Tafsir Zone - Surah 9: at-Taubah (Repentance )

Tafsir Zone

Surah at-Taubah 9:49
 

Overview (Verses 49 - 52)

Absurdity Carried Too Far

The sūrah goes on to report some of their fabricated excuses and to expose their ill intentions towards the Prophet and the Muslim community: “There is among them [many a] one who may say: ‘Give me leave to stay behind, and do not expose me to temptation.’ Surely they have succumbed to temptation. Hell is certain to engulf the unbelievers. Your good fortune grieves them; but if a disaster befalls you, they will say: ‘We are lucky to have taken our precautions.’ Thus they turn away rejoicing. Say: ‘Nothing will befall us except what God has decreed. He is our Guardian. In God alone should the believers place their trust.’ Say: ‘Are you waiting for something [bad] to happen to us?; but [nothing may happen to us except] one of the two best things. On our part we are waiting for God to inflict upon you a scourge, either directly from Himself or by our hands. Wait, then, if you will; we shall also be waiting.’” (Verses 49-52)

It is authentically reported by several authorities that one day when the Prophet was making preparations for the Tabūk Expedition, he said to al-Jadd ibn Qays, of the Salamah clan: “What would you say, Jadd, to a confrontation with the Byzantines?” He answered: “Or would you rather excuse me, Messenger of God, so that I am not exposed to temptation? My people are aware that no one is more fond of women than me. I fear that should I see the Byzantine women, I would not be able to resist them.” The Prophet turned away from him and said: “You are excused.” It is to al-Jadd ibn Qays that this verse refers.

This is typical of the absurd excuses proffered by the hypocrites. What answer has the Qur’ān for them? “Surely they have succumbed to temptation. Hell is certain to engulf the unbelievers.” (Verse 49) The sūrah portrays here a scene in which temptation is shown like an abyss in which the tempted fall, and behind them stands hell ready to engulf them, blocking all openings for escape. This image suggests that they have committed an unmitigated sin and that their punishment is inevitable. It is a punishment for their falsehood, staying behind at a time of war and offering such absurd excuses. It confirms their total lack of faith, despite the fact that they were keen to pretend that they believed in God and His Messenger.

They certainly do not wish the Prophet or the Muslims well. They are grieved when the Prophet and the Muslims meet good fortune: “Your good fortune grieves them.” (Verse 50) Indeed they are so happy when misfortune or a disaster befalls the believers, or when they encounter hardship: “If a disaster befalls you, they will say: ‘We are lucky to have taken our precautions.” (Verse 50) Thus they consider having stayed behind when the Muslims left to fight the Byzantines a wise precaution. “Thus they turn away rejoicing.” (Verse 50) They are so pleased that they have ensured their own safety and did not expose themselves to the hardship the Muslims endured.

Their attitude shows their superficial outlook. They consider any hardship to be evil which must be avoided at all costs. They think that they make great gain by staying behind. Their hearts are devoid of any element of submission to God and accepting His will, believing it to be for their own good. A true believer does his best, fearing no outcome, because he believes that whatever good or evil he experiences is tied to God’s will, and that God will help him and grant him success: “Say: ‘Nothing will befall us except what God has decreed. He is our Guardian. In God alone should the believers place their trust.’” (Verse 51)

God has promised the Muslims eventual victory. Therefore whatever hardship they are made to suffer, and however hard their test appears to be, they are being prepared for their promised victory. The believers will certainly have their victory after they have passed their test. It will come by the means God has ordained so that it is treated as a valuable, not a cheap, victory. Thus the Muslims will defend their position of honour, ready to give any sacrifice for it. It is God who gives help and grants victory: “In God alone should the believers place their trust.” (Verse 51)

To believe in God’s will and to rely on Him totally are in no way contradictory with making all the necessary preparations. God gives us a very clear order when He says: “Make ready against them whatever force and war mounts you can muster.” (8: 60) Placing one’s trust in God truly means carrying out His orders, taking all necessary precautions, and understanding the laws He has set into operation without allowing them to deviate from their respective courses in order to please any human being.

It should be mentioned that a believer will only get what is good for him, whether he achieves victory or martyrdom. An unbeliever will only end up with what is evil, whether he is made to taste God’s punishment directly or at the hands of the believers: “Say: ‘Are you waiting for something [bad] to happen to us?; but [nothing may happen to us except] one of the two best things. On our part we are waiting for God to inflict upon you a scourge, either directly from Himself or by our hands. Wait, then, if you will; we shall also be waiting.’” (Verse 52)

What do the hypocrites expect to happen to the believers? It will be something good anyway. They will either achieve victory which causes God’s word to triumph, and this would be the believers’ reward in this life; or else, they will achieve martyrdom, which secures for them the highest position with God. What do the believers expect to happen to the hypocrites? It will only be a calamity which overpowers them as happened to earlier unbelievers; or else, they will be defeated and humiliated at the hands of the believers, as happened to the idolaters. They are to wait, then, because the Muslims will be waiting as well. The end will certainly be in favour of the believers.