Al-Tawba
Freedom from obligation (is proclaimed)
from Allah and His messenger toward those of the
idolaters with whom ye made a treaty. (1)
Travel freely in the land four months,
and know that ye cannot escape Allah and that Allah will
confound the disbelievers (in His guidance). (2)
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, (3)
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). (4)
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. (5)
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. (6)
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. (7)
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. (8)
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. (9)
And they observe toward a believer
neither pact nor honour. These are they who are
transgressors. (10)
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. (11)
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.
(12)
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 (13)
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. (14)
And He will remove the anger of their
hearts. Allah relenteth toward whom He will. Allah is
Knower, Wise. (15)
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. (16)
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. (17)
He only shall tend Allah's
sanctuaries who believeth in Allah and the Last Day and
observeth proper worship and payeth the poor-due and
feareth none save Allah. For such (only) is it possible
that they can be of the rightly guided. (18)
Count ye the slaking of a pilgrim's
thirst and tendance of the Inviolable Place of Worship
as (equal to the worth of) him who believeth in Allah
and the Last Day, and striveth in the way of Allah? They
are not equal in the sight of Allah. Allah guideth not
wrongdoing folk. (19)
Those who believe, and have left
their homes and striven with their wealth and their
lives in Allah's way are of much greater worth in
Allah's sight. These are they who are triumphant. (20)
Their Lord giveth them good tidings
of mercy from Him, and acceptance, and Gardens where
enduring pleasure will be theirs; (21)
There they will abide for ever. Lo!
with Allah there is immense reward. (22)
O ye who believe! Choose not your
fathers nor your brethren for friends if they take
pleasure in disbelief rather than faith. Whoso of you
taketh them for friends, such are wrong-doers. (23)
Say: If your fathers, and your sons,
and your brethren, and your wives, and your tribe, and
the wealth ye have acquired, and merchandise for which
ye fear that there will be no sale, and dwellings ye
desire are dearer to you than Allah and His messenger
and striving in His way: then wait till Allah bringeth
His command to pass. Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.
(24)
Allah hath given you victory on many
fields and on the day of Huneyn, when ye exulted in your
multitude but it availed you naught, and the earth, vast
as it is, was straitened for you; then ye turned back in
flight; (25)
Then Allah sent His peace of
reassurance down upon His messenger and upon the
believers, and sent down hosts ye could not see, and
punished those who disbelieved. Such is the reward of
disbelievers. (26)
Then afterward Allah will relent
toward whom He will; for Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
(27)
O ye who believe! The idolaters only
are unclean. So let them not come near the Inviolable
Place of Worship after this their year. If ye fear
poverty (from the loss of their merchandise) Allah shall
preserve you of His bounty if He will. Lo! Allah is
Knower, Wise. (28)
Fight against such of those who have
been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the
Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden
by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth,
until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.
(29)
And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of
Allah, and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of
Allah. That is their saying with their mouths. They
imitate the saying of those who disbelieved of old.
Allah (Himself) fighteth against them. How perverse are
they! (30)
They have taken as lords beside Allah
their rabbis and their monks and the Messiah son of
Mary, when they were bidden to worship only One God.
There is no god save Him. Be He glorified from all that
they ascribe as partner (unto Him)! (31)
Fain would they put out the light of
Allah with their mouths, but Allah disdaineth (aught)
save that He shall perfect His light, however much the
disbelievers are averse. (32)
He it is Who hath sent His messenger
with the guidance and the Religion of Truth, that He may
cause it to prevail over all religion, however much the
idolaters may be averse. (33)
O ye who believe! Lo! many of the (Jewish)
rabbis and the (Christian) monks devour the wealth of
mankind wantonly and debar (men) from the way of Allah.
They who hoard up gold and silver and spend it not in
the way of Allah, unto them give tidings (O Muhammad) of
a painful doom, (34)
On the day when it will (all) be
heated in the fire of hell, and their foreheads and
their flanks and their backs will be branded therewith
(and it will be said unto them): Here is that which ye
hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what ye used to
hoard. (35)
Lo! the number of the months with
Allah is twelve months by Allah's ordinance in the day
that He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them
are sacred: that is the right religion. So wrong not
yourselves in them. And wage war on all of the idolaters
as they are waging war on all of you. And know that
Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him). (36)
Postponement (of a sacred month) is
only an excess of disbelief whereby those who disbelieve
are misled; they allow it one year and forbid it (another)
year, that they may make up the number of the months
which Allah hath hallowed, so that they allow that which
Allah hath forbidden. The evil of their deeds is made
fair-seeming unto them. Allah guideth not the
disbelieving folk. (37)
O ye who believe! What aileth you
that when it is said unto you: Go forth in the way of
Allah, ye are bowed down to the ground with heaviness.
Take ye pleasure in the life of the world rather than in
the Hereafter? The comfort of the life of the world is
but little in the Hereafter. (38)
If ye go not forth He will afflict
you with a painful doom, and will choose instead of you
a folk other than you. Ye cannot harm Him at all. Allah
is Able to do all things. (39)
If ye help him not, still Allah
helped him when those who disbelieve drove him forth,
the second of two; when they two were in the cave, when
he said unto his comrade: Grieve not. Lo! Allah is with
us. Then Allah caused His peace of reassurance to
descend upon him and supported him with hosts ye cannot
see, and made the word of those who disbelieved the
nethermost, while Allah's Word it was that became the
uppermost. Allah is Mighty, Wise. (40)
Go forth, light-armed and heavy-armed,
and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of
Allah! That is best for you if ye but knew. (41)
Had it been a near adventure and an
easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance
seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying):
If we had been able we would surely have set out with
you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that
they verily are liars. (42)
Allah forgive thee (O Muhammad)!
Wherefor didst thou grant them leave ere those who told
the truth were manifest to thee and thou didst know the
liars? (43)
Those who believe in Allah and the
Last Day ask no leave of thee lest they should strive
with their wealth and their lives. Allah is Aware of
those who keep their duty (unto Him). (44)
They alone ask leave of thee who
believe not in Allah and the Last Day, and whose hearts
feel doubt, so in their doubt they waver. (45)
And if they had wished to go forth
they would assuredly have made ready some equipment, but
Allah was averse to their being sent forth and held them
back and it was said (unto them): Sit ye with the
sedentary! (46)
Had they gone forth among you they
had added to you naught save trouble and had hurried to
and fro among you, seeking to cause sedition among you;
and among you there are some who would have listened to
them. Allah is Aware of evil-doers. (47)
Aforetime they sought to cause
sedition and raised difficulties for thee till the Truth
came and the decree of Allah was made manifest, though
they were loth. (48)
Of them is he who saith: Grant me
leave (to stay at home) and tempt me not. Surely it is
into temptation that they (thus) have fallen. Lo! hell
verily is all around the disbelievers. (49)
If good befalleth thee (O Muhammad)
it afflicteth them, and if calamity befalleth thee, they
say: We took precaution, and they turn away well pleased.
(50)
Say: Naught befalleth us save that
which Allah hath decreed for us. He is our Protecting
Friend. In Allah let believers put their trust! (51)
Say: Can ye await for us aught save
one of two good things (death or victory in Allah's
way)? while we await for you that Allah will afflict you
with a doom from Him or at our hands. Await then! Lo! We
are awaiting with you. (52)
Say: Pay (your contribution),
willingly or unwillingly, it will not be accepted from
you. Lo! ye were ever froward folk. (53)
And naught preventeth that their
contributions should be accepted from them save that
they have disbelieved in Allah and in His messenger, and
they come not to worship save as idlers, and pay not (their
contribution) save reluctantly. (54)
So let not their riches nor their
children astonish thee (O Muhammad). Allah thereby
intendeth but to punish them in the life of the world
and that their souls shall pass away while they are
disbelievers. (55)
And they swear by Allah that they are
in truth of you, when they are not of you, but they are
folk who are afraid. (56)
Had they but found a refuge, or
caverns, or a place to enter, they surely had resorted
thither swift as runaways. (57)
And of them is he who defameth thee
in the matter of the alms. If they are given thereof
they are content, and if they are not given thereof,
behold! they are enraged. (58)
(How much more seemly) had they been
content with that which Allah and His messenger had
given them and had said: Allah sufficeth us. Allah will
give us of His bounty, and (also) His messenger. Unto
Allah we are suppliants. (59)
The alms are only for the poor and
the needy, and those who collect them, and those whose
hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives
and the debtors, and for the cause of Allah, and (for)
the wayfarer; a duty imposed by Allah. Allah is Knower,
Wise. (60)
And of them are those who vex the
Prophet and say: He is only a hearer. Say: A hearer of
good for you, who believeth in Allah and is true to the
believers, and a mercy for such of you as believe. Those
who vex the messenger of Allah, for them there is a
painful doom. (61)
They swear by Allah to you (Muslims)
to please you, but Allah, with His messenger, hath more
right that they should please Him if they are believers.
(62)
Know they not that whoso opposeth
Allah and His messenger, his portion verily is hell, to
abide therein? That is the extreme abasement. (63)
The hypocrites fear lest a surah
should be revealed concerning them, proclaiming what is
in their hearts. Say: Scoff (your fill)! Lo! Allah is
disclosing what ye fear. (64)
And if thou ask them (O Muhammad)
they will say: We did but talk and jest. Say: Was it at
Allah and His revelations and His messenger that ye did
scoff? (65)
Make no excuse. Ye have disbelieved
after your (confession of) belief. If We forgive a party
of you, a party of you We shall punish because they have
been guilty. (66)
The hypocrites, both men and women,
proceed one from another. They enjoin the wrong, and
they forbid the right, and they withhold their hands (from
spending for the cause of Allah). They forget Allah, so
He hath forgotten them. Lo! the hypocrites, they are the
transgressors. (67)
Allah promiseth the hypocrites, both
men and women, and the disbelievers fire of hell for
their abode. It will suffice them. Allah curseth them,
and theirs is lasting torment. (68)
Even as those before you who were
mightier than you in strength, and more affluent than
you in wealth and children. They enjoyed their lot
awhile, so ye enjoy your lot awhile even as those before
you did enjoy their lot awhile. And ye prate even as
they prated. Such are they whose works have perished in
the world and the Hereafter. Such are they who are the
losers. (69)
Hath not the fame of those before
them reached them - the folk of Noah, 'Aad, Thamud, the
folk of Abraham, the dwellers of Midian and the
disasters (which befell them)? Their messengers (from
Allah) came unto them with proofs (of Allah's
Sovereignty). So Allah surely wronged them not, but they
did wrong themselves. (70)
And the believers, men and women, are
protecting friends one of another; they enjoin the right
and forbid the wrong, and they establish worship and
they pay the poor-due, and they obey Allah and His
messenger. As for these, Allah will have mercy on them.
Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise. (71)
Allah promiseth to the believers, men
and women, Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein
they will abide - blessed dwellings in Gardens of Eden.
And - greater (far)! - acceptance from Allah. That is
the supreme triumph. (72)
O Prophet! Strive against the
disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them.
Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end.
(73)
They swear by Allah that they said
nothing (wrong), yet they did say the word of disbelief,
and did disbelieve after their Surrender (to Allah). And
they purposed that which they could not attain, and they
sought revenge only that Allah by His messenger should
enrich them of His bounty. If they repent it will be
better for them; and if they turn away, Allah will
afflict them with a painful doom in the world and the
Hereafter, and they have no protecting friend nor helper
in the earth. (74)
And of them is he who made a
covenant with Allah (saying): If He give us of His
bounty we will give alms and become of the righteous.
(75)
Yet when He gave them of His bounty,
they hoarded it and turned away, averse; (76)
So He hath made the consequence (to
be) hypocrisy in their hearts until the day when they
shall meet Him, because they broke their word to Allah
that they promised Him, and because they lied. (77)
Know they not that Allah knoweth both
their secret and the thought that they confide, and that
Allah is the Knower of Things Hidden? (78)
Those who point at such of the
believers as give the alms willingly and such as can
find naught to give but their endeavours, and deride
them - Allah (Himself) derideth them. Theirs will be a
painful doom. (79)
Ask forgiveness for them (O
Muhammad), or ask not forgiveness for them; though thou
ask forgiveness for them seventy times Allah will not
forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah
and His messenger, and Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.
(80)
Those who were left behind rejoiced
at sitting still behind the messenger of Allah, and were
averse to striving with their wealth and their lives in
Allah's way. And they said: Go not forth in the heat!
Say: The fire of hell is more intense of heat, if they
but understood. (81)
Then let them laugh a little: they
will weep much, as the reward of what they used to earn.
(82)
If Allah bring thee back (from the
campaign) unto a party of them and they ask of thee
leave to go out (to fight), then say unto them: Ye shall
never more go out with me nor fight with me against a
foe. Ye were content with sitting still the first time.
So sit still, with the useless. (83)
And never (O Muhammad) pray for one
of them who dieth, nor stand by his grave. Lo! they
disbelieved in Allah and His messenger, and they died
while they were evil-doers. (84)
Let not their wealth nor their
children astonish thee! Allah purposeth only to punish
them thereby in the world, and that their souls shall
pass away while they are disbelievers. (85)
And when a surah is revealed (which
saith): Believe in Allah and strive along with His
messenger, the men of wealth among them still ask leave
of thee and say: Suffer us to be with those who sit (at
home). (86)
They are content that they should be
with those who remain behind and their hearts are sealed,
so that they apprehend not. (87)
But the messenger and those who
believe with him strive with their wealth and their
lives. Such are they for whom are the good things. Such
are they who are the successful. (88)
Allah hath made ready for them
Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will
abide. That is the supreme triumph. (89)
And those among the wandering Arabs
who had an excuse came in order that permission might be
granted them. And those who lied to Allah and His
messenger sat at home. A painful doom will fall on those
of them who disbelieve. (90)
Not unto the weak nor unto the sick
nor unto those who can find naught to spend is any fault
(to be imputed though they stay at home) if they are
true to Allah and His messenger. Not unto the good is
there any road (of blame). Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
(91)
Nor unto those whom, when they came
to thee (asking) that thou shouldst mount them, thou
didst tell: I cannot find whereon to mount you. They
turned back with eyes flowing with tears, for sorrow
that they could not find the means to spend. (92)
The road (of blame) is only against
those who ask for leave of thee (to stay at home) when
they are rich. They are content to be with the those who
remind behind. Allah hath sealed their hearts so that
they know not. (93)
They will make excuse to you
(Muslims) when ye return unto them. Say: Make no excuse,
for we shall not believe you. Allah hath told us tidings
of you. Allah and His messenger will see your conduct,
and then ye will be brought back unto Him Who knoweth
the Invisible as well as the Visible, and He will tell
you what ye used to do. (94)
They will swear by Allah unto you,
when ye return unto them, that ye may let them be. Let
them be, for lo! they are unclean, and their abode is
hell as the reward for what they used to earn. (95)
They swear unto you, that ye may
accept them. Though ye accept them. Allah verily
accepteth not wrongdoing folk. (96)
The wandering Arabs are more hard in
disbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be ignorant
of the limits which Allah hath revealed unto His
messenger. And Allah is Knower, Wise. (97)
And of the wandering Arabs there is
he who taketh that which he expendeth (for the cause of
Allah) as a loss, and awaiteth (evil) turns of fortune
for you (that he may be rid of it). The evil turn of
fortune will be theirs. Allah is Hearer, Knower. (98)
And of the wandering Arabs there is
he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day, and taketh
that which he expendeth and also the prayers of the
messenger as acceptable offerings in the sight of Allah.
Lo! verily it is an acceptable offering for them. Allah
will bring them into His mercy. Lo! Allah is Forgiving,
Merciful. (99)
And the first to lead the way, of
the Muhajirin and the Ansar, and those who followed them
in goodness - Allah is well pleased with them and they
are well pleased with Him, and He hath made ready for
them Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they
will abide for ever. That is the supreme triumph. (100)
And among those around you of the
wandering Arabs there are hypocrites, and among the
townspeople of Al-Madinah (there are some who) persist
in hypocrisy whom thou (O Muhammad) knowest not. We, We
know them, and We shall chastise them twice; then they
will be relegated to a painful doom. (101)
And (there are) others who have
acknowledged their faults. They mixed a righteous action
with another that was bad. It may be that Allah will
relent toward them. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
(102)
Take alms of their wealth, wherewith
thou mayst purify them and mayst make them grow, and
pray for them. Lo! thy prayer is an assuagement for
them. Allah is Hearer, Knower. (103)
Know they not that Allah is He Who
accepteth repentance from His bondmen and taketh the
alms, and that Allah is He Who is the Relenting, the
Merciful. (104)
And say (unto them): Act! Allah will
behold your actions, and (so will) His messenger and the
believers, and ye will be brought back to the Knower of
the Invisible and the Visible, and He will tell you what
ye used to do. (105)
And (there are) others who await
Allah's decree, whether He will punish them or will
forgive them. Allah is Knower, Wise. (106)
And as for those who chose a place
of worship out of opposition and disbelief, and in order
to cause dissent among the believers, and as an outpost
for those who warred against Allah and His messenger
aforetime, they will surely swear: We purposed naught
save good. Allah beareth witness that they verily are
liars. (107)
Never stand (to pray) there. A place
of worship which was founded on piety from the first day
is more worthy that thou shouldst stand (to pray)
therein, wherein are men who love to purify themselves.
Allah loveth the purifiers. (108)
Is he who founded his building upon
duty to Allah and His good pleasure better; or he who
founded his building on the brink of a crumbling,
overhanging precipice so that it toppled with him into
the fire of hell? Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.
(109)
The building which they built will
never cease to be a misgiving in their hearts unless
their hearts be torn to pieces. Allah is Knower, Wise.
(110)
Lo! Allah hath bought from the
believers their lives and their wealth because the
Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of
Allah and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise which
is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the
Qur'an. Who fulfilleth His covenant better than Allah?
Rejoice then in your bargain that ye have made, for that
is the supreme triumph. (111)
(Triumphant) are those who turn
repentant (to Allah), those who serve (Him), those who
praise (Him), those who fast, those who bow down, those
who fall prostrate (in worship), those who enjoin the
right and who forbid the wrong and those who keep the
limits (ordained) of Allah - And give glad tidings to
believers! (112)
It is not for the Prophet, and those
who believe, to pray for the forgiveness of idolaters
even though they may be near of kin (to them) after it
hath become clear that they are people of hell-fire.
(113)
The prayer of Abraham for the
forgiveness of his father was only because of a promise
he had promised him, but when it had become clear unto
him that he (his father) was an enemy to Allah he
(Abraham) disowned him. Lo! Abraham was soft of heart,
forbearing. (114)
It was never Allah's (part) that He
should send a folk astray after He had guided them until
He had made clear unto them what they should avoid. Lo!
Allah is Aware of all things. (115)
Lo! Allah! Unto Him belongeth the
Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. He quickeneth
and He giveth death. And ye have, instead of Allah, no
protecting friend nor helper. (116)
Allah hath turned in mercy to the
Prophet, and to the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed
him in the hour of hardship. After the hearts of a party
of them had almost swerved aside, then turned He unto
them in mercy. Lo! He is Full of Pity, Merciful for
them. (117)
And to the three also (did He turn
in mercy) who were left behind, when the earth, vast as
it is, become straitened for them, and their own souls
were straitened for them till they bethought them that
there is no refuge from Allah save toward Him. Then
turned He unto them in mercy that they (too) might turn
(repentant unto Him). Lo! Allah! He is the Relenting,
the Merciful. (118)
O ye who believe! Be careful of your
duty to Allah, and be with the truthful. (119)
It is not for the townsfolk of
Al-Madinah and for those around them of the wandering
Arabs to stay behind the messenger of Allah and prefer
their lives to his life. That is because neither thirst
nor toil nor hunger afflicteth them in the way of Allah,
nor step they any step that angereth the disbelievers,
nor gain they from the enemy a gain, but a good deed is
recorded for them therefor. Lo! Allah loseth not the
wages of the good. (120)
Nor spend they any spending, small
or great, nor do they cross a valley, but it is recorded
for them, that Allah may repay them the best of what
they used to do. (121)
And the believers should not all go
out to fight. Of every troop of them, a party only
should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may
gain sound knowledge in religion, and that they may warn
their folk when they return to them, so that they may
beware. (122)
O ye who believe! Fight those of the
disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find
harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who
keep their duty (unto Him). (123)
And whenever a surah is revealed
there are some of them who say: The faith ofwhich one of
you hath this increased in faith? As for those who
believe, it hath increased them in faith and they
rejoice (therefor). (124)
But as for those in whose hearts is
disease, it only addeth wickedness to their wickedness,
and they die while they are disbelievers. (125)
See they not that they are tested
once or twice in every year? Still they turn not in
repentance, neither pay they heed. (126)
And whenever a surah is revealed,
they look one at another (as who should say): Doth
anybody see you? Then they turn away. Allah turneth away
their hearts because they are a folk who understand not.
(127)
There hath come unto you a messenger,
(one) of yourselves, unto whom aught that ye are
overburdened is grievous, full of concern for you, for
the believers full of pity, merciful. (128)
Now, if they turn away (O Muhammad)
say: Allah sufficeth me. There is no God save Him. In
Him have I put my trust, and He is Lord of the
Tremendous Throne. (129)