Quran Quote  :  Think not of those slain in the way of Allah as dead. Indeed they are living, and with their Lord they have their sustenance, - 3:169

Quran-9:43 Surah At-tawbah English Translation,Transliteration and Tafsir(Tafseer).

عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَتَعۡلَمَ ٱلۡكَٰذِبِينَ,

Transliteration:( 'Afal laahu 'anka lima azinta lahum hattaa yatabai yana lakal lazeena sadaqoo wa ta'lamal kaazibeen )

43. Allah forgives you for permitting them [126] to remain behind until it becomes clear to you who spoke the truth [127] and you knew the liars [128]. (Kanzul Imaan Translation)

(43) Allāh has pardoned you, [O Muḥammad, but] why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars. (Saheen International Translation)

Surah At-Tawbah Ayat 43 Tafsir (Commentry)



  • Tafseer-e-Naeemi (Ahmad Yaar Khan)
  • Ibn Kathir
  • Ala-Madudi
  • Shaheen International

126. This is an expression of love and kindness, as spoken to the dear ones during a conversation eg May Allah Almighty increase your lifespan: May He strengthen your faith, etc, because granting of permission by the Holy Prophet ? was no error on his part, as prior to this he was not prohibited to grant such permission.

127. This tells us that the Holy Prophet ? always had full knowledge of the infidels, but he had concealed their identity. What is being said here is why did he not humiliate them Had you not given them permission to stay away from the war, and despite that they had not gone, they would be humiliated. By knowledge is meant worldly knowledge. Says Allah Almighty: "And you will certainly recognize them by the manner of their speech". S47:V30 

128. On the occasion of the Battle of Tabuk the hypocrites began to seek permission of the Holy Prophet  ? to stay at home using illness and weakness, as an excuse. The Holy Prophet  ?  granted them permission. This verse discusses this issues. this permission of the Holy Prophet ? was not due to any incorrect information but because of some far sighted considerations.

 

Ibn-Kathir

43. May Allah forgive you. Why did you grant them leave, until those who told the truth were manifest to you, and you had known the liars 44. Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, would not ask your leave to be exempted from fighting with their properties and their lives; and Allah is the All-Knower of those who have Taqwa. 45. It is only those who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts are in doubt that ask your leave. So in their doubts they waver.


Moderately criticizing the Prophet for allowing the Hypocrites to stay behind

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Awn said, “Have you heard criticism softer than this, starting with forgiveness before criticism,

﴿عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ﴾

(May Allah forgive you. Why did you grant them leave…)” Muwarriq Al-`Ijli and others said similarly. Qatadah said, “Allah criticized him as you read here, then later revealed to him the permission to allow them to lag behind if he wants, in Surat An-Nur,

﴿فَإِذَا اسْتَـْذَنُوكَ لِبَعْضِ شَأْنِهِمْ فَأْذَن لِّمَن شِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ﴾

(So if they ask your permission for some affairs of theirs, give permission to whom you will of them) ﴿24:62﴾.” `Ata’ Al-Khurasani said similarly. Mujahid said, “This Ayah was revealed about some people who said, `Ask permission from the Messenger of Allah ﴿to stay behind﴾, and whether he agrees, or disagrees, remain behind!”’ Allah said,

﴿حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ﴾

(…until those who told the truth were manifest to you), in reference to valid excuses,

﴿وَتَعْلَمَ الْكَـذِبِينَ﴾

(and you had known the liars) Allah says, `Why did you not refuse to give them permission to remain behind when they asked you, so that you know those who truly obey you and the liars, who were intent on remaining behind even if you do not give them permission to do so, Allah asserts that none who believe in Allah and His Messenger seek his permission to remain behind from fighting,

﴿لاَ يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ﴾

(would not ask your leave), to stay behind from Jihad,

﴿الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ أَن يُجَـهِدُواْ بِأَمْوَلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ﴾

(Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, to be exempted from fighting with their properties and their lives.) because they consider Jihad an act of worship. This is why when Allah called them to perform Jihad, they obeyed and hasten to act in His obedience,

﴿وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَإِنَّمَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ﴾

(and Allah is the All-Knower of those who have Taqwa. Those who ask your leave), to remain behind, without a valid excuse,

﴿الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ﴾

(those who believe not in Allah and the Last Day), they do not hope for Allah’s reward in the Hereafter for their good actions,

﴿وَارْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ﴾

(and whose hearts are in doubt), about the validity of what you brought them,

﴿فَهُمْ فِى رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ﴾

(so in their doubts they waver.) They waver in doubt, taking one step forward and one step back. They do not have a firm stance in anything, for they are unsure and destroyed, neither belonging to these nor to those. Verily, those whom Allah misguides, will never find a way for themselves to guidance.

(9:43) (O Prophet), may Allah forgive you! Why did you give them leave to stay behind before it became clear to you as to who were truthful and who were liars?[45]

Ala-Maududi

(9:43) (O Prophet), may Allah forgive you! Why did you give them leave to stay behind before it became clear to you as to who were truthful and who were liars?[45]


45. Allah did not approve of the exemption which the Prophet (peace be upon him) had granted to the hypocrites who had put forward lame excuses. Though he knew it well that they were inventing false excuses, he gave them leave to stay behind because of his inherent kindness. But Allah warned him that such a leniency was not well placed as he gave them an opportunity of hiding their hypocrisy. Had they remained behind without getting an exemption, the false profession of their faith would have been exposed.

(43) Allāh has pardoned you, [O Muḥammad, but] why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.

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