At-Tawba (ٱلتَّوْبَة)

Surah At-Tawbah (التَّوْبَة) is the ninth Surah in the blessed Quran. The Surah includes a total of 129 verses (ayahs), 16 rukus, and is positioned in Juz numbers 10 and 11. The Surah has two names: Surah Tawbah and Surah Bara'ah (the release). The reason the Surah is called At-Tawbah is due to the theme and subject of the Surah as it is centered around Tawbah (repentance) and how a believer should do Tawbah for his sins or wrongdoings and get their Tawbah accepted by the mercy of Allah.

The name Surah Bara'ah, however, is given due to the opening word of the Surah, which is Bara'ah. The Surah is believed to have been revealed to the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) in the 9th year of his migration/hijrah to Madina and is therefore classified as a Madni Surah. The Surah forms a pair with its previous Surah (Surah Al-Anfal) and also has a similar theme as Surah Anfal.

٩ - ٱلتَّوْبَة

9 - At-Tawba

بَرَاۗءَۃٌ مِّنَ اللہِ وَرَسُوْلِہٖۗ اِلَى الَّذِيْنَ عٰہَدْتُّمْ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ۝۱ۭ
Baraatun mina Allahi warasoolihi ila allatheena AAahadtum mina almushrikeena

English

Ahmed Ali

IMMUNITY is granted those idolaters by God and his Apostle with whom you have a treaty.

1

فَسِيْحُوْا فِي الْاَرْضِ اَرْبَعَۃَ اَشْہُرٍ وَّاعْلَمُوْۗا اَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِي اؘ۝۰ۙ وَاَنَّ اللہَ مُخْزِي الْكٰفِرِيْنَ۝۲
Faseehoo fee alardi arbaAAata ashhurin waiAAlamoo annakum ghayru muAAjizee Allahi waanna Allaha mukhzee alkafireena

English

Ahmed Ali

(They can) move about for four months freely in the land, but should know they cannot escape (the law of) God, and that God can put the unbelievers to shame.

2

وَاَذَانٌ مِّنَ اللہِ وَرَسُوْلِہٖۗ اِلَى النَّاسِ يَوْمَ الْحَجِّ الْاَكْبَرِ اَنَّ اللہَ بَرِيْۗءٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ۝۰ۥۙ وَرَسُوْلُہٗ۝۰ۭ فَاِنْ تُبْتُمْ فَہُوَخَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ۝۰ۚ وَاِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَاعْلَمُوْۗا اَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِي اؘ۝۰ۭ وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا بِعَذَابٍ اَلِــيْمٍ۝۳ۙ
Waathanun mina Allahi warasoolihi ila alnnasi yawma alhajji alakbari anna Allaha bareeon mina almushrikeena warasooluhu fain tubtum fahuwa khayrun lakum wain tawallaytum faiAAlamoo annakum ghayru muAAjizee Allahi wabashshiri allatheena kafaroo biAAathabin aleemin

English

Ahmed Ali

A general proclamation is (made) this day of the Greater Pilgrimage on the part of God and His Apostle, that God is not bound (by any contract) to idolaters, nor is His Apostle. It is, therefore, better for you to repent. If you do not, remember that you cannot elude (the grip of) God. So announce to those who deny the truth the news of painful punishment,

3

اِلَّا الَّذِيْنَ عٰہَدْتُّمْ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْقُصُوْكُمْ شَيْــــًٔـا وَّلَمْ يُظَاہِرُوْا عَلَيْكُمْ اَحَدًا فَاَتِمُّــوْۗا اِلَيْہِمْ عَہْدَہُمْ اِلٰى مُدَّتِہِمْ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِيْنَ۝۴
Illa allatheena AAahadtum mina almushrikeena thumma lam yanqusookum shayan walam yuthahiroo AAalaykum ahadan faatimmoo ilayhim AAahdahum ila muddatihim inna Allaha yuhibbu almuttaqeena

English

Ahmed Ali

Except those idolaters with whom you have a treaty, who have not failed you in the least, nor helped anyone against you. Fulfil your obligations to them during the term (of the treaty). God loves those who take heed for themselves.

4

فَاِذَا انْسَلَخَ الْاَشْہُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُّمُــوْہُمْ وَخُذُوْہُمْ وَاحْصُرُوْہُمْ وَاقْعُدُوْا لَہُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ۝۰ۚ فَاِنْ تَابُوْا وَاَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَاٰتَوُا الزَّكٰوۃَ فَخَــلُّوْا سَـبِيْلَہُمْ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِيْمٌ۝۵
Faitha insalakha alashhuru alhurumu faoqtuloo almushrikeena haythu wajadtumoohum wakhuthoohum waohsuroohum waoqAAudoo lahum kulla marsadin fain taboo waaqamoo alssalata waatawoo alzzakata fakhalloo sabeelahum inna Allaha ghafoorun raheemun

English

Ahmed Ali

But when these months, prohibited (for fighting), are over, slay the idolaters wheresoever you find them, and take them captive or besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every likely place. But if they repent and fulfil their devotional obligations and pay the zakat, then let them go their way, for God is forgiving and kind.

5

وَاِنْ اَحَدٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ اسْتَجَارَكَ فَاَجِرْہُ حَتّٰي يَسْمَعَ كَلٰمَ اللہِ ثُمَّ اَبْلِغْہُ مَاْمَنَہٗ۝۰ۭ ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّہُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْلَمُوْنَ۝۶ۧ
Wain ahadun mina almushrikeena istajaraka faajirhu hatta yasmaAAa kalama Allahi thumma ablighhu mamanahu thalika biannahum qawmun la yaAAlamoona

English

Ahmed Ali

If an idolater seeks protection, then give him asylum that he may hear the word of God. Then escort him to a place of safety, for they are people who do not know.

6

كَيْفَ يَكُوْنُ لِلْمُشْرِكِيْنَ عَہْدٌ عِنْدَ اللہِ وَعِنْدَ رَسُوْلِہٖۗ اِلَّا الَّذِيْنَ عٰہَدْتُّمْ عِنْدَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ۝۰ۚ فَمَا اسْتَقَامُوْا لَكُمْ فَاسْتَقِيْمُوْا لَہُمْ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِيْنَ۝۷
Kayfa yakoonu lilmushrikeena AAahdun AAinda Allahi waAAinda rasoolihi illa allatheena AAahadtum AAinda almasjidi alharami fama istaqamoo lakum faistaqeemoo lahum inna Allaha yuhibbu almuttaqeena

English

Ahmed Ali

How could there be a treaty between idolaters and God and His Apostle, except those you covenanted by the Sacred Mosque? Therefore as long as they are honest with you be correct with them, for God loves those who are godly.

7

كَيْفَ وَاِنْ يَّظْہَرُوْا عَلَيْكُمْ لَا يَرْقُبُوْا فِيْكُمْ اِلًّا وَّلَا ذِمَّۃً۝۰ۭ يُرْضُوْنَكُمْ بِاَفْوَاہِہِمْ وَتَاْبٰي قُلُوْبُہُمْ۝۰ۚ وَاَكْثَرُہُمْ فٰسِقُوْنَ۝۸ۚ
Kayfa wain yathharoo AAalaykum la yarquboo feekum illan wala thimmatan yurdoonakum biafwahihim wataba quloobuhum waaktharuhum fasiqoona

English

Ahmed Ali

How (can they be trusted)? If they prevail against you they will neither observe pacts nor good faith with you. They flatter you with their tongues, but their hearts are averse to you, for most of them are iniquitous.

8

اِشْتَرَوْا بِاٰيٰتِ اللہِ ثَـمَنًا قَلِيْلًا فَصَدُّوْا عَنْ سَبِيْلِہٖ۝۰ۭ اِنَّہُمْ سَاۗءَ مَا كَانُوْا يَعْمَلُوْنَ۝۹
Ishtaraw biayati Allahi thamanan qaleelan fasaddoo AAan sabeelihi innahum saa ma kanoo yaAAmaloona

English

Ahmed Ali

They barter away the words of God for a petty price, and obstruct (others) from His path. How evil indeed are the things they do!

9

لَا يَرْقُبُوْنَ فِيْ مُؤْمِنٍ اِلًّا وَّلَا ذِمَّۃً۝۰ۭ وَاُولٰۗىِٕكَ ہُمُ الْمُعْتَدُوْنَ۝۱۰
La yarquboona fee muminin illan wala thimmatan waolaika humu almuAAtadoona

English

Ahmed Ali

They have no regard for kinship or treaties with believers, for they are transgressors.

10

Theme and Subject Matter of Surah At-Tawbah (التَّوْبَة)

In the previous Surah (Surah Al-Anfal), Allah clarified and instructed the believers on what lessons they had to learn from the battles they had fought after their hijrah to Madina. In Surah Tawbah, however, Muslims are instructed about various important factors, such as how Allah wants Muslims to deal in cases of a breach of treaty. 

Surah At-Tawbah deals with the subject of war against those who had violated the treaty of Hudaybiyah and also directs the believers towards an eventual conquest of Makkah. Moreover, Allah had also reminded the believers that their relationship with the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) is greater than any other relation – be it family, wealth, or tribe. 

Allah ordered the Muslims to banish the disbelievers and idolaters from the Sacred Grounds as they had broken the treaty and committed idolatry. Moreover, Allah addresses the hypocrites in Surah At-Tawbah and reminds the Prophet (ﷺ) to continue his struggle against the disbelievers and hypocrites. Believers are also warned that no matter what conditions and oaths are made, the hypocrites will continue to find ways to go against them.

The last few ayahs of the Surah focus on the subject of Tawbah (repentance). Allah reminds the believers that those who meet death as polytheists will not be granted forgiveness. However, those who seek refuge with Allah and sincerely repent from their sins and wrongdoings will be forgiven. And those who are unable to fulfil their obligations due to circumstances beyond their forgiveness will be shown mercy by Allah. Indeed, Allah is the most merciful. The reward for these people is the same as the reward for those who have fulfilled their obligatory duties, as Allah always tests His creation based on their intentions.

In Surah At-Tawbah, Allah emphasizes that those who seek religious knowledge that will benefit society will also be rewarded. Allah also reminds us that the hypocrites will not turn to the right path. However, it is their loss as the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) is sent as a mercy for the world, and His message will only bring the world goodness. 

Benefits and Virtues of Reciting Surah At-Tawbah (التَّوْبَة)

Reciting the Quran is the best ibadah a Muslim can do. The Quran is the word of Allah and it holds the message from Allah to Muslims. The more we read the Quran, the closer we will become to Allah. In the Quran, Allah declares the recitation of the Quran and the contemplation of Allah as the best acts a Muslim can perform. Allah Azzawajal says: 

"Those who believe and find peace in their hearts from the contemplation of God: Surely there is peace of heart in the contemplation of God!" (13:28)

Reciting the Quran has also been encouraged by the Holy Prophet (ﷺ):

"Read the Qur'an, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection." – Riyad-as-Salihin 991

Now, let's look at a few virtues and benefits of reciting Surah At-Tawbah:

  • Surah Tawbah serves as a reminder to mankind that Allah's mercy for His creation is boundless. No matter what sins and wrongdoings one engages in, except for shirk and polytheism, Allah will forgive him or her as long as they repent. Therefore, the Surah encourages believers to engage in frequent repentance so they do not stray to the wrong path.

  • Surah Tawbah clearly also warns the believers against hypocrites and their final outcome on the day of judgement, therefore motivating the believers to stay away from hypocrisy and ensure their intentions are in accordance with their actions.

  • Surah Tawbah also reminds the believers about the acts of war – how it is not merely about fighting but struggling to obtain justice and goodness for the society and therefore serves as a reminder to always work towards uplifting the community.

  • Surah Tawbah also reminds Muslims to remain honest and responsible when they sign a treaty or agree to something.

  • Recitation of the Surah can have several benefits for a believer. For instance, reciting the Quran helps gain relief from mental distress, including mental conditions such as depression or anxiety.