9. Surah At Tawbah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
الْمُنَافِقُونَ
وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ
بَعْضُهُم مِّن
بَعْضٍ...
9: 67. The Hypocrites, men and women, (have an understanding) with each other:
C1324. Literally, "the Hypocrites... are of each other".
The forms of hypocrisy may vary, but they are all alike, and they understand each other's hypocrisy. They hold together.
...يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمُنكَرِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَقْبِضُونَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ...
they enjoin evil, and forbid what in just, and are close with their hands.
C1325. The English phrase "close-fisted" would cover only a part of the meaning.
The hand is the symbol of power, help, and assistance. This may be financial, or it may be in other ways.
The Hypocrites pretend a great deal, but are of no use or real help to any one.
...نَسُواْ اللّهَ فَنَسِيَهُمْ...
They have forgotten Allah; so He hath forgotten them.
They ignore Allah: and Allah will ignore them.
...إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ ﴿٦٧﴾
Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse.
وَعَدَ الله
الْمُنَافِقِينَ
وَالْمُنَافِقَاتِ
وَالْكُفَّارَ
نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ
خَالِدِينَ
فِيهَا...
9: 68. Allah hath promised the Hypocrites, men and women, and the rejecters of faith, the fire of hell:
therein shall they dwell:
...هِيَ حَسْبُهُمْ...
sufficient is it for them:
...وَلَعَنَهُمُ اللّهُ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّقِيمٌ ﴿٦٨﴾
for them is the curse of Allah, and an enduring punishment,
C1327. "Curse," here as elsewhere, is deprivation of grace and mercy, brought about by the rejection of Allah by the Unbelievers.
Other versions:
9: 67
Asad The hypocrites, both men and women, are all of a kind: they enjoin the doing of what is wrong and forbid the doing of what is right [note 94], and withhold their hands [from doing good]. They are oblivious of God, and so He is oblivious of them. Verily, the hypocrites – it is they, they who are truly iniquitous! [note 95]
Yusuf Ali The Hypocrites men and women (have an understanding) with each other: they enjoin evil and forbid what in just and are close with their hands. They have forgotten Allah; so He hath forgotten them. Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse.
Pickthall The hypocrites, both men and women, proceed one from another. They enjoin the wrong, and they forbid the right, and they withhold their hands (from spending for the cause of Allah). They forget Allah, so He hath forgotten them. Lo! the hypocrites, they are the transgressors.
Transliteration Al muna_fiqu_na wal muna_fiqa_tu ba'duhum mim ba'd(in), ya'muru_na bil munkari wa yanhauna 'anil ma'ru_fi wa yaqbidu_na aidiyahum, nasullaa_ha fa nasiyahum, innal muna_fiqina humul fa_siqu_n(a).
9: 68
Yusuf Ali Allah hath promised the Hypocrites men and women and the rejecters of faith the fire of hell: therein shall they dwell: sufficient is it for them: for them is the curse of Allah and an enduring punishment
Pickthall Allah promiseth the hypocrites, both men and women, and the disbelievers fire of hell for their abode. It will suffice them. Allah curseth them, and theirs is lasting torment.
Transliteration Wa'adalla_hul muna_fiqina wal muna_fiqa_ti wal kuffa_ra na_ra jahannama kha_lidina fiha_, hiya hasbuhum, wa la'anahumulla_h(u), wa lahum 'aza_bum muqim(un).
[[ Asad’s note 94 – I.e., their behavior is – in effect, at least – the exact opposite of that expected of the believers (cf. 3:104, 110 and 114; 9:71 and 112; and 22:41).
note 95 – It is to be borne in mind that this and the following verse refer to the conscious hypocrisy spoken of in the last sentence of the preceding verse, and not to the waverers, whose hypocrisy is an outcome of inner fears and uncertainties.]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 1324 Literally, "the Hypocrites... are of each other". The forms of hypocrisy may vary, but they are all alike, and they understand each other's hypocrisy. They hold together. (9.67)
1325 The English phrase "close-fisted" would cover only a part of the meaning. The hand is the symbol of power, help, and assistance. This may be financial, or it may be in other ways. The Hypocrites pretend a great deal, but are of no use or real help to any one. (9.67)
1326 Cf. vii. 51. and n. 1029. They ignore Allah: and Allah will ignore them. (9.67)
1327 "Curse," here as elsewhere, is deprivation of grace and mercy, brought about by the rejection of Allah by the Unbelievers. (9.68) ]]
9: 69
Yusuf Ali As in the case of those before you: they were mightier than you in power and more flourishing in wealth and children. They had their enjoyment of their portion: and ye have of yours as did those before you; and ye indulge in idle talk as they did. They! their works are fruitless in this world and in the hereafter and they will lose (all spiritual good).
Pickthall Even as those before you were mightier than you in strength, and more affluent than you in wealth and children. They enjoyed their lot awhile, so ye enjoy your lot awhile even as those before you did enjoy their lot awhile. And ye prate even as they prated. Such are they whose works have perished in the world and the Hereafter. Such are they who are the losers.
Transliteration Kallazina min qablikum ka_nu_ asyadda minkum quwwataw wa aksara amwa_law wa aula_da_(n), fastamta'u_ bi khala_qihim fastamta'tum bi khala_qikum kamastamta'al lazina min qalikum bi khala_qihim wa khudtum kallazina kha_du_, ula_'ika habitat a'ma_luhum fid dunya_ wal a_khirah(ti), ula_'ika humul kha_siru_n(a).
9: 70
Yusuf Ali Hath not the story reached them of those before them? The people of Noah and Ad and Thamud; the people of Abraham the men of Madyan and the cities overthrown. To them came their apostles with clear signs. It is not Allah who wrongs them but they wrong their own souls.
Pickthall Hath not the fame of those before them reached them the folk of Noah, Aad, Thamud, the folk of Abraham, the dwellers of Midian and the disasters (which befell them)? Their messengers (from Allah) came unto them with proofs (of Allah's sovereignty). So Allah surely wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves.
Transliteration Alam ya'tihim naba'ul lazina min qablihim qaumi nu_hiw wa 'a_diw wa samu_d(a), wa qaumi ibra_hima wa asha_bi madyana wal mu'tafika_t(i), atathum rusuluhum bil bayyina_t(i), fama_ ka_nalla_hu liyazlimahum wa la_kin ka_nu_ anfusahum yazlimu_n(a).