198 Page Notes

09 Surah At-Tawbah (continued)

Page 198 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

9:69

9:70

9:71

9:72

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 198 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 198 of the Quran covers Surah At-Tawbah (9), verses 69 through 72 (extending down through verse 79 in standard physical prints, but anchoring specifically on the 69–72 sequence).

This passage draws a historic parallel between contemporary hypocrites and the fallen civilizations of antiquity (such as the peoples of Noah, ʿĀd, Thamūd, and Sodom), then immediately pivots to paint a beautiful contrast by outlining the societal characteristics, duties, and eternal rewards promised to the true believing men and women.

1. Verse 69: The Trap of Worldly Delights (Al-Khawd)

“[You hypocrites are] like those before you; they were mightier than you in power and more abundant in wealth and children. They enjoyed their portion, and you have enjoyed your portion as those before you enjoyed their portion, and you have engaged [in ridicule] like that in which they engaged…” (Quran 9:69)

Authentic Hadith Reference: Mirroring Past Civilizations

The warning in Verse 69 about blindly falling into the same materialism, pride, and spiritual apathy (Khawd) as ancient fallen empires is directly connected to one of the most famous predictive warnings delivered by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:

Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri: The Prophet ﷺ said: "You will surely follow the ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit, so much so that even if they entered a lizard’s hole, you would follow them."

We asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Do you mean the Jews and the Christians?"

The Prophet ﷺ replied: "Who else?" — Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 96 (Book of Holding Fast to Quran and Sunnah), Hadith 7320; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2669.

The Sunnah Warning on Ruin Through Wealth

The hypocrites of Medina were deeply preoccupied with their status, agricultural lands, and trade networks. The Sunnah emphasizes that material indulgence without ethical boundaries is the ultimate catalyst for systemic collapse.

The Prophet ﷺ explicitly stated: "By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but I fear that the wealth of the world will be bountifully bestowed upon you as it was bestowed upon those before you, and you will compete for it as they competed for it, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3158).

2. Verse 71: The Paradigm of Believing Alliances

“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 Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those—Allah will have mercy upon them…” (Quran 9:71)

The Structural Contrast to Hypocrisy

This verse serves as a direct mirror image to verse 67 (found on page 197). While the hypocrites form a network of stinginess and corruption, the true believers form an ecosystem of mutual empowerment, charity, and ethical accountability (Al-Amr bil-Ma'ruf wa Nahyu 'anil-Munkar).

Authentic Hadith Reference: The Metaphor of the Building

The Prophet ﷺ beautifully translated the socio-spiritual alliance outlined in Verse 71 into physical, easily understood human terms:

Narrated Abu Musa al-Ash'ari: The Prophet ﷺ said: "A believer to another believer is like a building whose different parts support and reinforce each other."

While saying that, the Prophet ﷺ interlaced his fingers to demonstrate that unity. — Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 8 (Book of Prayer), Hadith 481; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2585.

The Inclusion of Believing Women

Verse 71 explicitly specifies "The believing men and believing women are allies of one another," cementing women as equal, foundational stakeholders in the public and moral life of the Islamic state. The Sunnah routinely actualized this principle; the Prophet ﷺ famously declared: "Indeed, women are the full biological and legal partners of men" (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 236).

3. Verse 72: Gardens of Eden and the Ultimate Reward

“Allah has promised the believing men and believing women gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence; but approval from Allah is greater. That is the great attainment.” (Quran 9:72)

Authentic Hadith Reference: The Meaning of "Approval is Greater"

While Verse 72 lists breathtaking sensory rewards—such as flowing rivers and magnificent palaces—it concludes by stating that the good pleasure/approval of Allah (Ridwan) is vastly superior to all physical wonders combined. The exact cosmic scene depicting this verse is vividly preserved in the Hadith literature:

Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri: The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah will say to the people of Paradise: 'O people of Paradise!' They will respond: 'Here we are at Your service, Our Lord, and all good is in Your Hands!'

Allah will ask: 'Are you pleased?' They will reply: 'Why should we not be pleased, O Lord, when You have given us what You have not given to any other of Your creation?'

Allah will say: 'Shall I not give you something even better than all of that?' They will say: 'O Our Lord! What thing could possibly be better than this?'

Allah will declare: 'I bestow My absolute Approval (Ridwan) upon you permanently, and I will never be angry with you ever again.'" — Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 81 (Book of Softening the Heart), Hadith 6549; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2829.

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-Sijistani, Abu Dawud (2008). Sunan Abi Dawud. Darussalam Publishers.

• Ibn Kathir, I. O. (2003). Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged). Darussalam Publishers.

Verification of Primary Source Indexing:

• The Lizard's Hole Prophecy: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 96, Hadith 7320.

• The Metaphor of the Interlocking Building: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 8, Hadith 481.

• The Bestowal of Ridwan: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 81, Hadith 6549.