Believers Not Exempt form Wars

9. Surah At Tawbah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

عَفَا اللّهُ ...

9: 43.  Allah give thee grace!

C1308. Literally, "Allah give thee forgiveness!"

But there is no question of fault here, and Imam Razi understands the expression to mean an exclamation, -as one might say in English, "God bless you!"

In Shakespeare "God save you!" is a simple friendly greeting, without any question of danger: e. g., in "Much Ado about Nothing." iii. 2, 82.

Note that in 3:152, last clause, "forgiveness" is put in juxtaposition to "grace" as having closely allied meanings.

What the Holy Prophet had done in the Tabuk expedition was that he had been granting exemptions which may appear from a military point of view too liberal. He was not actuated by motives of kindness as well as policy:-

-        kindness, because, in the urgency of the moment he did not wish any one who had a real excuse to be refused exemption:

-        and policy, because, if any one did not come with hearty good-will, he would be a burden instead of a help to the army.

The policy was justified, because in fact 30,000 men or more followed him. But that did not in any way justify the slackers, and in a review of the position, the slackers and hypocrites are justly condemned.

... عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَتَعْلَمَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ﴿٤٣﴾

Why didst thou grant them exemption until those who told the truth were seen by thee in a clear light, and thou hadst proved the liars?

لاَ يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ...   

9: 44.  Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day ask thee for no exemption

...أَن يُجَاهِدُواْ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ...

from fighting with their goods and persons.

...وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٤٤﴾  

And Allah knoweth well those who do their duty.

Asad’s Version:

9: 43 May God pardon thee [ O Prophet]! Why did you grant them permission ere it had become obvious to you as to who was speaking the truth, and you came to know the liars?

9: 44 Those who believe in God and the Last Day do not ask you for exemption from struggling with their possessions and their lives [in God’s cause] – and God has full knowledge as to who is conscious of Him -: only those ask you for exemption who do not believe in God and the Last Day and whose hearts have become a prey to doubt, so that in their doubting they waver between one thing and another.