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 Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
117. Allah has certainly turned in mercy to the Prophet, the Emigrants, and the Helpers who followed him in the hour of hardship [133], after the hearts of a group of them had almost inclined to doubt. Then He turned to them in mercy. Surely, Allah is Most Kind and Merciful to the believers.
In this verse, the time of hardship refers to the time of departure for the Battle of Tabuk, when it was extremely hot, there was famine, the crops were about to ripen, there was a state of destitution, and the journey was long and arduous. Thus, at that time, even some true believers began to feel hesitant about setting 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 refers to the fact that Allah granted them courage and resolve to depart in that state of anxiety, and mercy upon the Prophet refers to the verse that began in this way: “May Allah forgive you; why did you grant leave to those strong, well-built, and well-fed hypocrites to stay behind from jihad?” [9: 43]
In this verse, the time of hardship refers to the time of departure for the Battle of Tabuk, when it was extremely hot, there was famine, the crops were about to ripen, there was a state of destitution, and the journey was long and arduous. Thus, at that time, even some true believers began to feel hesitant about setting 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 refers to the fact that Allah granted them courage and resolve to depart in that state of anxiety, and mercy upon the Prophet refers to the verse that began in this way: “May Allah forgive you; why did you grant leave to those strong, well-built, and well-fed hypocrites to stay behind from jihad?” [9: 43]
