Surah At-Tawbah (The Repentance) 9

Revealed 113th in the Qur'an

Read the Full Text with References to the Torah and the Gospel

9:1
[This is a declaration of] disassociation from God and His messenger, to those with whom you had made a treaty among the polytheists.

9:2
So travel freely throughout the land [during] four months, but know that you cannot cause failure to God and that God will disgrace the disbelievers.

9:3
And [it is] an announcement from God and His messenger to the people on the day of the greater Pilgrimage [Hajj] that God is disassociated from the polytheists, and [so is] His messenger. So if you repent, that is best for you; but if you turn away - then know that you will not cause failure to God. And give good news of a painful punishment to those who disbelieve.

9:4
Excepted are those with whom you made a treaty among the polytheists and then they have not been deficient toward you in anything or supported anyone against you; so complete their treaty for them until their term. Indeed, God loves those who fear [Him].

9:5
And when the forbidden months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give purifying [alms], let them [go] on their way. Indeed, God is Forgiving and Merciful.

9:6
And if any among the polytheists seek your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of God. Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.

9:7
How can there be a treaty with God and His messenger for the polytheists, except for those with whom you made a treaty at the Forbidden [House]? ^9:28, ^14:37 So as long as they are upright toward you, be upright toward them. Indeed, God loves those who fear [Him].

9:8
How [can there be a treaty] while, if they gain dominance over you, they do not observe any pact of kinship or covenant of protection concerning you? They satisfy you with their mouths, but their hearts refuse [compliance], and most of them are defiantly disobedient.

9:9
They have exchanged the verses of God for a small price and averted [people] from His way. Indeed, what they were doing was evil.

9:10
They do not observe any pact of kinship or covenant of protection toward a believer. And it is they who are the transgressors.

9:11
But if they repent, establish prayer, and give purifying [alms], then they are your brothers in religion; and We detail the verses for a people who know.

9:12
And if they break their oaths after their treaty and defame your religion, then fight the leaders of disbelief, for indeed, there are no oaths to them; [fight them so that] they might cease.

9:13
Would you not fight a people who broke their oaths and determined to expel the messenger, and they had begun [the attack upon] you the first time? Do you fear them? But God has more right that you should fear Him, if you are believers.

9:14
Fight them; God will punish them by your hands and will disgrace them and help you against them and heal the hearts of a believing people

9:15
And remove the rage in the believers' hearts. And God turns [in forgiveness] to whom He wills; and God is Knowing and Wise.

9:16
Do you think that you will be left [as you are] while God has not yet made those known among you who strive [in His way] and do not take [anyone] other than God, His messenger and the believers as intimates? And God is Aware of what you do.

9:17
It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of God [while] witnessing against themselves with disbelief. [For] those, their deeds have become worthless, and they will abide eternally in the Fire.

9:18
The mosques of God are only to be maintained by those who believe in God and the Last Day and establish prayer and give purifying [alms] and do not fear [anyone] except God, for perhaps those will be among the [rightly] guided.

9:19
Have you made the providing of water for the pilgrim and the maintenance of the Forbidden [House] ^9:28, ^14:37 like one who believes in God and the Last Day and strives in the way of God? They are not equal to God. And God does not guide the wrongdoing people.

9:20
The ones who have believed, emigrated and striven in the way of God with their wealth and their lives are greater in rank to God. And it is those who are the successful.

9:21
Their Lord gives them good news of mercy from Himself and approval and of Gardens for them wherein is enduring pleasure.

9:22
[They will be] abiding therein forever. Indeed, God has a great reward with Him.

9:23
O you who have believed, do not take your fathers or your brothers as allies if they have preferred disbelief over belief. And whoever turns to them from among you - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.

9:24
Say, "If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your spouses, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than God and His messenger *Matthew 10:37*Luke 14:26 and striving in His way, then wait until God brings His command. And God does not guide the defiantly disobedient people."

9:25
God has already given you victory in many regions and [even] on the day of Hunayn, when your great number pleased you, but it did not avail you at all, and the earth was confining for you with its vastness; then you turned back, fleeing.

9:26
Then God sent His tranquility down upon His messenger and upon the believers and sent down armies [of angels] whom you did not see and punished those who disbelieved. And that is the recompense of the disbelievers.

9:27
Then God will accept repentance after that for whom He wills; and God is Forgiving and Merciful.

9:28
O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean, so do not let them approach the Forbidden [House] ^14:37 after this, their [final] year. And if you fear poverty, God will soon enrich you from His bounty if He wills. Indeed, God is Knowing and Wise.

9:29
Fight those who do not believe in God or in the Last Day and who do not forbid what God has forbidden and [also] His messenger, and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the tribute with their own hands while they are debased. ~*Book of Jubilees 34:8, ~*Joshua 17:13, ~*Judges 1:28, ~*Judges 1:30, ~*Judges 1:33, ~*Judges 1:35; ~*2 Chronicles 8:8, ~*1 Kings 9:21, *Deuteronomy 20:10 - 12

9:30
The Jews say, "Uzair [Ezra] is the son of God;" *2 Ezra 2:47 and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of God." *Mark 15:39, *Acts 8:37*Acts 9:20 That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved [before them]. May God destroy them; how are they deluded?

9:31
They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides God, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded to serve [anyone] except one God; there is no god except Him. He is Exalted above whatever they associate [with Him]. *Psalms 97:9

9:32
They want to extinguish the light of God with their mouths, but God refuses [anything] except to perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.

9:33
It is He who has sent His messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others [with God] dislike it.

9:34
O you who have believed, indeed many among the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert [them] from the way of God. And those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of God - give them good news of a painful punishment.

9:35
The Day when it will be heated in the fire of Gehenna and their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs will be seared therewith, [it will be said], "This is what you hoarded for yourselves, *James 5:1 - 3 so taste what you used to hoard."

9:36
Indeed, the number of months with God is twelve [lunar] months in the Book of God [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are forbidden. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the polytheists collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that God is with those who fear [Him].

9:37
Indeed, the postponing [of the forbidden months] is an increase in disbelief by which those who have disbelieved are led [further] astray. They make it lawful one year and unlawful another year to correspond to the number made unlawful by God, and [so] they make [something] lawful which God has made unlawful. The evil of their deeds is made pleasing to them; and God does not guide the disbelieving people.

9:38
O you who have believed, what is [the matter] with you that when you are told to go forth in the way of God, you adhere heavily to the earth? Are you satisfied with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But what is the enjoyment of worldly life compared to the Hereafter except a [very] little?

9:39
If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment and will replace you with another people, and you will not harm Him at all. And God is Powerful over all things.

9:40
If you do not aid [the prophet] - God has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out, the second of the two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed God is with us." And God sent His tranquility down upon him and supported him with armies [of angels] you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of God - that is the highest. And God is Almighty and Wise.

9:41
Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of God. That is better for you, if you only knew.

9:42
Had it been a near gain and a moderate journey, the hypocrites would have followed you, but the distance was long to them. And they will swear by God, "If we were able, we would have gone forth with you," destroying themselves [through false oaths], and God knows that they are indeed liars.

9:43
May God pardon you, why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was clear to you who was truthful and you knew [who] the liars [were].

9:44
Those who believe in God and the Last Day would not ask permission of you [to be excused] from striving with their wealth and their lives. And God is Knowing of those who fear [Him].

9:45
Only those among you who do not believe in God and the Last Day and whose hearts have doubted would ask permission, and they are hesitating in their doubt.

9:46
And if they had intended to go forth, they would have prepared [some] preparation for it. But God disliked their being sent, so He kept them back, and they were told, "Sit [behind] with those who sit."

9:47
Had they gone forth with you, they would not have increased you in [anything] except confusion, and they would have been active among you, seeking [to cause] you temptation. And among you are [avid] listeners to them. And God is Knowing of the wrongdoers.

9:48
They had already sought the temptation [to remain behind] before and had twisted commands for you until the truth came and the command of God appeared, while they were averse.

9:49
And among them is he who says, "Permit me [to remain at home] and do not tempt me." Unquestionably, they have fallen into temptation. And indeed, Gehenna will encompass the disbelievers.

9:50
If good strikes you, it distresses them; but if disaster strikes you, they say, "We took our matter [in hand] before," and they turn away while they are rejoicing.

9:51
Say, "We will never be struck by [anything] except what God has written for us; He is our Protector." And let the believers trust in God.

9:52
Say, "Do you await [nothing] for us except one of the two best things while we await for you so that God will strike you with punishment from Himself or at our hands? So wait; indeed we are waiting along with you."

9:53
Say, "Spend willingly or by compulsion; it will never be accepted from you. Indeed, you have been a defiantly disobedient people."

9:54
And what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them except that they have disbelieved in God and in His messenger and that they do not come to prayer except while they are lazy and they do not spend except while they are unwilling.

9:55
So do not let their wealth or their children impress you. God only intends to punish them through them in worldly life and [intends] that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers.

9:56
And they swear by God that they are from among you while they are not from among you; but they are a people who are divided.

9:57
If they could find a refuge or some caves or any place to enter [and hide], they would surely turn to it while they run heedlessly.

9:58
And among them are some who criticize you concerning the [distribution of] charities. If they are given from them, they are satisfied; but if they are not given from them, at once they become angry.

9:59
If only they had been satisfied with what God and His messenger gave them and said, "God is sufficient for us; God will give us of His bounty, and [so will] His messenger; indeed, we are desirous toward God."

9:60
Charities are only for the poor and for the needy and for those working [to collect] for them, and for bringing hearts together and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the way of God and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by God. And God is Knowing and Wise.

9:61
And among them are those who abuse the prophet and say, "He is an ear." Say, "[It is] an ear of goodness for you who believes in God and believes the believers, and [it is] a mercy to those who believe among you." And those who abuse the messenger of God - there is a painful punishment for them.

9:62
They swear by God to you to satisfy you. But God and His messenger are more worthy for them to satisfy, if they should be believers.

9:63
Do they not know that whoever opposes God and His messenger - that the fire of Gehenna is for him, wherein he will abide eternally? That is the great disgrace.

9:64
The hypocrites are apprehensive unless a chapter should be sent down about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, "Mock [as you wish]; indeed, God will expose that which you fear."

9:65
And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it God and His verses and His messenger that you were mocking?"

9:66
Make no excuse; you have certainly disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals.

9:67
The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and close their hands. They have forgotten God, so He has forgotten them [accordingly]. Indeed, the hypocrites - it is they who are the defiantly disobedient.

9:68
God has promised the fire of Gehenna for the hypocrite men and hypocrite women and the disbelievers, wherein they will abide eternally. It is sufficient for them. And God has cursed them, and there is an enduring punishment for them.

9:69
[You disbelievers are] like those before you; they were stronger than you in power and more abundant in wealth and children. They enjoyed their portion [of worldly enjoyment], and you have enjoyed your portion as those before you enjoyed their portion, and you have engaged [in vanities] like that in which they engaged. [It is] those whose deeds have become worthless in this world and in the Hereafter, and it is they who are the ones in loss.

9:70
Has the news of those before them not reached them - the people of Noah and 'Aad and Thamud and the people of Abraham and the companions of Midian and the overturned towns? Their messengers came to them with clear proofs. And it was not God wronging them, but they were wronging themselves.

9:71
The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give purifying [alms] and obey God and His messenger. Those - God will have mercy upon them. Indeed, God is Almighty and Wise.

9:72
God has promised the believing men and believing women Gardens in which rivers flow beneath them, wherein they abide eternally, and pleasant dwellings in Gardens of Eternity; but approval from God is greater. It is that which is the great success.

9:73
O prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Gehenna, and it is wretched as a destination.

9:74
They swear by God that they did not say [anything wrong] while they had certainly said the word of disbelief and disbelieved after having submitted [to God] and determined that which they were not to attain. And they were not resentful except that God and His messenger had enriched them from His bounty. So if they repent, it is better for them; but if they turn away, God will punish them with a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And there will not be any protector or helper for them on earth.

9:75
And among them are those who made a covenant with God, [saying], "If He should give us from His bounty, we will surely spend in charity, and we will surely be among the righteous."

9:76
But when He gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused.

9:77
So He penalized them with hypocrisy in their hearts until the Day they will meet Him - because they failed God in what they promised Him and because they [habitually] used to lie.

9:78
Did they not know that God knows their secrets and their private conversations and that God is the Knower of the unseen?

9:79
Those who criticize the contributors among the believers concerning [their] charities and [criticize] the ones who find nothing [to spend] except their effort, so they ridicule them - God will ridicule them, and they will have a painful punishment.

9:80
Ask forgiveness for them, or do not ask forgiveness for them. If you should ask forgiveness for them seventy times - God will never forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in God and His messenger, and God does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.

9:81
Those who remained behind rejoiced in their staying [at home] after [the departure of] the messenger of God and disliked to strive with their wealth and their lives in the way of God and said, "Do not go forth in the heat." Say, "The fire of Gehenna is more intensive in heat" - if they would [only] understand.

9:82
So let them laugh a little and [then] weep much as a recompense for what they used to earn.

9:83
If God should return you to a faction of them [after the expedition] and then they ask your permission to go out [to battle], say, "You will not go out with me ever, and you will never fight an enemy with me. Indeed, you were satisfied with sitting [at home] the first time, so sit [now] with those who stay behind."

9:84
And do not pray over any of them who has died - ever - or stand at his grave. ~*Matthew 8:22~*Luke 9:60 Indeed, they disbelieved in God and His messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient.

9:85
And do not let their wealth and their children impress you. God only intends to punish them through them in this world and [intends] that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers.

9:86
And when a chapter was sent down [enjoining them] to believe in God and to strive with His messenger, those of wealth among them asked your permission [to stay back] and said, "Leave us to be with those who sit [at home]."

9:87
They were satisfied to be with those who stay behind, and their hearts were sealed over, so they do not understand.

9:88
But the messenger and those who believed with him strove with their wealth and their lives. Those will have good, and it is those who are the successful.

9:89
God has prepared Gardens for them in which rivers flow beneath them, wherein they will abide eternally. That is the great success.

9:90
And those with excuses among the nomadic Arabs came to be permitted [to remain], and those who had lied to God and His messenger sat [at home]. A painful punishment will strike those who disbelieved among them.

9:91
There is no blame upon the weak or upon the ill or upon those who do not find anything to spend when they are sincere to God and His messenger. There is no way [of blame] upon the doers of good. And God is Forgiving and Merciful.

9:92
Nor [is there any blame] upon those who, when they came to you so that you might give them mounts, you said, "I cannot find anything for you to ride upon." They turned back while their eyes overflowed with tears out of grief that they could not find something to spend [for the way of God].

9:93
The way [of blame] is only upon those who ask permission from you while they are rich. They are satisfied to be with those who stay behind, and God has sealed over their hearts, so they do not know.

9:94
They will make excuses to you when you have returned to them. Say, "Make no excuse - we will never believe you. God has already informed us of your news. And God will see your deeds, and [so will] His messenger; then you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you about what you used to do."

9:95
They will swear by God to you when you return to them that you would leave them alone. So leave them alone; indeed they are an abomination; and their refuge is Gehenna as a recompense for what they had been earning.

9:96
They swear to you so that you might be satisfied with them. But if you should be satisfied with them - indeed, God is not satisfied with a defiantly disobedient people.

9:97
The nomadic Arabs are stronger in disbelief and hypocrisy and more likely to not know the limits of what [laws] God has sent down to His messenger. And God is Knowing and Wise.

9:98
And among the nomadic Arabs are some who take what they spend as a loss and await turns of misfortune for you. There will be a misfortune of evil upon them. And God is Hearing and Knowing.

9:99
But among the nomadic Arabs are some who believe in God and the Last Day and take what they spend as a means of nearness to God and of [obtaining] prayers from the messenger. Unquestionably, it is indeed a means of nearness for them. God will admit them to His mercy. Indeed, God is Forgiving and Merciful.

9:100
And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the emigrants and the helpers and those who followed them with good conduct - God is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared Gardens for them in which rivers flow beneath them, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great success.

9:101
And among those around you of the nomadic Arabs are hypocrites, and [also] from the people of the city. They have become accustomed to hypocrisy. You do not know them, [but] We know them. We will punish them twice; then they will be returned to a great punishment.

9:102
And [there are] others who have confessed to their sins. They had mixed a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps God will turn to them [in forgiveness]. Indeed, God is Forgiving and Merciful.

9:103
Take a charity from their wealth by which you cleanse them and purify them, and pray for them. Indeed, your prayers are [a source of] tranquility for them. And God is Hearing and Knowing.

9:104
Do they not know that it is God who accepts repentance from His servants and takes charities and that it is God who is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful?

9:105
And say, "Do [as you will], for God will see your deeds, and [so will] His messenger and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you about what you used to do."

9:106
And [there are] others deferred until the command of God - whether He will punish them or whether He will turn to them [in mercy]. And God is Knowing and Wise.

9:107
And [there are] those [hypocrites] who took a mosque for themselves for causing harm and disbelief and division among the believers and as a station for whoever had warred against God and His messenger before. And they will surely swear, "We only intended the best." And God testifies that they are indeed liars.

9:108
Do not stand [for prayer] within it - ever. A mosque founded on the fear [of God] from the first day is more worthy for you to stand in. Within it are men who love to purify themselves; and God loves those who purify themselves.

9:109
Then is one who laid the foundation of his building on the fear of God and [seeking] His approval better, or one who laid the foundation of his building on the edge of a bank about to collapse, so it collapsed *Matthew 7:26 - 27 with him into the fire of Gehenna? And God does not guide the wrongdoing people.

9:110
Their building which they built will not cease to be a [cause of] doubt in their hearts until their hearts are severed. And God is Knowing and Wise.

9:111
Indeed, God has purchased their lives and their wealth from the believers [in exchange] for them [having] the Garden. They fight in the way of God, so they kill and are killed. [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah *4 Maccabees 16:25 and the Gospel, *Matthew 10:39*Matthew 16:25*Mark 8:35, *Luke 9:24, ~*John 12:25 and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than God? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great success.

9:112
[Such believers are] the repentant, the servants [of God], the praisers [of God], the travelers [for His cause], those who bow and prostrate [in prayer], those who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and those who guard the limits [set by] God. And give good news to the believers.

9:113
It is not for the prophet and those who have believed to ask forgiveness for those who associate others [with God], even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire.

9:114
And the request for forgiveness from Abraham for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became clear to Abraham that his father was an enemy to God, he disassociated himself from him. Indeed, Abraham was compassionate and forbearing.

9:115
And God would not let a people stray after He has guided them until He makes [it] clear to them that they should fear [God]. Indeed, God is Knowing of all things.

9:116
Indeed, the kingdom of the heavens and the earth [belongs] to God; *Psalms 89:11, *Job 41:11 He gives life and causes death. *Deuteronomy 32:39, *1 Samuel 2:6*4 Maccabees 18:19  And you do not have any protector or any helper besides God. *Isaiah 43:11, *Hosea 13:4, *Sirach 24:24

9:117
God has already turned [in forgiveness] to the prophet and the emigrants and the helpers who followed him in the hour of difficulty after the hearts of a group among them had almost inclined [to doubt], and then He turned [in mercy] to them. Indeed, He was Kind and Merciful to them.

9:118
And [He also forgave] the three who were left behind, until the earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness and their souls confined them and they thought that there is no refuge from God except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could repent. Indeed, God is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.

9:119
O you who have believed, fear God and be with those who are true.

9:120
It was not [proper] for the people of the city and those surrounding them of the nomadic Arabs that they should remain behind after [the departure of] the messenger of God or that they prefer their lives over his life. That is because they are not afflicted by thirst or fatigue or hunger in the way of God, nor do they tread upon any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they inflict any infliction upon an enemy except that it is written as a righteous deed for them. Indeed, God does not allow the reward of the doers of good to be lost.

9:121
Nor do they spend an expenditure, small or large, or cross a valley except that it is written for them so that God may reward them for the best of what they were doing.

9:122
And it is not for the believers to go forth [to battle] all at once. For a group should go forth from every division among them to obtain understanding in the religion and warn their people when they return to them so that they might be cautious.

9:123
O you who have believed, fight those adjacent to you among the disbelievers and let them find harshness in you. And know that God is with those who fear [Him].

9:124
And whenever a chapter is sent down, there are those among the hypocrites who say, "Which of you has increased in faith by this?" As for those who believed, it has increased them in faith, while they are rejoicing.

9:125
But as for those who had disease in their hearts, it has [only] increased them in abomination upon their abomination. And they will have died while they are disbelievers.

9:126
Do they not see that they are tried once or twice every year but then they do not repent nor do they remember?

9:127
And whenever a chapter is sent down, they look at each other, [saying], "Does anyone see you?" and then they turn away. God has turned their hearts away because they are a people who do not understand.

9:128
A messenger has certainly come to you from among yourselves. What you suffer is mighty to him; [he is] concerned over you, and he is kind and merciful to the believers.

9:129
But if they turn away, say, "God is sufficient for me; there is no god except Him. *Deuteronomy 4:35, *Deuteronomy 4:39, *1 Samuel 2:2, *2 Samuel 7:22, *1 Kings 8:60, *Isaiah 44:6, *Isaiah 44:8, *Isaiah 45:5 - 6, *Isaiah 45:21, *Mark 12:32 I trust in Him, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne."