God’s Forgiveness After Wrong Done

9. Surah At Tawbah

Ali’s version and the Quranic Text

اشْتَرَوْاْ بِآيَاتِ اللّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً فَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ...   

9: 9.     The signs of Allah have they sold for a miserable price, and (many) have they hindered from His way:

...إِنَّهُمْ سَاء مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩﴾

evil indeed are the deeds they have done.

لاَ يَرْقُبُونَ فِي مُؤْمِنٍ إِلاًّ وَلاَ ذِمَّةً...   

9: 10.  In a believer they respect not the ties either of kinship or of covenant!

...وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُعْتَدُونَ ﴿١٠﴾  

It is they who have transgressed all bounds.

C1258. The catalogue of their sins being set out, it is clear that they were aggressors in the worst possible ways; and war became inevitable.

فَإِن تَابُواْ وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَوُاْ الزَّكَاةَ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ...   

9: 11.  But (even so), if they repent, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, they are your brethren in faith:

C1259. The chance of repentance and mercy to the worst enemies is again emphasised, in order that people with any understanding may not be misled into thinking that war was an easy or light matter.

This emphasis is balanced by the emphasis in the next verse on the causes which made war inevitable for those with any self-respect.

...وَنُفَصِّلُ الآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١١﴾  

(thus) do We explain signs in detail, for those who understand.

وَقُلِ اعْمَلُواْ ...

9: 105. And say:

"Work (righteousness):

C1353. The repentant should be encouraged, after their repentance, to amend their conduct. The kindly interest of their brethren in them will strengthen them in virtue and blot out their past. When they go back into Eternity, they will understand the healing grace which saved them, just as the evil ones will then have their eyes opened to the real truth of their spiritual degradation (9:94). The similar words, in verse 84 and here, clench the contrast.

... فَسَيَرَى اللّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ... 

soon will Allah observe your work, and His Messenger, and the believers:

... وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَى عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ... 

soon will ye be brought back to the knower of what is hidden and what is open:

... فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٠٥﴾

then will He show you the truth of all that ye did."

وَآخَرُونَ مُرْجَوْنَ لِأَمْرِ اللّهِ إِمَّا يُعَذِّبُهُمْ وَإِمَّا يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ...   

9: 106. There are (yet) others, held in suspense for the command of Allah, whether He will punish them, or turn in mercy to them:

C1354. Three categories of men are mentioned, whose faith was tested and found wanting in the Tabuk affair, but their characteristics are perfectly general, and we may here consider them in their general aspects:

1.     the deep-dyed hypocrites, who when found out make excuses because otherwise they will suffer ignominy; they are unregenerate and obstinate, and there is no hope for them (9:101);

2.     there are those who have lapsed into evil, but are not altogether evil; they repent and amend, and are accepted (9:102-105); and

3.     there are doubtful cases, but Allah will judge them (9:106). A fourth category is mentioned in ix. 107, which will be discussed later.

... وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿١٠٦﴾ 

and Allah is All-Knowing, Wise.

Asad’s Version:

9: 9 The Signs of God have they sold for a miserable price, and have they hindered from His way: evil indeed are the deeds they have done.

9: 10 In a Believer they respect not the ties either of kinship or of covenant! It is they who have transgressed all bounds.

9: 11 But [even so], if they repent, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, - They are your brethren in Faith: [thus] do We explain the Signs in detail, for those who understand.

9: 105 and say [unto them, O Prophet]: “Act! And God will behold your deeds, and His Apostle, and the believers: and you will be brought before Him who knows all that is beyond the reach of a created being’s perception as well as all that can be witnessed by a creature’s senses or mind – and then He make you understand what you have been doing.”

9: 106 And others – deferred until God will to judge them: He will either chastise them or turn again unto them in His mercy – for God is all-knowing, wise.