سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ

Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 115

The Repentance · Medinan · Juz 11 · Page 205

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وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِلَّ قَوْمًۢا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَىٰهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يُبَيِّنَ لَهُم مَّا يَتَّقُونَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿115﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

And Allâh will never lead a people astray after He has guided them until He makes clear to them as to what they should avoid. Verily, Allâh is the All-Knower of everything.

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَمَا wamā And not
كَانَ kāna is
ٱللَّهُ l-lahu (for) Allah
لِيُضِلَّ liyuḍilla that He lets go astray
قَوْمًۢا qawman a people
بَعْدَ baʿda after
إِذْ idh [when]
هَدَىٰهُمْ hadāhum He has guided them
حَتَّىٰ ḥattā until
يُبَيِّنَ yubayyina He makes clear
لَهُم lahum to them
مَّا mā what
يَتَّقُونَ ۚ yattaqūna they should fear
إِنَّ inna Indeed
ٱللَّهَ l-laha Allah
بِكُلِّ bikulli (of) every
شَىْءٍ shayin thing
عَلِيمٌ ʿalīmun (is) All-Knower

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 115) {وَ مَا كَانَ اللّٰهُ لِيُضِلَّ قَوْمًۢا …:} In this, comfort has been given to those Muslims who, before the revelation of the above verse, had prayed for forgiveness for their disbelieving relatives. The meaning is that Allah does not declare anyone misguided after he has become a Muslim until He makes it clear to him that such-and-such act is forbidden, so avoid it. If, even after that, he insists on it, then he is sinful, and as a result of his evil deeds, his direction is turned towards misguidance. It is understood that knowingly disobeying can become a cause of misguidance. If someone has not yet been forbidden from a certain act, then Allah never holds him accountable for committing it, because He knows very well whether someone is doing something out of ignorance or deliberately. Therefore, there is no reproach upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and the Companions for the forgiveness they sought for the polytheists earlier.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

115. 1. When Allah Almighty forbade making supplication for forgiveness on behalf of the polytheists, some companions who had done so became concerned that perhaps by doing this, they had committed an act of misguidance. Allah Almighty stated that until He clarifies which actions are to be avoided, He does not hold anyone accountable for them, nor does He declare them as misguidance. However, when someone commits those actions after being prohibited from them, then Allah Almighty leads him astray. Therefore, those people who, before this command, made supplications for forgiveness for their deceased polytheist relatives will not be held accountable, because at that time they did not have knowledge of the matter.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

115. Allah does not lead a people astray after He has guided them, until He makes clear to them what they should avoid [132]. Surely, Allah is Knowing of all things.

One Who Does Not Know the Legal Ruling is Ignorant, Not Misguided:

That is, Allah’s law is that He makes clear to people what things they must avoid. This is both the completion of proof from Allah and guidance. Now, those who leave the path of Allah’s guidance and walk on the wrong path—that is, choose the path of misguidance—Allah grants them the ability to continue on that path, because it is not Allah’s way to forcibly keep anyone on the path of guidance. Incidentally, this verse also shows that one who does something whose prohibition has not been explicitly revealed is neither misguided nor sinful. It is as if it is being indicated that those who sought forgiveness for the polytheists before the prohibition was revealed are not to be held accountable, but after the command has come, doing so is misguidance. Similarly, if someone does not know a legal ruling at all, he can be called ignorant, but not misguided.
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