SURAH (9) AT-TAWBAH (AYA 31 to 40)

اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَٰهًا وَاحِدًا ۖ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ {9:31}

[Q9:31] ittakhazooo ahbaarahum wa ruhbaanahum arbaabammin doonil laahi wal Maseehab na Maryama wa maaa umirooo illaa liya'budooo Ilaahanw Waa hidan laaa ilaaha illaa Hoo; Subhaanahoo 'ammaa yushrikoon. 
[Q9:31] They have taken their doctors of law and their monks for lords besides ALLAH (SWT), and (also) the Messiah son of Marium and they were enjoined that they should serve one ALLAH (SWT) only, there is no ALLAH (SWT) but He; far from His glory be what they set up (with Him). 

[Q9:31] Mereka menjadikan pendita-pendita dan ahli-ahli agama mereka sebagai pendidik-pendidik selain dari ALLAH (SwT) dan juga (mereka mempertuhankan) Al-Masih Ibni Mariam, padahal mereka tidak diperintahkan melainkan untuk menyembah Tuhan Yang Maha Esa; tiada Tuhan (yang berhak disembah) melainkan Dia. Maha Suci ALLAH (SwT) dari apa yang mereka sekutukan. 

It is obvious that in fact they did not consider their divines and the monks as the Lord and in the same sense it is applicable to ALLAH (SWT) BUT THEY RECOGNISED in them such power and authority to do whatever they pleased, independent of ALLAH (SWT). BESIDES THAT, they hold the saints and their images as the object of worship. THUS they resembled the pagans in two respects.

(see commentary for verse 30)

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(9:31) They have made their scholars and monks as their Lords beside Allah, *31 and likewise the Messiah, the son of Mary, although they were enjoined not to worship any other than the One Deity, besides Whom there is none worthy of worship. He is absolutely pure and free from what they associate with Him.

*31 "They have taken their scholars and monks as their Lords the Holy Prophet himself explained its true significance. According to a Tradition, when Hadrat `Adi bin Hatim, who was formerly a Christian, came to the Holy Prophet with the intention of understanding Islam, he asked several questions in order to remove his doubts. One of these was: "This verse accuses us of taking our scholars and monks as our lords. What is its real meaning, sir? For we do not take them as our fords."
As a reply to this, the Holy Prophet put him a counter-question: "Is it not a fact that you accept as unlawful what they declare to be unlawful, and lawful what they declare to be lawful?" 'Adi confessed, "Yes, sir, it is so." The Holy Prophet replied, "This amounts to making them your lords." Incidentally, this Tradition shows that those who themselves set limits to the lawful and the unlawful without the authority of Allah's Book, assume for themselves the rank of Godhead, and those who acknowledge their right of making laws take them as their Lords.
It should be noted that they have been charged with (a) attributing sons to AIlah, and (b) giving the right of making laws to others than Allah. These are to prove that their claim that they believed in Allah, is false, even though they should believe in his existence. But such a wrong conception of AIIah makes their belief in Allah meaningless. 

يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَيَأْبَى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ {9:32}

[Q9:32] Yureedoona ai yutfi'oo nooral laahi bi'afwaahihim wa yaaballaahu illaaa ai yutimma noorahoo wa law karihal kaafiroon.
[Q9:32] They desire to put out the light of ALLAH (SWT) with their mouths, and ALLAH (SWT) will not consent save to perfect His light, though the unbelievers are averse.

[Q9:32] Mereka hendak memadamkan cahaya ALLAH (SwT) (agama Islam) dengan mulut mereka, sedang ALLAH (SwT) tidak menghendaki melainkan menyempurnakan cahayaNya, sekalipun orang-orang kafir tidak suka (akan yang demikian). 

FALSE TEACHERS AND PREACHERS try to distort the message of ALLAH (swt) by the false words (conjectures) of their mouths, so that they may put out the "light", for they are people of darkness and ignorance, BUT ALLAH (SWT) has perfected His light- --light implies the light of guidance completed and perfected at Ghadir Khum by declaring the wilayah of Imam Ali (see commentary of Ma-idah 5:67).

Through the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and his Ahlul Bayt, ALLAH (SWT) made His (true) religion a signal success. For the men of understanding the true teaching of Islam is the best code of law for human society.

        THE ULTIMATE TRIUMPH OF ISLAM will be witnessed when Imam Muhammad bin Hasan al Mahdi al Qa-im, the last true successor of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), will come in this world, with the permission of ALLAH (SWT), to unite the whole mankind as a single community, to live in peace and harmony, doing away with injustice, exploitation and polytheism, guided by the divine laws made by ALLAH (SWT).

THE DIVINE LAWS HAVE BEEN PERFECTED AND COMPLETED AND NAMED ISLAM, after which the laws given to other people in the days of earlier prophets, preceding the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), became inoperative and subservient to Islamic laws. In theory and practice Islamic laws and teachings surpass all creeds. HOWEVER much the polytheists and the hypocrites may try to stop the ultimate victory of Islam under the guidance of the living Imam, the al Qa-im, it is certain to take place. Verse 48:28 of Fat-h and verse 61:9 of Saff also give the glad tidings of the ultimate victory of Islam when al Qa-im comes in this world.

v  Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Abu Yula, Hakim, Suyuti, Tabarani, Darqatni, Abu Nu-aym, Khatib and Ibn Asakir AND many others have accepted the fact of the ultimate rule of Imam Mahdi, who is the last of the twelve successors of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) from among his Ahlul Bayt. Even the precursor of Wahabi sect, Ibn Taymiyah, has accepted as true all the traditions pertaining to the "reign of Imam Muhammad bin Hasan al Mahdi" (refer to his book "Majmu-atul Fatawa".)

Also refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:124.

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(9:32) These people desire to extinguish the light of Allah with puffs from their mouths and Allah refuses (His consent to their desirebut wills to perfect His light, even though the disbelievers be much averse to it.

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ {9:33}

[Q9:33] huwal lazeee ar sala Rasoolahoo bilhudaa wa deenil haqqi liyuzhirahoo 'alad deeni kullihee wa law karihal mushrikoon. 
[Q9:33] He it is Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, that He might cause it to prevail over all religions, though the polytheists may be averse.

[Q9:33] Dialah yang telah mengutus RasulNya (Muhammad) dengan membawa petunjuk dan agama yang benar (agama Islam), untuk dimenangkan dan ditinggikannya atas segala agama yang lain, walaupun orang-orang musyrik tidak menyukainya.  

THE TRIUMPH OF ISLAM OVER ALL RELIGIOUS MENTIONED IN THIS VERSE is explained under the previous verse 32. It is a note of prophecy accepted on all hands of the various schools in Islam that the complete triumph of Islam over all other religions of the world will be realised during the regime of the awaited Mahdi, a Hashimite of the Holy family of PROPHET MUHAMMAD (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

NOTWITHSTANDING THE STRENGTH Christianity and the other major religions of the world have gained, the beginning of the prevalence of the Islamic faith over them all, has already set in. The Christian doctrine of the various atonement, the belief in the Trinity and the worshipping of idols of the saints, all such false beliefs and wrong practices are fast dying away a natural death and the monotheism and the inclination towards the correct idea of worshipping only the One True ALLAH (SWT) is gaining ground. See the note on previous verse 32.

Triumph here means also that the Shariat or the Law of Islam supersedes the laws of all the other religious given to various units of mankind by every other prophet preceding the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

v  Regarding the nominative pronoun ‘understand’ most of the commentators have taken it to refer to ALLAH (SWT) BUT it is not impossible to refer it to the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) also. The significance will remain the same as the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) is the representative of ALLAH (SWT). Whether the true religion referred to here has overcome all other religions or not--- is this promise fulfilled or not?

The answer is that Islam has two (2) aspects. FIRST – its teachings **theoretical and **practical, if it is compared with the theoretical and the teachings of the other religions, undoubtedly Islam surpasses all. SECONDLY – The domination of its teachings over the human life as a whole throughout the world in such a way that no other faith saves Islam remains.

The promise here and elsewhere in the Holy Qur’an, includes both the aspects surpassing of its teachings over the teachings of the other religions, which was completed at Ghadir Khum AND AS FAR AS the second aspect is concerned, the promise is yet to be fulfilled BUT should be by a person who will be of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) be of him--- a true representative and a Vicegerent of ALLAH (SWT) and the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), from the same Selected Linage of Ibrahim through Ishmael and that cannot be anyone else BUT the Twelfth Imam of the House of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad). This is supported by numerous traditions narrated by the various Schools of Thought in Islam.

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(9:33) He is Allah Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Right way so that He may make it prevail over all other ways, *32 even though the mushriks be much averse to it.

*32 The Arabic word ad-din has been translated into 'ways'. For the word din, as has already been explained in E.N. 204, Al-Baqarah, is used for the 'way of life' or the 'system of life', which is followed in obedience to the supreme authority.
Now Iet us try to understand the significance of this verse. The object of the Mission of the Messenger is to make the Guidance and the Right Way he has brought from AIIah dominant over all the other ways and systems of life. In other words, the Messenger is not sent to allow Allah's Way to remain subordinate to other ways in order to enjoy concessions from them. He is sent by the Sovereign of the earth and the heavens to make His Way dominant over all other ways. And if a wrong way is at all allowed to remain on the earth, it should be tolerated only under its own protection by the payment of Jizyah under the limits conferred by the Divine System as in the cast of the system of life of the ZimmIs who pay Jizyah. 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْأَحْبَارِ وَالرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنْفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ {9:34}

[Q9:34] Yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanooo inna kaseeramminal ahbaari warruhbaani la yaakuloona amwaalan naasi bil baatili wa yasuddoona 'an sabeelil laah; wallazeena yaknizoonaz zahaba wal fiddata wa laayunfiqoonahaa fee sabeelil laahi fabashshirhum bi'azaabin aleem – 
[Q9:34] O you who believe! Most surely many of the doctors of law and the monks eat away the property of men falsely, and turn (them) from ALLAH (SWT)'s way; and (as for) those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend it in ALLAH (SWT)'s way, announce to them a painful chastisement,

[Q9:34] Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Sesungguhnya banyak di antara pendita-pendita dan ahli-ahli agama (Yahudi dan Nasrani) memakan harta orang ramai dengan cara yang salah dan mereka menghalangi (manusia) dari jalan ALLAH (SwT) (agama Islam). Dan (ingatlah) orang-orang yang menyimpan emas dan perak serta tidak membelanjakannya pada jalan ALLAH (SwT), maka khabarkanlah kepada mereka dengan (balasan) azab seksa yang tidak terperi sakitnya.

Gold and silver means wealth. Misuse of wealth and resources has been frequently condemned in the Qur’an.

TREAT YOURSELF AS THE TRUSTEE OF THAT WHICH ALLAH (SWT) HAS GIVEN TO YOU. Do not acquire anything wrongfully or on false pretences, do not hoard or amass wealth for its own sake but use it freely for the good of the people; DO NOT WASTE IT FOR IDLE PURPOSES OR FOR OSTENTATION. PAY ZAKAT, KHUMS AND SADAQA.

§  Abu Dhar al Ghaffari used to recite this verse before the rulers of his time. Refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:3, 177, 219 and 245; Ali Imran 3:116 and 180.

Verse 35 describes the penalties to be suffered by those who misuse wealth -for such misuse is as much a spiritual sin as any other kind of disobedience to ALLAH (SWT)'s will.

THE REWARD OF OUR GOOD DEEDS AND THE PUNISHMENT OF OUR BAD DEEDS, DONE IN THIS WORLD, SHALL BE BLISSFUL OR PAINFUL IN THE LIFE OF THE HEREAFTER IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE LIFE OF HEREAFTER SHALL REFLECT THE ACTIONS DONE IN THIS WORLD.

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(9:34) O Believers, indeed most of the scholars and monks of the people of the Book devour the wealth of others by evil means, and debar them from the Way of Allah. *33 Give them the good news of a painful torment, who hoard up gold and silver and expend not these in the Way of Allah.

*33 These religious leaders are guilty of two sins. First, they devour the wealth of the common people by selling false decrees, and by taking bribes, gifts and presents on different pretexts. They invent religious regulations and rituals as tempt people to buy their salvations and fortunes in life from them and make deaths and marriages dependent on the payment of due `price' to these "monopolists" of Paradise. To add to this another sin, they debar the people from the Way of Allah by involving them into different sorts of deviations and by obstructing the way of every Righteous Mission with the obstacles of `learned' doubts and `pious' suspicions. 

يَوْمَ يُحْمَىٰ عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ ۖ هَٰذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا مَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ {9:35}

[Q9:35] Yawma yuhmaa 'alaihaa fee naari jahannama fatukwaa bihaa jibaahuhum haazaa maa kanaztum li anfusikum fazooqoo maa kuntum taknizoon. 

[Q9:35] On the day when it shall be heated in the fire of hell, then their foreheads and their sides and their backs shall be branded with it; this is what you hoarded up for yourselves, therefore taste what you hoarded.
[Q9:35] (Iaitu) pada hari dibakar emas perak (dan harta benda) itu dalam Neraka Jahannam, lalu diselar dengannya dahi mereka dan rusuk mereka, serta belakang mereka (sambil dikatakan kepada mereka): Inilah apa yang telah kamu simpan untuk diri kamu sendiri, oleh itu rasalah (azab dari) apa yang kamu simpan itu. 

THIS SUPPORTS THE VIEW THAT THE REWARD OR THE PUNISHMENT IN THE HEREAFTER IS THAT OUR OWN ACTIONS GOOD AND BAD HERE assume a pleasant or a painful turn there in such a way that the actions here and the form there are identified as expressed in this verse. (see commentary for verse 34)

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(9:35) The Day shall surely come when the same gold and silver shall be heated in the fire of Hell, and therewith their foreheads, their bodies and their backs shall be .branded, (saying), "Here is that treasure you had hoarded up for yourselves: now taste the evil of your hoarded treasure"

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَافَّةً كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَافَّةً ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ {9:36}

[Q9:36] Inna 'iddatash shuhoori 'indal laahis naa 'ashara shahran fee Kitaabil laahi yawma khalaqas samaawaati wal arda minhaaa arba'atun hurum; zaalikad deenul qaiyim; falaa tazlimoo feehinna anfusakum; wa qaatilul mushrikeena kaaaf fattan kamaa yuqaati loonakum kaaaffah; wa'lamooo annal laaha ma'al muttaqeen. 
[Q9:36] Surely the number of months with ALLAH (SWT) is twelve months in ALLAH (SWT)'s ordinance since the day when He created the heavens and the earth, of these four being sacred; that is the right reckoning; therefore be not unjust to yourselves regarding them, and fight the polytheists all together as they fight you all together; and know that ALLAH (SWT) is with those who guard (against evil).

[Q9:36] Sesungguhnya bilangan bulan-bulan di sisi (hukum) ALLAH (SwT) ialah dua belas bulan, (yang telah ditetapkan) dalam Kitab ALLAH (SwT) semasa Dia menciptakan langit dan bumi, di antaranya empat bulan yang dihormati. Ketetapan yang demikian itu ialah agama yang betul lurus, maka janganlah kamu menganiaya diri kamu dalam bulan-bulan yang dihormati itu (dengan melanggar laranganNya) dan perangilah kaum kafir musyrik seluruhnya sebagaimana mereka memerangi kamu seluruhnya dan ketahuilah sesungguhnya ALLAH (SwT) berserta orang-orang yang bertakwa. 

Please refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:189, 190 and 194 for the lunar months and the four sacred months -Dhilqad, Dhilhijj, Muharram and Rajab AND the orders to fight the enemies of ALLAH (SWT); and particularly to al Baqarah 2:84, 97 and 98 for the persecution of the Ahlul Bayt by the Muslim rulers. In the month of Rajab Imam Husayn was forced to leave his home and in the month of Muharram he was martyred.

The verse declares a general amnesty during these four (4) months which have been declared sacred by ALLAH (SWT), and even the heathens of Arabia regarded this period as such and stopped all warfare for all these months. BUT alas! Even this general amnesty allowed even the disbelievers who might be peaceful, was not allowed for the family of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) by those who called themselves Muslims.

LET IT BE REMEMBERED that it was the sacred month of Muharrum in which the so-called Muslim King Yazid who posed himself even as the Khalif of Islam i.e., the successor to the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), and his subject who also termed themselves as Muslims, effected the most heart-rending wholesale massacre of the holy ones at Karbala in which Husain the grandson of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) along with the faithful hand of Seventy-two (72) comrades and companions was brutally butchered, sparing not even a baby of six months, in the killing hunger and thirst of three continuous days under the scorching sun of the Arabian flaming summer on the banks of the flowing river (Euphrates).

This great tragedy, the greatest sacrifice has been prophesied in the Old Testament: “For this is the day the Lord ALLAH (SWT) of Hosts, a day of Vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and make drunk with their blood, for the Lord ALLAH (SWT) of hosts Hath a sacrifice in the north country of the river Euphrates. Jer. 46:10.

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(9:36) The fact is that the number of months ordained by Allah has been twelve since the time He created the heavens and the earth, *34 and out of these four are forbidden months: this is the right code of reckoning: therefore do not wrong yourselves by violating these months. *35 And fight against the mushriks all together even as they fight against you all together: *36 and note it well that Allah is with the Godfearing people.

*34 This means that ever since Allah created the sun, the moon and the earth, the new moon takes place only once in a month; thus the year has always been of twelve months.
This has been mentioned to refute the practice of nasi (v. 37) whereby the pagan Arabs increased the number of the months of a year to 13 or 14 to enable them to interpose in the calendar the forbidden month which had been made lawful by them. (For fuller explanation see E.N. 37). 
*35 "....do not wrong yourselves ....": "Do not let go waste the good things for which fighting has been made unlawful during these months by creating disorder in them that will ultimately be harmful to you also" . The four forbidden months are . . Zil-Q`adah, Zil-Hajjah and Muharram for Haj and Rajab for ' Umrah. 
*36 That is, °If the mushriks do not desist from fighting during these months, you should also fight them and present a united front against them, just as they put up a united front against you". This verse has been explained by v. 194 of Al-Baqarah. 

إِنَّمَا النَّسِيءُ زِيَادَةٌ فِي الْكُفْرِ ۖ يُضَلُّ بِهِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يُحِلُّونَهُ عَامًا وَيُحَرِّمُونَهُ عَامًا لِيُوَاطِئُوا عِدَّةَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ فَيُحِلُّوا مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ ۚ زُيِّنَ لَهُمْ سُوءُ أَعْمَالِهِمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ {9:37}

[Q9:37] Innamma naseee'u ziyaadatun filkufri yudallu bihillazeena kafaroo yuhil loonahoo 'aamanw wa yuhar rimoonahoo 'aamalliyu watti'oo 'iddata maa harramal laah; zuyyina lahum sooo'u a'maalihim; wallaahu laa yahdil qawmal kaafireen. 
[Q9:37] Postponing (of the sacred month) is only an addition in unbelief, wherewith those who disbelieve are led astray, violating it one year and keeping it sacred another, that they may agree in the number (of months) that ALLAH (SWT) has made sacred, and thus violate what ALLAH (SWT) has made sacred; the evil of their doings is made fairseeming to them; and ALLAH (SWT) does not guide the unbelieving people.

[Q9:37] Sesungguhnya perbuatan mengundurkan (kehormatan itu dari satu bulan ke satu bulan yang lain) adalah menambah kekufuran yang menjadikan orang-orang kafir itu tersesat kerananya. Mereka menghalalkannya pada satu tahun dan mengharamkannya pada tahun yang lain, supaya mereka dapat menyesuaikan bilangan (bulan-bulan yang empat) yang telah diharamkan ALLAH (SwT) (berperang di dalamnya); dengan itu mereka menghalalkan apa yang telah diharamkan oleh ALLAH (SwT). Perbuatan buruk mereka itu dihias dan dijadikan indah (oleh Syaitan) untuk dipandang baik oleh mereka. Dan (ingatlah) ALLAH (SwT) tidak memberi hidayat petunjuk kepada orang-orang yang kafir

The pagans of Arabia used to observe a year of 13 months after two years to combine the solar and lunar years, due to which they had to transfer the observance of Muharram to the succeeding month, Safar. This verse condemns their interference with that which ALLAH (SWT) has ordained.

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(9:37) Nasi is but one more instance of disbelief, whereby these disbelievers are led astray. In one year they make a certain month lawful and in another year they make the same a forbidden month, so as they might make up for the number of the forbidden months and, at the same time, make lawful that which is forbidden by Allah. *37 Their evil deeds have been made seeming fair to them: for Allah does not guide those who deny the Truth.

*37 The pagan Arabs practiseds (nasi) in two ways. Whenever it suited them, they would declare a prohibited month to be an ordinary month in which fighting, robbery and murder in retaliation were lawful for them. Then they would declare an ordinary month to be a prohibited month instead of this month in order to make up for the deficiency caused in the number of the prohibited months.
The other way of nasi was the addition of a month in order to harmonize the lunar with the solar year so that the Haj should always fall in the same season and they should be saved from the botheration and inconveniences that are experienced by its observance according to the lunar year. In this way Haj was observed for 36 years on dates other than the actual dates. Then in the thirty seventh year it was again observed on the 9th and 10th of Zil-Hajjah, as they should have actually fallen according to the lunar calendar. It so happened that on the occasion when the Holy Prophet performed Hajja-tul-Wida'a (his Last Haj) these dates by rotation coincided with the actual dates of Haj according to the lunar calendar. So he declared during the course of his historic address at `Arafat: "This year the dates of Haj have again occurred exactly at their natural and proper time after a long period of circulation. "Accordingly, since that `Last Haj' of A.H. 9, it is being observed up to this day according to the correct dates of the lunar year.
By making nasi unlawful and forbidding it, the Law declared that the two objects for which it was practised were also sinful. First, they not only made lawful what Allah had made unlawful but also tried to practise deception on AIIah by the seeming observance of the Law. As regards the second object of making the season of Haj fixed permanently according to the solar calendar, this too, was in fact the worst kind of rebellion against the Divine Law, although it appeared to be a harmless thing done for public good. But it defeated the very object of the Divine Law which prescribed the lunar calendar instead of the solar calendar for the observance of obligatory duties. Allah did this to ensure many good things for the Muslims, one of which is that His servants should be so trained as to obey His Commandments at all times of the year and under all circumstances. For instance, the month of Ramadan circulates among all the seasons of the year and the Muslims get used to obeying His Commandments whether it be summer or winter, dry or rainy season. This gives them that excellent moral training which is the real object of all the obligatory duties imposed by the Divine Law. Likewise, the dates of Haj according to the lunar calendar, fall during different seasons: therefore the servants of Allah have to travel during all the seasons, favourable and unfavourable. Thus they come out successful in the Divine test under all the circumstances and learn to be steadfast in their obedience.
It is obvious that such a training will stand them in good stead in many other fields in which one has to fight the battle of the Truth.
Now it would have become quite clear why nasi was made unlawful and forbidden. It was designed to fix the season of Haj in order to suit their own conveniences though it defeated the Divine purpose of Haj and of the forbidden months. It meant that they had rebelled against Allah and become independent of Him; this is kufr. Besides this, Islam is a universal religion and for all human beings. It is obvious that the periods of fasting and performing Haj cannot satisfy all if they be fixed in accordance with the months of the solar year. For if they are performed in fixed months according to the solar year, the one and the same month will not equally suit all for the simple reason that it will fall during the same seasons in different places-summer or winter or very hot or very cold or rainy or dry or harvesting or sowing-year after year.
In this connection it may also be kept in view that the proclamation about the prohibition of "nasi" was made on the occasion of Haj in A. H. 9 and next year, the Haj was performed on right dates which were in accordance with the lunar year. Since that time Haj is being performed according to exact dates. 

SECTION 6

The Tabuk Expedition

Muslims called upon to fight in the way of ALLAH (SWT)---How ALLAH (SWT) helped the Apostle in the Cave while he migrated from Makka to Medinah.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ انْفِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ ۚ أَرَضِيتُمْ بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ {9:38}

[Q9:38] Yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanoo maa lakum izaa qeela lakumun firoo fee sabeelil laahis saaqaltum ilal ard; aradeetum bilhayaatid dunyaa minal Aakhirah; famaa ma taaul hayaatiddunyaa fil Aakhirati illaa qaleel. 
[Q9:38] O you who believe! What (excuse) have you that when it is said to you: Go forth in ALLAH (SWT)'s way, you should incline heavily to earth; are you contented with this world's life instead of the hereafter? But the provision of this world's life compared with the hereafter is but little.

[Q9:38] Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Mengapa kamu, apabila dikatakan kepada kamu: Pergilah beramai-ramai untuk berperang pada jalan ALLAH (SwT), kamu merasa keberatan (dan suka tinggal menikmati kesenangan) di tempat (masing-masing)? Adakah kamu lebih suka dengan kehidupan dunia daripada akhirat? (Kesukaan kamu itu salah) kerana kesenangan hidup di dunia ini hanya sedikit jua berbanding dengan (kesenangan hidup kemudian di akhirat elak.

The reference is to the defensive expedition of Tabuk in 9 Hijra, to counter the aggression by the Byzantine Empire. The people who hesitated to follow the call of Tabuk were deterred by:

1.        A very long journey in the heat of the summer,

2.        The fear of losing the fruit harvest, which was ripe for gathering,

3.        The dread of a highly organised, large and formidable foe.

THEY HAVE BEEN REMINDED THAT THE COMFORTS OF THIS LIFE ARE LITTLE AS COMPARED WITH THE HEREAFTER. Those who hesitated on account of clinging to worldly gains were suffering from a spiritual disease, therefore they have been warned of severe punishment if they failed to obey THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

YET ABOUT 30,000 MEN GATHERED. THIS VERSE WAS REVEALED referring to the conduct of the people who hesitate to respond to the call.

If a nation receives favours and fails to deserve them, it will be replaced by another, as has often happened in history as has often happened in history.

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(9:38) O *38 you who believed! What was amiss with you that, when you were asked to march forth on the Way of Allah, you clung to the earth? What! Did you prefer the life of this world to the life of the Hereafter? If it is so, you should know that all these goods of this worldly life will prove to be but little in the Hereafter. *39

*38 From here begins the discourse (vv. 38-72) which was sent down at the time when the Holy Prophet was engaged in making preparations for the Campaign to Tabuk. 
*39 ".... you should know that the goods ... Hereafter" may imply two meanings. First: "When you will find that the life in the Hereafter is eternal and see that the good things and the provisions of enjoyment are countless, you will realize that the potential and the actual enjoyments of the temporary life of this world were nothing as compared with the blessings of that great Kingdom. At that time you will regret why you deprived yourselves of this everlasting happiness and bliss for the sake of the little-very little-sort-lived enjoyments of the mortal life of this world." Second: "The goods of this worldly life are of no value in the Hereafter, howsoever abundant they might be. You shall have to give up each and everything as soon as you breathe your last, for nothing of this world can go with you to the Next World. Of course, you will get credit for what you sacrificed for the pleasure and love of Allah, and lout of Islam." 

إِلَّا تَنْفِرُوا يُعَذِّبْكُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَيَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّوهُ شَيْئًا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ {9:39}

[Q9:39] Illaa tanfiroo yu'az zibkum 'azaaban aleemanw wa yastabdil qawman ghairakum wa laa tadurroohu shai'aa; wal laahu 'alaa kulli shai'in Qadeer. 
[Q9:39] If you do not go forth, He will chastise you with a painful chastisement and bring in your place a people other than you, and you will do Him no harm; and ALLAH (SWT) has power over all things.

[Q9:39] Jika kamu tidak pergi beramai-ramai (untuk berperang pada jalan ALLAH (SwT) membela agamaNya), ALLAH (SwT) akan menyeksa kamu dengan azab seksa yang tidak terperi sakitnya dan Dia akan menggantikan kamu dengan kaum yang lain dan kamu tidak akan dapat mendatangkan bahaya sedikitpun kepadaNya dan (ingatlah) ALLAH (SwT) Maha Kuasa atas tiap-tiap sesuatu. 

(see commentary for verse 38)

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(9:39) If you will not march forth, Allah will inflict on you a painful chastisement, *40 and will substitute other people for you, *41 and you will in no way harm Him, for Allah has power over everything.

*40 A general rule of the Islamic conduct has been derived from "If you .... chastisement. "When the Muslims are commanded to go to Jihad by a public proclamation from their leader, it becomes an obligatory duty for those who are called upon to do Jihad, whether they belong to any particular group or region. So much so that the Faith of those who do not go for Jihad without a genuine excuse becomes doubtful. But even in cases where the Muslims are called upon to go forth for Jihad and there is no command for the compulsory enrolment of every able-bodied Muslim of a particular group or region, it is a religious duty (though not obligatory), and it shall be considered to have been performed even if only some Muslims go forth for it. 
*41 That is, "Allah's work does not depend on you and will be accomplished only if you do it. It is Allah's grace and bounty that He is affording you the golden opportunity of serving the cause of His Way. Therefore if you miss this opportunity because of any foolish assumption, Allah will raise another people and bestow on them the opportunity and capability of doing His work, and you will be losers". 

إِلَّا تَنْصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ{9:40}

[Q9:40] Illaa tansuroohu faqad nasarahul laahu iz akhrajahul lazeena kafaroo saaniyasnaini iz humaa filghaari iz yaqoolu lisaahibihee la tahzan innnal laaha ma'anaa fa anzalallaahu sakeenatahoo 'alaihi wa aiyadahoo bijunoodil lam tarawhaa wa ja'ala kalimatal lazeena kafarus suflaa; wa Kalimatul laahi hiyal 'ulyaa; wallaahu 'Azeezun Hakeem.
[Q9:40] If you will not aid him, ALLAH (SWT) certainly aided him when those who disbelieved expelled him, he being the second of the two, when they were both in the cave, when he said to his companion: Grieve not, surely ALLAH (SWT) is with us. So ALLAH (SWT) sent down His tranquillity upon him and strengthened him with hosts which you did not see, and made lowest the word of those who disbelieved; and the word of ALLAH (SWT), that is the highest; and ALLAH (SWT) is Mighty, Wise.

[Q9:40] Kalau kamu tidak menolongnya (Nabi Muhammad) maka sesungguhnya ALLAH (SwT) telahpun menolongnya, iaitu ketika kaum kafir (di Mekah) mengeluarkannya (dari negerinya Mekah) sedang dia salah seorang dari dua (sahabat) semasa mereka berlindung di dalam gua, ketika dia berkata kepada sahabatnya: Janganlah engkau berdukacita, sesungguhnya ALLAH (SwT) bersama kita. Maka ALLAH (SwT) menurunkan semangat tenang tenteram kepada (Nabi Muhammad) dan menguatkannya dengan bantuan tentera (malaikat) yang kamu tidak melihatnya dan ALLAH (SwT) menjadikan seruan (syirik) orang-orang kafir terkebawah (kalah dengan sehina-hinanya) dan Kalimah ALLAH (SwT) (Islam) ialah yang tertinggi (selama-lamanya), kerana ALLAH (SwT) Maha Kuasa, lagi Maha Bijaksana.

See commentary of al Baqarah 2:207. As has been mentioned therein, inside the cave, the companion of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), Abu Bakr, was frightened and had started crying in anguish when he heard the voices of the enemy. THEN the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) said: "Do not fear. ALLAH (SWT) is with us."

COMPARE THIS FEAR TO THE TRANQUILLITY of Ali described in the commentary of verse 2:207 of al Baqarah which was revealed to honour and glorify Ali. It also points out the fact that wherever in the Qur’an those who received tranquillity (sakinah) from ALLAH (SWT) have been mentioned Abu Bakr must be excluded BECAUSE his fear has been historically recorded and referred to in this verse. "His companion" (sahibihi) and the "second of the two" imply no merit. See verse 18:37 of Kahf in which out of the two "mutual companions" one was a believer and the other was a disbeliever.

(1)     THE EPOCH- making event of the Holy Prophet’s (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) migration from Makka to Madina is of such importance that the Holy Qur’an has referred to it and to the stories connected with it in three (3) places i.e. verse 9:40, verse 2:194 and verse 8:30. In short the Qureish had decided to stab the Holy Prophet’s (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) in his bed in such a manner that all the tribes of the Qureish be involved in it so that the Hashimites would not dare to retaliate facing all the tribes together and would accept the ransom for it. The Holy Prophet’s (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) was commanded by ALLAH (SWT) to leave Makka for Madina.

(2)     BEFORE THE NIGHT fixed for the execution of the conspiracy and that Ali should sleep in his bed camouflaging the absence of the Holy Prophet’s (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), Ali welcomed to take the risk of his own life of lying in his bed and facing the enemies’ attack. From the passage of verses 8:30 and this verse it is obvious that the conspiracy was only against the Holy Prophet’s (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and none else was concerned with it. There was the danger for Ali in particular of being killed by the enemy mistaking him in the bed for the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

(3)     HOWEVER the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) was forced by circumstances to leave the place for the Cave. Abu Bakr met him on the way and accompanied him to the Cave, BUT in the cave he was full of fear and was dreadfully worried, to the extent that the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) had to console him.

The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) was considered to be ‘the second of the two’, not for any other consideration BUT BECAUSE of being together in one place. The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) is singly referred (1) in respect of being help by ALLAH (SWT), (2) in respect of being driven out by the infidels; (3) in respect of the Tranquility being sent down to him from ALLAH (SWT) and (4) in respect of being supported by unseen armies of the angels.

The only thing which may be considered that honoured Abu Bakr is being mentioned as one of the two occupants of the cave and not with any other identity BUT what is worthy of being noted (with surprise) here is that he was not included as the recipient of the Tranquility from ALLAH (SWT) WHILE IN THE OTHER places where Holy Qur’an mentions of the Tranquility from ALLAH (SWT), includes the believers along with the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THOSE OF THE BELIEVERS are meant, who used to remain with the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) even in the worst of the circumstances calm and undisturbed in the fighting for the cause of ALLAH (SWT) and welcoming or longing to be martyred for it. Even there those who used to run away from the battlefield, deserting the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) will not be included.

THEREFORE excepting the honour which Abu Bakr had in being the only occupant of the cave with the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) he had not the honour of having the Tranquility, WHILE Ali on that eventful night sleeping in the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) bed had the same Tranquility which the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) had in the Cave which was appreciated and honoured by ALLAH (SWT) by verse 2:194 and the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) said that ALLAH (SWT) expressed to the Angels His admiration of Ali’s matchless sacrifice and devotion.

THIS IS THE ONLY SOLITARY PASSAGE WHERE ABU BAKR IS MEANT BEYOND ANY DOUBT.

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(9:40) If you do not help your Prophet, (it does not matter): Allah did help him before when the disbelievers forced him to go away from his home, and he was but the second of two: when the two were in the cave; when he was saying to his Companion, "Be not distressed: indeed Allah is with us. " *42 Then Allah sent down peace of mind to him from Himself, and helped him with the forces you did not see, and made the word of the disbelievers abased. And Allah's Word is always supreme, for Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

*42 This refers to the occasion when the disbelievers had decided to assassinate the Holy Prophet, and the very night fixed for his assassination he had left Makkah for Al-Madinah. By that time most of the Muslims had migrated to Al-Madinah in twos and threes and only a few helpless ones had remained behind in Makkah. As he was sure that he would be pursued, he took only Hadrat Abu Bakr with him and went southward instead of following the northern route to Al-Madinah and remained hidden in the Thaur Cave for three days. In the meantime the blood thirsty enemies had begun to make a thorough search for him all around Makkah and some of them reached the very mouth of the Cave where he was hidden. On this critical occasion Hadrat Abu Bakr naturally felt alarmed lest they should peep into the Cave, and see them. But the Holy Prophet remained as calm as before and reassured his Companion, saying, "Be not distressed: indeed Allah is with us."