157. Those who follow the messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel (which are) with them. He will enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them that which is wrong. He will make lawful for them all good things and prohibit for them only the foul; and he will relieve them of their burden and the fetters that they used to wear. Then those who believe in him, and honour him, and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him: they are the successful.
158. Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah to you all—(the messenger of) Him unto whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. There is no God save Him. He quickeneth and He giveth death. So believe in Allah and His messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write,* who believeth in Allah and in His Words, and follow him that haply ye may be led aright.
159. And of Moses’ folk there is a community who lead with truth and establish justice therewith. 160. We divided them into twelve tribes, nations; and We inspired Moses, when his people asked him for water, saying: Smite with thy staff the rock! And there gushed forth therefrom twelve springs, so that each tribe knew their drinking- place. And we caused the white cloud to overshadow them and sent down for them the manna and the quails (saying): Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you. They wronged Us not, but they were wont to wrong themselves.
' I give the usual rendering. Some modern criticism, while not denying the comparative illiteracy of the Prophet, would prefer the rendering “who is not of those who read the Scriptures” or “Gentile.”
VII THE HEIGHTS 161. And when it was said unto them: Dwell in this township and eat therefrom whence ye will, and say “Repentance,”' and enter the gate prostrate; We shall forgive you your sins; We shall increase (reward) for the the right-doers.
162. But those of them who did wrong changed the word which had been told them for another saying, and We sent down upon them wrath from heaven for their wrongdoing.
163. Ask them (O Muhammad) of the township that was by the sea, how they did break the sabbath, how their big fish came unto them visibly upon their sabbath day and on a day when they did not keep sabbath came they not unto them. Thus did We try them for that they were evil-livers. 164. And when a community among them said; Why preach ye to a folk whom Allah is about to destroy and punish with an awful doom, they said: In order to be free from guilt before your Lord, and that haply they may ward off (evil).
165. And when they forgot that whereof they had been reminded, We rescued those who forbade wrong, and visited those who did wrong with dreadful punishment because they were evil-livers.
166. So when they took pride in that which they had been forbidden, We said unto them: Be ye apes despised and loathed!
167. And (remember) when thy Lord proclaimed that He would raise against them till the Day of Resurrection those who would lay on them a cruel torment. Lo! verily thy Lord is swift in prosecution and lo! verily He is Forgiving, Merci¬ ful.
168. And We have sundered them in the earth as (separate) nations. Some of them are righteous, and some far from that. And We have tried them with good things and evil things that haply they might return.
* Sur. II, V. 58, footnote.
THE GLORIOUS KORAN SURAH 169. And a generation hath succeeded them who inherited the Scriptures. They grasp the goods of this low life (as the price of evil-doing) and say: It will be forgiven us. And if there came to them (again) the offer of the like, they would accept it (and would sin again). Hath not the covenant of the Scripture been taken on their behalf that they should not speak aught concerning Allah save the truth? And they have studied that which is therein. And the abode of the Hereafter is better, for those who ward off (evil). Have ye then no sense?
170. And as for those who make (men) keep the Scripture, and establish worship—lo! We squander not the wages of reformers.
171. And when We shook the Mount above them as it were a covering, and they supposed that it was going to fall upon them (and We said): Hold fast that which We have given you^ and remember that which is therein, that ye may ward off (evil).
172. And (remember) when thy Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their reins, their seed, and made them testify of themselves, (saying): Am I not your Lord? They said: Yea, verily. We testify. (That was) lest ye should say at the Day of Resurrection: Lo! of this we were unaware,* 173. Or lest ye should say: (It is) only (that) our fathers ascribed partners to Allah of old and we were (their) seed after them. Wilt Thou destroy us on account of that which those who follow falsehood did?
174. Thus We detail Our revelations, that haply they may return.
175. Recite unto them the tale of him to whom We gave Our revelations, but he sloughed them off, so Satan overtook him and he became of those who lead astray.
176. And had We willed We could have raised him by their means, but he clung to the earth and followed his own lust.
VII THE HEIGHTS TKerefor his likeness is as the likeness of a dog; if thou attackest him he panteth with his tongue out, and if thou leavest him he panteth with his tongue out. Such is the likeness of the people who deny Our revelations. Narrate unto them the history (of the men of old), that haply they may take thought.
177. Evil as an example are the folk who denied Our revelations, and were wont to wrong themselves.
178. He whom Allah leadeth, he indeed is led aright, while he whom Allah sendeth astray—they indeed are losers. 179. Already have We urged unto hell many of the jinn and humankind, having'hearts wherewith they understand not, and having eyes wherewith they see not, and having ears wherewith they hear not. These are as the cattle—nay, but they are worse! These are the neglectful.
180. Allah’s are the fairest names. Invoke Him by them. And leave the company of those who blaspheme His names. They will be requited what they do.
181. And of those whom We created there is a nation who guide with the Truth and establish justice therewith.
182. And those who deny Our revelations—step by step We lead them on from whence they know not.
183. I give them rein (for) lo! My scheme is strong.
184. Have they not bethought them (that) there is no madness in their comrade? He is but a plain warner.
185. Have they not considered the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and what things Allah hath created, and that it may be that their own term draweth nigh? In what fact after this will they believe?
186. Those whom Allah sendeth astray, there is no guide for them. He leaveth them to wander blindly on in their contumacy.
187. They ask thee of the (destined) Hour, when will it N 17^ THE GLORIOUS KORAN s<jrah come to port. Say: Knowledge thereof is with my Lord only. He alone will manifest it at its proper time. It is heavy in the heavens and the earth. It cometh not to you save unawares. They question thee as if thou couldst be well informed thereof. Say: Knowledge thereof is with Allah only, but most of mankind know not.
188. Say: For myself I have no power to benefit, nor power to hurt, save that which Allah willeth. Had I knowledge of the Unseen, I should have abundance of wealth, and adversity would not touch me. I am but a warner, and a bearer of good tidings unto folk who believe.
189. He it is who did create you from a single soul, and therefrom did make his mate that he might take rest in her. And when he covered her she bore a light burden, and she passed (unnoticed) with it, but when it became heavy they cried unto Allah, their Lord, saying: If thou givest unto us aright we shall be of the thankful.
190. But when He gave unto them aright, they ascribed unto Him partners in respect of that which He had given them. High is He exalted above all that they associate (with Him).
191. Attribute they as partners to Allah those who created naught, but are themselves created, 192. And cannot give them help, nor can they help themselves? 193. And if ye call them to the Guidance, they follow you not. Whether ye call them or are silent is all one to them.
194. Lo! those on whom ye call beside Allah are slaves like unto you. Call on them now, and let them answer you, if ye are truthful!
195. Have they feet wherewith they walk, or have they hands wherewith they hold, or have they eyes wherewith they see, or have they ears wherewith they hear? Say: Call upon VII THE HEIGHTS your (so-called) partners (of Allah), and then contrive against me, spare me not!
196. Lo! my Protecting Friend is Allah who revealeth the Scripture. He befriendeth the righteous.
197. They on whom ye call beside Him have no power to help you, nor can they help themselves.
198. And if ye (Muslims) call them to the Guidance they hear not; and thou (Muhammad) seest them looking toward thee, but they see not.
199. Keep to forgiveness (O Muhammad), and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant.
200. And if a slander from the devil wound thee, then seek refuge in Allah. Lo! He is Hearer, Knower.
201. Lo! those who ward off (evil), when a glamour from the devil troubleth them, they do but remember (Allah’s guidance) and behold them seers!
202. Their brethren plunge them further into error and cease not. 203. And when thou bringest not a verse for them they say: Why hast thou not chosen it? Say: I follow only that which is inspired in me from my Lord. This (Qur’an) is insight from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people that believe.
204. And when the Qur’an is recited, give ear to it and pay heed, that ye may obtain mercy.
205. And do thou (O Muhammad) remember thy Lord within thyself humbly and with awe, below thy breath, at morn and evening. And be not thou of the neglectful.
206. Lo! those who are with thy Lord are not too proud to do Him service, but they praise Him and adore Him.
SORAH VIII Al-Anfal, “The Spoils,” takes its name from the first verse by which it is proclaimed that property taken in war belongs “to Allah and His messenger”—that is to say, to the theocratic State, to be used for the common weal. The date of the revelation of this Surah is estab- - lished, from the nature of the contents, as the time that elapsed between the battle of Badr and the division of the spoils—a space of only one month—in the second year of the Hijrah. The concluding verses are of later date and lead up to the subject of Surah IX.
A Meccan caravan was returning from Syria, and its leader, Abu Sufyan, fearing an attack from Al-Madinah, sent a camel-rider on to Mecca with a frantic appeal for help; which must have come too late, considering the distances, if, as some writers even among Muslims have alleged, the Prophet had always intended to attack the caravan. Ibn Ish^ {apui Ibn HisMm) when creating of the Tabuk expedition, says that the Prophet announced the destination on that occasion, whereas it was his custom to hide his real objective. Was not the real objective hidden in this first campaign? It is a fact that he only advanced when the army sent to protect the caravan, or rather (it is probable) to punish the Muslims for having plundered it, was approaching Al-Madinah. His little army of three hundred and thirteen men, ill-armed and roughly equipped, traversed the desert for three days till, when they halted near the water of Badr, they had news that the army of Qureysh was approaching on the other side of the valley. Then rain fell—heavily upon Qureysh so that they could not advance futther on account of the muddy state of the ground, lightly on the Muslims, who were able to advance to the water and secure it. At the same time Abu Sufyan, the leader of the caravan, which was also heading for the water of Badr, was warned by one of his scouts of the advance of the Muslims and turned back to the coast-plain. Before the battle against what must have appeared to all men overwhelming odds, the Prophet gave the Ansar, the men of Al-Madinah, whose oath of allegiance had not included fighting in the field, the chance of returning if they wished; but they were only hurt by the suggestion that they could possibly forsake him. On the StJRAH VIII SPOILS OF WAR i8i other hand, several of Qureysh, including the whole Zuhri clan, returned to Mecca when they heard the caravan was safe, having no grudge otherwise against the Prophet and his followers, whom they regarded as men who had been wronged.
Still the army of Qureysh outnumbered the Muslims by more than two to one, and was much better mounted and equipped, so that their leaders counted on an easy victory. When the Prophet saw them streaming down the sandhills, he cried: “O Allah! Here are Qureysh with all their chivalry and pomp, who oppose Thee and deny Thy messenger. O Allah! Thy help which Thou hast promised me! O Allah! Make them bow this day!”
The Muslims were successful in the single combats with which Arab battles opened. But the mM6e at first went hard against them; and the Prophet stood and prayed under the shelter which they had put up to screen him from the sun, and cried: ”0 Allah! If this little company is destroyed, there will be none left in the land to worship Thee.” Then he fell into a trance and, when he spoke again, he told Abu Bakr, who was with him, that the promised help had come. Thereupon he went out to encourage his people. Taking up a handful of gravel, he ran cowards Qureysh and flung it at them, saying: ‘‘The faces are confounded!” on which the tide of battle turned in favour of the Muslims. The leader of Qureysh and several of their greatest men were killed, many were taken prisoner, and their baggage and camels were captured by the Muslims. It was indeed a day to be remembered in the early history of Al-IslSm, and there was great rejoicing in Al-Madinah. But the Muslims are warned in this Surah that it is only the beginning of their struggle against heavy odds. In fact, in the following year at Mt. Uhud (referred to in Sur. Ill), the enemy came against them with an army of three thousand, and in the fifth year of the Hijrah, an allied army of the pagan clans, amounting to 10,000, besieged Al-Madinah in the ‘‘War of the Trench” (see Sur. XXXIII, ‘‘The Clans”).
The date of revelation is the second year of the Hijrah for the most part. Some good Arabic authorities hold that vv. 30-40, or some of them, were revealed at Mecca just before the Hijrah.
THE GLORIOUS KORAN SIRRAH SPOILS OF WAR Revealed at Al-Madinah In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1. They ask thee (O Muhammad) of the spoils of war. Say: The spoils of war belong to Allah and the messenger, so keep your duty to Allah, and adjust the matter of your difference, and obey Allah and His messenger, if ye are (true) believers.
2. They only are the (true) believers whose hearts feel fear when Allah is mentioned, and when the revelations of Allah are recited unto them they increase their faith, and who trust in their Lord; 3. Who establish worship and spend of that We have bestowed on them.
4. Those are they who are in truth believers. For them are grades (of honour) with their Lord, and pardon, and a bountiful provision.
5. Even as thy Lord caused thee (Muhammad) to go forth from thy home with the Truth, and lo! a party of the believers were averse (to it), 6. Disputing with thee of the Truth after it had been made manifest, as if they were being driven to death visible.
7. And when Allah promised you one of the two bands ^ (of the enemy) that it should be yours, and ye longed that other than the armed one might be yours. And Allah willed that He should cause the Truth to triumph by His words, and cut the root of the disbelievers; * Either the army or the caravan.
VIII SPOILS OF WAR 8. That He might cause the Truth to triumph and bring vanity to naught, however much the guilty might oppose; 9. When ye sought help of your Lord and He answered you (saying): I will help you with a thousand of the angels, rank on rank.
10. Allah appointed it only as good tidings, and that your hearts thereby might be at rest. Victory cometh only by the help of Allah. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise.
11. When he made the slumber fall upon you as a reassurance from Him and sent down water from the sky upon you, that thereby He might purify you, and remove from you the fear of Satan, and make strong your hearts and firm (your) feet thereby.
12. When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying:) I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger.
13. That is because they opposed Allah and His messenger. Whoso opposeth Allah and His messenger, (for him) lo! Allah is severe in punishment.
14. That (is the award), so taste it, and (know) that for disbelievers is the torment of the Fire. 15. O ye who believe! When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them.
16. Whoso on that day turneth his back to them, unless manoeuvring for battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless journey’s-end, 17. Ye (Muslims) slew them not, but Allah slew them. And thou (Muhammad) threwest not when thou didst throw, but Allah threw, that He might test the believers by a fair test from Him. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower.
SURAH 184 THE GLORIOUS KORAN 18. That (is the case); and (know) that Allah (it is) who maketh weak the plan of disbelievers.
19. (O Qureysh!) If ye sought a judgement, now hath the judgement come unto you. And if ye cease (from persecuting the believers) it will be better for you, but if ye return (to the attack) We also shall return. And your host will avail you naught, however numerous it be, and (know) that Allah is with the believers (in His guidance).
20. O ye who believe! Obey Allah and His messenger, and turn not away from him when ye hear (him speak).
21. Be not as those who say, We hear, and they hear not.
22. Lo! the worst of beasts in Allah’s sight are the deaf, the dumb, who have no sense. 23. Had Allah known of any good in them He would have made them hear, but had He made them hear they would have turned away, averse.
24. O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and the messenger when He calleth you to that which quickeneth you, and know that Allah cometh in between the man and his own heart, and that He it is unto Whom ye will be gathered.
25. And guard yourselves against a chastisement which cannot fall exclusively on those of you who are wrong-doers, and know that Allah is severe in punishment.
26. And remember, when ye were few and reckoned feeble in the land, and were in fear lest men should extirpate you, how He gave you refuge, and strengthened you with His help, and made provision of good things for you, that haply ye might be thankful.
27. O ye who believe! Betray not Allah and His messenger, nor knowingly betray your trusts.
28. And know that your possessions and your children are a test, and that with Allah is immense reward.
VIII SPOILS OF WAR 29. O ye who believe! If.ye keep your duty to Allah, He will give you discrimination (between right and wrong) and will rid you of your evil thoughts and deeds, and will forgive you. Allah is of infinite bounty. 30. And when those who disbelieve plot against thee (O Muhammad) to wound thee fatally,, or to kill thee or to drive thee forth; they plot, but Allah (also) plotteth; and Allah is the best of plotters.
31. And when Our revelations are recited unto them they say; We have heard. If we wish we can speak the like of this. Lol this is naught but fables of the men of old.
32. And when they said: O Allah! If this be indeed the truth from Thee, then rain down stones on us or bring on us some painful doom!
33. But Allah would not punish them while thou wast with them, nor will He punish them while they seek forgiveness.
34. What (plea) have they that Allah should not punish them, when they debar (His servants) from the Inviolable Place of Worship, though they are not its fitting guardians. Its fitting guardians are those only who keep their duty to Allah. But most of them know not.
35. And their worship at the (holy) House is naught but whistling and hand-clapping. Therefore (it is said unto them): Taste of the doom because ye disbelieve. 36. Lo! those who disbelieve spend their wealth in order that they may debar (men) from the way of Allah. They will spend it, then it will become an anguish for them, then they will be conc|uered. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto hell, 37. That Allah may separate the wicked from the good. The wicked will He place piece upon piece, and heap them all together, and consign them unto hell. Such verily are the losers.
THE GLORIOUS KORAN s6rah 38. Tell those who disbelieve that if they cease (from persecution of believers) that which is past will be forgiven them; but if they return (thereto) then the example of the men of old hath already gone (before them, for a warning).
39. And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah. But if they cease, then lo! Allah is Seer of what they do.
40. And if they turn away, then know that Allah is your Befriender—a transcendent Patron, a transcendent Helper!
41. And know that whatever ye take as spoils of war, lo! a fifth thereof is for Allah, and for the messengeP and for the kinsman (who hath need) and orphans and the needy and the waytarer, if ye believe in Allah and that which We revealed unco Our slave on the Day of Discrimination, the day when the two armies met. And Allah is Able to do all things.
42. When ye were on the near bank (of the valley) and they were on the yonder bank, and the caravan was below you (on the coast plain). And had ye trysted to meet one another ye surely would have failed to keep the tryst, but (it happened, as it did, without the forethought of either of you) that Allah might conclude a thing that must be done; that he who perished (on that day) might perish by a clear proof (of His sovereignty) and he who survived might survive by a clear proof (of His sovereignty). Lo! Allah in truth is Hearer, Knower.
43. When Allah showed them unto thee (O Muhammad)in thy dream as few in number, and if He had shown them to thee as many, ye (Muslims) would have faltered and would have quarrelled over the affair. But Allah saved (you). Lo! He knoweth what is in the breasts (of men).
44. And when He made you (Muslims), when ye met (them), see them with your eyes as few, and lessened you in ' i,c. for the State, to be used for the common weal.
VIII SPOILS OF WAR 187 their eyes, (it was) that Allah might conclude a thing that must be done. Unto Allah all things are brought back, 45. O ye who believe? When ye meet an army, hold firm and think of Allah much, that ye may be successful, 46. And obey Allah and His messenger, and dispute not one with another lest ye falter and your strength depart from you; but be stedfast! Lo! Allah is with the stedfast, 47. Be not as those who came forth from their dwellings boastfully and to be seen of men, and debar (men) from the way of Allah, while Allah is surrounding all they do.
48. And when Satan made their deeds seem fair to them and said: No one of mankind can conquer you this day, for I am your protector. But when the armies came in sight of one another, he cook flight, saying; Lo? I am guiltless of you. Lo? I see that which ye see not. Lo? I fear Allah. And Allah is severe in punishment.
49. When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease said: Their religion hath deluded these. Whoso putteth his trust in Allah (will find that) lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise.
50. If thou couldsC see how the angels receive those who disbelieve, smiting their faces and their backs and (saying): Taste the punishment of burning?
51. This is for that which your own hands have sent before (to the Judgement), and (know) that Allah is not a tyrant to His slaves.
52. (Their way is) as the way of Pharaoh’s folk and those before them; they disbelieved the revelations of Allah, and Allah took them in their sins, Lo? Allah is Strong, severe in punishment. 53. That is because Allah never changeth the grace He hath bestowed on any people until they first change that which is in their hearts, and (that is) because Allah is Hearer, Knower.
54. (Their way is) as the way of Pharaoh’s folk and those THE GLORIOUS KORAN sOrah before them; they denied the revelations of their Lord, so We destroyed them in their sins. And We drowned the folk of Pharaoh. All were evil-doers.
55. Lo! the worst of beasts in Allah’s sight are the ungrateful who will not believe; 56. Those of them with whom thou madest a treaty, and then at every opportunity they break their treaty, and they keep not duty (to Allah).
57. If thou comest on them in the war, deal with them so as to strike fear in those who are behind them, that haply they may remember.
58. And if thou fearest treachery from any folk, then throw back to them (their treaty) fairly. Lo! Allah loveth not the treacherous.
59. And let not those who disbelieve suppose that they can outstrip (Allah’s purpose). Lo! they cannot escape. 60. Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others beside them whom ye know not. Allah knoweth them, Whatsoever ye spend in the way of Allah it will be repaid to you in full, and ye will not be wronged.
O 61. And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Lo! He is the Hearer, the Knower.
62. And if they would deceive thee, then lo! Allah is sufficient for thee. He it is Who supporteth thee with His help and with the believers, 63. And (as for the believers) hath attuned their hearts. If thou hadst spent all that is in the earth thou couldst not have attuned their hearts, but Allah hath attuned them. Lo! He is Mighty, Wise.
64. O Prophet! Allah is sufficient for thee and those who follow thee of the believers.
VIII SPOILS OF WAR 65. O Prophet! Exhort the believers to fight. If there be of you twenty stedfast they shall overcome two hundred, and if there be of you a hundred stedfast they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are a folk without intelligence. 66. Now hath Allah lightened your burden, for He knoweth that there is weakness in you. So if there be of you a stedfast hundred they shall overcome two hundred, and if there be of you a thousand (stedfast) they shall overcome two thousand by permission of Allah. Allah is with the stedfast.
67. It is not for any Prophet to have captives until he hath made slaughter in the land. Ye desire the lure of this world and Allah desireth (for you) the Hereafter, and Allah is Mighty, Wise.
68. Had it not been for an ordinance of Allah which had gone before, an awful doom had come upon you on account of what ye took.
69. Now enjoy what ye have won, as lawful and good, and keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.'
70. O Prophet! Say unto those captives who are in your hands: If Allah knoweth any good in your hearts He will give you better than that which hath been taken from you, and will forgive you. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
71. And if they would betray thee, they betrayed Allah before, and He gave (thee) power over them. Allah is Knower, Wise. 72. Lo! those who believed and left their homes and strove with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah, and those who took them in and helped them: these are pro- ^ vv. 67—69 were revealed when the Prophet had decided to spare the lives of the prisoners taken at Badr and hold them to ransom, against the wish of Omar, who would have executed them for their past crimes. The Prophet took the verses as a reproof, and they are generally understood to mean that no quarter ought to have been given in that first battle.
THE GLORIOUS KORAN surah viii.
tecting friends one of another. And those who believed but did not leave their homes, ye have no duty to protect them till they leave their homes; but if they seek help from you in the matter of religion then it is your duty to help (them) except against a folk between whom and you there is a treaty. Allah is Seer of what ye do.
73. And those who disbelieve are protectors one of another —If ye do not so, there will be confusion in the land, and great corruption.
74. Those who believed and left their homes and strove for the cause ot Allah, and those who took them in and helped them—these are the believers in truth. For them is pardon, and a bountiful provision. 75. And those who afterwards believed and left their homes and strove along with you, they are of you; and those who are akin are nearer one to another in the ordinance of Allah. Lo! Allah is Knower of all things.
SURAH IX SURAH IX At-Tauhah, "Repentance”, takes its name from v. 104. It is often called Al-Bari’at (The Immunity), from the first word. It is the only Surah which is without the Bi’smi’lldhi’r-Rahmdni’r-RaMtn ("In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful”) which is generally considered to be on account of the stern commandments against idolaters which it contains. Vv. 1—12, forming the proclamation of immunity from obligation toward the idolaters, were revealed after the pilgrims had started for Mecca in the ninth year of the Hijrah and sent by special messenger to Abu Bakr, leader of the pilgrimage, to be read out by Ali to the multitudes at Mecca. It signified the end of idolatry in Arabia. The Christian Byzantine Empire had begun to move against the growing Muslim power, and this Surah contains mention of a greater war to come, and instructions with regard to it. Vv. 38— 99 refer to the Tabuk campaign, and especially to those Arab tribes who failed to join the Muslims m that campaign. The "Hypocrites,” as the half-hearted supporters of Al-IslSm were called, had long been a thorn in the side of the Muslims. They had even at one time gone the length in dissent of forming a congregation and building a mosque of their own surreptitiously. On the Prophet’s return from Tabuk they invited him to visit that mosque. This is referred to in vv. 107 ff.
The date of revelation is the ninth year of the Hijrah.
REPENTANCE Revealed at Al-Madinah 1. Freedom from obligation (is proclaimed) from Allah and His messenger toward those of the idolaters with whom ye made a treaty: 2. Travel freely in the land four months, and know that ye cannot escape Allah and that Allah will confound the disbelievers (in His guidance).
192 THE GLORIOUS KORAN sOrah 3. And a proclamation from Allah and His messenger to all men on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage that Allah is free from obligation to the idolaters, and (so is) His messenger. So, if ye repent, it will be better for you; but if ye are averse, then know that ye cannot escape Allah. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve, 4. Excepting those of the idolaters with whom ye (Muslims) have a treaty, and who have since abated nothing of your right nor have supported anyone against you. (As for these), fulfil their treaty to them till their term. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty (unto Him).
5. Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. 6. And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy protection (O Muhammad), then protect him so that he may hear the word of Allah, and afterward convey him to his place of safety. That is because they are a folk who know not.
7. How can there be a treaty with Allah and with His messenger for the idolaters save those with whom ye made a treaty at the Inviolable Place of Worship? So long as they are true to you, be true to them. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty.
8. How (can there be any treaty for the others) when, if they have the upper hand of you, they regard not pact nor honour in respect of you? They satisfy you with their mouths the while their hearts refuse. And most of them are wrongdoers.
9. They have purchased with the revelations of Allah a little gain, so they debar (men) from His way. Lo! evil is that which they are wont to do.
IX REPENTANCE 10. And they observe toward a believer neither pact nor honour. These are they who are transgressors.
11. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then are they your brethren in religion. We detail Our revelations for a people who have knowledge. 12. And if they break their pledges after their treaty (hath been made with you) and assail your religion, then fight the heads of disbelief—Lo! they have no binding oaths—in order that they may desist.
13. Will ye not fight a folk who broke their solemn pledges, and purposed to drive out the messenger and did attack you first? What! Fear ye them? Now Allah hath more right that ye should fear Him, if ye are believers.
14. Fight them! Allah will chastise them at your hands, and He will lay them low and give you victory over them, and He will heal the breasts of folk who are believers.
15. And He will remove the anger of their hearts. Allah relenteth toward whom He will. Allah is Knower, Wise.
16. Or deemed ye that ye would be left (in peace) when Allah yet knoweth not those of you who strive, choosing for familiar none save Allah and His messenger and the believers? Allah is Informed of what ye do.
17. It is not for the idolaters to tend Allah’s sanctuaries, bearing witness against themselves of disbelief. As for such, their works are vain and in the Fire they will abide.