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

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَإِذَا انسَلَخَ الأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ ...

9: 5.     But when the forbidden months are past,

C1250. The emphasis is on the first clause; it is only when the four months of grace are past, and the other party show no signs of desisting from their treacherous designs by right conduct, that the state of war supervenes-between Faith and Unfaith.

... فَاقْتُلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ...

then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them

C1251. When war becomes inevitable, it must be prosecuted with vigour.

According to the English phrase, you cannot fight with kid gloves. The fighting may take the form of killing, capture, or siege, or ambush and other stratagems.

But even then there is room for repentance and amendment on the part of the guilty party, and if that takes place, our duty is forgiveness and the establishment of peace.

...وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُواْ لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ... ...

and seize them, beleaguer them and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war);

...فَإِن تَابُواْ وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَوُاْ الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّواْ سَبِيلَهُمْ...

but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them:

C1252. The repentance must be sincere, and that is shown by conduct-a religious spirit of true prayer and charity.

In that case we are not to bar the gate against the repentant. On the contrary we must do all we can to make their way easy, remembering that Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

...إِنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٥﴾  

for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ اسْتَجَارَكَ ...

9: 6.     If one amongst the pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him,

C1253. Even among the enemies of Islam, actively fighting against Islam, there may be individuals who may be in a position to require protection. Full asylum is to be given to them, and opportunities provided for hearing the Word of Allah.

If they accept the Word, they become Muslims and brethren, and no further question arises. If they do not see their way to accept Islam, they will require double protection:

-        from the Islamic forces openly fighting against their people, and

-        from their own people, as they detached themselves from them.

Both kinds of protection should be ensured for them, and they should be safely escorted to a place where they can be safe. Such persons only err through ignorance, and there may be much good in them.

... فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ كَلاَمَ اللّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُ...

so that he may hear the word of Allah and then escort him to where he can be secure:

C1254. Ma'manah: place or opportunity of being secure from all harm.

...ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لاَّ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦﴾  

that is because they are men without knowledge.

Pickthall’s Version:

9: 5

Pickthall Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Transliteration Fa izansalakhal asyhurul hurumu faqtulul musyrikina haisu wajattumu_hum wa khuzu_hum wahsuru_hum waq'udu_ lahum kulla marsad(in), fa in ta_bu_ wa aqa_mus sala_ta wa a_tawuz zaka_ta fa khallu_ sabilahum, innalla_ha gafu_rur rahim(un).

Ayah 6

Pickthall And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy protection (O Muhammad), then protect him so that he may hear the word of Allah; and afterward convey him to his place of safety. That is because they are a folk who know not.

Transliteration Wa in ahadum minal musyrikinastaja_raka fa ajirhu hatta_ yasma'a kala_malla_hi summa ablighu ma'manah(u_), za_lika bi annahum qaumul la_ ya'lamu_n(a).

[[ Asad’s notes – 2 – These words, addressed to the ‘mushrikin’ (“those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God”) who have deliberately broken the treaties in force between them and the believers, indicate a cancellation of all treaty obligations on the letters’ part. The period of four months which is to elapse between this announcement and the beginning (or resumption) of hostilities is a further elaboration of the injunction……

3 – There is no unanimity among the commentators as to what is meant by “the day of the Great Pilgrimage”. Most of them assume that it refers to the pilgrimage in the year 9H., in which the Prophet himself did not participate,…………This very fact, however, makes it improbable that the designation : “the Greatest Pilgrimage”……On the other hand, there is exists a Tradition on the authority of ‘Abd Allah ibn ’Umar to the effect that the Prophet described in those very words the last pilgrimage led by himself in 10 H. and known to history as the Farewell Pilgrimage (Zamakhshari, Razi); one may, therefore, assume that it is this which is alluded to here. If this assumption is correct, it would justify the conclusion that verses 3 and 4 of this surah were revealed during the Farewell Pilgrimage, i.e., shortly before the Prophet’s death. This might explain the – otherwise perplexing – statement, reliably attributed to the Prophet’s Companion Al-Bara’ [Bukhari, Kitab at-Tafsir), that At-Tawbah was the last surah revealed to the Prophet: for, although it is established beyond any doubt that the surah as a whole was revealed in 9 H. and was followed by several other parts of the Quran, e.g., Al-Maidah, it is possible tht what Al-Bara had in mind were only these two key-verses (3 and 4) of At-Tawbah, which conceivably were revealed during the Farewell Pilgrimage.

Asad’s note 6 –According to a pre-Islamic custom prevalent in Arabia, the months of Muharam, Rajab, Dhul-Qadah and Dhul-Hijjah were considered “sacred” in the sense that all tribal warfare had to cease during those months. It was with a view to preserving these periods of truce and thus to promoting peace among the frequently warring tribes that the Quran did not revoke, but rather confirmed, this ancient custom. See also 2:194 and 217.]]

[[ Ruby’s note 9:5 – The confirmation and validation of this pre-Islamic custom also conveys two important points: a custom if it does not violate fundamental tenets of Islam that custom can be uphold and incorporated into the lives of Muslims. This was the directive towards the Muslim conquerors of other lands that they be respectful about the traditions and custom of those lands and assimilate into their own lives as well if those are not against the Islamic principles. Here the Quran is upholding the tradition of old days in a very important way. This is an extremely important injunction to note for Muslims because they have been scattered all over the world and there were many dissentions and unnecessary conflicts and struggles created because of failing to understand this spirit of Islam. The idea is that if an idea or custom of a non-Muslim group of nation is good it should be well-received, validated and incorporated by Muslim communities as well. A good idea contributes towards peace, justice and welfare in a society, therefore all good and believing people should remain open to good ideas and readily incorporate the ideas on the basis of their merit irrespective of where they come from –Muslim or non-Muslim communities. Because the highest allegiance is to God and His moral law and not to any culture, lifestyle of even a group to whom one seems to belong. ]]