9. [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H after Tabuk]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

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

... 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.

Transliteration Wa 'alas sala_satillazinakhullifu_, hatta_ iza_ da_qat 'alaihimulardubima_ rahubatwada_qat 'alaihimanfusuhumwazannu_ alla_ malja'aminalla_hiilla_ ilaih(i), summa tu_ba 'alaihimliyatu_bu_, innalla_hahuwattawwa_burrahim(u).

Asad’s Version:

9:118 And towards the three who had fallen prey to corruption, until in the end-after, despite all its vastness, had become narrow for them and their souls had become [utterly] constricted – they came to know with certainty that there is no refuge from God other than unto Him; and thereupon He turned again unto them in His mercy, so that they might repent: for, verily God alone is an acceptor of repentance, a dispenser of grace.

[see asad’s note 155 about those who are referred here]

Pickthall’s Version:

9: 118 And to the three also 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 God

Ali’s notes:

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.