9. Surah At Tawbah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لَقَد تَّابَ الله عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالأَنصَارِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ فِي سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ...   

9: 117. Allah turned with favor to the Prophet, the Muhajirs, and the Ansar, who followed Him in a time of distress,

C1368. Cf. 9:100.

The Muhajirs were the people who originally forsook their homes in Makkah and followed Al-Mustafa in exile to Madinah.

The Ansar were the Madinah people who received them with honour and hospitality into their city.

Both these groups were staunch supporters of Islam, and proved their Faith by great sacrifices. But in the difficult days of the Tabuk expedition some of them, not perversely, but out of lethargy and human weakness, had failed to follow the standard. They were forgiven, and they afterwards acquitted themselves with zeal

... مِن بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِّنْهُمْ ...

after that the hearts of a part of them had nearly swerved (from duty);

C1369. Note that the "swerving from duty" was merely an inclination due to the weakness of human nature in the face of new difficulties: that it only affected a part of the men for a time: and that it was overcome even in their case by the grace of Allah, so that they all did their duty, and were freely forgiven their incipient weakness, which they conquered.

There were three exceptions, which are referred to in the next verse.

... ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ... 

but He turned to them (also):

... إِنَّهُ بِهِمْ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١١٧﴾  

for He is unto them Most Kind, Most Merciful.

وَعَلَى الثَّلاَثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُواْ...   

9: 118. (He turned in mercy also) to the three who were left Behind: (they felt guilty)

... حَتَّى إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ... 

to such a degree that the earth seemed constrained to them, for all its speciousness

C1370.

-        Among the Faithful, the largest number consisted of those who were perfectly staunch and ever ready to do their duty. They obtained the love and good pleasure of Allah.

-        Next came a few who wavered because their will was weak and they were daunted by the dangers and difficulties that faced them; Allah's saving grace protected them and they conquered their weakness, and did not fail in their duty; Allah forgave them and accepted their repentance.

-        Lastly, in the illustration taken from the Tabuk affair, there were some who actually failed in their duty, not from contumacy or ill-will, but from thoughtlessness, slackness, and human weakness: they actually failed to obey the Holy Prophet's summons, and were naturally called on to explain, and were excluded from the life of the Community.

Their mental state is here described graphically. Though the earth is spacious, to them it was constrained. In their own souls they had a feeling of constraint. In worldly affluence they felt poor in spirit.

They realized that they could not flee from Allah, but could only find solace and refuge in coming back to Him. They freely repented and showed it in their deeds, and Allah freely forgave them and took them to His grace.

Though illustrated by the particular examples of Ka'b, Mararah and Hilal, the lesson is perfectly general and is good for all times.

... وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّواْ أَن لاَّ مَلْجَأَ مِنَ اللّهِ إِلاَّ إِلَيْهِ ...

and their (very) souls seemed straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allah and no refuge but to Himself.

... ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُواْ... 

Then He turned to them, that they might repent:

... إِنَّ اللّهَ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿١١٨﴾  

for Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

Pickthall’s Version:

9: 117

Pickthall Allah hath turned in mercy to the Prophet, and to the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of hardship. After the hearts of a party of them had almost swerved aside, then turned He unto them in mercy. Lo! He is Full of Pity, Merciful for them.

Transliteration Laqad ta_balla_hu 'alan nabiyyi wal muha_jirina wal ansa_ril lazina-ttaba'a_hu fi sa_'atil 'usrati mim ba'di ma_ ka_da yazigu qulu_bu fariqim minhum summa ta_ba'alaihim, innahu_ bihim ra'u_fur rahim(uw),-

9: 118

Pickthall And to the three also (did He turn in mercy) who were left behind: when the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for them, and their own souls were straitened for them till they bethought them that there is no refuge from Allah save toward Him. Then turned He unto them in mercy that they (too) might turn (repentant unto Him). Lo! Allah! He is the Relenting, the Merciful.

Transliteration Wa 'alas sala_satil lazina khullifu_, hatta_ iza_ da_qat 'alaihimul ardu bima_ rahubat wa da_qat 'alaihim anfusuhum wa zannu_ alla_ malja'a minalla_hi illa_ ilaih(i), summa tu_ba 'alaihim liyatu_bu_, innalla_ha huwat tawwa_bur rahim(u).

[[Ali’s notes -

1368 Cf. ix. 100. The Muhajirs were the people who originally forsook their homes in Makkah and followed Al-Mustafa in exile to Madinah. The Ansar were the Madinah people who received them with honour and hospitality into their city. Both these groups were staunch supporters of Islam, and proved their Faith by great sacrifices. But in the difficult days of the Tabuk expedition some of them, not perversely, but out of lethargy and human weakness, had failed to follow the standard. They were forgiven, and they afterwards acquitted themselves with zeal. (9.117)

1369 Note that the "swerving from duty" was merely an inclination due to the weakness of human nature in the face of new difficulties: that it only affected a part of the men for a time: and that it was overcome even in their case by the grace of Allah, so that they all did their duty, and were freely forgiven their incipient weakness, which they conquered. There were three exceptions, which are referred to in the next verse. (9.117)

1370 Left behind: i.e., the acceptance of their repentance was delayed. Among the Faithful, the largest number consisted of those who were perfectly staunch and ever ready to do their duty. They obtained the love and good pleasure of Allah. Next came a few who wavered because their will was weak and they were daunted by the dangers and difficulties that faced them; Allah's saving grace protected them and they conquered their weakness, and did not fail in their duty; Allah forgave them and accepted their repentance. Lastly, in the illustration taken from the Tabuk affair, there were some who actually failed in their duty, not from contumacy or ill-will, but from thoughtlessness, slackness, and human weakness: they actually failed to obey the Holy Prophet's summons, and were naturally called on to explain, and were excluded from the life of the Community. Their mental state is here described graphically. Though the earth is spacious, to them it was constrained. In their own souls they had a feeling of constraint. In worldly affluence they felt poor in spirit. They realised that they could not flee from Allah, but could only find solace and refuge in coming back to Him. They freely repented and showed it in their deeds, and Allah freely forgave them and took them to His grace. Though illustrated by the particular examples of Ka'b, Mararah and Hilal, the lesson is perfectly general and is good for all