سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 74
يَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ مَا قَالُوا۟ وَلَقَدْ قَالُوا۟ كَلِمَةَ ٱلْكُفْرِ وَكَفَرُوا۟ بَعْدَ إِسْلَـٰمِهِمْ وَهَمُّوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يَنَالُوا۟ ۚ وَمَا نَقَمُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ أَنْ أَغْنَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۚ فَإِن يَتُوبُوا۟ يَكُ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَتَوَلَّوْا۟ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ ﴿74﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They swear by Allâh that they said nothing (bad), but really they said the word of disbelief, and they disbelieved after accepting Islâm, and they resolved that (plot to murder Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) which they were unable to carry out, and they could not find any cause to do so except that Allâh and His Messenger had enriched them of His Bounty. If then they repent, it will be better for them, but if they turn away, Allâh will punish them with a painful torment in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. And there is none for them on earth as a Walî (supporter, protector) or a helper.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَحْلِفُونَ
yaḥlifūna
They swear
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
by Allah
مَا
mā
(that) they said nothing
قَالُوا۟
qālū
(that) they said nothing
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
while certainly
قَالُوا۟
qālū
they said
كَلِمَةَ
kalimata
(the) word
ٱلْكُفْرِ
l-kuf'ri
(of) the disbelief
وَكَفَرُوا۟
wakafarū
and disbelieved
بَعْدَ
baʿda
after
إِسْلَـٰمِهِمْ
is'lāmihim
their (pretense of) Islam
وَهَمُّوا۟
wahammū
and planned
بِمَا
bimā
[of] what
لَمْ
lam
not
يَنَالُوا۟ ۚ
yanālū
they could attain
وَمَا
wamā
And not
نَقَمُوٓا۟
naqamū
they were resentful
إِلَّآ
illā
except
أَنْ
an
that
أَغْنَىٰهُمُ
aghnāhumu
Allah had enriched them
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah had enriched them
وَرَسُولُهُۥ
warasūluhu
and His Messenger
مِن
min
of
فَضْلِهِۦ ۚ
faḍlihi
His Bounty
فَإِن
fa-in
So if
يَتُوبُوا۟
yatūbū
they repent
يَكُ
yaku
it is
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
better
لَّهُمْ ۖ
lahum
for them
وَإِن
wa-in
and if
يَتَوَلَّوْا۟
yatawallaw
they turn away
يُعَذِّبْهُمُ
yuʿadhib'humu
Allah will punish them
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah will punish them
عَذَابًا
ʿadhāban
(with) a punishment
أَلِيمًۭا
alīman
painful
فِى
fī
in
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
the world
وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ
wal-ākhirati
and (in) the Hereafter
وَمَا
wamā
And not
لَهُمْ
lahum
for them
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
مِن
min
any
وَلِىٍّۢ
waliyyin
protector
وَلَا
walā
and not
نَصِيرٍۢ
naṣīrin
a helper
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.
(Ayah74) ➊ {يَحْلِفُوْنَ بِاللّٰهِ مَا قَالُوْا:} The hypocrites would utter words of disbelief in their private gatherings, but when their cover was blown and their secrets exposed, they would swear false oaths and resort to deception. When the matter was proven by testimonies, they would make excuses, saying that they were only joking and engaging in light-hearted banter, and that you had taken them seriously, using their oaths as a shield. See Surah An-Nisa (62) and At-Tawbah (42, 56, 107).
➋ { وَ لَقَدْ قَالُوْا كَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ … :} What was the statement of disbelief that these hypocrites uttered? The Noble Qur’an has not specified it here, because it was not a single incident nor the statement of just one person; rather, it was the common practice of most, if not all, hypocrites, and they uttered words of disbelief on various occasions. Here, only one incident is mentioned as an example, which is briefly mentioned in Surah Al-Munafiqun and in more detail in Bukhari and Muslim. Zayd bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I was present in a battle and I heard Abdullah bin Ubayy saying: “Do not spend on those who are with Allah’s Messenger until they disperse from around him, and if we return to Madinah, the more honorable will surely expel the more disgraced.” I reported this to my uncle or to Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), and they mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called me and I told him what I had heard. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent for Abdullah bin Ubayy and his companions, and they all swore oaths that they had not said this, so the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) considered me a liar. I was overcome with worry as I had never been before, and I stayed at home. My uncle said to me, “What did you want, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) considered you a liar and was angry with you?” Then Allah revealed Surah Al-Munafiqun, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent for me, recited this Surah to me, and said: “Zayd! Allah has declared you truthful.” [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب قولہ : «إذا جاء ک المنافقون… » : ۴۹۰۰، ۴۹۰۱۔ مسلم : ۲۷۷۲ ]
➌ { وَ هَمُّوْا بِمَا لَمْ يَنَالُوْا …:} That is, the hypocrites did not achieve what they intended, and this failure and disappointment did not happen just once, but they were always unsuccessful in their evil schemes and conspiracies. Here are a few examples: (1) They wanted to kill the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and uproot Islam. (2) They wanted to cut off the financial resources of the Mujahideen. (3) They wanted to see the Jews settled in Madinah. (4) They wanted to crown Abdullah bin Ubayy as king. (5) They wanted to establish Masjid Dirar as a base against the Muslims. (6) They wished to see the Muslims wiped out by the Romans at Tabuk, but they failed in all their plans. The furthest they went was their plot to kill the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the return from the Battle of Tabuk. On the way, ‘Aqabah was a high, difficult, and narrow place. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) announced that he would take that route, so no one else should go that way. Some hypocrites violated this order and planned to kill him at that spot. The following narration from Sahih Muslim sheds light on this incident: Abu Tufail narrates that there was a dispute between one of the people involved in the ‘Aqabah incident and Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him, the special confidant of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him). The man said: “I adjure you to tell me how many people were involved in the ‘Aqabah incident.” (Hudhayfah hesitated), so the people said: “Since he is asking, tell him.” He said: “We were told that they were fourteen. If you were among them, then they were fifteen. And I swear by Allah that twelve of them are enemies of Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in this world and on the Day when witnesses will be brought forth. As for the remaining three, they apologized, saying that they had neither heard the Messenger of Allah’s announcer nor knew what those people intended.” [ مسلم، صفات المنافقین : 2779/11 ] In Bayhaqi’s Dala’il an-Nubuwwah, it is mentioned that the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), Hudhayfah bin al-Yaman and Ammar bin Yasir (may Allah be pleased with them), recognized them and called out to them, so they fled (because their plan failed due to its secrecy being compromised). The author of {’’هداية المستنير‘‘} has cited Dala’il an-Nubuwwah (7/260) and declared it Sahih li ghayrihi. This narration clarifies the hadith of Sahih Muslim.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Among my Ummah are twelve hypocrites who will neither enter Paradise nor smell its fragrance, until a camel passes through the eye of a needle. For eight of them, a boil will suffice, which will be a lamp of fire that will emerge from their shoulders until it appears from their chests.” [ مسلم، صفات المنافقین، باب صفات المنافقین… : 2779/10 ]
➋ { وَ لَقَدْ قَالُوْا كَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ … :} What was the statement of disbelief that these hypocrites uttered? The Noble Qur’an has not specified it here, because it was not a single incident nor the statement of just one person; rather, it was the common practice of most, if not all, hypocrites, and they uttered words of disbelief on various occasions. Here, only one incident is mentioned as an example, which is briefly mentioned in Surah Al-Munafiqun and in more detail in Bukhari and Muslim. Zayd bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I was present in a battle and I heard Abdullah bin Ubayy saying: “Do not spend on those who are with Allah’s Messenger until they disperse from around him, and if we return to Madinah, the more honorable will surely expel the more disgraced.” I reported this to my uncle or to Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), and they mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called me and I told him what I had heard. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent for Abdullah bin Ubayy and his companions, and they all swore oaths that they had not said this, so the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) considered me a liar. I was overcome with worry as I had never been before, and I stayed at home. My uncle said to me, “What did you want, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) considered you a liar and was angry with you?” Then Allah revealed Surah Al-Munafiqun, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent for me, recited this Surah to me, and said: “Zayd! Allah has declared you truthful.” [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب قولہ : «إذا جاء ک المنافقون… » : ۴۹۰۰، ۴۹۰۱۔ مسلم : ۲۷۷۲ ]
➌ { وَ هَمُّوْا بِمَا لَمْ يَنَالُوْا …:} That is, the hypocrites did not achieve what they intended, and this failure and disappointment did not happen just once, but they were always unsuccessful in their evil schemes and conspiracies. Here are a few examples: (1) They wanted to kill the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and uproot Islam. (2) They wanted to cut off the financial resources of the Mujahideen. (3) They wanted to see the Jews settled in Madinah. (4) They wanted to crown Abdullah bin Ubayy as king. (5) They wanted to establish Masjid Dirar as a base against the Muslims. (6) They wished to see the Muslims wiped out by the Romans at Tabuk, but they failed in all their plans. The furthest they went was their plot to kill the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the return from the Battle of Tabuk. On the way, ‘Aqabah was a high, difficult, and narrow place. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) announced that he would take that route, so no one else should go that way. Some hypocrites violated this order and planned to kill him at that spot. The following narration from Sahih Muslim sheds light on this incident: Abu Tufail narrates that there was a dispute between one of the people involved in the ‘Aqabah incident and Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him, the special confidant of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him). The man said: “I adjure you to tell me how many people were involved in the ‘Aqabah incident.” (Hudhayfah hesitated), so the people said: “Since he is asking, tell him.” He said: “We were told that they were fourteen. If you were among them, then they were fifteen. And I swear by Allah that twelve of them are enemies of Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in this world and on the Day when witnesses will be brought forth. As for the remaining three, they apologized, saying that they had neither heard the Messenger of Allah’s announcer nor knew what those people intended.” [ مسلم، صفات المنافقین : 2779/11 ] In Bayhaqi’s Dala’il an-Nubuwwah, it is mentioned that the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), Hudhayfah bin al-Yaman and Ammar bin Yasir (may Allah be pleased with them), recognized them and called out to them, so they fled (because their plan failed due to its secrecy being compromised). The author of {’’هداية المستنير‘‘} has cited Dala’il an-Nubuwwah (7/260) and declared it Sahih li ghayrihi. This narration clarifies the hadith of Sahih Muslim.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Among my Ummah are twelve hypocrites who will neither enter Paradise nor smell its fragrance, until a camel passes through the eye of a needle. For eight of them, a boil will suffice, which will be a lamp of fire that will emerge from their shoulders until it appears from their chests.” [ مسلم، صفات المنافقین، باب صفات المنافقین… : 2779/10 ]
