Transliteration:( Alam ya'lamooo annal laaha huwa yaqbalut tawbata 'an ibaadihee wa ya'khuzus sadaqaati wa annal laaha huwat Tawwaabur Raheem )
“Do they not know that Allah alone accepts the repentance of His servants and takes the charities [290]? And that Allah is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful [291]?”
This verse emphasizes that Allah alone is the one who accepts repentance from His servants and takes their charities. No one should despair from Allah's mercy, as Allah is merciful and forgiving. The verse reminds us that repentance for different sins requires different actions:
Repentance from infidelity is to accept faith.
If human rights have been infringed, repentance involves fulfilling those rights or seeking forgiveness from the rightful person.
If religious duties have been omitted, repentance involves performing those duties that were missed.
As long as the repentance is genuine and meets its conditions, it will certainly be accepted by Allah. This verse reassures believers that Allah’s mercy is vast, and His promise to accept repentance is certain.
Issues that emerge from this verse:
Offering repentance by presenting oneself at the holy shrine of the Prophet ﷺ is considered the best form of repentance and holds great significance in Islam.
Charity distributed through the hands of the Prophet ﷺ is considered superior. This was the practice of the Noble Companions, who would present their charity through the Prophet ﷺ, showing that the blessed hands of the Prophet add spiritual value to the act of giving.
The jurists of Islam hold that the repentance of anyone who insults the dignity of the Prophet ﷺ will not be accepted. According to Islamic law, a person who insults the Prophet ﷺ cannot be forgiven by human authorities and should be punished by death as per the laws of Shariah. This does not contradict the verse, as it pertains to Allah’s acceptance of repentance. The verse is about the repentance of Allah's servants, but the laws regarding those who insult the Prophet ﷺ are specific to the legal framework in Islam. This also applies to individuals who repeatedly become apostates, where their repentance is not accepted due to their continuous denial of faith.
This distinction highlights the gravity of insulting the Prophet ﷺ, and the seriousness with which such actions are treated within the Islamic legal system, while still acknowledging Allah’s overall mercy and the acceptance of sincere repentance for other sins.
The tafsir of Surah Taubah verse 104 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Taubah ayat 103 which provides the complete commentary from verse 103 through 104.
(9:104) Are they not aware that it is Allah Who accepts the repentance of His servants and accepts their alms, and that it is Allah Who is Oft-Relenting, Ever Merciful?
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
[503]- Refer to footnote in 2:37.
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