Surah 9 At-Taubah Part X bal 53 Lidl Surah At-Taubah (THE REPENTANCE) It is also called Surah Bar’at (freedom from obligation) as it carries the injunctions that absolved the believers of the obligation to honour the Treaty they had with the idolaters. Moreover it is called Taubah because it gives the glad tidings of the acceptance of penitence. In a way it is unique, as it does not begin with Bismillah ar Rahman ar Rahim (In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful), Usually whenever Ayat from a Surah were revealed at random, their correct place of insertion was also conveyed to the Holy Prophet”. He would instruct the Scribes to record these accordingly. And whenever a new Surah was revealed he would instruct them to begin it with Bismillah ar Rajan ar Rahim. Surah Taubah is amongst the last Madni Siirahs revealed. It was revealed without the instructions to begin it with Bismillah, The Holy Prophet™” also did not instruct the Scribes to write Bismillah, hence it is without the usual auspicious words. When the task of compiling the Quran was taken up in the era of Hadhrat Uthman™**, the question regarding the placement of this Surah arose, for it was quite possible that it may not have been an individual Surah but-a part of the preceding one, Therefore, Hadhrat Uthman*” instructed the compilers to place it after Al-Anfal. This was the safest thing to do for the Holy Propher®” had not commanded to open it with Bismillah, nor had he implied that it was a part of Surah Al-Anfal, but had got it recorded contiguous to Anfal, The rules for reciting the Quran indicate that anyone who while reciting Surah Anfal moves on to Surah Taubah need not recite Bismillah. However, if the recitation is initiated from this Surah or from any part of it, Bismillah must be recited. The other opening expressions for Surah Taubah as stated in certain manuscripts of the Quran, such as. A ‘auz Billah min nar wa min Ghadhab al Jabbar etc. (I seek Allah’s Protection against fire and the fury of the tyrants etc.) have no authentic backing Hadhrat ‘Ali®™" reports that since the Sirah revealed the Divine Command for the cancellation of the Treaty with the infidels, it did not open with Bismillah. This may have been a subtle reason, which has not been discretely told.Section 1 Freedom from obligation is this from Allah and His Messenger to the associators with whom you had covenanted. Go about then, in the land for four months, and know that you cannot escape Allah, and that verily Allah is the humiliator of the infidels. And a proclamation is this from Allah and His Messenger to mankind on the day of the| - greater Hajj that Allah is quit of| the associators and so is His Messenger. Wherefore if you repent, it shall be better for you, but if you turn away, then know that you cannot escape Allah. And announce to those who disbelieve a torment afflictive. Except those of the associators with whom you covenanted and they have not failed you in anything, nor have they backed up any one against you, so fulfil to them their covenant till their full period. Assuredly Allah loves those who fear Him. When, therefore, the sacred months have slipped away, slay the associators wherever you find them and capture them and confine them and lie in wait for them at every ambush. Then should they repent and establish Salat and give Zakat, leave them bee ote Bape led py ail gesels OSB: Sips Ail AvaleS otieeantieg a eal Se Si, Abbas a 23 SiS 25 2 5 ST SES KEN poked NET oh et 5, . SoS Sisihepnst ae @-! fu, a AinS it 54 I] corte ee Ss BY jy piGe Airs Oacisii ESA ESE papNTeLTg b25ic-b poe ee oe sedes ny aes sas ony dyad te 9 A ates Waa Seara) aul aReLclalone. Verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. 6. And should any of the rhe iis associators seek your protection F eae ge Neely grant him protection that he may asc a a a, es hear the Word of Allah, then let : him reach his place of security. 9 That is because they are a people who do not know. 95 GbE po plLayes eeREE Secrets of Revelation Prior to the revelation of Sirah At-Taubah there were treaties of peace between the Muslims and the infidels of Makkah as well as other Arab tribes. But each time it was the infidels who would breach such treaties as soon as they found the strength and the opportunity to do so. The Treaty of Hudaibiyah was signed in 6" Hijrah for ten years. Its terms are well known. The following year i.e. in 7" Hijrah the Holy Prophet” alongwith his Companions™" performed ‘Umrah. But a few months later, the Makkans began to violate the terms of this Treaty by providing military assistance to Bani Bakr against Bani Khazah, who were the allies of the Muslims. This was an open breach of the Treaty. Therefore, the Holy Prophet ordered preparations for Jihad, The Makkans sent to Madinah Abi Sufyan for renewal of the Treaty as the battles of Badr, Uhad, Trench had proved to them that the Muslims were backed by none other than Allah. But inspite of Abd’ Sufyan’s efforts the Treaty was not renewed. The Holy Prophet*” marched with his army on the 10th of Ramadhan 8 A.H, and conquered Makkah. Earlier in 8" Hijrah the Jews of Madinah had also violated the Treaty of Abzab resulting in the Battle of Hunain, the same year. In Rajab 9" A.H. the Battle of Tabuk took place and eventually in Zilhajj 9" A.H. the injunction to annul all the Treaties with the Arab tribes was revealed. Although continuous violations by the infidels was also a reason for this annulment, yet in reality, the Arabian Peninsula was to be converted into an Islamic State and the cradle of Islam. This is because Islam is the Command of Allah and subservience is against its nature. In fact, it has an inherent tendency to predominate.