Qur'aanic Studies - Volume XX

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 At-Taubah Verses 34 to 93.

Mohammad Shafi
Mumbai, INDIA,
5th March, 2009

CONTENTS Chapter 9. At-Taubah Verses 34 to 40 Verses 41 to 50 Verses 51 to 60 Verses 61 to 70 Verses 71 to 80 Verses 81 to 93

سورة التوبة

Chapter 9: At-Taubah (The Repentance)

34. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo inna katheeran mina al-ahbari waalrruhbani laya/kuloona amwala alnnasi bialbatili wayasuddoona AAan sabeeli Allahi waallatheena yaknizoona alththahaba waalfiddata wala yunfiqoonaha fee sabeeli Allahi fabashshirhum biAAathabin aleemin

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34. O you who believe! Indeed, many of the rabbis and the priests eat away people’s property falsely, and turn them away from Allah's Path.¹⁵ And to those, who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend it in Allah's Path, announce a painful punishment,

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15. At the time of the revelation of the Qur’aan, the religious leaders of the Jews and the Christians did this, but now, Muslim religious leaders too do it.

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35. Yawma yuhma AAalayha fee nari jahannama fatukwa biha jibahuhum wajunoobuhum wathuhooruhum hatha ma kanaztum li-anfusikum fathooqoo ma kuntum taknizoona

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35. on the day when it¹⁶ shall be heated hot in the fire of hell, then their foreheads and their sides and their backs shall be branded with it. This is what you hoarded up for yourselves, therefore taste what you hoarded.

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16. I.e., what is hoarded, as this Verse itself explains later.

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36. Inna AAiddata alshshuhoori AAinda Allahi ithna AAashara shahran fee kitabi Allahi yawma khalaqa alssamawati waal-arda minha arbaAAatun hurumun thalika alddeenu alqayyimu fala tathlimoo feehinna anfusakum waqatiloo almushrikeena kaffatan kama yuqatiloonakum kaffatan waiAAlamoo anna Allaha maAAa almuttaqeena

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36. Indeed, since the day when Allah created the heavens and the earth, the number of months recorded with Allah is twelve, of which four are sacred.¹⁷ That is the established way. So, commit no wrong in this regard¹⁸ and fight the polytheists in the same total way as they fight you. And know that Allah is with those who fear Him and do righteous things.

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17. Refer study note 328 on Verse 2.194 in this regard.

18. The Hindus have the system of having additional (13^th) month every few years to make their lunar year synchronise with the solar year. The Arabs too were observing, before the advent of Islam, a similar system primarily in the interest of their trading activities. And they adjusted their sacred months too to suit their worldly purpose, as the next Verse indicates. Allah here prohibits such practices. Had these practices been allowed to continue the fasting and the Hajj months would have remained more or less in the same season and not rotating through different seasons. In this rotation lies Allah’s Mercy in that we wouldn’t always have to face the same climatic extremities during fasting and Hajj pilgrimage.

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37. Innama alnnasee-o ziyadatun fee alkufri yudallu bihi allatheena kafaroo yuhilloonahu AAaman wayuharrimoonahu AAaman liyuwati-oo AAiddata ma harrama Allahu fayuhilloo ma harrama Allahu zuyyina lahum soo-o aAAmalihim waAllahu la yahdee alqawma alkafireena

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37. The intercalation in a calendar is only an addition to the suppression of the Truth, wherewith the suppressors are led astray. They treat a month as non-sacred during one year and make it sacred in another to make up the number of months that Allah has made sacred. Thus do they then violate the sanctity of what Allah has made sacred! The evil of their deeds is made to seem fair to them. And Allah does not guide the people who suppress the Truth.

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38. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo ma lakum itha qeela lakumu infiroo fee sabeeli Allahi iththaqaltum ila al-ardi aradeetum bialhayati alddunya mina al-akhirati fama mataAAu alhayati alddunya fee al-akhirati illa qaleelun

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38. O you who believe! What is the matter with you that when you are asked to set out in Allah's Path, you cling heavily to the earth? Do you prefer this life to the Hereafter when the provisions of this life count for nothing but little in the Hereafter?¹⁹

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19. The Verse itself depicts the circumstances in which it and the Verses that follow were revealed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was to embark on a difficult military expedition. And a number of the men were reluctant to go with him.

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39. Illa tanfiroo yuAAaththibkum AAathaban aleeman wayastabdil qawman ghayrakum wala tadurroohu shay-an waAllahu AAala kulli shay-in qadeerun

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39. If set you out not, He will punish you with a painful punishment and replace you with another people, and you can do Him no harm! And Allah has power over all things.

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40. Illa tansuroohu faqad nasarahu Allahu ith akhrajahu allatheena kafaroo thaniya ithnayni ith huma fee alghari ith yaqoolu lisahibihi la tahzan inna Allaha maAAana faanzala Allahu sakeenatahu AAalayhi waayyadahu bijunoodin lam tarawha wajaAAala kalimata allatheena kafaroo alssufla wakalimatu Allahi hiya alAAulya waAllahu AAazeezun hakeemun

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40. If you help him not, Allah did certainly help him when those who suppressed the Truth expelled him. He was one of the two in the cave when he said to his companion, “Grieve not, Allah is indeed with us.” Then Allah caused him to be calm and peaceful²⁰ and strengthened him with armies you couldn’t see²¹. And He lowered the word of those who suppressed the Truth and raised the word of Allah high²². And Allah is Almighty, Wise.

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20. This refers to the episode when the Prophet and his companion Abu Bakr were hiding in a cave with the murderous Meccans in hot poursuit of him. After reaching Medina safely, the Prophet laid down the foundation of a fledgling Islamic State there.

21. Then, in the first war against the polytheist Meccans at Badr, Allah Almighty had helped the believers with a contingent of angels (Verses 8.9 and 8.10).

22. And, ultimately, polytheistic Mecca was conquered by the believers in a bloodless war. Islam became the dominant force in the entire Arabian Peninsula.

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41. Infiroo khifafan wathiqalan wajahidoo bi-amwalikum waanfusikum fee sabeeli Allahi thalikum khayrun lakum in kuntum taAAlamoona

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41. Set out light and heavy²³, and strive hard in Allah's Path with your property and your persons! This is better for you, if you know.

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23. I.e., with whatever arms are available.

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42. Law kana AAaradan qareeban wasafaran qasidan laittabaAAooka walakin baAAudat AAalayhimu alshshuqqatu wasayahlifoona biAllahi lawi istataAAna lakharajna maAAakum yuhlikoona anfusahum waAllahu yaAAlamu innahum lakathiboona

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42. Had it been a near expedition and a short journey, they would certainly have followed you, but the long journey was too much for them. And they swear by Allah, “If only we could, we would certainly have set out with you.” They are killing their own souls, and Allah knows for certain that they are lying!

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43. AAafa Allahu AAanka lima athinta lahum hatta yatabayyana laka allatheena sadaqoo wataAAlama alkathibeena

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43. May Allah pardon you (the Prophet)! Why did you exempt them before it became clear to you as to who were speaking the truth and you knew who the liars were?

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44. La yasta/thinuka allatheena yu/minoona biAllahi waalyawmi al-akhiri an yujahidoo bi-amwalihim waanfusihim waAllahu AAaleemun bialmuttaqeena

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44. Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day do not ask you to exempt them from exerting themselves in Allah’s Path with their wealth and their persons. And Allah knows those who guard against evil.

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45. Innama yasta/thinuka allatheena la yu/minoona biAllahi waalyawmi al-akhiri wairtabat quloobuhum fahum fee raybihim yataraddadoona

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45. Only those, who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day, ask you for exemption and their hearts are in doubt. And they waver in their doubts.

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46. Walaw aradoo alkhurooja laaAAaddoo lahu AAuddatan walakin kariha Allahu inbiAAathahum fathabbatahum waqeela oqAAudoo maAAa alqaAAideena

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46. And if they had really intended to set out, they would certainly have prepared for it. But Allah did not like them proceeding, so He held them back. And they were told to sit back with those who sit back.

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47. Law kharajoo feekum ma zadookum illa khabalan walaawdaAAoo khilalakum yabghoonakumu alfitnata wafeekum sammaAAoona lahum waAllahu AAaleemun bialththalimeena

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47. Had they been out in your midst, they would have added nothing but corruption in your ranks, and they would certainly have been active seeking dissension amongst you. And among you there are those who would listen to them. And Allah is aware of the wrong-doers.

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48. Laqadi ibtaghawoo alfitnata min qablu waqallaboo laka al-omoora hatta jaa alhaqqu wathahara amru Allahi wahum karihoona

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48. They certainly sought dissension before, and upset matters for you, until the truth came and Allah's commandment prevailed, despite their dislike.

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49. Waminhum man yaqoolu i/than lee wala taftinnee ala fee alfitnati saqatoo wa-inna jahannama lamuheetatun bialkafireena

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49. And among them, one says, “Allow me and try me not.” Have they not already failed in the trial? And Hell does indeed encompass those who suppress the Truth!

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50. In tusibka hasanatun tasu/hum wa-in tusibka museebatun yaqooloo qad akhathna amrana min qablu wayatawallaw wahum farihoona

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50. If anything good comes your way, it grieves them. And if hardship afflicts you, they say, “Certainly, it was to our good that we had taken our affairs into our own hands beforehand.” And they turn back happy.

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51. Qul lan yuseebana illa ma kataba Allahu lana huwa mawlana waAAala Allahi falyatawakkali almu/minoona

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51. Say, “Nothing afflicts us save what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Patron.” And on Allah let the believers then rely.

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52. Qul hal tarabbasoona bina illa ihda alhusnayayni wanahnu natarabbasu bikum an yuseebakumu Allahu biAAathabin min AAindihi aw bi-aydeena fatarabbasoo inna maAAakum mutarabbisoona

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52. Say, “Do you wait for anything but one of two good things²⁴ to happen to us? And we wait for you punishment from Allah Himself or by our hands. So wait; we too will wait with you.

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24. Victory or martyrdom.

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53. Qul anfiqoo tawAAan aw karhan lan yutaqabbala minkum innakum kuntum qawman fasiqeena

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53. Say, “Whether you make the contribution willingly or unwillingly, it shall not be accepted from you. Indeed, you are a people working against Allah’s commandments.”²⁵

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25. Allah’s commandment was to obey the Prophet and willingly follow him in the expedition he was undertaking. The rigours of the expedition were a test for the belief of the people. And some of them failed in that test when they sought exemptions under one pretext or the other (refer Verses above). Such people would come forth with some material contribution, in lieu of personal participation. It was such contribution which was rejected in this Verse.

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54. Wama manaAAahum an tuqbala minhum nafaqatuhum illa annahum kafaroo biAllahi wabirasoolihi wala ya/toona alssalata illa wahum kusala wala yunfiqoona illa wahum karihoona

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54. And nothing prevents their contributions being accepted from them, except that they disbelieve in Allah and in His Messenger. And they do not come to prayer but sluggishly, and they do not contribute but unwillingly.²⁶

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26. The people described here were, of course, those living during the lifetime of the Prophet. But aren’t exactly the same types of persons living now, in this age, as Muslims? There indeed are! They are there in very great numbers, and, perhaps, they constitute the majority, unfortunately, among the Muslims in the world today. Allah Almighty is aware of this, and He has relegated them to a humiliating position in the affairs of this world. They count for nothing. Even a small state like Israel can oppress them with impunity. This state of affairs is a divine warning to them (Muslims) to mend their ways and revert to complete submission to Allah’s commands as given in the Qur’aan. But are the Muslims taking the warning seriously?

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55. Fala tuAAjibka amwaluhum wala awladuhum innama yureedu Allahu liyuAAaththibahum biha fee alhayati alddunya watazhaqa anfusuhum wahum kafiroona

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55. Let not their wealth and their children then impress you. Allah only wishes to punish them with these, in this life, and to cause their souls to depart while they suppress the Truth.

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56. Wayahlifoona biAllahi innahum laminkum wama hum minkum walakinnahum qawmun yafraqoona

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56. And they swear by Allah that they are indeed of you. And they are not of you, but they are a people who dread²⁷.

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27. The hypocrites fear is born of their uncertainty. They do not have a staunch belief in Allah and His Messenger, but are afraid to say so openly.

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57. Law yajidoona maljaan aw magharatin aw muddakhalan lawallaw ilayhi wahum yajmahoona

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57. If they could find a refuge or caves or a place to go to, they would certainly have turned thereto, running away in all haste.

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58. Waminhum man yalmizuka fee alssadaqati fa-in oAAtoo minha radoo wa-in lam yuAAtaw minha itha hum yaskhatoona

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58. And of them there are those who blame you for misuse of the welfare funds²⁸. If they are given anything from it they are pleased. And if they are not given anything from it, they are indignant.

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28. The Arabic word used is sadaqaat. Translators have rendered its meaning to be the same as of zakaat, viz, alms or charities. Zakaat has been defined in Verse 30.39 as something given away seeking only the pleasure of Allah. Zakaat therefore constitutes a voluntary deed. Sadaqaaqt, on the other hand, is a Fund collected through mandatory cuts from individual persons’ incomes. It is collected, in the manner of a tax levied by modern governments, for welfare measures to be undertaken by the State. This is apparent from Verse 9.60 below. ‘Welfare Funds’ would therefore be a better translastion for sadaqaat.

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59. Walaw annahum radoo ma atahumu Allahu warasooluhu waqaloo hasbuna Allahu sayu/teena Allahu min fadlihi warasooluhu inna ila Allahi raghiboona

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59. And if only they were content with what Allah and His Messenger gave them! And had they only said, “Allah is sufficient for us. Allah and His Messenger will give us out of His grace. To Allah indeed do we turn in hope and humility!”

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60. Innama alssadaqatu lilfuqara-i waalmasakeeni waalAAamileena AAalayha waalmu-allafati quloobuhum wafee alrriqabi waalgharimeena wafee sabeeli Allahi waibni alssabeeli fareedatan mina Allahi waAllahu AAaleemun hakeemun

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60. The Sadaqaat²⁹ are to be spent only for the poor, the needy, the administrators over them, whose hearts are to be reconciled³⁰, the captives, those in debts, in the way of Allah and for the wayfarer. It’s a mandatory ordinance from Allah. And Allah is Knowledgeable, Wise.

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29. See study note 28 above.

30. This category of beneficiaries indicates that the administrators of the Islamic Welfare Fund can use part of the Fund in propagation of Islam.

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61. Waminhumu allatheena yu/thoona alnnabiyya wayaqooloona huwa othunun qul othunu khayrin lakum yu/minu biAllahi wayu/minu lilmu/mineena warahmatun lillatheena amanoo minkum waallatheena yu/thoona rasoola Allahi lahum AAathabun aleemun

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61. And, of them, there are those who hurt the Prophet and say, “He is all ears³¹.” Say, “A hearer of good for you, who believes in Allah and believes for those who believe and is a mercy for those of you who believe. And for those who hurt the Messenger of Allah, a painful punishment.

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31. I.e., the Prophet believes in whatever he hears.

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62. Yahlifoona biAllahi lakum liyurdookum waAllahu warasooluhu ahaqqu an yurdoohu in kanoo mu/mineena

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62. They swear to you by Allah, so that they might thereby please you! Allah - and His Messenger - has a greater right that they should please Him, if they do believe.

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63. Alam yaAAlamoo annahu man yuhadidi Allaha warasoolahu faanna lahu nara jahannama khalidan feeha thalika alkhizyu alAAatheemu

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63. Do they not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger, he shall surely have the fire of hell to abide in it? That is the horrible misery and disgrace!

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64. Yahtharu almunafiqoona an tunazzala AAalayhim sooratun tunabbi-ohum bima fee quloobihim quli istahzi-oo inna Allaha mukhrijun ma tahtharoona

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64. The hypocrites fear lest a chapter should be sent down to them telling them plainly of what is in their hearts. Say, “Mock³²! Allah will indeed bring out what you fear.”

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32. One may wonder how the hypocrites could be mocking when actually they were seized by fear. Yes, indeed, the hypocrites were in an ambivalent state of mind. They indeed mocked at the believers when they swore by Allah about their belief in Allah and His Messenger being genuine (Verse 62 above). At the same time, they were afraid that their hypocricy might be brought out in the Qur’aan. See also the next Verse 65.

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65. Wala-in saaltahum layaqoolunna innama kunna nakhoodu wanalAAabu qul abiAllahi waayatihi warasoolihi kuntum tastahzi-oona

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65. And if you should question them, they would certainly say, “We were just passing our time with idle talk.” Say, “Was it at Allah and His Verses and His Messenger that you mocked!?”

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66. La taAAtathiroo qad kafartum baAAda eemanikum in naAAfu AAan ta-ifatin minkum nuAAaththib ta-ifatan bi-annahum kanoo mujrimeena

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66. Make no excuses. You have resorted to suppression of the Truth indeed after you had registered your belief. If We do pardon a section of you, We do punish another because they are sinners.

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67. Almunafiqoona waalmunafiqatu baAAduhum min baAAdin ya/muroona bialmunkari wayanhawna AAani almaAAroofi wayaqbidoona aydiyahum nasoo Allaha fanasiyahum inna almunafiqeena humu alfasiqoona

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67. The hypocritical men and the hypocritical women are all alike. They enjoin evil and forbid good and withhold their hands from doing good. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them. Indeed these, the hypocrites, are the rebels³³.

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33. against Allah’s commandments.

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68. WaAAada Allahu almunafiqeena waalmunafiqati waalkuffara nara jahannama khalideena feeha hiya hasbuhum walaAAanahumu Allahu walahum AAathabun muqeemun

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68. Allah has promised to the hypocritical men, the hypocritical women and the suppressors of the Truth, the fire of hell to abide therein. It is enough for them. And Allah has cursed them. And they shall have lasting punishment.

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69. Kaallatheena min qablikum kanoo ashadda minkum quwwatan waakthara amwalan waawladan faistamtaAAoo bikhalaqihim faistamtaAAtum bikhalaqikum kama istamtaAAa allatheena min qablikum bikhalaqihim wakhudtum kaallathee khadoo ola-ika habitat aAAmaluhum fee alddunya waal-akhirati waola-ika humu alkhasiroona

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69. Like those³⁴ before you; they were stronger than you in power and more abundant in wealth and children, and they enjoyed their lot. And you have enjoyed your lot as those before you enjoyed their lot. And you indulged in vain talk like they did. Those it is that lost their deeds in this world and in the other. And these are the ones that are doomed!

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34. Hypocrites and suppressors of the Truth.

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70. Alam ya/tihim nabao allatheena min qablihim qawmi noohin waAAadin wathamooda waqawmi ibraheema waas-habi madyana waalmu/tafikati atat-hum rusuluhum bialbayyinati fama kana Allahu liyathlimahum walakin kanoo anfusahum yathlimoona

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70. Has not the information about those before them come to them - of the people of Noah, Ad and Thamud, the people of Abraham, the dwellers of Madian and the overthrown cities? Their Messengers came to them with clear Messages. And it was not Allah Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.

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71. Waalmu/minoona waalmu/minatu baAAduhum awliyao baAAdin ya/muroona bialmaAAroofi wayanhawna AAani almunkari wayuqeemoona alssalata wayu/toona alzzakata wayuteeAAoona Allaha warasoolahu ola-ika sayarhamuhumu Allahu inna Allaha AAazeezun hakeemun

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71. And the believing men and the believing women have close friendly relations with one another. They enjoin good and forbid evil, establish proper prayers, give charity and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will be merciful to them. Allah is indeed Mighty, Wise.

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72. WaAAada Allahu almu/mineena waalmu/minati jannatin tajree min tahtiha al-anharu khalideena feeha wamasakina tayyibatan fee jannati AAadnin waridwanun mina Allahi akbaru thalika huwa alfawzu alAAatheemu

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72. Allah has promised to the believing men and the believing women gardens, beneath which rivers flow. They will live therein in well-furnished houses built within gardens of perpetual abode. And the best thing there will be Allah being well-pleased with them. That then is the greatest gain.

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73. Ya ayyuha alnnabiyyu jahidi alkuffara waalmunafiqeena waoghluth AAalayhim wama/wahum jahannamu wabi/sa almaseeru

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73. O Prophet! Struggle³⁵ against the suppressors of the Truth and the hypocrites and be severe on them. And their abode is Hell, and it is the worst destination.

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35. The Arabic three-letter root word jahada, with all its grammatical variations, is generally misunderstood to mean killing in the interest of religion. An incident of a bomb exploding in a busy place killing many innocent persons has acquired the misnomer of a jihadi act. Nothing is farther from the truth. The literal meaning of the word is to struggle. There is no struggle involved in the cowardly act of killing innocent unsuspecting persons. Struggle is involved when one resists anyone doing anything wrong. Struggle is involved when one resists the temptation of doing anything wrong for one’s own benefit. Here, Allah Almighty is advising the Prophet - and through him the believers - to resist any attempt by non-believers and hypocrites at doing anything wrong. It should be clearly understood that no action was warranted against non-believers just because of their non-belief. This is clear from Verse 2.256 which categorically states that there is no compulsion in religion. The Prophet here was asked to resist them and the hypocrites only because of their overt and covert acts against the believers.

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74. Yahlifoona biAllahi ma qaloo walaqad qaloo kalimata alkufri wakafaroo baAAda islamihim wahammoo bima lam yanaloo wama naqamoo illa an aghnahumu Allahu warasooluhu min fadlihi fa-in yatooboo yaku khayran lahum wa-in yatawallaw yuAAaththibhumu Allahu AAathaban aleeman fee alddunya waal-akhirati wama lahum fee al-ardi min waliyyin wala naseerin

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74. They swear by Allah that they did not utter, and certainly they did utter, the word signifying suppression of the Truth. And they suppressed the Truth after they had declared their faith in Islam. And they intended to do what they could not. And they avenged not except for this that Allah and His Messenger enriched them out of His grace.³⁶ Now if they repent, it will be good for them. And if they turn back to their evil ways, Allah will punish them with a painful punishment in this world and in the Hereafter. And they shall have none to be close to or to help them on earth.

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36. In Verse 58 above, we are informed that the hypocrites accused the Prophet of misuse of the Welfare Fund. And in Verse 61, we see them accusing him of believing in whatever people told him. These accusations are nothing but words of kufr uttered by them. Their intention in doing so was obviously to turn the other believers against the Prophet and thus to undermine Islam while it was still in its infancy. They were thus trying to cut the very proverbial branch on which they were sitting. Allah Almighty, however, nipped their nefarious intentions in the bud.

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75. Waminhum man AAahada Allaha la-in atana min fadlihi lanassaddaqanna walanakoonanna mina alssaliheena

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75. And there are those of them who sought a covenant with Allah, “If He gives us out of His grace, we will certainly subscribe to the Welfare Fund, and we will certainly be of those who do good deeds.”

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76. Falamma atahum min fadlihi bakhiloo bihi watawallaw wahum muAAridoona

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76. But when He gave them out of His grace, they became miserly with it and they turned back and withdrew.

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77. FaaAAqabahum nifaqan fee quloobihim ila yawmi yalqawnahu bima akhlafoo Allaha ma waAAadoohu wabima kanoo yakthiboona

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77. So He made hypocrisy to follow them in their hearts till the Day when they shall meet Him because they broke their covenant with Allah and because they lied.

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78. Alam yaAAlamoo anna Allaha yaAAlamu sirrahum wanajwahum waanna Allaha AAallamu alghuyoobi

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78. Do they not know that Allah knows their hidden thoughts and their secret counsels, and that Allah is the great Knower of the unseen things?

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79. Allatheena yalmizoona almuttawwiAAeena mina almu/mineena fee alssadaqati waallatheena la yajidoona illa juhdahum fayaskharoona minhum sakhira Allahu minhum walahum AAathabun aleemun

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79. As for those who criticise and scoff at the believers who obediently contribute to the Welfare Fund, and at the believers who find nothing to give but their earnings, Allah scoffs at such scoffers, and they shall have a painful punishment.

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80. Istaghfir lahum aw la tastaghfir lahum in tastaghfir lahum sabAAeena marratan falan yaghfira Allahu lahum thalika bi-annahum kafaroo biAllahi warasoolihi waAllahu la yahdee alqawma alfasiqeena

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80. Whether you ask forgiveness for them or not – and even if you ask forgiveness seventy times for them - Allah will forgive them not! That is because they suppress the Reality of Allah and His Messenger. And Allah does not guide the people who rebel against Allah’s commandments.

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81. Fariha almukhallafoona bimaqAAadihim khilafa rasooli Allahi wakarihoo an yujahidoo bi-amwalihim waanfusihim fee sabeeli Allahi waqaloo la tanfiroo fee alharri qul naru jahannama ashaddu harran law kanoo yafqahoona

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81. Those that remained back were pleased with their sitting back against Allah's Messenger and they were averse to striving in Allah's Path with their wealth and their lives. And they said, “Do not travel in the heat.” Say, “The Hell fire is the most severe in heat, if only they could understand.”

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82. Falyadhakoo qaleelan walyabkoo katheeran jazaan bima kanoo yaksiboona

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82. They shall laugh little then and weep more as a consequence of what they earned.

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83. Fa-in rajaAAaka Allahu ila ta-ifatin minhum faista/thanooka lilkhurooji faqul lan takhrujoo maAAiya abadan walan tuqatiloo maAAiya AAaduwwan innakum radeetum bialquAAoodi awwala marratin faoqAAudoo maAAa alkhalifeena

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83. Then if Allah brings you back to any section of them and they ask your permission to go out on an expedition, say, “Never shall you go out with me and never shall you fight an enemy with me. You were indeed content to stay put the first time, stay put now too with those who stay behind.”

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84. Wala tusalli AAala ahadin minhum mata abadan wala taqum AAala qabrihi innahum kafaroo biAllahi warasoolihi wamatoo wahum fasiqoona

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84. And never offer prayer for any one of them who dies, and never stand by his grave. They did indeed suppress the Reality of Allah and His Messenger. And they shall die in a state of rebellion against Allah’s commandments.

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85. Wala tuAAjibka amwaluhum waawladuhum innama yureedu Allahu an yuAAaththibahum biha fee alddunya watazhaqa anfusuhum wahum kafiroona

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85. And let not their wealth and their children impress you. Allah only wishes to punish them with these in this world and to cause their souls to depart while they indulge in suppression of the Truth.

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86. Wa-itha onzilat sooratun an aminoo biAllahi wajahidoo maAAa rasoolihi ista/thanaka oloo alttawli minhum waqaloo tharna nakun maAAa alqaAAideena

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86. And when a Qur’aanic Chapter is revealed, exhorting people to believe in Allah and engage themselves in righteous struggle along with His Messenger, those with means plead with you and say, “Grant us leave to be with those who stay back.”

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87. Radoo bi-an yakoonoo maAAa alkhawalifi watubiAAa AAala quloobihim fahum la yafqahoona

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87. They chose to be with women back home, and a seal is set on their hearts so they do not understand.

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88. Lakini alrrasoolu waallatheena amanoo maAAahu jahadoo bi-amwalihim waanfusihim waola-ika lahumu alkhayratu waola-ika humu almuflihoona

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88. But the Messenger and those who believe with him engage themselves in righteous struggle with their wealth and their lives. And for those certainly are the good things. And those it is that succeed.

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89. aAAadda Allahu lahum jannatin tajree min tahtiha al-anharu khalideena feeha thalika alfawzu alAAatheemu

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89. Allah has prepared for them gardens, beneath which rivers flow, wherein to live. That is the greatest gain.

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90. Wajaa almuAAaththiroona mina al-aAArabi liyu/thana lahum waqaAAada allatheena kathaboo Allaha warasoolahu sayuseebu allatheena kafaroo minhum AAathabun aleemun

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90. And there came to you those from among the Bedouins who had excuses to offer for exempting them from joining the expedition. And those who denied Allah and His Messenger, sat at home. A painful punishment shall afflict those of them who suppressed the Truth.³⁷

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37. The Verse indicates that the Bedouin Arabs (those not settled in towns like Mecca and Medina and leading more or less a nomadic life), at the time of this revelation, were of 3 categories: one, those who had staunch belief in Islam; two, those whose belief was not strong enough; and, three, those who had no belief in Islam. Bedouins of the third category did not at all bother to come to the Prophet at his call of conscription and remained at home. Bedouins of the first and second category either joined the expedition or came with excuses for claiming exemption. The divine warning of painful punishment applied to the third category and also to those of the second category who had come with lame excuses to avoid joining the expedition.

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91. Laysa AAala aldduAAafa-i wala AAala almarda wala AAala allatheena la yajidoona ma yunfiqoona harajun itha nasahoo lillahi warasoolihi ma AAala almuhsineena min sabeelin waAllahu ghafoorun raheemun

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91. There is no blame on the weak, the sick, or on those who do not find the means to spend for the expedition, so long as they are sincere to Allah and His Messenger. No ground to blame the righteous people. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

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92. Wala AAala allatheena itha ma atawka litahmilahum qulta la ajidu ma ahmilukum AAalayhi tawallaw waaAAyunuhum tafeedu mina alddamAAi hazanan alla yajidoo ma yunfiqoona

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92. And there is no blame on those who when they came to you to equip them for the expedition, you said, “I find no means to equip you.” They went back and their eyes welled up with tears for grief at not finding the means to bear the expenses for the expedition.

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93. Innama alssabeelu AAala allatheena yasta/thinoonaka wahum aghniyao radoo bi-an yakoonoo maAAa alkhawalifi watabaAAa Allahu AAala quloobihim fahum la yaAAlamoona

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93. The blame lies only on those who ask you to grant them leave despite being rich. They chose to be with women staying back home. And Allah has set a seal upon their hearts so they do not know.

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Mohammad Shafi
Mumbai, INDIA,
5th March, 2009