Tawba 1-4

Sorah Al-Tawba (Repentance)

Also called Baraa.

Whenever we recite the Quran, we say Al-Moawaza, and then the Basmalah (In the name of Allah the Most Merciful and the Compassionate)

The Basmalah we find written in the Quran at the beginning of each Sorah and it marks its beginning.  The Basmalah is never recited at the beginning of this Sorah however.  It is not a part of any sorah of the Quran, except sorah Al-Fateha; otherwise, it just marks the beginning of the Sorah.  

There are 114 Sorah in the Quran and there are 114 Basmalah, although it is not in the beginning of this Sorah, this is because, it is part of Sorah Al-Naml: “IT IS FROM SOLIMAN AND IT SAYS: “IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST MERCIFUL THE COMPASSIONATE”.  (S: 27 a: 30)

The Basmalah was not written at the beginning of the Sorah in the Mos,haf (Quran) transcribed at the time of Othman Ibn Afan the third Khalifa.  This Quran is the manuscript of all the Qurans in our hands now.  

Some scholars think that Sorah Al-Tawba is a continuation of Sorah Al-Anfal although sorah Altawba was sent down some seven years after Sorah Al-Anfal.  

Some think that as Sorah Al-Tawba starts with a stern message to the disbelievers of punishment for the disbelievers, then the statement of Mercy and compassion would have been inappropriate.

The exact reason is not know, however, this is how it was recited and written at the time of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him, and we should follow suit.

This Sorah was sent down as one piece after Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him returned from the Tabok campaign, and after the Muslims went on Hajj after Makah was taken.  This Hajj Mohamed prayer and peace upon him did not attend, but sent Abu Bakr as Amer on the Hajj.  When this Sorah was sent down, he sent Ali Ibn Abi Taleb to deliver it to Abu Bakr, who let Ali recite it to the people on Hajj then.  Ali went riding Allah’s messenger’s camel.  The Hajj that year was attended by both Muslims and disbelievers.

The content of the Sorah and the message it had for the disbelievers, some of them were on Hajj, will be explained and discussed while commenting on the Ayahs.

Tawba 1-4

1. AND ACQUITTAL FROM ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER FOR THOSE OF THE DISBELIEVERS YOU HAVE COVENANTS WITH. 

2. YOU MAY TRAVEL SAFELY THROUGH THE EARTH FOR FOUR MONTHS, AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT BEYOND ALLAH’S POWER, AND THAT ALLAH WILL HUMILIATE THE DISBELIEVERS.

3. AND A DECLARATION FROM ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER ON THE GREATEST DAY OF HAJJ THAT ALLAH HAS NO ASSOCIATION WITH THE DISBELIEVERS, NOR DOES HIS MESSENGER.  SHOULD YOU REPENT, THEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT BEYOND ALLAH’S POWER, AND GIVE THE DISBELIEVERS THE NEWS ABOUT A PAINFUL PUNISHMENT.

4. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE OF THE IDOLATERS WHO HAVE COVENANT WITH YOU, WHO FULFILLED THEIR COVENANTS IN FULL, AND DID NOT SUPPORT OTHERS AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD HONOUR YOUR COVENANTS WITH THEM TO THEIR FULL TERM, FOR ALLAH LOVES THE PIOUS. 

Before and after Makah was taken by the Muslims, some disbelieving tribes had covenants with Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and the Muslims, some honoured their agreements, some partially honoured them, while others not at all.  

Allah the Highest is commanding the Muslims not to have any more treaties with the disbelieving Idolaters.  They were divided into two groups:

1. Those who did not fulfilled their covenants with Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and the Muslims.  They were given 4 months of peace and safe conduct, after which they will be fought unless they embrace Islam.
2. Those who fulfilled their covenants with Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and the Muslims, they will have their covenants fulfilled to the end of their term, regardless of the length of the term.

As mentioned before, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him sent Ali Ibn Abi Taleb to deliver these Ayahs, he said: “I was sent with four things to tell: no one will enter the Paradise except a believing soul, no naked person will do tawaf around the house (Kabba), whoever has a covenant with Allah’s messenger, his covenant will be fulfilled to the end of its term, and no disbeliever will be allowed Hajj after this year”.  (A: 1; 79 & T: Tafseer)

The greatest day of Hajj is the day of Arafat, for Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said in his ceremony in Arafat: “This is the greatest day of Hajj”.  (Ibn Jarir)

Some say that every day of Hajj is the Hajj greatest day.

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him fulfilled his covenants with all the disbelievers to the end of their terms; according to the degrees of their fulfilment of these covenants after not before the coming down of these Ayahs.  This was mercy and compassion from him.

The Muslims should not have covenants with the disbelievers and Idol worshippers unless necessary, then these covenants should be fulfilled.  Should they not fulfil them, the Muslims should not uphold the covenants and agreements.

3. As for those who had no covenants with Allah’s messenger and the Muslims, they have 4 month period of peace and safe conduct, following which they will be fought.

The Muslims should always honour their agreements with the believers and disbelievers.  They should however be aware of such agreements being partly fulfilled or manipulated by the disbelievers, for their Muslims are bound by the treaties with them as long as these treaties are honoured and fulfilled, not otherwise.  Treaties have at least two sides to them, and both should honour the treaty and its terms should be upheld to the end of its term.

Tawba 1-4

1. AND ACQUITTAL FROM ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER FOR THOSE OF THE DISBELIEVERS YOU HAVE COVENANTS WITH. 

2. YOU MAY TRAVEL SAFELY THROUGH THE EARTH FOR FOUR MONTHS, AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT BEYOND ALLAH’S POWER, AND THAT ALLAH WILL HUMILIATE THE DISBELIEVERS.

3. AND A DECLARATION FROM ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER ON THE GREATEST DAY OF HAJJ THAT ALLAH HAS NO ASSOCIATION WITH THE DISBELIEVERS, NOR DOES HIS MESSENGER.  SHOULD YOU REPENT, THEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT BEYOND ALLAH’S POWER, AND GIVE THE DISBELIEVERS THE NEWS ABOUT A PAINFUL PUNISHMENT.

4. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE OF THE IDOLATERS WHO HAVE COVENANT WITH YOU, WHO FULFILLED THEIR COVENANTS IN FULL, AND DID NOT SUPPORT OTHERS AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD HONOUR YOUR COVENANTS WITH THEM TO THEIR FULL TERM, FOR ALLAH LOVES THE PIOUS. 

Before and after Makah was taken by the Muslims, some disbelieving tribes had covenants with Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and the Muslims, some honoured their agreements, some partially honoured them, while others not at all.  

Allah the Highest is commanding the Muslims not to have any more treaties with the disbelieving Idolaters.  They were divided into two groups:

1. Those who did not fulfilled their covenants with Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and the Muslims.  They were given 4 months of peace and safe conduct, after which they will be fought unless they embrace Islam.
2. Those who fulfilled their covenants with Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and the Muslims, they will have their covenants fulfilled to the end of their term, regardless of the length of the term.

As mentioned before, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him sent Ali Ibn Abi Taleb to deliver these Ayahs, he said: “I was sent with four things to tell: no one will enter the Paradise except a believing soul, no naked person will do tawaf around the house (Kabba), whoever has a covenant with Allah’s messenger, his covenant will be fulfilled to the end of its term, and no disbeliever will be allowed Hajj after this year”.  (A:1;79 & T:Tafseer)

The greatest day of Hajj is the day of Arafah, for Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said in his ceremony in Arafah: “This is the greatest day of Hajj”.  (Ibn Jarir)

Some say that every day of Hajj is the Hajj greatest day.

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him fulfilled his covenants with all the disbelievers to the end of their terms; according to the degrees of their fulfilment of these covenants after not before the coming down of these Ayahs.  This was mercy and compassion from him.

The Muslims should not have covenants with the disbelievers and Idol worshippers unless necessary, then these covenants should be fulfilled.  Should they not fulfil them, the Muslims should not uphold the covenants and agreements.

3. As for those who had no covenants with Allah’s messenger and the Muslims, they have 4 month period of peace and safe conduct, following which they will be fought.

The Muslims should always honour their agreements with the believers and disbelievers.  They should however be aware of such agreements being partly fulfilled or manipulated by the disbelievers, for their Muslims are bound by the treaties with them as long as these treaties are honoured and fulfilled, not otherwise.  Treaties have at least two sides to them, and both should honour the treaty and it’s terms should be upheld to the end of its term.