Qur'aanic Studies - Volume XIX
by
Mohammad Shafi
PREFACE
Below the Arabic text of every Verse of the Qur'aan, is its transliteration, followed by translation and Chapter Notes, if any, essentially based on the Qur'aan itself. Please remember that the Arabic text is divine and, therefore, sacrosanct, but the transliteration, translation and the Notes are human and, therefore, subject to correction. Please also remember that the human-made Notes cannot, and do not, explain the divine Verses. They seek to explain the human translation only and/or to relate the Verse to present circumstances or to divine explanations given in other Verses of the Qur'aan.
I have adopted the transliteration method employed by the Muslim Students' Association (MSA) of the University of Southern California. And, in this regard, I may usefully quote from their site:
"MSA-USC would like to thank muslimnet.net for making their transliteration of the Qur'an publicly available.
'We would like to emphasize that this [transliteration] text is not a substitute for the original Arabic Qur'an. It is only an attempt to help those who are trying to learn to read the Arabic text, since it is as close to the written text as possible.
It is important to practice pronouncing the letters as directed in the transliteration table, especially the underlined letters, before starting to read. It will be helpful if an Arabic speaker can help you.
This work is free for use to everyone as long as no changes that might distort it are done to it. We request from those who benefit from it to pray for us. We pray to Almighty Allah to help you learn to read the Holy Qur'an, and to do every good thing.'"
I present this humble work in the earnest hope that it will prompt my Readers to try and understand the divine Message in its original Arabic text. They should remember that no translation however meticulously done can ever equal the original Arabic text in its divine grandeur and pristine clarity.
One may wonder why this yet another addition to the existing plethora of Translations and Commentaries! The answer to this question lies in the beauty of the fact that the divine Message of the Qur'aan remains valid for all times and ages since its revelation until the Last Day. The Message therefore needs to be studied from time to time in the changing perspectives of the changing times. It would be absolutely wrong to confine this universal Message for mankind to the circumstances and situations of a particular period in the past. Unfortunately, however, most of the commentators so far have based their understanding of the Qur'aan in the strict perspective of the circumstances and situations prevailing at the time of its revelation way back in 7th century A.D. The Muslim mindset generally has thus got stagnated and therefore unable to cope with the changing situations of the changing times. This humble attempt of mine is to help Muslims generally to come out, Allah willing, of that crippling stagnation.
This Volume of my Qur'aanic Studies is on Al-Anfal Verses 41 to 75 and At-Taubah Verses 1 to 33.
Mohammad Shafi
Mumbai, INDIA,
13th February, 2009
سورة الأنفال
Chapter 8: Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War)
41. WaiAAlamoo annama ghanimtum min shay-in faanna lillahi khumusahu walilrrasooli walithee alqurba waalyatama waalmasakeeni waibni alssabeeli in kuntum amantum biAllahi wama anzalna AAala AAabdina yawma alfurqani yawma iltaqa aljamAAani waAllahu AAala kulli shay-in qadeerun
41. And know that whatever booty you get, a fifth of it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for those near and dear, the orphans, the needy and the wayfarer, if you do believe in Allah and in that which We bestowed upon Our Slave on the day right was distinguished from wrong, the day on which the two armies met.22 And Allah has power over all things.
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22. This refers to the war with the non-believers described in Verses 5 to 19 of this Qur’aanic Chapter. While in Verse 1, the general rule for the disposal of the spoils of war is laid down, in this Verse, 4/5th of the spoils is apparently distributed among those believers, who actively faught in the battle, as reward for their bravery. ‘Our Slave’ here obviously refers to the Prophet (peace be upon him). He is referred to here, as in many other places in the Qur’aan, as a Slave because he obeyed every divine order. It is the duty of every slave to obey every order of his master. In that sense, the Prophet was the most obedient slave of the Almighty Creator. Believers have to aspire to attain his level of absolute obedience to Allah. Human life in this world is nothing but a divine test to see whether this is done or not. ===========================================================================
42. I th antum bi alAAudwati a ldduny a wahum bi alAAudwati alqu sw a wa alrrakbu asfala minkum walaw taw aAAadtum la ikhtalaftum fee almeeAA adi wal akin liyaq diya All ahu amran k ana mafAAoolan liyahlika man halaka AAan bayyinatin waya hy a man hayya AAan bayyinatin wa-inna All aha lasameeAAun AAaleem un
42. The scenario was that you were on the nearer side, and they on the farther side, and the caravan was in the valley down below you. And even if you had planned to attack the caravan, you would certainly have missed the target, so that Allah might accomplish a matter which was to be accomplished - that he would manifestly perish that He wished to perish, and he would manifestly keep alive that He wished to keep alive.23 And indeed Allah listens, knows.
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23. Please see Verse 8.7 and the study note 8 thereunder. ============================================================================
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43. I th yureekahumu All ahu fee man amika qaleelan walaw ar akahum katheeran lafashiltum walatan azaAAtum fee al-amri wal akinna All aha sallama innahu AAaleemun bi thati a lssudoor i
43. Then Allah showed them to you in your dream as few. And if He had shown them to you as many, you would certainly have lost courage and you would have quarrelled over the matter. But Allah acted to set things right. He is indeed aware of what goes on in your minds. =================================================
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44. Wa-i th yureekumoohum i thi iltaqaytum fee aAAyunikum qaleelan wayuqallilukum fee aAAyunihim liyaq diya All ahu amran k ana mafAAoolan wa-il a All ahi turjaAAu al-omoor u
44. And then He showed them to you, when you met, as few in your eyes and He made you to appear few in their eyes, in order that Allah brought a matter, which was to be done, to fruition. And to Allah are all matters returned. =================================================
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45. Y a ayyuh a alla theena amanoo i tha laqeetum fi-atan fa othbutoo wa othkuroo All aha katheeran laAAallakum tufli hoon a
45. O you who believe! When you face an enemy in battle, be firm, and remember Allah a great deal, so that you may be successful. =================================================
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46. Waa teeAAoo All aha warasoolahu wal a tan azaAAoo fatafshaloo wata thhaba ree hukum wa isbiroo inna All aha maAAa a lssabireen a
46. And obey Allah and His Messenger and do not quarrel; for, then, you will lose courage and your power will go away. And be patient! Indeed, Allah is with those who are patient. =================================================
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47. Wal a takoonoo ka alla theena kharajoo min diy arihim ba taran wari- aa a lnn asi waya suddoona AAan sabeeli All ahi wa All ahu bim a yaAAmaloona mu hee tun
47. And be not like those who came out of their homes boasting and showing off, and who turned people away frpm the Path of Allah. And Allah surrounded all that they did. =================================================
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48. Wa-i th zayyana lahumu a lshshay tanu aAAm alahum waq ala l a gh aliba lakumu alyawma mina a lnn asi wa-innee j arun lakum falamm a tar aati alfi-at ani naka sa AAal a AAaqibayhi waq ala innee baree-on minkum innee ar a m a l a tarawna innee akh afu All aha wa All ahu shadeedu alAAiq ab i
48. And then the Satan made their deeds fair seeming to them, and said, “No man can overcome you this day, and indeed I am your supporter.” But when the two armies confronted each other, he turned his back and said, “I do indeed bear no responsibility for you. I do indeed see what you do not see24. I do indeed fear Allah. And Allah is severe in giving punishment!”
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24. Angels. ============================================================================
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49. I th yaqoolu almun afiqoona wa alla theena fee quloobihim mara dun gharra h aol a-i deenuhum waman yatawakkal AAal a All ahi fa-inna All aha AAazeezun hakeem un
49. The hypocrites and those in whose hearts was a disease said, “Their religion has deceived them.” And when anyone places his trust on Allah, then indeed Allah is Mighty, Wise. =================================================
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50. Walaw tar a i th yatawaff a alla theena kafaroo almal a-ikatu ya driboona wujoohahum waadb arahum wa thooqoo AAa thaba al hareeq i
50. And if you could see the angels causing those who suppress the Truth to die, you would see them (angels) smiting their faces and their backs, and saying, “Taste the torment of the Fire!” =================================================
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51. Thalika bim a qaddamat aydeekum waanna All aha laysa bi thall amin lilAAabeed i
51. This is for what your own hands have sent in before. And Allah is not in the least unjust to those whom He created and who ought therefore to obey Him.
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52. Kada/bi ali firAAawna wa alla theena min qablihim kafaroo bi- ay ati All ahi faakha thahumu All ahu bi thunoobihim inna All aha qawiyyun shadeedu alAAiq ab i
52. Like Pharaoh’s people and those before them: they suppressed the Truth in Allah's Verses/signs, and then Allah seized them for their sins. Allah is indeed strong, severe in punishment. =================================================
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53. Thalika bi-anna All aha lam yaku mughayyiran niAAmatan anAAamah a AAal a qawmin hatt a yughayyiroo m a bi-anfusihim waanna All aha sameeAAun AAaleem un
53. That was because Allah has never changed a favour which He has conferred upon a people until they themselves become responsible for any change in it. And because Allah listens, knows.25
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25. We are witness today to the Truth contained in this Verse. Soon after the revelation of the Qur’aan, the Muslims had climbed to the pinnacle of glory because they then, by and large, adhered to the Qur’aanic tenets. But, now, they are the lowest of the low among the comity of nations because they now, by and large, treat the Qur’aan as a thing of no real importance! ============================================================================
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54. Kada/bi ali firAAawna wa alla theena min qablihim ka ththaboo bi- ay ati rabbihim faahlakn ahum bi thunoobihim waaghraqn a ala firAAawna wakullun k anoo thalimeen a
54. Like Pharaoh’s people and those before them: they rejected the Verses/signs of their Lord, so We destroyed them on account of their sins and We drowned Pharaoh’s people, and they were all unjust. =================================================
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55. Inna sharra a lddaw abbi AAinda All ahi alla theena kafaroo fahum l a yu/minoon a
55. Indeed, the worst of the moving creatures, in Allah's sight, are those who suppress the Truth. And then they would not believe. =================================================
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56. Alla theena AA ahadta minhum thumma yanqu doona AAahdahum fee kulli marratin wahum l a yattaqoon a
56. Those with whom you had a covenant, and they broke it every time and they did not fear Allah. =================================================
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57. Fa-imm a tathqafannahum fee al harbi fasharrid bihim man khalfahum laAAallahum ya ththakkaroon a
57. And if you overpower them in fighting, deal so harshly with those in front that those in their rear scatter and take heed. =================================================
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58. Wa-imm a takh afanna min qawmin khiy anatan fa inbi th ilayhim AAal a sawa-in inna All aha l a yu hibbu alkh a-ineen a
58. And if you fear treachery on the part of a people, then throw back the covenant to them in an equitable manner. Indeed, Allah does not like the treacherous people. =================================================
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59. Wal a ya hsabanna alla theena kafaroo sabaqoo innahum l a yuAAjizoon a
59. And let not those who suppress the Truth think that they will get away. They will certainly not escape. =================================================
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60. WaaAAiddoo lahum m a ista taAAtum min quwwatin wamin rib ati alkhayli turhiboona bihi AAaduwwa All ahi waAAaduwwakum wa akhareena min doonihim l a taAAlamoonahumu All ahu yaAAlamuhum wam a tunfiqoo min shay-in fee sabeeli All ahi yuwaffa ilaykum waantum l a tu thlamoon a
60. And prepare against them what force and means of transport you can muster, to deter thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them, whom you do not know but Allah knows. And whatever thing you spend in Allah's path, it will be paid back to you in full and you shall not be wronged. =================================================
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61. Wa-in jana hoo li lssalmi fa ijna h lah a watawakkal AAal a All ahi innahu huwa a lssameeAAu alAAaleem u
61. And if they incline towards peace, then incline towards it and trust in Allah. HE does indeed listen, know.
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62. Wa-in yureedoo an yakhdaAAooka fa-inna hasbaka All ahu huwa alla thee ayyadaka bina srihi wabi almu/mineen a
62. And if they intend to deceive you26, then Allah is indeed sufficient for you. He it is Who strengthened you with His help and with the believers.
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26. Since, in the Arabic text, the personal pronoun used is in the singular, the addressee is the Prophet, obviously. ============================================================================
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63. Waallafa bayna quloobihim law anfaqta m a fee al-ar di jameeAAan m a allafta bayna quloobihim wal akinna All aha allafa baynahum innahu AAazeezun hakeem un
63. And He united their hearts. Had you (singular) spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah united them. He is indeed Mighty, Wise. =================================================
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64. Y a ayyuh a a lnnabiyyu hasbuka All ahu wamani ittabaAAaka mina almu/mineen a
64. O Prophet! Allah is sufficient for you and for such of the believers that follow you27.
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27. Refer study notes 3.35 to 3.37 on Verse 3.31 in this context. To follow the Qur’aan is to follow the Prophet now. ============================================================================
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65. Y a ayyuh a a lnnabiyyu harri di almu/mineena AAal a alqit ali in yakun minkum AAishroona sabiroona yaghliboo mi-atayni wa-in yakun minkum mi-atun yaghliboo alfan mina alla theena kafaroo bi-annahum qawmun l a yafqahoon a
65. O Prophet! Exhort the believers to fight. If there be twenty of you exercising patience, they shall overcome two hundred; and if there be a hundred of you, they shall overcome a thousand of those who suppress the Truth, because they (the latter) are a people who do not understand. =================================================
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66. Al- ana khaffafa All ahu AAankum waAAalima anna feekum daAAfan fa-in yakun minkum mi-atun sabiratun yaghliboo mi-atayni wa-in yakun minkum alfun yaghliboo alfayni bi-i thni All ahi wa All ahu maAAa a lssabireen a
66. For now, Allah has made your burden light, and He knows that there is weakness in you. So if there be a hundred of you exercising patience, they shall overcome two hundred; and if there be a thousand, they shall overcome two thousand by Allah's permission. And Allah is with those who are patient. =================================================
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67. M a k ana linabiyyin an yakoona lahu asr a hatt a yuthkhina fee al-ar di tureedoona AAara da a ldduny a wa All ahu yureedu al- akhirata wa All ahu AAazeezun hakeem un
67. It is not fit for a prophet that he should have captives unless he is firmly established on the earth.28 You desire to avail goods of this world, while Allah desires for you the Hereafter. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.
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28. The war that is described in this Qur’aanic Chapter had obviously taken place at the beginning of the Islamic rule, which had yet to take roots. Allah here strongly disapproves of the Prophet allowing his army to take prisoners of war at this stage. The Muslim army took the prisoners probably in the hope of getting ransom money later for their release. Allah Almighty hence chides them, further in this Verse, for being desirous of worldly goods. =============================================================================
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68. Lawl a kit abun mina All ahi sabaqa lamassakum feem a akha thtum AAa thabun AAa theem un
68. Had it not been for an ordinance from Allah already gone forth, surely there would have befallen you a great calamity29 in what you had taken.
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29. The calamity is not specified, but it could be that the prisoners themselves would prove to be potentially dangerous. The nascent Mulim state did not have the necessary infrastructure for taking care of the prisoners. They roamed about in the Muslim society probably as slaves of individual Muslims. They were thus potentially capable of inflicting harm on the Prophet and his companions by way of reprisals. But Allah, in His mercy for the believers, prevented the prisoners from getting any such ideas. =============================================================================
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69. Fakuloo mimm a ghanimtum hal alan tayyiban wa ittaqoo All aha inna All aha ghafoorun ra heem un
69. Eat then of the lawful and good things which you get as windfall or spoils of war. And fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. =================================================
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70. Y a ayyuh a a lnnabiyyu qul liman fee aydeekum mina al-asr a in yaAAlami All ahu fee quloobikum khayran yu/tikum khayran mimm a okhi tha minkum wayaghfir lakum wa All ahu ghafoorun ra heem un
70. O Prophet! Say to those of the captives who are in your hands, “If Allah knows there is anything good in your hearts, He will give you better than that which has been taken away from you and He will forgive you. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” =================================================
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71. Wa-in yureedoo khiy anataka faqad kh anoo All aha min qablu faamkana minhum wa All ahu AAaleemun hakeem un
71. And if they intend to be unfaithful to you, they were indeed unfaithful towards Allah before, so He gave you power over them. And Allah is Aware, Wise. =================================================
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72. Inna alla theena amanoo wah ajaroo waj ahadoo bi-amw alihim waanfusihim fee sabeeli All ahi wa alla theena awaw wana saroo ol a-ika baAA duhum awliy ao baAA din wa alla theena amanoo walam yuh ajiroo m a lakum min wal ayatihim min shay-in hatt a yuh ajiroo wa-ini istan sarookum fee a lddeeni faAAalaykumu a lnna sru ill a AAal a qawmin baynakum wabaynahum meeth aqun wa All ahu bim a taAAmaloona ba seer un
72. Those indeed who believed and migrated and struggled hard in Allah's path with their property and their lives, and those who gave shelter and help - these are awliya29 of one another. And as for those who believed but did not migrate, you have no responsibility of being their wali until they migrate. And if they seek aid from you in matters of religion, aid is obligatory on you except against a people between whom and you there is a treaty. And Allah sees what you do.
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29. This Arabic term is the plural form of wali. Refer study note 2.154 for its comprehensive Qur’aanic meaning. =============================================================================
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73. Wa alla theena kafaroo baAA duhum awliy ao baAA din ill a tafAAaloohu takun fitnatun fee al-ar di wafas adun kabeer un
73. And as for those who suppress the Truth, they are the awliya of one another. If you do it not30, there will be disorder on earth and great discord.
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30. In other words, ‘if the believers fail to be awliya of one another …’ In this Verse, there is a clear divine warning that if the believers of the world do not unite, there will be disorder and discord on this earth, as presently is the case. =============================================================================
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74. Wa alla theena amanoo wah ajaroo waj ahadoo fee sabeeli All ahi wa alla theena awaw wana saroo ol a-ika humu almu/minoona haqqan lahum maghfiratun warizqun kareem un
74. And as for those who believed and migrated and struggled hard in Allah's path, and those who gave shelter and help, those are the true believers. They shall have forgiveness and honourable provision. =================================================
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75. Waallatheena amanoo min baAAdu wahajaroo wajahadoo maAAakum faola-ika minkum waoloo al-arhami baAAduhum awla bibaAAdin fee kitabi Allahi inna Allaha bikulli shay-in AAaleemun
75. And as for those who believed afterwards and migrated and struggled hard along with you, they are of you. And blood relatives are nearer to one another in Allah’s Record. Allah does indeed know all things.
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سورة التوبة
Chapter 9: At-Taubah (The Repentance)1
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1. It is one of the mysteries of the Qur’aan that, unlike all other Chapters, this one does not begin with the customary invocation in the Name of Allah. And in terms of Verse 3.7, the believers have to accept it, without questioning, as from Allah. =============================================================================
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1. Bar aatun mina All ahi warasoolihi il a alla theena AA ahadtum mina almushrikeen a
1. Abrogation, by Allah and His Messenger, of any treaty you made with any polytheists.2
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2. In Verse 8.58, the believers were instructed to throw back to the polytheists the covenant made with them in an equitable manner in case of treachery on the latters’ part. The abrogation here ought to have therefore been a sequel to treacherous acts on the part of the non-believers. =============================================================================
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2. Fasee hoo fee al-ar di arbaAAata ashhurin wa iAAlamoo annakum ghayru muAAjizee All ahi waanna All aha mukhzee alk afireen a
2. So travel freely on earth for four months and know that you cannot frustrate Allah and that Allah will bring disgrace to those who suppress the Truth. =================================================
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3. Waa thanun mina All ahi warasoolihi il a a lnn asi yawma al hajji al-akbari anna All aha baree-on mina almushrikeena warasooluhu fa-in tubtum fahuwa khayrun lakum wa-in tawallaytum fa iAAlamoo annakum ghayru muAAjizee All ahi wabashshiri alla theena kafaroo biAAa thabin aleem in
3. And a proclamation from Allah and His Messenger to the people on the day of the great pilgrimage3 that Allah and His Messenger are free from any contractual obligations to the idolaters. If you then repent, it will be better for you, and if you turn away, then know that you cannot frustrate Allah. And pronounce painful punishment to those who suppress the Truth!
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3. The Hajj rites are performed for several days starting from 8th of Dhul-Hijja, the 10th of the lunar month being considered the main day. It is this 10th day that may have been referred to here as the day of the great pilgrimage. But there is a controversy on this point. The controversy, however, is of no significance for the Muslims now. It is immaterial for us now to know the exact day when the proclamation was made over 1400 years back. =============================================================================
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4. Ill a alla theena AA ahadtum mina almushrikeena thumma lam yanqu sookum shay-an walam yu thahiroo AAalaykum a hadan faatimmoo ilayhim AAahdahum il a muddatihim inna All aha yu hibbu almuttaqeen a
4. But as for those of the polytheists with whom you have a treaty, then they have not failed you in anything and have not backed up any one against you, fulfill their treaty to the end of its term. Indeed, Allah loves those who fear Him and do righteous things. =================================================
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5. Fa-i tha insalakha al-ashhuru al hurumu fa oqtuloo almushrikeena haythu wajadtumoohum wakhu thoohum wa ohsuroohum wa oqAAudoo lahum kulla mar sadin fa-in t aboo waaq amoo a lssal ata wa atawoo a lzzak ata fakhalloo sabeelahum inna All aha ghafoorun ra heem un
5. Then when the prohibited months4 pass away, kill the idolaters wherever you find them, seize and besiege them and lie in wait for them at every place for ambush.5 Then if they repent, establish proper prayer and give charity, leave their way free to them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
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4. The 4 months mentioned in Verse 2 above.
5. This should not be misconstrued as an open divine order for perpetrating a pogrom of ethnic cleansing. This order should be read in its proper context. And the context is that the believers at Medina had entered into a series of no-war treaties with non-believers around them. When these treaties were repeatedly broken by the non-believers, they were given a 4-month notice before declaration of a state of war with them. The divine order here was given in that state of war. This order has to be read with the order in Verse 6 below. For the background scenario, see Verses 8.58 & 9.1 to 9.4.
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6. Wa-in a hadun mina almushrikeena istaj araka faajirhu hatt a yasmaAAa kal ama All ahi thumma ablighhu ma/manahu thalika bi-annahum qawmun l a yaAAlamoon a
6. And if any of the idolaters seeks protection from you, grant him protection till he hears Allah’s Word, then take him to his place of safety. It is so ordained because they are a people who do not know. =================================================
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7. Kayfa yakoonu lilmushrikeena AAahdun AAinda All ahi waAAinda rasoolihi ill a alla theena AA ahadtum AAinda almasjidi al har ami fam a istaq amoo lakum fa istaqeemoo lahum inna All aha yu hibbu almuttaqeen a
7. How can there be a treaty for the polytheists with Allah and with His Messenger except for those with whom you made a treaty at the Sacred Place of Worship?6 Then, as long as they are true to you, be true to them. Allah does indeed love those who fear Him and do righteous deeds.
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6. From what follows in this Verse, it becomes clear that, except for a few, the idolators generally did not deserve a treaty of peace being made with them, because of their past history of repeated breach of trust on their part. Verse 8 and several subsequent Verses below further explain this point and give the raison d’etre in details for the declaration of war with the idolators. =============================================================================
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8. Kayfa wa-in ya thharoo AAalaykum l a yarquboo feekum illan wal a thimmatan yur doonakum bi-afw ahihim wata/b a quloobuhum waaktharuhum f asiqoon a
8. How? And if they prevail against you, they would not heed ties of relationship with you, or those of a covenant. They please you with their mouths while their hearts are averse. And most of them are corrupt. =================================================
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9. Ishtaraw bi- ay ati All ahi thamanan qaleelan fa saddoo AAan sabeelihi innahum s aa m a k anoo yaAAmaloon a
9. They have traded Allah’s Verses/signs for a small price and then they turn people away from His Path. What they do is certainly bad. =================================================
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10. L a yarquboona fee mu/minin illan wal a thimmatan waol a-ika humu almuAAtadoon a
10. They do not heed ties of relationship with a believer, or those of a covenant. And these are the hostile ones. =================================================
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11. Fa-in t aboo waaq amoo a lssal ata wa atawoo a lzzak ata fa-ikhw anukum fee a lddeeni wanufa ssilu al- ay ati liqawmin yaAAlamoon a
11. Then if they repent, establish proper prayer and give charity, they are your brethren in faith. And We make the Verses/signs clear for people that are knowledgeable. =================================================
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12. Wa-in nakathoo aym anahum min baAAdi AAahdihim wa taAAanoo fee deenikum faq atiloo a-immata alkufri innahum l a aym ana lahum laAAallahum yantahoon a
12. And if they break their terms after their covenant and taunt your religion, then fight the leading lights of the suppression of Truth - the terms are nothing to them, indeed - so that they may desist. =================================================
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13. Al a tuq atiloona qawman nakathoo aym anahum wahammoo bi-ikhr aji a lrrasooli wahum badaookum awwala marratin atakhshawnahum fa All ahu a haqqu an takhshawhu in kuntum mu/mineen a
13. Will you not fight a people, who broke their terms of agreement and tried hard for expulsion of the Messenger and attacked you first!? Are you afraid of them? But Allah it is Who has the right to be afraid of, if you do believe! =================================================
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14. Q atiloohum yuAAa ththibhumu All ahu bi-aydeekum wayukhzihim wayan surkum AAalayhim wayashfi sudoora qawmin mu/mineen a
14. Fight them! Allah will punish them by your hands, bring them to disgrace and assist you against them. And He will heal the hearts of a believing people. =================================================
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15. Wayu thhib ghay tha quloobihim wayatoobu All ahu AAal a man yash ao wa All ahu AAaleemun hakeem un
15. And remove the anguish of their hearts. And Allah grants pardon on whom He wills. And Allah is Knowledgeable, Wise. =================================================
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16. Am hasibtum an tutrakoo walamm a yaAAlami All ahu alla theena j ahadoo minkum walam yattakhi thoo min dooni All ahi wal a rasoolihi wal a almu/mineena waleejatan wa All ahu khabeerun bim a taAAmaloon a
16. Do you think that you will be spared before Allah has known those of you who have struggled hard in Allah’s Path and have not taken any one as an intimate friend besides Allah, His Messenger and the believers? And Allah is aware of what you do. =================================================
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17. M a k ana lilmushrikeena an yaAAmuroo mas ajida All ahi sh ahideena AAal a anfusihim bi alkufri ol a-ika habi tat aAAm aluhum wafee a lnn ari hum kh alidoon a
17. The idolaters cannot be maintainers of the places for worshipping Allah while bearing witness against themselves to suppression of the Truth. These it is who have nullified their deeds, and in the Fire shall they abide. =================================================
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18. Innam a yaAAmuru mas ajida All ahi man amana bi All ahi wa alyawmi al- akhiri waaq ama a lssal ata wa at a a lzzak ata walam yakhsha ill a All aha faAAas a ol a-ika an yakoonoo mina almuhtadeen a
18. Only he shall visit and maintain the places for worshipping Allah who believes in Allah and the Last Day, establish proper prayer, gives charity and fears none but Allah. These it is who may be among those on right guidance. =================================================
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19. AjaAAaltum siq ayata al hajji waAAim arata almasjidi al har ami kaman amana bi All ahi wa alyawmi al- akhiri waj ahada fee sabeeli All ahi l a yastawoona AAinda All ahi wa All ahu l a yahdee alqawma a lththalimeen a
19. Do you consider serving drinks to the pilgrims and maintaining the Sacred Place of Worship like the deed of one who believes in Allah and the Last Day and strives hard in Allah's Path? They are not equal in Allah’s sight. And Allah does not guide the people who do wrong. =================================================
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20. Alla theena amanoo wah ajaroo waj ahadoo fee sabeeli All ahi bi-amw alihim waanfusihim aAA thamu darajatan AAinda All ahi waol a-ika humu alf a-izoon a
20. Those that believed and migrated, and strove hard in Allah's Path with their wealth and their lives, are higher in rank in Allah’s sight. And those are the achievers. =================================================
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21. Yubashshiruhum rabbuhum bira hmatin minhu wari dw anin wajann atin lahum feeh a naAAeemun muqeem un
21. Their Lord gives them good news of His mercy and pleasure and of gardens wherein there are everlasting blessings for them. =================================================
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22. Kh alideena feeh a abadan inna All aha AAindahu ajrun AAa theem un
22. They shall live therein for ever. Indeed, Allah has a mighty reward with Him. =================================================
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23. Y a ayyuh a alla theena amanoo l a tattakhi thoo ab aakum wa-ikhw anakum awliy aa ini ista habboo alkufra AAal a al-eem ani waman yatawallahum minkum faol a-ika humu a lththalimoon a
23. O you who believe! Do not take your fathers and your brothers as awliya7 if they love suppression of the Truth more than faith in the Truth. And those of you who take them as awliya, those it is that do wrong.
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7. Refer study note 2.154 for a comprehensive Qur’aanic meaning of the Arabic term. =============================================================================
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24. Qul in k ana ab aokum waabn aokum wa-ikhw anukum waazw ajukum waAAasheeratukum waamw alun iqtaraftumooh a watij aratun takhshawna kas adah a wamas akinu tar dawnah a a habba ilaykum mina All ahi warasoolihi wajih adin fee sabeelihi fatarabba soo hatt a ya/tiya All ahu bi-amrihi wa All ahu l a yahdee alqawma alf asiqeen a
24. Say, “If your fathers and your sons and your brethren and your mates and your kinsfolk and property which you have acquired, and the trade, slackness of which you fear, and dwellings which you like, are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His Path, then wait till Allah manifests His command. And Allah does not guide the corrupt people.” =================================================
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25. Laqad na sarakumu All ahu fee maw atina katheeratin wayawma hunaynin i th aAAjabatkum kathratukum falam tughni AAankum shay-an wa daqat AAalaykumu al-ar du bim a ra hubat thumma wallaytum mudbireen a
25. Certainly Allah helped you in many battlefields and on the day of Hunain8, when your great numbers pleased you, but they availed you nothing and the earth, vast as it is, narrowed upon you. Then you turned back retreating.
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8. The battle of Hunain was faught after the conquest of Mecca. =============================================================================
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26. Thumma anzala All ahu sakeenatahu AAal a rasoolihi waAAal a almu/mineena waanzala junoodan lam tarawh a waAAa ththaba alla theena kafaroo wa thalika jaz ao alk afireen a
26. Then Allah caused His Messenger and the believers to be calm and sent down forces you did not see and punished those who suppressed the Truth. And that is the recompense for the suppressors of the Truth! =================================================
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27. Thumma yatoobu All ahu min baAAdi thalika AAal a man yash ao wa All ahu ghafoorun ra heem un
27. Then, after that, Allah pardons whom He wills. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. =================================================
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28. Y a ayyuh a alla theena amanoo innam a almushrikoona najasun fal a yaqraboo almasjida al har ama baAAda AA amihim h atha wa-in khiftum AAaylatan fasawfa yughneekumu All ahu min fa dlihi in sh aa inna All aha AAaleemun hakeem un
28. O you who believe! The polytheists are nothing but pollution9. So they shall not approach the Sacred Place of Worship10 after this year. And if you fear poverty then Allah will enrich you out of His grace if He wills.11 Indeed, Allah is Knowledgeable, Wise.
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9. This is a strong but appropriate divine condemnation of all those who worship anyone other than Allah (or any other appropriate name He is called by), the Sole Creator of the entire universe and everything therein. Everything in the universe points to a Single Authority administering the entire show. This Single Authority, and none else, deserves to be worshipped; for, if someone else is worshipped, then that someone else could only be a created being, and it would be preposterous to worship a created being as one would worship the Creator! Such a worship of anyone other than the Creator would not only be an act of utter injustice, but it would be tentamount to perpetration of falsehood. It would be an anachronism in the True Creator’s creation. It would be nothing but pollution. It could not but pollute the human society created by that Sole Creator.
10. The Kaabah at Mecca.
11. The Kaabah was held in veneration by the Arab people even before Islam. In fact, it was a source of pecuniary benefits to Meccans from visitors from all over the Arabian Peninsula. Now if non-believers, who still constituted a great number among the Arab people, were to be banned entry to the Kaabah, it would be a financial loss to the Meccans. It is this fear that is alluded to here. And Allah promises the Meccans to enrich them by His grace. We are all witness now to the fulfillment of this divine promise and prophecy. The Arab country is not only flush with petro-money, but the Kaabah is visited now, all the year round, by millions of people from all over the world.
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29. Q atiloo alla theena l a yu/minoona bi All ahi wal a bi alyawmi al- akhiri wal a yu harrimoona m a harrama All ahu warasooluhu wal a yadeenoona deena al haqqi mina alla theena ootoo alkit aba hatt a yuAA too aljizyata AAan yadin wahum saghiroon a
29. Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, and fight those people of the Book, who do not follow the Religion of the Truth, until they willingly pay tax as subjects. =================================================
30. Waq alati alyahoodu AAuzayrun ibnu All ahi waq alati a lnna sar a almasee hu ibnu All ahi thalika qawluhum bi-afw ahihim yu dahi-oona qawla alla theena kafaroo min qablu q atalahumu All ahu ann a yu/fakoon a
30. And the Jews say, “Uzayr12 is the son of Allah.” And the Christians say, “The Messiah is the son of Allah.” These are their oral sayings. They imitate the saying of those who suppressed the Truth before. May Allah destroy them; how deluded are they!
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12. This Arabic name is ascribed to Ezra, who had led some Jews back to Jerusalem from their Babylonian exile. But since there is no Jewish scripture available now, which mentions Ezra as ‘son of God’, Uzayr may be someone whom only the Jews living in Arabia during the time of revelation of the Qur’aan called ‘son of God’. Ezra too is held by the Jews in such a high veneration that everything he said was considered sacrosanct, and, in that sense, he was elevated to the status of a lord besides Allah, and such elevation is condemned in the next Verse. =============================================================================
31. Ittakha thoo a hb arahum waruhb anahum arb aban min dooni All ahi wa almasee ha ibna maryama wam a omiroo ill a liyaAAbudoo il ahan w ahidan l a il aha ill a huwa sub hanahu AAamm a yushrikoon a
31. They have taken their rabbis and their priests and the Messiah, son of Mary, for lords besides Allah. And they were not enjoined but that they have none but One Allah to worship. There is no god but He. HE is too high in glory, above what they worship besides Him. =================================================
32. Yureedoona an yu tfi-oo noora All ahi bi-afw ahihim waya/b a All ahu ill a an yutimma noorahu walaw kariha alk afiroon a
32. They wish to put out Allah’s light with their mouths, and Allah refuses to consent to anything but to perfect His light13, even though the suppressors of the Truth are averse.
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13. This Verse is another divine reiteration that Allah’s light is perfected. HIS will cannot but be fulfilled. And what is Allah’s light? A light is something with which we are able to see our way in doing various things. And in the context here, Allah’s light is His guidance for man to lead his life correctly so as to attain salvation. This divine guidance, as this Verse reiterates, is bound to be perfected. The Qur’aan, no doubt, is the divine guidance and it is perfected by virtue of Verse 5.3. Now, despite Allah Almighty giving us this perfect Qur’aan, Muslims in this age insist that it is not perfect. They say the ahaadeeth are needed to make it perfect. And the sad part is that even renowned Islamic scholars believe in this. I have heard Dr Zakir Naik say that the Muslims offer their Zuhr and Asr prayers silently in pursuance of instructions in the ahaadeeth, despite the fact that the divine instruction in Qur’aanic Verse 17.110 is expressly against such silently offered prayers. It is sad indeed that even with the scholars, the man-influenced and error-prone ahaadeeth supersede the divinely perfected and preserved Qur’aan!! =============================================================================
33. Huwa alla thee arsala rasoolahu bi alhud a wadeeni al haqqi liyu thhirahu AAal a a lddeeni kullihi walaw kariha almushrikoon a
33. HE it is Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion (Way of Life) of the Truth, that He might cause it to prevail over all religions, even though the polytheists are averse.14
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14. In view of this Verse, Islam supersedes all other religions for the entire mankind. =============================================================================
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"... This day, I (God) have pefected your Way of Life for you,
completed my favour upon you,
and have chosen for you Islam as your Way of Life. ..."
[Qur'aan: Chapter 5, Verse 3]
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QSV-XIX
