazrat Umar (RA) brought about half of his wealth.
• Hazrat Uthman (RA) equipped a large part of the army with camels, horses and money, so that the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed for him.
• Women gave their jewellery, and poor Companions gave what little they had.

What happened at Tabuk

• When the Muslims reached Tabuk, the Romans did not come out to face them, and no battle took place.
• The Prophet (ﷺ) stayed there for about 20 days.
• During this stay he made treaties with the Christian and other tribes of the border region, such as the ruler of Aylah, and the people of Jarba, Adhruh and Dumat al-Jandal, who agreed to pay jizya.
• Then the Prophet (ﷺ) returned to Madinah.

Results / outcomes of the battle

• The prestige and power of the Muslims increased in all Arabia and beyond; even the Roman empire did not dare to face them.
• The Romans did not face the Muslims, and the threat on the northern border ended for the time.
• The treaties with the border tribes secured the frontier and brought them under the protection of the Islamic state.
• The hypocrites were exposed: those who made excuses and stayed behind were known to everyone, and the sincere were separated from the false.
• After Tabuk, tribes came in delegations and entered Islam in large numbers, and Islam spread quickly in Arabia.

Introduction

The battle of Mutah was fought in Jumada al-Ula 8 AH at Mutah, a place in the land of Syria (modern Jordan). It was the first clash between the Muslims and the Roman empire. It is not mentioned by name in Surah At-Tawbah, but it explains why the Romans were seen as a danger before Tabuk.

Cause

The Prophet (ﷺ) had sent an envoy, Hazrat Harith bin Umair (RA), with a letter to the ruler of Busra. A Ghassani chief, who was under the Romans, killed him. Killing an envoy was a serious crime, so the Prophet (ﷺ) sent an army.

Numbers and commanders

Importance

• The Muslims faced a force many times larger and showed courage; the Romans learned that the Muslims were a force to be counted.
• It prepared the ground for Tabuk, where the Prophet (ﷺ) went himself to meet the Roman threat.

Introduction

When the call to march to Tabuk came, the hypocrites showed their true face. Surah At-Tawbah exposed them and gave clear rules for dealing with them. At the same time, a distinction was made between the hypocrites and the sincere believers who made mistakes.

Their excuses

• They gave false excuses of heat, hardship and fear of trial, and swore oaths to cover them (9:42, 9:49, 9:81).
• Some asked for permission to stay behind; the Prophet (ﷺ) was corrected for giving permission too quickly, because their real intention was not to march (9:43 to 46).
• They said to others: do not go out in the heat. The Quran replied that the fire of Hell is far hotter (9:81).

The Quranic treatment

• They were exposed: the surah revealed their secrets and plots, so it is called Al-Fadihah.
• They were not to be taken on expeditions again: if they ask to go out with the Prophet (ﷺ) in the future, he must say they will never go out with him (9:83).
• No funeral prayer: the Prophet (ﷺ) was forbidden to pray the funeral prayer over any of them who dies, or to stand at his grave (9:84). Bukhari reports that this came after the death of Abdullah bin Ubayy.
• Their contributions were refused: their spending was not accepted because it was without faith and without sincerity (9:53 to 54).
• The mosque of dirar was destroyed: hypocrites built a mosque near Quba to harm the Muslims, to spread disbelief and to divide them, and to serve as a base for the enemy. They asked the Prophet (ﷺ) to pray in it, but Allah forbade him (9:107 to 110). After his return from Tabuk the Prophet (ﷺ) sent some Companions, and the mosque was burnt down and demolished.
• Prayer for forgiveness was useless: even seventy requests for forgiveness would not forgive them, because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) (9:80).
• Strictness in this world: the Prophet (ﷺ) was told to strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and to be firm with them (9:73).

The three sincere companions

The three believers Kab bin Malik, Hilal bin Umayyah and Murarah bin Rabi (RA) stayed behind without a genuine excuse, but they did not lie like the hypocrites. They told the Prophet (ﷺ) the truth. Their matter was postponed, the Muslims stopped speaking to them for 50 days, and the earth felt narrow for them. Then Allah accepted their repentance (9:118).

Introduction

The battle of Hunayn was fought in Shawwal 8 AH, soon after the conquest of Makkah, in the valley of Hunayn between Makkah and Taif. The tribes of Hawazin and Thaqif gathered under Malik bin Awf to attack the Muslims. Surah At-Tawbah recalls it in 9:25 to 26 to teach that victory comes from Allah and not from numbers.

What happened

• About 12,000 Muslims marched, the largest army up to that time: 10,000 who had conquered Makkah and about 2,000 newly freed Makkans.
• Some of the Muslims felt pride in their numbers, as the ayah says: «when your great number pleased you» (9:25).
• In the early morning the enemy archers, hidden on the heights of the narrow valley, shot arrows suddenly. The Muslim ranks broke and many turned back, so that the earth felt narrow for them in spite of its vastness.
• The Prophet (ﷺ) stayed firm on his white mule with a few Companions and called out that he was the true Prophet (Bukhari, Muslim). Hazrat Abbas (RA) called the Companions back by his order.
• Allah sent down sakinah (tranquillity) upon His Messenger (ﷺ) and the believers, and sent down unseen forces of angels. The Muslims returned, the enemy was defeated and many captives and spoils were taken (9:26).

Lessons

• Numbers and equipment are not the source of victory; help comes from Allah.
• Pride in oneself leads to failure; humility and reliance on Allah bring success.
• A leader must stay firm in danger, as the Prophet (ﷺ) did.

The sacred months

Allah says the number of months with Him is twelve since the day He created the heavens and the earth, and four of them are sacred (9:36). These are Dhul Qa'dah, Dhul Hijjah and Muharram, which come together, and Rajab, which comes alone. Fighting was forbidden in them, so that people could travel for Hajj and Umrah and trade in peace. Muslims are told not to wrong themselves in them, and the verse calls this «الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ» (the right religion).

What was nasi'?

• «نَسِيء» means postponing or moving a sacred month to another month.
• The Arabs were fond of raiding. When a sacred month such as Muharram came, they declared it permitted and made Safar sacred in its place, so that the number four stayed the same but the months were changed.
• This made the calendar disordered, and Hajj fell in the wrong season.

Why it is an increase in disbelief

• It changed what Allah had made lawful and unlawful according to people's own desires: «they make it lawful one year and unlawful another year» (9:37).
• It was making law in the place of Allah, so it was an additional disbelief on top of their polytheism, and it led them further astray.

Introduction

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. The hypocrites objected to the distribution of sadaqat (9:58), so Allah Himself fixed the heads of expenditure in 9:60 and called them an obligation from Allah.

The eight recipients

Zakat purifies: 9:103

• The Prophet (ﷺ) is told to take sadaqah from the wealth of the believers; it cleanses them and purifies them.
• The giver is not to be left without a prayer: the prayer of the Prophet (ﷺ) is a source of peace for them.

Introduction

A hypocrite (munafiq) shows faith with the tongue but does not believe in the heart. Surah At-Tawbah speaks about them more than any other surah, so much that one of its names is Al-Fadihah.

Their qualities

• They swear false oaths that they are with the Muslims, but they are afraid (9:56).
• They find fault with the distribution of sadaqat: if they get something they are pleased, otherwise angry (9:58).
• They hurt the Prophet (ﷺ) with words (9:61) and mock Allah, His ayat and His Messenger (ﷺ), and then say it was only play (9:64 to 66).
• They order evil, forbid good, and keep their hands closed from spending. They forgot Allah, so He forgot them (9:67).
• They make promises to Allah, then break them out of miserliness (9:75 to 77).
• They mock the poor believers who give what little they can (9:79).
• They avoid jihad and are happy to stay behind, and say: do not go out in the heat (9:81).
• They build a mosque to harm the Muslims and divide them (9:107).
• When a surah is revealed, their disease of the heart increases, and they die as disbelievers (9:124 to 125). They are tested once or twice every year, yet do not repent (9:126).

Compare with the believers

See also the section on how the hypocrites were dealt with at Tabuk.

Ruku 1 (ayat 1 to 6): Ending the treaties and the declaration of disassociation

Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) declare disassociation from the polytheists with whom treaties had been made. The polytheists were given four months to move freely in the land, and the announcement was made to the people on the day of the greater Hajj. Those who did not break their treaty were to have it fulfilled until its term, and a polytheist who asked for protection was to be given it until he heard the word of Allah.

See the introduction for the Hajj of 9 AH, when Hazrat Ali (RA) announced the bara'ah.

Ruku 2 (ayat 7 to 16): War against the treaty-breakers and the trial of the believers

The treaty of the polytheists has no worth with Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ), except those who made a treaty at the Sacred Mosque and stayed true to it. When they overpower the believers, the treaty-breakers respect neither kinship nor agreement. If they repent and establish prayer and give zakat, they are brothers in religion. War is ordered because of their breach of treaties, attacks on the religion and the plan to expel the Messenger (ﷺ), with the promise of victory and healing of the believers' hearts. Finally it is said that the believers are tried so that Allah may know those who truly strive.

Ruku 3 (ayat 17 to 24): Who may look after the mosques, and the measure of love

The polytheists have no right to maintain the mosques of Allah, because they bear witness against themselves to disbelief. Those who maintain them believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, give zakat and fear none but Allah. Giving water to the pilgrims and serving the Sacred Mosque are not equal to faith and jihad. Those who believed, emigrated and strove are highest in rank, and love of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) must come before family, wealth and trade.

Ruku 4 (ayat 25 to 29): Hunayn, the impurity of the polytheists and jizya

Allah helped the Muslims on many occasions. At Hunayn, pride in numbers led to an early retreat; then tranquillity came down on the Prophet (ﷺ) and the believers and Allah helped them with an army of angels. The polytheists are impure, so they were not to approach the Sacred Mosque after that year, and the fear of poverty was removed with the promise of Allah's bounty. The People of the Book who do not believe are to be fought until they pay jizya.

The details of Hunayn are in the separate section on the battle of Hunayn.

Ruku 5 (ayat 30 to 37): Beliefs of the People of the Book, hoarding and the sacred months

The Jews said Uzair (AS) was the son of Allah and the Christians said the same of the Messiah (AS), which were only words of their mouths. They took their scholars, monks and the Messiah as lords, though they were commanded to worship one God. Allah will complete His light and make His Messenger (ﷺ) prevail over all religions. Wrongfully eating people's wealth and hoarding gold and silver without spending it brings punishment. The months are twelve, four of them sacred, and shifting them (nasi') is an increase in disbelief.

The sacred months and nasi' (9:36 to 37) are explained in a separate section.

Ruku 6 (ayat 38 to 42): The call to jihad, the cave of Thawr and the excuses of the hypocrites

The believers are ordered to go out in the way of Allah and are rebuked for laziness and for preferring this world to the Hereafter. If they do not go out, there is a painful punishment and another people will replace them. The event of the cave of Thawr during the Hijrah is told, in which Allah helped His Messenger (ﷺ). The believers must strive, light or heavy, with life and wealth, while the hypocrites prefer an easy and near journey and offer excuses on oath.

The march to Tabuk, for which this call was made, is in the section on the battle of Tabuk.

Ruku 7 (ayat 43 to 59): Plots, oaths and taunts of the hypocrites

The Prophet (ﷺ) is corrected for permitting the hypocrites to stay behind, and forgiveness is mentioned, while true believers do not ask to be excused from jihad. The intention of the hypocrites is exposed: they never meant to go out, and had they gone out they would only have increased mischief. They swear oaths, are cowardly and taunt the Prophet (ﷺ) over the distribution of sadaqat. When a misfortune reaches the believers they say they had taken care earlier, while the believers say nothing will reach them except what Allah has written.

Ruku 8 (ayat 60 to 66): The recipients of zakat and the mockery of the hypocrites

Eight heads of zakat are given: the poor, the needy, the collectors, those whose hearts are to be won, freeing slaves, debtors, the way of Allah and the traveller. The hypocrites hurt the Prophet (ﷺ) and swear oaths, though Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) have more right to be pleased. They excuse their mockery as play, but are told that they disbelieved after having believed, so they should not make excuses.

The eight recipients are explained in the section on zakat. The hypocrites' qualities are in the section on their character.

Ruku 9 (ayat 67 to 72): Qualities of the hypocrites and of the believers

Male and female hypocrites are alike: they order evil, forbid good and withhold their hands from spending. They forgot Allah, so He forgot them. Like earlier nations they enjoyed their share of this world and plunged into falsehood, so their deeds were wasted. In contrast, believing men and women are protectors of one another, order good, forbid evil, and are promised mercy of Allah and gardens of Paradise.

Ruku 10 (ayat 73 to 80): Breaking of promises and mockery by the hypocrites

The Prophet (ﷺ) is ordered to strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be firm with them, and their home is Hell. The hypocrites swear that they did not say words of disbelief, though they did. A group had promised Allah to give charity if He gave them wealth, but when it came they were miserly and broke the promise, so hypocrisy settled in their hearts. Those who mock believers who give charity are promised a painful punishment, and seventy requests for forgiveness will not bring them forgiveness.

Ruku 11 (ayat 81 to 89): The hypocrites who stayed behind from Tabuk

The hypocrites who stayed behind from Tabuk were glad to sit at home against the Messenger (ﷺ) and told others not to go out in the heat. They are told that the fire of Hell is much hotter. The Prophet (ﷺ) is ordered not to take them out with him and not to pray funeral prayer over any of them who dies. They are told not to be amazed at their wealth and children, while the Messenger (ﷺ) and the believers strive with life and wealth and have gardens.

Ruku 12 (ayat 90 to 99): The excused, the sincere and the hypocrites among the desert Arabs

Some desert Arabs came with excuses, while those who lied to Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) sat at home. There is no blame on the weak, the sick and the poor if they are sincere to Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ), nor on those who turned back with tears because they found no mount. The blame is on the rich who were content to stay with those left behind. Some desert Arabs are hardest in disbelief and hypocrisy, while others believe and regard their spending as a means of nearness to Allah.

Ruku 13 (ayat 100 to 110): The first believers, the mosque of dirar and the mosque of taqwa

Allah is pleased with the first of the Muhajirun and the Ansar, and those who followed them in good, and has prepared gardens for them. Some hypocrites of Madinah will be punished twice. Those who admitted their sins and mixed good with bad deeds may hope for forgiveness, and the Prophet (ﷺ) is ordered to take sadaqah from their wealth and pray for them. The mosque of dirar was built for harm, disbelief and division, while the mosque founded on taqwa is where people who love to purify themselves worship.

The mosque of dirar is also described in the section on how the hypocrites were dealt with.

Ruku 14 (ayat 111 to 118): The bargain of life and wealth, and the three companions

Allah has bought from the believers their lives and wealth in return for Paradise, a true promise in the Torah, the Gospel and the Quran. The qualities of those who repent and worship are described and the believers are given the good news of this bargain. The Prophet (ﷺ) and the believers are forbidden to seek forgiveness for the polytheists, and the reason for Ibrahim's (AS) prayer for his father is explained. Finally the repentance in the hour of hardship at Tabuk is mentioned, and the three whose matter was postponed.

The repentance of the three companions (9:118) is in the section on the hypocrites at Tabuk.

Ruku 15 (ayat 119 to 122): Company of the truthful and seeking knowledge of the religion

The believers are ordered to fear Allah and be with the truthful. It is not right for the people of Madinah and the Arabs around them to stay behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), because every thirst, tiredness and hunger in the way of Allah, and every step that angers the disbelievers, is written as a good deed. Every spending and every valley crossed is written too. At the end it is made clear that from each group some should go to gain understanding of the religion and warn their people when they return.

Ruku 16 (ayat 123 to 129): Fighting the nearby disbelievers, increase in faith and the last ayat

The believers are ordered to fight the disbelievers near them and let them find firmness in them, for Allah is with the righteous. When a surah is revealed, the faith of the believers increases and they rejoice, while the disease in the hearts of the hypocrites increases and they die as disbelievers. They are tried once or twice every year and do not repent or take heed. The last ayat describe the compassion of the Prophet (ﷺ) and his concern for his people, and if they turn away he is told to say: Allah is sufficient for me.