Surah 9 Repentance - Al-Tawba, 129 verses (Madina)
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
- A (declaration) of immunity from God and His
Apostle, to those of the Pagans with whom ye have
contracted mutual alliances:-
- Go ye, then, for four months, backwards and
forwards, (as ye will), throughout the land, but know
ye that ye cannot frustrate God (by your falsehood) but
that God will cover with shame those who reject Him.
- And an announcement from God and His Apostle, to
the people (assembled) on the day of the Great
Pilgrimage,- that God and His Apostle dissolve (treaty)
obligations with the Pagans. If then, ye repent, it
were best for you; but if ye turn away, know ye that ye
cannot frustrate God. And proclaim a grievous penalty
to those who reject Faith.
- (But the treaties are) not dissolved with those
Pagans with whom ye have entered into alliance and who
have not subsequently failed you in aught, nor aided
any one against you. So fulfil your engagements with
them to the end of their term: for God loveth the
righteous.
- But when the forbidden months are past, then fight
and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize
them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every
stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish
regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open
the way for them: for God is Oft-forgiving, Most
Merciful.
- If one amongst the Pagans ask thee for asylum,
grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of God;
and then escort him to where he can be secure. That is
because they are men without knowledge.
- How can there be a league, before God and His
Apostle, with the Pagans, except those with whom ye
made a treaty near the sacred Mosque? As long as these
stand true to you, stand ye true to them: for God doth
love the righteous.
- How (can there be such a league), seeing that if
they get an advantage over you, they respect not in you
the ties either of kinship or of covenant? With (fair
words from) their mouths they entice you, but their
hearts are averse from you; and most of them are
rebellious and wicked.
- The Signs of God have they sold for a miserable
price, and (many) have they hindered from His way: evil
indeed are the deeds they have done.
- In a Believer they respect not the ties either of
kinship or of covenant! It is they who have
transgressed all bounds.
- But (even so), if they repent, establish regular
prayers, and practise regular charity,- they are your
brethren in Faith: (thus) do We explain the Signs in
detail, for those who understand.
- But if they violate their oaths after their
covenant, and taunt you for your Faith,- fight ye the
chiefs of Unfaith: for their oaths are nothing to them:
that thus they may be restrained.
- Will ye not fight people who violated their oaths,
plotted to expel the Apostle, and took the aggressive
by being the first (to assault) you? Do ye fear them?
Nay, it is God Whom ye should more justly fear, if ye
believe!
- Fight them, and God will punish them by your hands,
cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them,
heal the breasts of Believers,
- And still the indignation of their hearts. For God
will turn (in mercy) to whom He will; and God is
All-Knowing, All-Wise.
- Or think ye that ye shall be abandoned, as though
God did not know those among you who strive with might
and main, and take none for friends and protectors
except God, His Apostle, and the (community of)
Believers? But God is well-acquainted with (all) that
ye do.
- It is not for such as join gods with God, to visit
or maintain the mosques of God while they witness
against their own souls to infidelity. The works of
such bear no fruit: In Fire shall they dwell.
- The mosques of God shall be visited and maintained
by such as believe in God and the Last Day, establish
regular prayers, and practise regular charity, and fear
none (at all) except God. It is they who are expected
to be on true guidance.
- Do ye make the giving of drink to pilgrims, or the
maintenance of the Sacred Mosque, equal to (the pious
service of) those who believe in God and the Last Day,
and strive with might and main in the cause of God?
They are not comparable in the sight of God: and God
guides not those who do wrong.
- Those who believe, and suffer exile and strive with
might and main, in God's cause, with their goods and
their persons, have the highest rank in the sight of
God: they are the people who will achieve (salvation).
- Their Lord doth give them glad tidings of a Mercy
from Himself, of His good pleasure, and of gardens for
them, wherein are delights that endure:
- They will dwell therein for ever. Verily in God's
presence is a reward, the greatest (of all).
- O ye who believe! take not for protectors your
fathers and your brothers if they love infidelity above
Faith: if any of you do so, they do wrong.
- Say: If it be that your fathers, your sons, your
brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that
ye have gained; the commerce in which ye fear a
decline: or the dwellings in which ye delight - are
dearer to you than God, or His Apostle, or the striving
in His cause;- then wait until God brings about His
decision: and God guides not the rebellious.
- Assuredly God did help you in many battle-fields
and on the day of Hunain: Behold! your great numbers
elated you, but they availed you naught: the land, for
all that it is wide, did constrain you, and ye turned
back in retreat.
- But God did pour His calm on the Apostle and on the
Believers, and sent down forces which ye saw not: He
punished the Unbelievers; thus doth He reward those
without Faith.
- Again will God, after this, turn (in mercy) to whom
He will: for God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
- O ye who believe! Truly the Pagans are unclean; so
let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the
Sacred Mosque. And if ye fear poverty, soon will God
enrich you, if He wills, out of His bounty, for God is
All-knowing, All-wise.
- Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last
Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden
by God and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of
Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book,
until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and
feel themselves subdued.
- The Jews call 'Uzair a son of God, and the
Christians call Christ the son of God. That is a saying
from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the
unbelievers of old used to say. God's curse be on them:
how they are deluded away from the Truth!
- They take their priests and their anchorites to be
their lords in derogation of God, and (they take as
their Lord) Christ the son of Mary; yet they were
commanded to worship but One God: there is no god but
He. Praise and glory to Him: (Far is He) from having
the partners they associate (with Him).
- Fain would they extinguish God's light with their
mouths, but God will not allow but that His light
should be perfected, even though the Unbelievers may
detest (it).
- It is He Who hath sent His Apostle with guidance
and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all
religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it).
- O ye who believe! there are indeed many among the
priests and anchorites, who in Falsehood devour the
substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of God.
And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend
it not in the way of God: announce unto them a most
grievous penalty-
- On the Day when heat will be produced out of that
(wealth) in the fire of Hell, and with it will be
branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs,
their flanks, and their backs.- "This is the (treasure)
which ye buried for yourselves: taste ye, then, the
(treasures) ye buried!"
- The number of months in the sight of God is twelve
(in a year)- so ordained by Him the day He created the
heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: that is
the straight usage. So wrong not yourselves therein,
and fight the Pagans all together as they fight you all
together. But know that God is with those who restrain
themselves.
- Verily the transposing (of a prohibited month) is
an addition to Unbelief: the Unbelievers are led to
wrong thereby: for they make it lawful one year, and
forbidden another year, in order to adjust the number
of months forbidden by God and make such forbidden ones
lawful. The evil of their course seems pleasing to
them. But God guideth not those who reject Faith.
- O ye who believe! what is the matter with you,
that, when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of
God, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the
life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the
comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter.
- Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a
grievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him
ye would not harm in the least. For God hath power over
all things.
- If ye help not (your leader), (it is no matter):
for God did indeed help him, when the Unbelievers drove
him out: he had no more than one companion; they two
were in the cave, and he said to his companion, "Have
no fear, for God is with us": then God sent down His
peace upon him, and strengthened him with forces which
ye saw not, and humbled to the depths the word of the
Unbelievers. But the word of God is exalted to the
heights: for God is Exalted in might, Wise.
- Go ye forth, (whether equipped) lightly or heavily,
and strive and struggle, with your goods and your
persons, in the cause of God. That is best for you, if
ye (but) knew.
- If there had been immediate gain (in sight), and
the journey easy, they would (all) without doubt have
followed thee, but the distance was long, (and weighed)
on them. They would indeed swear by God, "If we only
could, we should certainly have come out with you":
They would destroy their own souls; for God doth know
that they are certainly lying.
- God give thee grace! why didst thou grant them
until those who told the truth were seen by thee in a
clear light, and thou hadst proved the liars?
- Those who believe in God and the Last Day ask thee
for no exemption from fighting with their goods and
persons. And God knoweth well those who do their duty.
- Only those ask thee for exemption who believe not
in God and the Last Day, and whose hearts are in doubt,
so that they are tossed in their doubts to and fro.
- If they had intended to come out, they would
certainly have made some preparation therefor; but God
was averse to their being sent forth; so He made them
lag behind, and they were told, "Sit ye among those who
sit (inactive)."
- If they had come out with you, they would not have
added to your (strength) but only (made for) disorder,
hurrying to and fro in your midst and sowing sedition
among you, and there would have been some among you who
would have listened to them. But God knoweth well those
who do wrong.
- Indeed they had plotted sedition before, and upset
matters for thee, until,- the Truth arrived, and the
Decree of God became manifest much to their disgust.
- Among them is (many) a man who says: "Grant me
exemption and draw me not into trial." Have they not
fallen into trial already? and indeed Hell surrounds
the Unbelievers (on all sides).
- If good befalls thee, it grieves them; but if a
misfortune befalls thee, they say, "We took indeed our
precautions beforehand," and they turn away rejoicing.
- Say: "Nothing will happen to us except what God has
decreed for us: He is our protector": and on God let
the Believers put their trust.
- Say: "Can you expect for us (any fate) other than
one of two glorious things- (Martyrdom or victory)? But
we can expect for you either that God will send his
punishment from Himself, or by our hands. So wait
(expectant); we too will wait with you."
- Say: "Spend (for the cause) willingly or
unwillingly: not from you will it be accepted: for ye
are indeed a people rebellious and wicked."
- The only reasons why their contributions are not
accepted are: that they reject God and His Apostle;
that they come to prayer without earnestness; and that
they offer contributions unwillingly.
- Let not their wealth nor their (following in) sons
dazzle thee: in reality God's plan is to punish them
with these things in this life, and that their souls
may perish in their (very) denial of God.
- They swear by God that they are indeed of you; but
they are not of you: yet they are afraid (to appear in
their true colours).
- If they could find a place to flee to, or caves, or
a place of concealment, they would turn straightaway
thereto, with an obstinate rush.
- And among them are men who slander thee in the
matter of (the distribution of) the alms: if they are
given part thereof, they are pleased, but if not,
behold! they are indignant!
- If only they had been content with what God and His
Apostle gave them, and had said, "Sufficient unto us is
God! God and His Apostle will soon give us of His
bounty: to God do we turn our hopes!" (that would have
been the right course).
- Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those
employed to administer the (funds); for those whose
hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for
those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of God; and
for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by God, and God
is full of knowledge and wisdom.
- Among them are men who molest the Prophet and say,
"He is (all) ear." Say, "He listens to what is best for
you: he believes in God, has faith in the Believers,
and is a Mercy to those of you who believe." But those
who molest the Apostle will have a grievous penalty.
- To you they swear by God. In order to please you:
But it is more fitting that they should please God and
His Apostle, if they are Believers.
- Know they not that for those who oppose God and His
Apostle, is the Fire of Hell?- wherein they shall
dwell. That is the supreme disgrace.
- The Hypocrites are afraid lest a Sura should be
sent down about them, showing them what is (really
passing) in their hearts. Say: "Mock ye! But verily God
will bring to light all that ye fear (should be
revealed).
- If thou dost question them, they declare (with
emphasis): "We were only talking idly and in play."
Say: "Was it at God, and His Signs, and His Apostle,
that ye were mocking?"
- Make ye no excuses: ye have rejected Faith after ye
had accepted it. If We pardon some of you, We will
punish others amongst you, for that they are in sin.
- The Hypocrites, men and women, (have an
understanding) with each other: They enjoin evil, and
forbid what is just, and are close with their hands.
They have forgotten God; so He hath forgotten them.
Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse.
- God hath promised the Hypocrites men and women, and
the rejecters, of Faith, the fire of Hell: Therein
shall they dwell: Sufficient is it for them: for them
is the curse of God, and an enduring punishment,-
- As in the case of those before you: they were
mightier than you in power, and more flourishing in
wealth and children. They had their enjoyment of their
portion: and ye have of yours, as did those before you;
and ye indulge in idle talk as they did. They!- their
work are fruitless in this world and in the Hereafter,
and they will lose (all spiritual good).
- Hath not the story reached them of those before
them?- the People of Noah, and 'Ad, and Thamud; the
People of Abraham, the men of Midian, and the cities
overthrown. To them came their apostles with clear
signs. It is not God Who wrongs them, but they wrong
their own souls.
- The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of
another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is
evil: they observe regular prayers, practise regular
charity, and obey God and His Apostle. On them will God
pour His mercy: for God is Exalted in power, Wise.
- God hath promised to Believers, men and women,
gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and
beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But
the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of God: that is
the supreme felicity.
- O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and
the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode
is Hell,- an evil refuge indeed.
- They swear by God that they said nothing (evil),
but indeed they uttered blasphemy, and they did it
after accepting Islam; and they meditated a plot which
they were unable to carry out: this revenge of theirs
was (their) only return for the bounty with which God
and His Apostle had enriched them! If they repent, it
will be best for them; but if they turn back (to their
evil ways), God will punish them with a grievous
penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: They shall
have none on earth to protect or help them.
- Amongst them are men who made a covenant with God,
that if He bestowed on them of His bounty, they would
give (largely) in charity, and be truly amongst those
who are righteous.
- But when He did bestow of His bounty, they became
covetous, and turned back (from their covenant), averse
(from its fulfilment).
- So He hath put as a consequence hypocrisy into
their hearts, (to last) till the Day, whereon they
shall meet Him: because they broke their covenant with
God, and because they lied (again and again).
- Know they not that God doth know their secret
(thoughts) and their secret counsels, and that God
knoweth well all things unseen?
- Those who slander such of the believers as give
themselves freely to (deeds of) charity, as well as
such as can find nothing to give except the fruits of
their labour,- and throw ridicule on them,- God will
throw back their ridicule on them: and they shall have
a grievous penalty.
- Whether thou ask for their forgiveness, or not,
(their sin is unforgivable): if thou ask seventy times
for their forgiveness, God will not forgive them:
because they have rejected God and His Apostle: and God
guideth not those who are perversely rebellious.
- Those who were left behind (in the Tabuk
expedition) rejoiced in their inaction behind the back
of the Apostle of God: they hated to strive and fight,
with their goods and their persons, in the cause of
God: they said, "Go not forth in the heat." Say, "The
fire of Hell is fiercer in heat." If only they could
understand!
- Let them laugh a little: much will they weep: a
recompense for the (evil) that they do.
- If, then, God bring thee back to any of them, and
they ask thy permission to come out (with thee), say:
"Never shall ye come out with me, nor fight an enemy
with me: for ye preferred to sit inactive on the first
occasion: Then sit ye (now) with those who lag behind."
- Nor do thou ever pray for any of them that dies,
nor stand at his grave; for they rejected God and His
Apostle, and died in a state of perverse rebellion.
- Nor let their wealth nor their (following in) sons
dazzle thee: God's plan is to punish them with these
things in this world, and that their souls may perish
in their (very) denial of God.
- When a Sura comes down, enjoining them to believe
in God and to strive and fight along with His Apostle,
those with wealth and influence among them ask thee for
exemption, and say: "Leave us (behind): we would be
with those who sit (at home)."
- They prefer to be with (the women), who remain
behind (at home): their hearts are sealed and so they
understand not.
- But the Apostle, and those who believe with him,
strive and fight with their wealth and their persons:
for them are (all) good things: and it is they who will
prosper.
- God hath prepared for them gardens under which
rivers flow, to dwell therein: that is the supreme
felicity.
- And there were, among the desert Arabs (also), men
who made excuses and came to claim exemption; and those
who were false to God and His Apostle (merely) sat
inactive. Soon will a grievous penalty seize the
Unbelievers among them.
- There is no blame on those who are infirm, or ill,
or who find no resources to spend (on the cause), if
they are sincere (in duty) to God and His Apostle: no
ground (of complaint) can there be against such as do
right: and God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
- Nor (is there blame) on those who came to thee to
be provided with mounts, and when thou saidst, "I can
find no mounts for you," they turned back, their eyes
streaming with tears of grief that they had no
resources wherewith to provide the expenses.
- The ground (of complaint) is against such as claim
exemption while they are rich. They prefer to stay with
the (women) who remain behind: God hath sealed their
hearts; so they know not (What they miss).
- They will present their excuses to you when ye
return to them. Say thou: "Present no excuses: we shall
not believe you: God hath already informed us of the
true state of matters concerning you: It is your
actions that God and His Apostle will observe: in the
end will ye be brought back to Him Who knoweth what is
hidden and what is open: then will He show you the
truth of all that ye did."
- They will swear to you by God, when ye return to
them, that ye may leave them alone. So leave them
alone: For they are an abomination, and Hell is their
dwelling-place,-a fitting recompense for the (evil)
that they did.
- They will swear unto you, that ye may be pleased
with them but if ye are pleased with them, God is not
pleased with those who disobey.
- The Arabs of the desert are the worst in Unbelief
and hypocrisy, and most fitted to be in ignorance of
the command which God hath sent down to His Apostle:
But God is All-knowing, All-Wise.
- Some of the desert Arabs look upon their payments
as a fine, and watch for disasters for you: on them be
the disaster of evil: for God is He That heareth and
knoweth (all things).
- But some of the desert Arabs believe in God and the
Last Day, and look on their payments as pious gifts
bringing them nearer to God and obtaining the prayers
of the Apostle. Aye, indeed they bring them nearer (to
Him): soon will God admit them to His Mercy: for God is
Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
- The vanguard (of Islam)- the first of those who
forsook (their homes) and of those who gave them aid,
and (also) those who follow them in (all) good deeds,-
well-pleased is God with them, as are they with Him:
for them hath He prepared gardens under which rivers
flow, to dwell therein for ever: that is the supreme
felicity.
- Certain of the desert Arabs round about you are
hypocrites, as well as (desert Arabs) among the Medina
folk: they are obstinate in hypocrisy: thou knowest
them not: We know them: twice shall We punish them: and
in addition shall they be sent to a grievous penalty.
- Others (there are who) have acknowledged their
wrong-doings: they have mixed an act that was good with
another that was evil. Perhaps God will turn unto them
(in Mercy): for God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
- Of their goods, take alms, that so thou mightest
purify and sanctify them; and pray on their behalf.
Verily thy prayers are a source of security for them:
And God is One Who heareth and knoweth.
- Know they not that God doth accept repentance from
His votaries and receives their gifts of charity, and
that God is verily He, the Oft-Returning, Most
Merciful?
- And say: "Work (righteousness): Soon will God
observe your work, and His Apostle, and the Believers:
Soon will ye be brought back to the knower of what is
hidden and what is open: then will He show you the
truth of all that ye did."
- There are (yet) others, held in suspense for the
command of God, whether He will punish them, or turn in
mercy to them: and God is All-Knowing, Wise.
- And there are those who put up a mosque by way of
mischief and infidelity - to disunite the Believers -
and in preparation for one who warred against God and
His Apostle aforetime. They will indeed swear that
their intention is nothing but good; But God doth
declare that they are certainly liars.
- Never stand thou forth therein. There is a mosque
whose foundation was laid from the first day on piety;
it is more worthy of the standing forth (for prayer)
therein. In it are men who love to be purified; and God
loveth those who make themselves pure.
- Which then is best? - he that layeth his foundation
on piety to God and His good pleasure? - or he that
layeth his foundation on an undermined sand-cliff ready
to crumble to pieces? and it doth crumble to pieces
with him, into the fire of Hell. And God guideth not
people that do wrong.
- The foundation of those who so build is never free
from suspicion and shakiness in their hearts, until
their hearts are cut to pieces. And God is All-Knowing,
Wise.
- God hath purchased of the believers their persons
and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden
(of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and
are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through
the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur'an: and who is more
faithful to his covenant than God? then rejoice in the
bargain which ye have concluded: that is the
achievement supreme.
- Those that turn (to God) in repentance; that serve
Him, and praise Him; that wander in devotion to the
cause of God,: that bow down and prostrate themselves
in prayer; that enjoin good and forbid evil; and
observe the limit set by God;- (These do rejoice). So
proclaim the glad tidings to the Believers.
- It is not fitting, for the Prophet and those who
believe, that they should pray for forgiveness for
Pagans, even though they be of kin, after it is clear
to them that they are companions of the Fire.
- And Abraham prayed for his father's forgiveness
only because of a promise he had made to him. But when
it became clear to him that he was an enemy to God, he
dissociated himself from him: for Abraham was most
tender-hearted, forbearing.
- And God will not mislead a people after He hath
guided them, in order that He may make clear to them
what to fear (and avoid)- for God hath knowledge of all
things.
- Unto God belongeth the dominion of the heavens and
the earth. He giveth life and He taketh it. Except for
Him ye have no protector nor helper.
- God turned with favour to the Prophet, the
Muhajirs, and the Ansar,- who followed him in a time of
distress, after that the hearts of a part of them had
nearly swerved (from duty); but He turned to them
(also): for He is unto them Most Kind, Most Merciful.
- (He turned in mercy also) to the three who were
left behind; (they felt guilty) to such a degree that
the earth seemed constrained to them, for all its
spaciousness, and their (very) souls seemed straitened
to them,- and they perceived that there is no fleeing
from God (and no refuge) but to Himself. Then He turned
to them, that they might repent: for God is
Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.
- O ye who believe! Fear God and be with those who
are true (in word and deed).
- It was not fitting for the people of Medina and the
Bedouin Arabs of the neighbourhood, to refuse to follow
God's Apostle, nor to prefer their own lives to his:
because nothing could they suffer or do, but was
reckoned to their credit as a deed of righteousness,-
whether they suffered thirst, or fatigue, or hunger, in
the cause of God, or trod paths to raise the ire of the
Unbelievers, or received any injury whatever from an
enemy: for God suffereth not the reward to be lost of
those who do good;-
- Nor could they spend anything (for the cause) -
small or great- nor cut across a valley, but the deed
is inscribed to their credit: that God may requite
their deed with the best (possible reward).
- Nor should the Believers all go forth together: if
a contingent from every expedition remained behind,
they could devote themselves to studies in religion,
and admonish the people when they return to them,- that
thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against
evil).
- O ye who believe! fight the unbelievers who gird
you about, and let them find firmness in you: and know
that God is with those who fear Him.
- Whenever there cometh down a sura, some of them
say: "Which of you has had His faith increased by it?"
Yea, those who believe,- their faith is increased and
they do rejoice.
- But those in whose hearts is a disease,- it will
add doubt to their doubt, and they will die in a state
of Unbelief.
- See they not that they are tried every year once or
twice? Yet they turn not in repentance, and they take
no heed.
- Whenever there cometh down a Sura, they look at
each other, (saying), "Doth anyone see you?" Then they
turn aside: God hath turned their hearts (from the
light); for they are a people that understand not.
- Now hath come unto you an Apostle from amongst
yourselves: it grieves him that ye should perish:
ardently anxious is he over you: to the Believers is he
most kind and merciful.
- But if they turn away, Say: "God sufficeth me:
there is no god but He: On Him is my trust,- He the
Lord of the Throne (of Glory) Supreme!"
Quran
Surah 8 Spoils of War
Surah 9 Repentance
Surah 10 Jonah