سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 2
فَسِيحُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِى ٱللَّهِ ۙ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخْزِى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿2﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
So travel freely (O Mushrikûn - See V.2:105) for four months (as you will) throughout the land, but know that you cannot escape (from the punishment of) Allâh; and Allâh will disgrace the disbelievers.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَسِيحُوا۟
fasīḥū
So move about
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the land
أَرْبَعَةَ
arbaʿata
(during) four
أَشْهُرٍۢ
ashhurin
months
وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟
wa-iʿ'lamū
but know
أَنَّكُمْ
annakum
that you
غَيْرُ
ghayru
(can) not
مُعْجِزِى
muʿ'jizī
escape
ٱللَّهِ ۙ
l-lahi
Allah
وَأَنَّ
wa-anna
and that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
مُخْزِى
mukh'zī
(is) the One Who (will) disgrace
ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
l-kāfirīna
the disbelievers
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 2) ➊ { فَسِيْحُوْا فِي الْاَرْضِ اَرْبَعَةَ اَشْهُرٍ:} This was an additional favor from Allah Almighty that the polytheists were given a four-month respite from Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), which began on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, the Day of Sacrifice, because the announcement was made on that day, and this period ended on the 10th of Rabi' al-Thani. The purpose of this respite was that during this time they could reflect thoroughly about themselves, and then either become Muslim or find a place for themselves in a country outside the land of Arabia. If they still remained after this, then they should be seized, besieged, ambushed, and killed in whatever way possible. This four-month period was for those whose treaty period was less than four months remaining, or the treaty was for a longer period but they had violated it, or the treaty was without a specified period. However, those tribes with whom there was a treaty for a specific period and they had not opposed the treaty in any way, it was commanded that their treaty be fulfilled until its term, as He said: «فَاَتِمُّوْۤا اِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ اِلٰى مُدَّتِهِمْ » [ التوبۃ : ۴ ] "So fulfill their treaty with them until their term."
➋ { وَ اعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِي اللّٰهِ … :} Addressing the polytheists, it was said that this respite was not given due to any weakness of the Muslims, but there are many wisdoms in it; otherwise, you can never frustrate Allah Almighty. If you persist in disbelief, then know well that Allah Almighty is the One who humiliates and disgraces the disbelievers. See the footnotes of verse (59) of Surah Al-Anfal. The aim was not only to purify the House of Allah but the entire Arabian Peninsula from the impure presence of the polytheists.
➋ { وَ اعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِي اللّٰهِ … :} Addressing the polytheists, it was said that this respite was not given due to any weakness of the Muslims, but there are many wisdoms in it; otherwise, you can never frustrate Allah Almighty. If you persist in disbelief, then know well that Allah Almighty is the One who humiliates and disgraces the disbelievers. See the footnotes of verse (59) of Surah Al-Anfal. The aim was not only to purify the House of Allah but the entire Arabian Peninsula from the impure presence of the polytheists.
