195 Page Notes

09 Surah At-Tawbah (continued)

Page 195 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

9:48

9:49

9:50

9:51

9:52

9:53

9:54

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 195 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 195 of the Quran encompasses Surah At-Tawbah (9), verses 48 through 54. This passage continues the severe exposure and psychological profile of the hypocrites (Munafiqin) who stayed behind during the Expedition of Tabuk (9 AH).

The text outlines their active history of internal subversion, their shallow pretexts for avoiding military duties, and the divine declaration rendering their financial contributions spiritually worthless due to their internal disbelief.

1. Verse 49: The Pretext of Temptation (Fitnah)

“And among them is he who says, 'Permit me [to remain at home] and do not try me.' Unquestionably, into trial they have fallen. And indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers.” (Quran 9:49)

The Sunnah Context: The Excuse of Al-Jadd ibn Qays

Classical works of Asbab al-Nuzul (reasons for revelation) and authentic biographies preserve the exact dialogue that triggered this verse. While the Prophet ﷺ was organizing logistics for the grueling march north toward the Byzantine border, a prominent tribal figure of Medina named Al-Jadd ibn Qays approached him with a highly unusual excuse.

The Incident of Al-Jadd:

The Prophet ﷺ said to him: "O Jadd! Would you like to fight the blond ones (the Romans/Byzantines) this year?"

Al-Jadd replied: "O Messenger of Allah, grant me permission to stay behind and do not expose me to temptation (fitnah). By Allah, my people know well that there is no man more captivated by women than myself. I fear that if I see the women of the Romans, I will not be able to control myself."

The Prophet ﷺ turned his face away from him in disappointment and said: "I have permitted you." Immediately after this exchange, Verse 49 was revealed, declaring that by committing treason, cowardice, and lying to the face of the Prophet ﷺ, Al-Jadd had already plunged deep into the ultimate spiritual ruin ("into trial they have fallen").

— Ibn Hisham's Sirah; heavily referenced by Al-Wahidi and Ibn Kathir in their commentaries.

2. Verse 50: Rooting for the Believers' Failure

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

The Sunnah Application: The Psychological Contrast

The Sunnah documents how the hypocrites of Medina functioned as a psychological fifth column.

• When Muslims Succeeded: If the Prophet ﷺ returned with spoils, security, or bloodless treaties (as eventually happened at Tabuk), the hypocrites would secretly burn with envy and irritation.

• When Muslims Faced Hardship: If the Muslims suffered a military setback or faced terrifying logistical struggles—such as the massive heatwaves, starvation, and water shortages experienced along the road to Tabuk—the hypocrites would smugly celebrate at home, praising their own "shrewdness" for staying behind.

The Prophet ﷺ used these verses to train the companions to recognize that true loyalty is proven in times of communal hardship, not merely during easy victories.

3. Verses 51–52: Divine Decree and the "Two Best Outcomes"

“Say, 'Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector.' And upon Allah let the believers rely. Say, 'Do you await for us except one of the two best things...?'” (Quran 9:51–52)

Authentic Hadith Reference: The Meaning of the Two Best Things

In response to the hypocrites' mocking joy over Muslim struggles, Verse 52 outlines the core mental paradigm of a true companion. They viewed risk through a win-win spiritual lens known as The Two Best Outcomes (Ihdal-Husnayayn): either achieving clear victory in this life, or attaining martyrdom (Shahadah) and entering Paradise.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explicitly detailed this matrix:

"Allah guarantees that he who strives in His cause—and nothing brings him forth except striving in His cause and faith in His Words—will either be admitted into Paradise by Him (if he is martyred), or will be returned safely to his home with rewards or war spoils."

— Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 2 (Book of Belief), Hadith 36; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1876.

4. Verses 53–54: The Rejection of Insincere Charity

“Say, 'Spend willingly or unwillingly; never will it be accepted from you. Indeed, you have been a defiantly disobedient people.' And what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them is but that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger and that they do not come to prayer except lazily and they do not spend except unwillingly.” (Quran 9:53–54)

The Legislative Sunnah on Intentions

When the Prophet ﷺ called for funding the Tabuk expedition, wealthy hypocrites offered large sums of money, hoping to buy political immunity or shield themselves from public shame for refusing to march.

The Prophetic Standard on Sincerity:

This verse established a foundational legal maxim in Islamic jurisprudence. The Prophet ﷺ famously stated: "Actions are judged strictly by their underlying intentions (niyyah), and every person will only have what they intended." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1).

• The Lazy Prayer Metric: Verse 54 highlights that they "do not come to prayer except lazily." The Prophet ﷺ directly connected this specific behavioral trait to hypocrisy in an authentic narration: "The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are the Isha (night) prayer and the Fajr (dawn) prayer. If they only knew what rewards lie in them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 657).

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. I. (1997). Sahih al-Bukhari (Vols. 1-9). Darussalam Publishers.

• Al-Naysaburi, M. H. (2007). Sahih Muslim (Vols. 1-7). Darussalam Publishers.

• Al-Wahidi, A. A. (2008). Asbab al-Nuzul (Occasions of Revelation). Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought.

• Ibn Hisham, A. M. (2000). Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah. Dar al-Ma'rifah.

Verification of Primary Source Indexing:

• The Two Best Outcomes / Divine Guarantee: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 2, Hadith 36.

• The Laziness in Prayer Metric: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 10 (Book of Call to Prayer), Hadith 657.

• The Core Intentions Rule: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 1, Hadith 1.