سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 118
وَعَلَى ٱلثَّلَـٰثَةِ ٱلَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَن لَّا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّآ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿118﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (He did forgive also) the three [who did not join the Tabûk expedition whose case was deferred (by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم)] (for Allâh’s Decision) till for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their ownselves were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allâh, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He forgave them (accepted their repentance), that they might beg for His pardon [repent (unto Him)] Verily, Allâh is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَعَلَى
waʿalā
And on
ٱلثَّلَـٰثَةِ
l-thalāthati
the three
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
(of) those who
خُلِّفُوا۟
khullifū
were left behind
حَتَّىٰٓ
ḥattā
until
إِذَا
idhā
when
ضَاقَتْ
ḍāqat
(was) straitened
عَلَيْهِمُ
ʿalayhimu
for them
ٱلْأَرْضُ
l-arḍu
the earth
بِمَا
bimā
though
رَحُبَتْ
raḥubat
it was vast
وَضَاقَتْ
waḍāqat
And (was) straitened
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
for them
أَنفُسُهُمْ
anfusuhum
their own souls
وَظَنُّوٓا۟
waẓannū
and they were certain
أَن
an
that
لَّا
lā
(there is) no
مَلْجَأَ
malja-a
refuge
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
إِلَّآ
illā
except
إِلَيْهِ
ilayhi
to Him
ثُمَّ
thumma
Then
تَابَ
tāba
He turned (in mercy)
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
to them
لِيَتُوبُوٓا۟ ۚ
liyatūbū
that they may repent
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
هُوَ
huwa
He
ٱلتَّوَّابُ
l-tawābu
(is) the Acceptor of repentance
ٱلرَّحِيمُ
l-raḥīmu
the Most Merciful
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.
118. 1 The meaning of خلفو is the same as مرجون, that is, those whose matter was deferred and postponed, and after fifty days their repentance was accepted. These were three companions: Ka'b bin Malik, Murarah bin Rabi', and Hilal bin Umayyah (may Allah be pleased with them). All three were extremely sincere Muslims. Prior to this, they participated in every battle. In the Battle of Tabuk, they did not participate only due to negligence. Later, when they realized their mistake, they thought that one mistake (of staying behind) had already been made, but now they would not make the mistake of presenting a false excuse to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ like the hypocrites. Therefore, they presented themselves before him, openly admitted their mistake, and offered themselves for punishment. The Prophet ﷺ entrusted their matter to Allah, that He would reveal some command regarding them. Meanwhile, the companions were forbidden from maintaining any relationship with these three individuals, even from speaking to them, and after forty nights, they were ordered to stay away from their wives as well. After another ten days, their repentance was accepted and the mentioned verse was revealed. (The full details of this incident are present in the hadith narrated by Ka'b bin Malik. See (Sahih Bukhari))
118. 2 This describes the state of those days, which they had to endure due to the social boycott.
118. 3 That is, after fifty days, Allah accepted their lamentation and repentance.
118. 2 This describes the state of those days, which they had to endure due to the social boycott.
118. 3 That is, after fifty days, Allah accepted their lamentation and repentance.
