سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 13
أَلَا تُقَـٰتِلُونَ قَوْمًا نَّكَثُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُمْ وَهَمُّوا۟ بِإِخْرَاجِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَهُم بَدَءُوكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَوْهُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿13﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Will you not fight a people who have violated their oaths (pagans of Makkah), and intended to expel the Messenger while they did attack you first? Do you fear them? Allâh has more right that you should fear Him if you are believers.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَلَا
alā
Will not
تُقَـٰتِلُونَ
tuqātilūna
you fight
قَوْمًۭا
qawman
a people
نَّكَثُوٓا۟
nakathū
who broke
أَيْمَـٰنَهُمْ
aymānahum
their oaths
وَهَمُّوا۟
wahammū
and determined
بِإِخْرَاجِ
bi-ikh'rāji
to drive out
ٱلرَّسُولِ
l-rasūli
the Messenger
وَهُم
wahum
and they
بَدَءُوكُمْ
badaūkum
began (to attack) you
أَوَّلَ
awwala
first
مَرَّةٍ ۚ
marratin
time
أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ ۚ
atakhshawnahum
Do you fear them
فَٱللَّهُ
fal-lahu
But Allah
أَحَقُّ
aḥaqqu
(has) more right
أَن
an
that
تَخْشَوْهُ
takhshawhu
you should fear Him
إِن
in
if
كُنتُم
kuntum
you are
مُّؤْمِنِينَ
mu'minīna
believers
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.
(Ayah13) ➊ {اَلَا تُقَاتِلُوْنَ قَوْمًا نَّكَثُوْۤا اَيْمَانَهُمْ … :} Allah Almighty has, in a most eloquent manner, urged the Muslims to fight against the disbelievers and has stirred their zeal and honor, saying: Will you not fight against those whose crimes are such? Then He mentioned their three crimes: the first is that they broke their covenants and also the oaths they had sworn to strengthen those covenants. Even after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, they continued to support Banu Bakr against Banu Khuza’ah (who were allies of the Muslims), providing them with backing and weapons, even though such actions were a clear violation of the peace agreement. The second is that when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was in Makkah, they kept plotting against him, as has been mentioned in Surah Al-Anfal (30): to kill, imprison, or at the very least, expel him from Makkah. It is another matter that they did not succeed in any of their intentions, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself migrated by Allah’s command. The third is that they were the first to initiate fighting: at Badr, when their trade caravan was saved, instead of returning, they unnecessarily started the battle. After that, at Uhud, Khandaq, and against Banu Khuza’ah, they were the ones to initiate hostilities. Any one of these three crimes alone would have been sufficient reason to fight them; now that all three have combined, will you still not fight them?
➋ { اَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ۠ فَاللّٰهُ اَحَقُّ … :} This too is a powerful way to incite to battle: to say to someone, “Are you afraid of the enemies?” A person of honor will respond and prove by action that no, I am not afraid of the enemies. Then the Muslims are encouraged: you are the ones who have faith and certainty in Allah, knowing that victory and defeat, benefit and harm, are all in His hands. In such a situation, it is only right that you fear Allah instead of the disbelievers and fight against them.
➋ { اَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ۠ فَاللّٰهُ اَحَقُّ … :} This too is a powerful way to incite to battle: to say to someone, “Are you afraid of the enemies?” A person of honor will respond and prove by action that no, I am not afraid of the enemies. Then the Muslims are encouraged: you are the ones who have faith and certainty in Allah, knowing that victory and defeat, benefit and harm, are all in His hands. In such a situation, it is only right that you fear Allah instead of the disbelievers and fight against them.
