Background Information of Surah At-Tawbah
Time of Revelation: Revealed seven years after the preceding Surah, during the last years of Prophet Muhammad’s life. It consists of 129 verses.
Distinctive Opening: Notably starts without the Basmala (“In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate”).
Context: Includes policies set during the leadership of Prophet Muhammad and announced publicly by Ali ibn Abi Talib during a pilgrimage.
Key Themes and Messages
Policy on Broken Treaties:
Handling Violations: Discusses the protocol if an enemy breaks a peace treaty. It advises dissolving obligations with those who persist in their violations but allows a four-month period for the possibility of repentance and behavioral change.
Ultimate Response: If no change is forthcoming, the Surah directs to fight against the violators to uphold justice and protect the community.
Religious and Social Guidelines:
Sanctuary and Conversion: Stipulates that if someone from the enemy seeks refuge to hear the word of Allah, they should be granted safety to facilitate potential conversion.
Access to Sacred Sites: Non-believers are not allowed to enter the holy mosque unless they believe in Allah and recognize His laws.
Interactions with Non-Muslims:
People of the Book: The Surah addresses Jews and Christians, claiming they seek to extinguish Allah’s light, a metaphor for attempting to undermine or falsify His teachings. However, it reaffirms that divine truth will always prevail.
Economic and Moral Exhortations:
Use of Wealth: Encourages using wealth and resources for humanity’s benefit and warns against hoarding or misuse, which could lead to severe punishment.
Effort in Allah’s Way: Urges continuous striving in the way of Allah, warning that failure to do so could result in being replaced by others more willing.
Dealing with Hypocrisy and Community Responsibilities:
Avoiding Hypocrites: Advises against seeking excuses for not fulfilling religious duties like the hypocrites do, and instructs not to support or take help from them as their resources should go to the needy.
Redemption and Divine Disfavor: Offers forgiveness to believers who repent from sins but states that those who persist in disbelief and discord have no hope for divine mercy.
Group Responsibilities and Education:
Learning and Teaching: Suggests that a group of Muslims should always remain behind during battles to study religion and educate those who return from fighting, ensuring continuous religious knowledge and practice.
Impact of Revelation:
Strengthening Faith: Each newly revealed Surah is meant to strengthen the believers’ faith, but for those with a “disease” in their hearts, it deepens their doubts.
Topical Analysis of Rukus
Ruku 1: Verses 1-6
Allah strictly warns the polytheists around Kaaba. He invites them to Islam in the time allotted to them, and when the time is up, he orders the Muslims to cleanse Mecca from the remaining polytheists.
Ruku 2: Verses 7-16
Allah talks about the lack of charakter of the pagans in Mecca and why they need to be purged from Mecca.
Despite everything, Allah says that if they repent and do not oppose Allah, then they will be the brothers of the muslims and they will not be harmed.
Ruku 3: Verses 17-24
Allah says that the pagans repairing the Kaaba and giving water to the pilgrims will not benefit them unless they believe.
The characteristics and deeds of believers who have attained mercy and paradise by their Lord are explained.
Ruku 4: Verses 25-29
Allah talks about the situation of the muslim army in the battle on the day of Hunayn and how He helped them.
Allah informs the believers of His orders so that the pagans are not brought near the Masjid Haram.
Ruku 5: Verses 30-37
Allah talks about the people of the book that lost themselves in idolatry and say that Allah has begotten a child.
Allah gives the good news that the religion of Islam, which is the light of His, will prevail over all religions.
The bitter end that awaits the clergy, who use their religious knowledge to deceive people and get their money.
Allah is calling out to those who manipulate the times of the haram months for their benefit.
Ruku 6: Verses 38-42
Allah is speaking in a very definite and sharp language to the muslims who are hesitant to go on the Tabuk expedition against the byzantine army.
Ruku 7: Verses 43-59
Allah warns His Messenger for allowing those who do not want to go on an expedition.
Allah reveals the hypocrits hidden among muslims and talks about their behavior.
Ruku 8: Verses 60-66
Allah tells to whom the zakat money should be given.
Allah is talking about hypocrites who sneer and talk about the Prophet (pbuh).
Ruku 9: Verses 67-72
After describing the characteristics of hypocrites, Allah calls out to them and warns them.
Allah explains the characteristics of muslims and gives them the good news of Paradise.
Ruku 10: Verses 73-80
Allah orders His Prophet (pbuh) to do jihad against the hypocrites who hide among them.
Allah reveals that these hypocrites broke their promises and made sarcastic remarks about muslims.
Ruku 11: Verses 81-89
Allah reveals His harsh judgment about the hypocrites who avoid participating in the Tabuk expedition.
Ruku 12: Verses 90-99
Allah explains the valid excuses for not participating in the expeditions.
After the expedition, Allah informs and warns the muslims that the hypocrites will attempt to make the muslims accept them back.
God speaks of the Bedouins, who are Arabs of the desert.
Ruku 13: Verses 100-110
Allah speaks of the hypocrites among the Bedouins and among the people of Madinah, and of those who have been hypocritical before and realized their mistakes and repented, and gives advice to those who repent.
Allah talks about the Masjid in Madinah, which was built with the aim of harming the muslims and making them separate.
Ruku 14: Verses 111-118
In the Torah, the Bible and the Qur’an, Allah has spoken of the Paradise He has promised for His believing servants and explains which of His servants will earn the Paradise.
Those who died as idolaters will not be saved even if their relatives are prophets. He gives an example through Abraham (pbuh).
Allah explains which of His servants He will not leave to go astray.
Allah explains whose repentance during and after the Tabuk expedition was accepted.
Ruku 15: Verses 119-122
Allah speaks of the mistake of avoiding the wars for His religion without a valid reason, and the good deeds to be won in such wars.
Allah gives advice to people who will go to war.
Ruku 16: Verses 123-129
Allah gives orders and wisdom about the first way to fight the infidels who are a threat to muslims.
Allah talks about the reactions of muslims and hypocrites when a new surah is revealed.
Finally, Allah talks about His Prophet (pbuh) and gives him advice.
