Transliteration:( Yahlifoona billaahi ma qaaloo wa laqad qaaloo kalimatal kufri wa kafaroo ba'da Islaamihim wa hammoo bimaa lam yanaaloo; wa maa naqamooo illaaa an aghnaa humullaahu wa Rasooluhoo min fadlih; fainy yatooboo yaku khairal lahum wa iny yatawal law yu'az zibhumullaahu 'azaaban aleeman fiddunyaa wal Aakhirah; wamaa lahum fil ardi minw waliyyinw wa laa naseer )
"They swear by Allah that they did not say it, but certainly they uttered the words of infidelity [207], and became disbelievers after accepting Islam. And they had desired that which they could not get [208], and what they felt bad about was that Allah and His Messenger had enriched [209] them with bounties. If they repent, it is good for them, and if they turn away, then Allah will punish them with a severe punishment in the world and in the Hereafter. And on the earth, they shall have neither any supporter nor any helper [210]."
During the Battle of Tabuk, a man named Jallaas denied saying a disrespectful statement about the Prophet ﷺ, accusing Hazrat Amir ibn Qays of falsehood.
Allah revealed this verse to confirm the truth of Amir's claim.
Jallaas later repented and became a sincere believer. (KHAZAINUL IRFAAN)
The hypocrites uttered words of doubt and disbelief, questioning the Prophet's message with “ifs and buts.”
This is considered a sign of infidelity.
After accepting Islam outwardly, some became infidels outwardly too, showing hypocrisy.
Jallaas even attempted to kill Amir but failed.
The pronoun “His” refers to the Messenger, indicating:
The Holy Prophet ﷺ is so enriched that he can enrich others.
Anyone calling him poor is committing a grave insult and disbelief.
Allah and His Messenger bestow bounties out of grace.
Some disobedient people become rebellious despite Allah’s and the Prophet’s favors.
It’s perfectly right to say Allah and His Messenger bestow favors.
The disbelievers and hypocrites lose all friends and helpers, while Allah appoints helpers for the believers.
“Only Allah is your friend and His Messenger and the believers.” (S5:V65)
The tafsir of Surah Taubah verse 74 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Taubah ayat 73 which provides the complete commentary from verse 73 through 74.
(9:74) They swear by Allah that they said nothing blasphemous whereas they indeed blasphemed,[83] and fell into unbelief after believing, and also had evil designs which they could not carry into effect.[84] They are spiteful against Muslims for no other reason than that Allah and His Messenger have enriched them through His bounty![85] So, if they repent, it will be to their own good. But if they turn away, Allah will sternly punish them in this world and in the Hereafter. None in the world will be able to protect or help them.
83. We cannot say with certainty what that “word of disbelief” was which they had uttered. There are, however, traditions that mention several things of unbelief which were uttered by the hypocrites during that time. For instance, it is related that a hypocrite, while he was talking to a young Muslim, a near relative of his, said, “If all that this man, referring to the Prophet (peace be upon him), is saying be true, then we are worse than donkeys.” Another tradition relates that when, during the expedition to Tabuk, one of the she-camels of the Prophet (peace be upon him) went astray and the Muslims were moving about in search of it, a party of the hypocrites made a good deal of fun of this, saying to one another, “Just consider the prophethood of this man. He tells news of heavens but cannot tell where his she-camel is.”
84. This is a reference to the plots which the hypocrites had made during the Tabuk expedition. On the return journey they conspired to push the Prophet (peace be upon him) down into some ravine, while he would be passing over some hill at night. The Prophet (peace be upon him) got wind of the plot and ordered that the army should take the longer route through the valley round the hills, while he himself along with Ammar bin Yasir and Huzaifah bin- Yaman would make the short route over the hill. While they were on the way, suddenly they discovered that a dozen of the hypocrites, with covered faces, were following them. At this Huzaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) turned towards them so that he may drive away their camels but they were terrified when they saw him coming towards them and took to flight lest they should be recognized.
The other plot was to declare Abdullah bin Ubayy as king at Al-Madinah as soon as they should hear some bad news about the Muslim army, because according to their expectations, the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his faithful companions could never fare well against the armies of the great Roman Empire.
85. This is an insinuation to put to shame by an indirect suggestion the hypocrites of Al-Madinah. This refereed to the prosperity of Al-Madinah and its peoples, for Al- Madinah was a small town before the migration of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to it, and its two clans Aus and Khazraj did not hold any high position in regards to wealth or prestige. But within the short period of nine years or so, this small town became the capital of Arabia because of the residence of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the sacrifices of the Ansar, the true Muslims. As a result of which, the former peasants Aus and Khazraj of Al- Madinah became the great ones of the Islamic state, and wealth began to flow into this central city on account of spoils of war and increased commercial activity. The hypocrites were rebuked in this verse that, instead of being grateful to the Prophet (peace be upon him), they showed anger and spite against him for no other reason than that he had brought forth prosperity among them.
[493]- i.e., the murder of Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ). [494]- i.e., for no reason. On the contrary, they should have been grateful.
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