9. Repentance

A (declaration) of immunity from Allah andHis Messenger, to those of the Pagans with whom ye have contractedmutual alliances:-

Go ye, then, for four months (backwards andforwards, as ye will), throughout the land, but know ye that yecannot frustrate Allah (by your falsehood) but that Allah will coverwith shame those who reject Him.

And an announcement from Allah and HisMessenger, to the people (assembled) on the day of the GreatPilgrimage,- that Allah and His Messenger dissolve (treaty)obligations with the Pagans. If then, ye repent, it were best foryou; but if ye turn away, know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah.And proclaim a grievous chastisement to those who reject Faith.

(But the treaties are) not dissolved withthose Pagans with whom ye have entered into alliance and who havenot subsequently failed you in aught, nor aided any one against you.So fulfill your engagements with them to the end of their term: forAllah loveth the righteous.

But when the forbidden months are past, thenfight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them,beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (ofwar); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and payZakat, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft- forgiving, MostMerciful.

If one amongst the Pagans ask thee forasylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the Word of Allah; andthen escort him to where he can be secure. That is because they aremen without knowledge.

How can there be a covenant, before Allah andHis Messenger, with the Pagans, except those with whom ye made atreaty near the Sacred Mosque? As long as these stand true to you,stand ye true to them: for Allah doth love the righteous.

How (can there be such a covenant), seeingthat if they get an advantage over you, they respect not in you theties either of kinship or of covenant? With (fair words from) theirmouths they please you, but their hearts are averse from you; andmost of them are rebellious and wicked.

The Words of Allah have they sold for amiserable price, and (many) have they hindered from His Way: evilindeed are the deeds they have done.

In a Believer they respect not the tieseither of kinship or of covenant! It is they who have transgressedall bounds.

But (even so), if they repent, establishregular prayers, and pay Zakat,- they are your brethren in Faith:(thus) do We explain the Signs in detail, for those who understand.

But if they violate their oaths after theircovenant, and attack you for your Faith,- fight ye the chiefs ofUnfaith: for their oaths are nothing to them: that thus they may berestrained.

Will ye not fight people who violated theiroaths, plotted to expel the Messenger, and attacked you first? Do yefear them? Nay, it is Allah Whom ye should more justly fear, if yebelieve!

Fight them, and Allah will punish them byyour hands, and disgrace them, help you (to victory) over them, healthe breasts of Believers,

And still the indignation of their hearts.For Allah will turn (in mercy) to whom He will; and Allah isAll-Knowing, All-Wise.

Do you think that you would be left alonewhile Allah has not yet known those among you who strive with mightand main, and take none for friends and protectors except Allah, HisMessenger, and the (community of) Believers? And Allah iswell-acquainted with (all) that ye do.

It is not for such as join gods with Allah,to maintain the mosques of Allah while they witness against theirown souls to infidelity. The works of such bear no fruit: In Fireshall they dwell.

The mosques of Allah shall be visited andmaintained by such as believe in Allah and the Last Day, establishregular prayers, and pay Zakat, and fear none (at all) except Allah.It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.

Do ye consider the giving of drink topilgrims, or the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque, equal to (thepious service of) those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, andstrive with might and main in the Cause of Allah. They are not equalin the sight of Allah. and Allah guides not those who do wrong.

Those who believe, and emigrate and strivewith might and main, in Allah’s Cause, with their goods and theirpersons, have the highest rank in the sight of Allah. they are thepeople who will achieve (salvation).

Their Lord doth give them Glad tidings of aMercy from Himself, of His good pleasure, and of Gardens for them,wherein are delights that endure:

They will dwell therein for ever. Verily withAllah is a reward, the greatest (of all).

O ye who believe! take not for protectorsyour fathers and your brothers if they love Infidelity above Faith:if any of you do so, they do wrong.

Say: If it be that your fathers, your sons,your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that ye havegained; the commerce in which ye fear a decline: or the dwellings inwhich ye delight – are dearer to you than Allah, or His Messenger,or the striving in His cause;- then wait until Allah brings aboutHis Decision: and Allah guides not the rebellious.

Assuredly Allah did help you in manybattle-fields and on the day of Hunain: Behold! your great numberselated you, but they availed you naught: the land, for all that itis wide, did constrain you, and ye turned back in retreat.

But Allah did pour His calm on the Messengerand on the Believers, and sent down forces which ye saw not: Hepunished the Unbelievers; thus doth He reward those without Faith.

Again will Allah, after this, turn (in mercy)to whom He will: for Allah is Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful.

O ye who believe! Truly the Pagans areunclean; so let them not, after this year of theirs, approach theSacred Mosque. And if ye fear poverty, soon will Allah enrich you,if He wills, out of His bounty, for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Fight those who believe not in Allah nor theLast Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allahand His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth, from amongthe People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willingsubmission, and feel themselves subdued.

The Jews call �zair a son of Allah, and theChristians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from theirmouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old usedto say. Allah’s curse be on them: how they are deluded away from theTruth!

They take their priests and their anchoritesto be their lords beside Allah, and (they take as their Lord) Christthe son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship but One God.there is no god but He. Praise and glory to Him: (Far is He) fromhaving the partners they associate (with Him).

Fain would they extinguish Allah’s Light withtheir mouths, but Allah will not allow but that His Light should beperfected, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it).

It is He Who hath sent His Messenger withGuidance and the Religion of Truth, to cause it to prevail over allreligion, even though the Pagans may detest (it).

O ye who believe! there are indeed many amongthe priests and anchorites, who in falsehood devour the wealth ofmen and hinder (them) from the Way of Allah. And there are those whohoard gold and silver and spend it not in the Way of Allah: announceunto them a most grievous chastisement-

On the Day when it will be heated in the fireof Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks,and their backs.- “This is the (treasure) which ye hoarded foryourselves: taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye buried!”

The number of months in the sight of Allah istwelve (in a year)- so ordained by Him the day He created theheavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: that is the rightreligion. So wrong not yourselves therein. And fight the Pagans alltogether as they fight you all together. But know that Allah is withthose who restrain themselves.

Verily the transposing (of a prohibitedmonth) is an addition to Unbelief: the Unbelievers are led to wrongthereby: for they make it lawful one year, and forbidden anotheryear, in order to agree with the number of months forbidden by Allahand make such forbidden ones lawful. The evil of their course seemspleasing to them. But Allah guideth not those who reject Faith.

O ye who believe! what is the matter withyou, that, when ye are asked to go forth in the Cause of Allah, yecling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world tothe Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as comparedwith the Hereafter.

Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with agrievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him ye would notharm in the least. For Allah hath power over all things.

If ye help not (your Prophet), (it is nomatter): for Allah did indeed help him, when the Unbelievers drovehim out: being the second of the two; they two were in the Cave, andhe said to his companion, “Have no fear, for Allah is with us”: thenAllah sent down His peace upon him, and strengthened him with forceswhich ye saw not, and humbled to the depths the word of theUnbelievers. But the Word of Allah is exalted to the heights: forAllah is Exalted in might, Wise.

Go ye forth, (whether equipped) lightly orheavily, and strive and struggle, with your goods and your persons,in the Cause of Allah. That is best for you, if ye (but) knew.

If there had been immediate gain (in sight),and the journey easy, they would (all) without doubt have followedthee, but the distance was long, (and weighed) on them. They wouldindeed swear by Allah, “If we only could, we should certainly havecome out with you”: They would destroy their own souls; for Allahdoth know that they are certainly lying.

Allah give thee grace! Why didst thou grantthem exemption until those who told the truth were seen by thee in aclear light, and thou hadst proved the liars?

Those who believe in Allah and the Last Dayask thee for no exemption from fighting with their goods andpersons. And Allah knoweth well those who do their duty.

Only those ask thee for exemption who believenot in Allah and the Last Day, and whose hearts are in doubt, sothat they are tossed in their doubts to and fro.

If they had intended to come out, they wouldcertainly have made some preparation therefor; but Allah was averseto their being sent forth; so He made them lag behind, and they weretold, “Sit ye among those who sit (inactive).”

If they had come out with you, they would nothave added to your (strength) but only (made for) disorder, hurryingto and fro in your midst and sowing sedition among you, and therewould have been some among you who would have listened to them. ButAllah knoweth well those who do wrong.

Indeed they had plotted sedition before, andupset matters for thee, until,- the Truth arrived, and the Decree ofAllah became manifest much to their disgust.

Among them is (many) a man who says: “Grantme exemption and draw me not into trial.” Have they not fallen intotrial already? and indeed Hell surrounds the Unbelievers (on allsides).

If good befalls thee, it grieves them; but ifa misfortune befalls thee, they say, “We took indeed our precautionsbeforehand,” and they turn away rejoicing.

Say: “Nothing will happen to us except whatAllah has decreed for us: He is our Protector”: and on Allah let theBelievers put their trust.

Say: “Can you expect for us (any fate) otherthan one of two glorious things- (martyrdom or victory)? But we canexpect for you either that Allah will send His punishment from Him,or by our hands. So wait (expectant); we too will wait with you.”

Say: “Spend (for the Cause) willingly orunwillingly: not from you will it be accepted: for ye are indeed apeople rebellious and wicked.”

The only reasons why their contributions arenot accepted are: that they reject Allah and His Messenger; thatthey come to prayer save lazily; and that they offer contributionsunwillingly.

Let not their wealth nor their childrendazzle thee: in reality Allah’s wish is to punish them with thesethings in this life, and that their souls may perish in their (very)denial of Allah.

They swear by Allah that they are indeed ofyou; but they are not of you: yet they are afraid (of you).

If they could find a place to flee to, orcaves, or a place of concealment, they would turn straightwaythereto, with an obstinate rush.

And among them are men who slander thee inthe matter of (the distribution of) the alms: if they are given partthereof, they are pleased, but if not, behold! they are indignant!

If only they had been content with what Allahand His Messenger gave them, and had said, “Sufficient unto us isAllah. Allah and His Messenger will soon give us of His bounty: toAllah do we turn our hopes!” (that would have been the rightcourse).

Alms are for the poor and the needy, andthose employed to administer the (funds); for those whose heartshave been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage andin debt; in the Cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it)ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.

Among them are men who molest the Prophet andsay, “He is (all) ear.” Say, “He listens to what is best for you: hebelieves in Allah, has faith in the Believers, and is a Mercy tothose of you who believe.” But those who molest the Messenger willhave a grievous chastisement.

To you they swear by Allah in order to pleaseyou: But it is more fitting that they should please Allah and HisMessenger, if they are Believers.

Know they not that for those who oppose Allahand His Messenger, is the Fire of Hell?- wherein they shall dwell.That is the supreme disgrace.

The Hypocrites are afraid lest a S�rah shouldbe sent down about them, showing them what is (really passing) intheir hearts. Say: “Mock ye! But verily Allah will bring to lightall that ye fear (should be revealed).

If thou dost question them, they declare(with emphasis): “We were only talking idly and in play.” Say: “Wasit at Allah, and His Signs, and His Messenger, that ye weremocking?”

Make ye no excuses: ye have rejected Faithafter ye had accepted it. If We pardon some of you, We will punishothers amongst you, for that they are sinners.

The Hypocrites, men and women, are alike witheach other: They enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and tightentheir purse’s strings. They have forgotten Allah; so He hathforgotten them. Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse.

Allah hath promised the Hypocrites men andwomen, and the rejecters of Faith, the fire of Hell: Therein shallthey dwell: Sufficient is it for them: for them is the curse ofAllah, and an enduring punishment,-

As in the case of those before you: they weremightier than you in power, and more flourishing in wealth andchildren. They had their enjoyment of their portion: and ye have ofyours, as did those before you; and ye indulge in idle talk as theydid. They!- their work are fruitless in this world and in theHereafter, and they are the losers.

Hath not the story reached them of thosebefore them?- the People of Noah, and �d, and Tham�d; the People ofAbraham, the men of Midian, and the Cities overthrown. To them cametheir messengers with Clear Signs. It is not Allah Who wrongs them,but they wrong their own souls.

The Believers, men and women, are protectorsone of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil:they observe regular prayers, pay Zakat, and obey Allah and HisMessenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exaltedin power, Wise.

Allah hath promised to Believers, men andwomen, Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, andbeautiful mansions in Gardens of everlasting stay. But the greatestbliss is the Good Pleasure of Allah. that is the supreme felicity.

O Prophet! strive hard against theUnbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Theirabode is Hell,- an evil refuge indeed.

They swear by Allah that they said nothing(evil), but indeed they uttered blasphemy, and they uttered it afteraccepting Isl�m; and they meditated a plot which they were unable tocarry out: this revenge of theirs was (their) only return for thebounty with which Allah and His Messenger had enriched them! If theyrepent, it will be best for them; but if they turn back (to theirevil ways), Allah will punish them with a grievous chastisement inthis life and in the Hereafter: They shall have none on earth toprotect or help them.

Amongst them are men who made a covenant withAllah, that if He bestowed on them of His bounty, they would give(largely) in charity, and be truly amongst those who are righteous.

But when He did bestow of His bounty, theybecame misers, and turned back (from their covenant), averse (fromits fulfillment).

So He hath put as a consequence hypocrisyinto their hearts, (to last) till the Day whereon they shall meetHim: because they broke their covenant with Allah, and because theylied (again and again).

Know they not that Allah doth know theirsecret (thoughts) and their secret counsels, and that Allah knowethwell all things unseen?

Those who slander such of the believers asgive themselves freely to (deeds of) charity, as well as such as canfind nothing to give except the fruits of their labor,- and throwridicule on them,- Allah will throw back their ridicule on them: andthey shall have a grievous chastisement.

Whether thou ask for their forgiveness, ornot, (their sin is unforgivable): if thou ask seventy times fortheir forgiveness, Allah will not forgive them: because they haverejected Allah and His Messenger. and Allah guideth not those whoare perversely rebellious.

Those who were left behind (in the Tab�kexpedition) rejoiced in their inaction behind the Messenger ofAllah: they hated to strive and fight, with their goods and theirpersons, in the Cause of Allah. they said, “Go not forth in theheat.” Say, “The fire of Hell is fiercer in heat.” If only theycould understand!

Let them laugh a little: much will they weep:a recompense for the (evil) that they do.

If, then, Allah bring thee back to any ofthem, and they ask thy permission to come out (with thee), say:”Never shall ye come out with me, nor fight an enemy with me: for yepreferred to sit inactive on the first occasion: Then sit ye (now)with those who lag behind.”

Nor do thou ever pray for any of them thatdies, nor stand at his grave; for they rejected Allah and HisMessenger, and died in a state of perverse rebellion.

Nor let their wealth nor their childrendazzle thee: Allah’s wish is to punish them with these things inthis world, and that their souls may depart while they areunbelievers.

When a S�rah comes down, enjoining them tobelieve in Allah and to strive and fight along with His Messenger,those with wealth and influence among them ask thee for exemption,and say: “Leave us (behind): we would be with those who sit (athome).”

They prefer to be with (the women), whoremain behind (at home): their hearts are sealed and so theyunderstand not.

But the Messenger, and those who believe withhim, strive and fight with their wealth and their persons: for themare (all) good things: and it is they who will prosper.

Allah hath prepared for them Gardens underwhich rivers flow, to dwell therein: that is the supreme triumph.

And there were, among the desert Arabs(also), men who made excuses and came to claim exemption; and thosewho were false to Allah and His Messenger (merely) sat behind. Soonwill a grievous chastisement seize the Unbelievers among them.

There is no blame on those who are infirm, orill, or who find no resources to spend (on the cause), if they aresincere (in duty) to Allah and His Messenger: no ground (ofcomplaint) can there be against such as do right: and Allah isOft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

Nor (is there blame) on those who came tothee to be provided with mounts, and when thou saidst, “I can findno mounts for you,” they turned back, their eyes streaming withtears of grief that they had no resources wherewith to provide theexpenses.

The ground (of complaint) is against such asclaim exemption while they are rich. They prefer to stay with the(women) who remain behind: Allah hath sealed their hearts; so theyknow not.

They will present their excuses to you whenye return to them. Say thou: “Present no excuses: we shall notbelieve you: Allah hath already informed us of the true state ofmatters concerning you: It is your actions that Allah and HisMessenger will observe: in the end will ye be brought back to HimWho knoweth what is hidden and what is open: then will He show youthe truth of all that ye did.”

They will swear to you by Allah, when yereturn to them, that ye may leave them alone. So leave them alone:For they are an abomination, and Hell is their dwelling-place,-afitting recompense for the (evil) that they did.

They will swear unto you, that ye may bepleased with them, but if ye are pleased with them, Allah is notpleased with those who disobey.

The Bedouin Arabs are the worst in Unbeliefand hypocrisy, and most fitted to be in ignorance of the commandwhich Allah hath sent down to His Messenger. But Allah isAll-Knowing, All-Wise.

Some of the Bedouin Arabs look upon theirpayments as a fine, and watch for disasters for you: on them be thedisaster of evil: for Allah is He That heareth and knoweth (allthings).

But some of the desert Arabs believe in Allahand the Last Day, and look on their payments as pious gifts bringingthem nearer to Allah and obtaining the prayers of the Messenger.Aye, indeed they bring them nearer (to Him): soon will Allah admitthem to His Mercy: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

The vanguard (of Isl�m)- the first of thosewho forsook (their homes) and of those who gave them aid, and (also)those who follow them in (all) good deeds,- well- pleased is Allahwith them, as are they with Him: for them hath He prepared Gardensunder which rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever: that is thesupreme triumph.

Certain of the desert Arabs round about youare hypocrites, as well as among the Madinah folk: they areobstinate in hypocrisy: thou knowest them not: We know them: twiceshall We punish them: and in addition shall they be sent to agrievous chastisement.

Others (there are who) have acknowledgedtheir wrong-doings: they have mixed an act that was good withanother that was evil. Perhaps Allah will turn unto them (in Mercy):for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Of their wealth, take alms, that so thoumightest purify and sanctify them; and pray on their behalf. Verilythy prayers are a source of security for them: And Allah is One Whoheareth and knoweth.

Know they not that Allah doth acceptrepentance from His votaries and receives their gifts of charity,and that Allah is verily He, the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful?

And say: “Work (righteousness): Soon willAllah observe your work, and His Messenger, and the Believers: Soonwill ye be brought back to the Knower of what is hidden and what isopen: then will He show you the truth of all that ye did.”

There are (yet) others, held in suspense forthe command of Allah, whether He will punish them, or turn in mercyto them: and Allah is All-Knowing, Wise.

And there are those who put up a mosque byway of mischief and infidelity – to disunite the Believers – and inpreparation for one who warred against Allah and His Messengeraforetime. They will indeed swear that their intention is nothingbut good; but Allah doth declare that they are certainly liars.

Never stand thou forth therein. There is amosque whose foundation was laid from the first day on piety; it ismore worthy of thy standing forth (for prayer) therein. In it aremen who love to be purified; and Allah loveth those who makethemselves pure.

Which then is best? – he that layeth hisfoundation on piety to Allah and His Good Pleasure? – or he thatlayeth his foundation on an undermined sand-cliff ready to crumbleto pieces? and it doth crumble to pieces with him, into the fire ofHell. And Allah guideth not people that do wrong.

The foundation of those who so build is neverfree from suspicion and shakiness in their hearts, until theirhearts are cut to pieces. And Allah is All-Knowing, Wise.

Allah hath purchased of the believers theirpersons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the Garden (ofParadise): they fight in His Cause, and slay and are slain: apromise binding on Him in Truth, through the Torah, the Gospel, andthe Quran: and who is more faithful to his Covenant than Allah? Thenrejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is theachievement supreme.

Those that turn (to Allah) in repentance;that serve Him, and praise Him; that wander in devotion to the Causeof Allah,: that bow down and prostrate themselves in prayer; thatenjoin good and forbid evil; and observe the limit set by Allah.-(these do rejoice). So proclaim the glad tidings to the Believers.

It is not fitting, for the Prophet and thosewho believe, that they should pray for forgiveness for Pagans, eventhough they be of kin, after it is clear to them that they arecompanions of the Fire.

And Abraham prayed for his father’sforgiveness only because of a promise he had made to him. But whenit became clear to him that he was an enemy to Allah, he dissociatedhimself from him: for Abraham was most tender-hearted, forbearing.

And Allah will not mislead a people after Hehath guided them, until He makes clear to them as to what theyshould avoid, for Allah hath knowledge of all things.

Unto Allah belongeth the dominion of theheavens and the earth. He giveth life and He taketh it. Except forHim ye have no protector nor helper.

Allah turned with favor to the Prophet, theMuh�jirs, and the Ans�r,- who followed him in a time of distress,after that the hearts of a part of them had nearly swerved (fromduty); but He turned to them (also): for He is unto them Most Kind,Most Merciful.

(He turned in mercy also) to the three whowere left behind; (they felt guilty) to such a degree that the earthseemed constrained to them, for all its spaciousness, and their(very) souls seemed straitened to them,- and they perceived thatthere is no fleeing from Allah (and no refuge) but to Himself. ThenHe turned to them, that they might repent: for Allah isOft-Returning, Most Merciful.

O ye who believe! Fear Allah and be withthose who are truthful.

It was not fitting for the people of Madinahand the Bedouin Arabs of the neighborhood, to stay behind (and notfollow) Allah’s Messenger, nor to prefer their own lives to his:because nothing could they suffer or do, but was reckoned to theircredit as a deed of righteousness,- whether they suffered thirst, orfatigue, or hunger, in the Cause of Allah, or trod paths to raisethe ire of the Unbelievers, or gain any gain from an enemy: forAllah suffereth not the reward to be lost of those who do good;-

Nor could they spend anything (for the Cause)- small or great- nor cut across a valley, but the deed is inscribedto their credit: that Allah may requite them with the best (possiblereward).

It is not for the Believers to go forth (all)together: if a contingent from every expedition go forth to devotethemselves to studies in religion, and admonish the people when theyreturn to them,- that thus they (may learn) to guard themselves(against evil).

O ye who believe! fight the unbelievers whoare near to you, and let them find harshness in you: and know thatAllah is with those who fear Him.

Whenever there cometh down a S�rah, some ofthem say: “Which of you has had His faith increased by it?” Yea,those who believe,- their faith is increased and they do rejoice.

But those in whose hearts is a disease,- itwill add doubt to their doubt, and they will die in a state ofUnbelief.

See they not that they are tried every yearonce or twice? Yet they turn not in repentance, and they take noheed.

Whenever there cometh down a S�rah, they lookat each other, (saying), “Doth anyone see you?” Then they turn away:Allah hath turned their hearts (from the light); for they are apeople that understand not.

Now hath come unto you a Messenger fromamongst yourselves: it grieves him that ye should suffer, ardentlyanxious is he over you: to the Believers is he most kind andmerciful.

But if they turn away, Say: “(Allah)sufficeth me: there is no god but He: On Him is my trust,- He theLord of the Throne Supreme!”