سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 5
فَإِذَا ٱنسَلَخَ ٱلْأَشْهُرُ ٱلْحُرُمُ فَٱقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَٱحْصُرُوهُمْ وَٱقْعُدُوا۟ لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ ۚ فَإِن تَابُوا۟ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَخَلُّوا۟ سَبِيلَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿5﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then when the Sacred Months (the 1st, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islâmic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikûn (See V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give Zakât, then leave their way free. Verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَإِذَا
fa-idhā
Then when
ٱنسَلَخَ
insalakha
have passed
ٱلْأَشْهُرُ
l-ashhuru
the sacred months
ٱلْحُرُمُ
l-ḥurumu
the sacred months
فَٱقْتُلُوا۟
fa-uq'tulū
then kill
ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
l-mush'rikīna
the polytheists
حَيْثُ
ḥaythu
wherever
وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ
wajadttumūhum
you find them
وَخُذُوهُمْ
wakhudhūhum
and seize them
وَٱحْصُرُوهُمْ
wa-uḥ'ṣurūhum
and besiege them
وَٱقْعُدُوا۟
wa-uq'ʿudū
and sit (in wait)
لَهُمْ
lahum
for them
كُلَّ
kulla
(at) every
مَرْصَدٍۢ ۚ
marṣadin
place of ambush
فَإِن
fa-in
But if
تَابُوا۟
tābū
they repent
وَأَقَامُوا۟
wa-aqāmū
and establish
ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ
l-ṣalata
the prayer
وَءَاتَوُا۟
waātawū
and give
ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ
l-zakata
the zakah
فَخَلُّوا۟
fakhallū
then leave
سَبِيلَهُمْ ۚ
sabīlahum
their way
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
غَفُورٌۭ
ghafūrun
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٌۭ
raḥīmun
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.
5. 1. What is meant by the sacred months? There is a difference of opinion regarding this. One opinion is that it refers to the four months which are sacred: Rajab, Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram, and the proclamation of disassociation was made on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah. In this regard, it is as if they were given a respite of fifty days after the proclamation, but Imam Ibn Kathir said that here, اَ شھَرُ حُرْم does not mean the sacred months, but rather the four months from 10 Dhu al-Hijjah to 10 Rabi' al-Thani are meant. They are called sacred months because, according to the proclamation of disassociation, fighting these polytheists and taking any action against them was not permitted during these four months. According to the proclamation of disassociation, this interpretation seems appropriate (and Allah knows best).
5. 2. Some commentators have kept this ruling general, meaning whether in the sacred precinct or outside, wherever you find them, kill them; and some commentators have said, do not fight near Masjid al-Haram until they themselves fight you; if they fight, then you are also permitted to fight them.
5. 3. That is, either take them captive or kill them.
5. 4. That is, do not be content with taking action only when you find them somewhere, but rather, wherever their fortresses, strongholds, and shelters are, lie in wait for them there, so that without your permission, movement for them is not possible.
5. 5. That is, no action should be taken against them, because they have become Muslims. Thus, after accepting Islam, establishing prayer and paying zakat is necessary. If a person abandons even one of these, he will not be considered a Muslim. Just as Abu Bakr al-Siddiq ؓ waged jihad against those who withheld zakat, using this verse as evidence, and said: واللہ لأقتلن من فرق بین الصلوٰ ۃ وال زکوٰۃ (agreed upon) "By Allah, I will surely fight those who differentiate between prayer and zakat," meaning those who pray but avoid paying zakat.
5. 2. Some commentators have kept this ruling general, meaning whether in the sacred precinct or outside, wherever you find them, kill them; and some commentators have said, do not fight near Masjid al-Haram until they themselves fight you; if they fight, then you are also permitted to fight them.
5. 3. That is, either take them captive or kill them.
5. 4. That is, do not be content with taking action only when you find them somewhere, but rather, wherever their fortresses, strongholds, and shelters are, lie in wait for them there, so that without your permission, movement for them is not possible.
5. 5. That is, no action should be taken against them, because they have become Muslims. Thus, after accepting Islam, establishing prayer and paying zakat is necessary. If a person abandons even one of these, he will not be considered a Muslim. Just as Abu Bakr al-Siddiq ؓ waged jihad against those who withheld zakat, using this verse as evidence, and said: واللہ لأقتلن من فرق بین الصلوٰ ۃ وال زکوٰۃ (agreed upon) "By Allah, I will surely fight those who differentiate between prayer and zakat," meaning those who pray but avoid paying zakat.
