9. Surah At Tawbah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَسِيحُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِي اللّهِ...   

9: 2.     Go ye, then, for four months, backwards and forwards, (as ye will), throughout the land, but know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah (by your falsehood)

C1247. Four Months: Some Commentators understand by this the four forbidden months in which warfare by ancient Arabian custom was unlawful, viz., Rajah. Dhu al Qadah, Dhu al Hijjah and Muharram:

See note 209 to 2:194..

But it is better to take the signification of the four months immediately following the Declaration. Assuming that the Surah was promulgated early in Shawwal (see Introduction), the four months would be Shawwal, Dhu al Qadah, Dhu al Hijjah and Muharram, of which the last three would also be the customary Prohibited Months.

...وَأَنَّ اللّهَ مُخْزِي الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٢﴾

but that Allah will cover with shame those who reject him.

Other versions:

9: 2

Asad [Announce unto them:] “Go, then, [freely] about the earth for four months [note 2] - but know that you a can never elude God, and that , verily, God shall bring disgrace upon all who refuse to acknowledge the truth!”

Yusuf Ali Go ye then for four months backwards and forwards (as ye will) throughout the land but know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah (by your falsehood) but that Allah will cover with shame those who reject him.

Pickthall Travel freely in the land four months, and know that ye cannot escape Allah and that Allah will confound the disbelievers (in His guidance).

Transliteration Fasihu_ fil ardi arba'ata asyhuriw wa'lamu_ annakum gairu mu'jizilla_h(i), wa annalla_ha mukhzil ka_firin(a).