Surah At-Tawbah Recitation, Translation, and Tafseer - The Holy Quran

9:1

بَرَآءَةٌ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖۤ اِلَى الَّذِیْنَ عٰهَدْتُّمْ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِیْنَؕ(۱)

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

A (declaration) of immunity from Allah and His Messenger, to those of the Pagans with whom ye have contracted mutual alliances:-

9:2

فَسِیْحُوْا فِی الْاَرْضِ اَرْبَعَةَ اَشْهُرٍ وَّ اعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّكُمْ غَیْرُ مُعْجِزِی اللّٰهِۙ-وَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ مُخْزِی الْكٰفِرِیْنَ(۲)

(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.

Go ye, then, for four months, backwards and forwards, (as ye will), throughout the land, but know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah (by your falsehood) but that Allah will cover with shame those who reject Him.

9:3

وَ اَذَانٌ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖۤ اِلَى النَّاسِ یَوْمَ الْحَجِّ الْاَكْبَرِ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ بَرِیْٓءٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِیْنَ ﳔ وَ رَسُوْلُهٗؕ-فَاِنْ تُبْتُمْ فَهُوَ خَیْرٌ لَّكُمْۚ-وَ اِنْ تَوَلَّیْتُمْ فَاعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّكُمْ غَیْرُ مُعْجِزِی اللّٰهِؕ-وَ بَشِّرِ الَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا بِعَذَابٍ اَلِیْمٍۙ(۳)

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,

And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger, to the people (assembled) on the day of the Great Pilgrimage,- that Allah and His Messenger 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 Allah. And proclaim a grievous penalty to those who reject Faith.

9:4

اِلَّا الَّذِیْنَ عٰهَدْتُّمْ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِیْنَ ثُمَّ لَمْ یَنْقُصُوْكُمْ شَیْــٴًـا وَّ لَمْ یُظَاهِرُوْا عَلَیْكُمْ اَحَدًا فَاَتِمُّوْۤا اِلَیْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ اِلٰى مُدَّتِهِمْؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ یُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِیْنَ(۴)

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.

(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 Allah loveth the righteous.

9:5

فَاِذَا انْسَلَخَ الْاَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِیْنَ حَیْثُ وَجَدْتُّمُوْهُمْ وَ خُذُوْهُمْ وَ احْصُرُوْهُمْ وَ اقْعُدُوْا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍۚ-فَاِنْ تَابُوْا وَ اَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اٰتَوُا الزَّكٰوةَ فَخَلُّوْا سَبِیْلَهُمْؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِیْمٌ(۵)

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.

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 Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

9:6

وَ اِنْ اَحَدٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِیْنَ اسْتَجَارَكَ فَاَجِرْهُ حَتّٰى یَسْمَعَ كَلٰمَ اللّٰهِ ثُمَّ اَبْلِغْهُ مَاْمَنَهٗؕ-ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا یَعْلَمُوْنَ۠(۶)

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.

If one amongst the Pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of Allah; and then escort him to where he can be secure. That is because they are men without knowledge.

9:7

كَیْفَ یَكُوْنُ لِلْمُشْرِكِیْنَ عَهْدٌ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ وَ عِنْدَ رَسُوْلِهٖۤ اِلَّا الَّذِیْنَ عٰهَدْتُّمْ عِنْدَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِۚ-فَمَا اسْتَقَامُوْا لَكُمْ فَاسْتَقِیْمُوْا لَهُمْؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ یُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِیْنَ(۷)

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.

How can there be a league, before Allah and His Messenger, 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 Allah doth love the righteous.

9:8

كَیْفَ وَ اِنْ یَّظْهَرُوْا عَلَیْكُمْ لَا یَرْقُبُوْا فِیْكُمْ اِلًّا وَّ لَا ذِمَّةًؕ-یُرْضُوْنَكُمْ بِاَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَ تَاْبٰى قُلُوْبُهُمْۚ-وَ اَكْثَرُهُمْ فٰسِقُوْنَۚ(۸)

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.

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.

9:9

اِشْتَرَوْا بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِیْلًا فَصَدُّوْا عَنْ سَبِیْلِهٖؕ -اِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوْا یَعْمَلُوْنَ(۹)

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!

The Signs of Allah have they sold for a miserable price, and (many) have they hindered from His way: evil indeed are the deeds they have done.