سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 117
لَّقَد تَّابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ فِى سَاعَةِ ٱلْعُسْرَةِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿117﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Allâh has forgiven the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), the Muhâjirûn (Muslim emigrants who left their homes and came to Al-Madinah) and the Ansâr (Muslims of Al-Madinah) who followed him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) in the time of distress (Tabûk expedition), after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated (from the Right Path), but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of Kindness, Most Merciful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَّقَد
laqad
Verily
تَّابَ
tāba
Allah turned (in mercy)
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah turned (in mercy)
عَلَى
ʿalā
to
ٱلنَّبِىِّ
l-nabiyi
the Prophet
وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ
wal-muhājirīna
and the emigrants
وَٱلْأَنصَارِ
wal-anṣāri
and the helpers
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
[those] who
ٱتَّبَعُوهُ
ittabaʿūhu
followed him
فِى
fī
in
سَاعَةِ
sāʿati
(the) hour
ٱلْعُسْرَةِ
l-ʿus'rati
(of) difficulty
مِنۢ
min
after
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
مَا
mā
[what]
كَادَ
kāda
had nearly
يَزِيغُ
yazīghu
deviated
قُلُوبُ
qulūbu
(the) hearts
فَرِيقٍۢ
farīqin
(of) a party
مِّنْهُمْ
min'hum
of them
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
تَابَ
tāba
He turned (in mercy)
عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ
ʿalayhim
to them
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, He
بِهِمْ
bihim
to them
رَءُوفٌۭ
raūfun
(is) Most Kind
رَّحِيمٌۭ
raḥīmun
Most Merciful
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.
The meanings of {لَقَدْ تَّابَ اللّٰهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ …: ’’ تَابَ ‘‘} include to return, to be merciful, to seek forgiveness, to forgive, to refrain from future mistakes, and to accept repentance. In this verse, the meaning of Allah being merciful to His Messenger (peace be upon him) and to the Muhajirun and Ansar, and forgiving them, is understood from the words of {’’ فِيْ سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ ‘‘ }. The time of hardship refers to the departure for the Battle of Tabuk, when it was extremely hot, there was famine, the crops were about to ripen, and there was a state of destitution. On the other hand, there was a long and arduous journey of six hundred kilometers ahead. There was only one camel for ten people, and there was severe scarcity of mounts, provisions, and water. Thus, at that time, even some sincere and devoted Muslims began to hesitate to set out for jihad. Eventually, the strength of their faith overcame their souls, and they set out for jihad with full determination. Here, Allah’s mercy means that Allah granted them courage and bravery to depart in that state of anxiety, and He also forgave the fears that arose in their hearts. And Allah’s mercy upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) refers to that verse (43), which began in this way: «{ عَفَا اللّٰهُ عَنْكَ لِمَ اَذِنْتَ لَهُمْ }» that Allah has forgiven you; why did you grant permission to those robust, healthy, and well-off hypocrites to stay behind from jihad?
