At-Tawbah

Surah 9 of the Quran

التوبة‎ At-Tawba The Repentance
Arabic text English text
Classification	Medinan
Other names	Al-Bara'ah (Dispensation)Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement
Position	Juzʼ 10 to 11
Hizb no.	19 to 21
No. of verses	129
No. of Sajdahs	none

Template:Quran related Surah At-Tawbah (Arabic: سورة التوبة, Sūratu at-Tawbah, "The Repentance") also known as al-Bara'ah "the Ultimatum" in many hadith is the ninth chapter of the Qur'an, with 129 verses. It is one of the last Madinan Suras. It is the only Sura of the Qur'an that does not begin with the bismillah. The starting verses of this sura were revealed at the time of war, the context being the Battle of Tabuk.

Ayat 1-4:

A (declaration) of immunity from Allah and His Messenger, to those of the Pagans with whom ye have contracted mutual alliances: Go ye, then, for four months, backwards and forwards, (as ye will), throughout the land, but know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah (by your falsehood) but that Allah will cover with shame those who reject Him. And a proclamation from Allah and His messenger to all men on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage that Allah is free from obligation to the idolaters, and (so is) His messenger. So, if ye repent, it will be better for you; but if ye are averse, then know that ye cannot escape Allah. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve, excepting those of the idolaters with whom ye (Muslims) have a treaty, and who have since abated nothing of your right nor have supported anyone against you. (As for these), fulfil their treaty to them till their term. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty (unto Him).(^[Quran 9:1])

^[Quran 9:5] The famous Sword verse and the following ayats (6-7) read as follows:

But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy protection (O Muhammad), then protect him so that he may hear the Word of Allah, and afterward convey him to his place of safety. That is because they are a folk who know not. How can there be a treaty with Allah and with His messenger for the idolaters save those with whom ye made a treaty at the Inviolable Place of Worship? So long as they are true to you, be true to them. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty.

At-Tawba 29 (^{[Quran 9:29]}) reads as follows:

Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

The Surah explains how Allah views pagans and also "People of the Book:

The Jews call 'Uzair the son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth! (^{[Quran 9:30]})

Verse ^{[Quran 9:40]} is about Hadith of Abu Bakr and Muhammad in the cave

Ayah 37 documents the prohibition of Nasīʾ, a special form of intercalary months practiced in Arabia:

Verily the transposing (of a prohibited month) is an addition to Unbelief: The Unbelievers are led to wrong thereby: for they make it lawful one year, and forbidden another year, of months forbidden by Allah and make such forbidden ones lawful. The evil of their course seems pleasing to them. But Allah guideth not those who reject Faith.

This prohibition was repeated by Muhammad during the last sermon on Mount Arafat which was delivered during the Farewell Pilgrimage to Mecca on 9 Dhu al-Hijja 10 AH.

When the Qu'ran was first compiled there was only one person who had the last verse of at-Tawba written down: Abi Khuzaima al-Ansari (al-Bukhari 6.478), although it was known and memorized by all of the companions.

Listen to the Sura

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVN1Nv677Fw

See also

• Uzair, discusses the controversy of ayat 30 of this surah, (Quran 9:30)
• At-Tawba Altafsir.com