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Dawat ul Quran

Quran Translation and Commentary by Shams Pirzada
Translation in English by Abdul Karim Shaikh

Quran Translation
Word for Word by
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh
& Kausar Khatri

Introduction
1. Al-Fatihah
2. Al-Baqarah
3. Al-Imran
4. Al-Nisa
5. Al-Maidah
6. Al-Anam
7. Al-Araf
8. Al-Anfal
9. Al-Taubah
10. Yunus
11. Hud
12. Yusuf
13. Al-Rad
14. Ibrahim
15. Al-Hijr
16. Al-Nahl
17. Bani Israil
18. Al-Kahf
19. Maryam
20. Ta-Ha
21. Al-Anbiya
22. Al-Hajj
23. Al-Muminun
24. An-Nur
25. Al-Furqan
26. Ash-Shuara
27. An-Naml
28. Al-Qasas
29. Al-Ankabut
30. Ar-Rum
31. Luqman
32. As-Sajdah
33. Al-Ahzab
34. Saba
35. Fatir
36. Yasin
37. As-Saffat
38. Saad
39. Az-Zumar
40. Al-Mumin
41. Ha-Meem-As-Sajdah
42. AShura
43. Az-Zukhruf
44. Ad-Dukhan
45. Al-Jathiyah
46. Al-Ahqaf
47. Muhammad
48. Al-Fath
49. Al-Hujurat
50. Al-Qaf
51. Adh-Dhariyat
52. At-Tur
53. An-Najm
54. Al-Qamar
55. Al-Rahman
56. Al-Waqiah
57. Al-Hadid
58. Al-Mujadalah
59. Al-Hashr
60. Al-Mumtahinah
61. As-Saff
62. Al-Jumuah
63. Al-Munafiqun
64. Al-Taghabun
65. At-Talaq
66. At-Tahrim
67. Al-Mulk
68. Al-Qalam
69. Al-Haqqah
70. Al-Maarij
71. Nuh
72. Al-Jinn
73. Al-Muzzammil
74. Al-Muddhththir
75. Al-Qiyamah
76. Ad-Dahr
77. Al-Mursalat
78. An-Naba
79. An-Naziat
80. Abas
81. At-Takwir
82. Al-Infitar
83. At-Tatfif
84. Al-Inshiqaq
85. Al-Buruj
86. At-Tariq
87. Al-Ala
88. Al-Ghashiyah
89. Al-Fajr
90. Al-Balad
91. Ash-Shams
92. Al-Lail
93. Ad-Duha
94. Al-Inshirah
95. At-Tin
96. Al-Alaq
97. Al-Qadr
98. Al-Bayyinah
99. Az-Zilzal
100. Al-Adiyat
101. Al-Qariah
102. At-Takathur
103. Al-Asr
104. Al-Humazah
105. Al-Fil
106. Al-Quraish
107. Al-Maun
108. Al-Kauthar
109. Al-Kafirun
110. An-Nasr
111. Al-Lahab
112. Al-Ikhlas
113. Al-Falaq
114. An-Nas
Surah 9. At-Tawbah
Verses [Section]: 1-10[1], 11-16 [2], 17-24 [3], 25-29 [4], 30-37 [5], 38-42 [6], 43-59 [7], 60-66 [8], 67-72 [9], 73-80 [10], 81-89 [11], 90-99 [12], 100-110 [13], 111-118 [14], 119-122 [15], 123-129 [16]

Quran Text of Verse 1-10
9. At-Tawbah Page 1879. At-TawbahبَرَآءَةٌFreedom from obligationsمِّنَfromاللّٰهِAllahوَ رَسُوْلِهٖۤand His Messengerاِلَیtoالَّذِیْنَthose (with) whomعٰهَدْتُّمْyou made a treatyمِّنَfromالْمُشْرِكِیْنَؕthe polytheists فَسِیْحُوْاSo move aboutفِیinالْاَرْضِthe landاَرْبَعَةَ(during) fourاَشْهُرٍmonthsوَّ اعْلَمُوْۤاbut knowاَنَّكُمْthat youغَیْرُ(can) notمُعْجِزِیescapeاللّٰهِ ۙAllahوَ اَنَّand thatاللّٰهَAllahمُخْزِی(is) the One Who (will) disgraceالْكٰفِرِیْنَ the disbelievers وَ اَذَانٌAnd an announcementمِّنَfrom Allahاللّٰهِfrom Allahوَ رَسُوْلِهٖۤand His Messengerاِلَیtoالنَّاسِthe peopleیَوْمَ(on the) dayالْحَجِّ(of) the greater Pilgrimageالْاَكْبَرِ(of) the greater PilgrimageاَنَّthatاللّٰهَAllahبَرِیْٓءٌ(is) free from obligationsمِّنَ[of]الْمُشْرِكِیْنَ ۙ۬(to) the polytheistsوَ رَسُوْلُهٗ ؕand (so is) His MessengerفَاِنْSo ifتُبْتُمْyou repentفَهُوَthen, it isخَیْرٌbestلَّكُمْ ۚfor youوَ اِنْBut ifتَوَلَّیْتُمْyou turn awayفَاعْلَمُوْۤاthen knowاَنَّكُمْthat youغَیْرُ(can) notمُعْجِزِیescapeاللّٰهِ ؕAllahوَ بَشِّرِAnd give glad tidingsالَّذِیْنَ(to) those whoكَفَرُوْاdisbelieveبِعَذَابٍof a punishmentاَلِیْمٍۙpainful اِلَّاExceptالَّذِیْنَthose (with) whomعٰهَدْتُّمْyou have a treatyمِّنَamongالْمُشْرِكِیْنَthe polytheistsثُمَّthenلَمْnotیَنْقُصُوْكُمْthey have failed youشَیْـًٔا(in any) thingوَّ لَمْand notیُظَاهِرُوْاthey have supportedعَلَیْكُمْagainst youاَحَدًاanyoneفَاَتِمُّوْۤاso fulfilاِلَیْهِمْto themعَهْدَهُمْtheir treatyاِلٰیtillمُدَّتِهِمْ ؕtheir termاِنَّIndeedاللّٰهَAllahیُحِبُّlovesالْمُتَّقِیْنَ the righteous فَاِذَاThen whenانْسَلَخَhave passedالْاَشْهُرُthe sacred monthsالْحُرُمُthe sacred monthsفَاقْتُلُواthen killالْمُشْرِكِیْنَthe polytheistsحَیْثُwhereverوَجَدْتُّمُوْهُمْyou find themوَ خُذُوْهُمْand seize themوَ احْصُرُوْهُمْand besiege themوَ اقْعُدُوْاand sit (in wait)لَهُمْfor themكُلَّ(at) everyمَرْصَدٍ ۚplace of ambushفَاِنْBut ifتَابُوْاthey repentوَ اَقَامُواand establishالصَّلٰوةَthe prayerوَ اٰتَوُاand giveالزَّكٰوةَthe zakahفَخَلُّوْاthen leaveسَبِیْلَهُمْ ؕtheir wayاِنَّIndeedاللّٰهَAllahغَفُوْرٌ(is) Oft-Forgivingرَّحِیْمٌ Most Merciful وَ اِنْAnd ifاَحَدٌanyoneمِّنَofالْمُشْرِكِیْنَthe polytheistsاسْتَجَارَكَseek your protectionفَاَجِرْهُthen grant him protectionحَتّٰیuntilیَسْمَعَhe hearsكَلٰمَ(the) Words of Allahاللّٰهِ(the) Words of AllahثُمَّThenاَبْلِغْهُescort himمَاْمَنَهٗ ؕ(to) his place of safetyذٰلِكَThatبِاَنَّهُمْ(is) because theyقَوْمٌ(are) a peopleلَّا(who) do not knowیَعْلَمُوْنَ۠(who) do not know 9. At-Tawbah Page 188كَیْفَHowیَكُوْنُcan (there) beلِلْمُشْرِكِیْنَfor the polytheistsعَهْدٌa covenantعِنْدَwithاللّٰهِAllahوَ عِنْدَand withرَسُوْلِهٖۤHis Messengerاِلَّاexceptالَّذِیْنَthose (with) whomعٰهَدْتُّمْyou made a treatyعِنْدَnearالْمَسْجِدِAl-Masjidالْحَرَامِ ۚAl-HaraamفَمَاSo long asاسْتَقَامُوْاthey are uprightلَكُمْto youفَاسْتَقِیْمُوْاthen you be uprightلَهُمْ ؕto themاِنَّIndeedاللّٰهَAllahیُحِبُّlovesالْمُتَّقِیْنَ the righteous كَیْفَHowوَ اِنْwhile, ifیَّظْهَرُوْاthey gain dominanceعَلَیْكُمْover youلَاthey do not regard (the ties)یَرْقُبُوْاthey do not regard (the ties)فِیْكُمْwith youاِلًّا(of) kinshipوَّ لَاand notذِمَّةً ؕcovenant of protectionیُرْضُوْنَكُمْThey satisfy youبِاَفْوَاهِهِمْwith their mouthsوَ تَاْبٰیbut refuseقُلُوْبُهُمْ ۚtheir heartsوَ اَكْثَرُهُمْand most of themفٰسِقُوْنَۚ(are) defiantly disobedient اِشْتَرَوْاThey exchangeبِاٰیٰتِ[with] the Verses of Allahاللّٰهِ[with] the Verses of Allahثَمَنًا(for) a little priceقَلِیْلًا(for) a little priceفَصَدُّوْاand they hinder (people)عَنْfromسَبِیْلِهٖ ؕHis wayاِنَّهُمْIndeedسَآءَevilمَا(is) whatكَانُوْاthey used toیَعْمَلُوْنَ do لَاNotیَرْقُبُوْنَthey respect (the ties)فِیْtowardsمُؤْمِنٍa believerاِلًّا(of) kinshipوَّ لَاand notذِمَّةً ؕcovenant of protectionوَ اُولٰٓىِٕكَAnd thoseهُمُ[they]الْمُعْتَدُوْنَ (are) the transgressors
Translation of Verse 1-10

1. A proclamation of Immunity by Allah and His messenger to those of the idolaters with whom you had made treaties1;

2. So go about in the land for four months, 2 and know that you cannot overmaster Allah and that Allah will humiliate the disbelievers.

3. And a general proclamation from Allah and His messenger to the people on the Day of the Hajj-e-Akbar (the Great pilgrimage)4 that Allah is free from obligation to the polytheists and (so is) His messenger.5 So if you repent (even now), it will be better for you; but if you are averse, then know that you cannot escape Allah. And (O prophet!) give tidings of painful punishment to disbelievers;

4. Excepting those idolaters with whom you have a treaty, and subsequently who have not failed you in anything, nor aided anyone against you with these fulfil their treaty to the end of its term.6 Verily Allah likes the God-fearing people.7

5. Then, when the sacred months are over8, slay the idolaters wherever you find them,9 and capture them, and besiege them and lie in ambush everywhere for them.10 Then if they repent, and establish prayer and pay Zakat, then leave their way free.11 Verily Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

6. And if anyone of the polytheists seeks asylum with you, give him protection, till he may hear the word of Allah,12 then escort him to his place of safety. That is because they are the people who know not.

7. How can there be a treaty with Allah and with His messenger for the polytheists save13 those with whom you made a treaty near the Sacred Mosque?14 So as long as they are straight towards you, be straight towards them. Verily, Allah likes those who fear Him.

8. How (can there be any treaty for the others) when, if they have an upper hand of you, they respect no ties of kinship nor of covenant ?15 They please you with their mouths, but their hearts are averse. And most of them are transgressors .16

9. They have accepted a small price in return for Allah’s revelations17 and debar (others) from Allah’s path.18 Evil indeed is it what they are doing.

10. They do not respect, in the case of a believer, either the ties of kinship or that of covenant. These are the ones who are transgressors.19


Commentary

1. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) had entered into peace treaties with different tribes of Arabia, but many of them were violating those treaties. For this reason a declaration for terminating these treaties is made.

2. They were given a time limit of four months so that they might come to a final decision about themselves, either they might give up idolatry and polytheism or might get ready to fight.

3. That is: Allah has decided to disgrace the polytheists. Therefore, those who would stick to their polytheism till the last would be struck by this divine decision. Whatever force they might exert, they would not be able to avert being struck by Allah ‘s decision; and history is a witness that decision of Allah has been enforced on the idolaters of Arabia.

4. The word’ Akbar’ (great) is the qualification of’Hajj’, which distinguishes it from Umrah which was called the ‘Hajj-e-Asghar’ (the smaller Hajj). This qualification hints at the massive gathering of Muslim pilgrims on the occasion of Hajj.

This gathering takes place in Arafat as well as in Mina, but here it refers to ‘Yaumun Nahr’ i.e. the 10th of Zil Hijjah, when the gathering of Hajj takes place in Mina. And since Quraish did not use to go to Arafat, therefore, for this declaration which was to be made on the day of the Hajj, the day of the gathering in Mina was more suitable, when every kind of polytheist used to be present.

Today Muslims consider every day of gathering at Arafat that falls on a Friday as Hajj-i- Akbar, though according to this verse every Hajj is Hajj-i-Akbar, as it is an intrinsic qualification of the Hajj.

5. This declaration of being free from any obligation is in relation to those polytheists with whom the Muslims had no peace treaty, and the meaning of Allah and His messenger’s being free from obligation is that hereafter there is no refuge for them in Allah’s law nor is there any guarantee from the Prophet about the safety of their lives; the period of treaty and peace is over, if they do not give up their polytheistic attitude, force will be used against them.

This declaration was made in 09 (A.H.) on the occasion of Hajj, i.e. 10th of Zil Hijjah in Mina. At that time the idolaters performed the Hajj according to their own rites and customs. and Muslims followed their own rites. This Hajj was performed under the guidance or leadership of Abu Bakr(R), and Ali (R), declared four points on behalf of the Prophet:

(1) None that has not embraced Islam will enter the Paradise.

(2) After that year, no polytheist would perform the Hajj.

(3) Nor can anybody go round the Ka ‘ba in pilgrimage in a naked condition,

(4) The treaties that the prophet has made with the people would be honoured till the date of their due termination.

(5) Abu Hurairah (R) says that when the voice of Ali (R) became hoarse while making this declaration, he began repeating the declaration. (Tafseer Tabri, Vol. 10, Page 45).

6. The treaties of the polytheists with the Prophet which were for a fixed period and which were not dishonoured by them were allowed to stand till the expiry of their periods, as ordained in this verse. These tribes were Khaza ‘ah. Banu Zamrah and Banu Kinanah.

7. The Qur’an directs its followers to adopt the line of righteousness (God-fearing) in every circumstance, whether it be the matter of honouring the treaties or war or peace, or in politics or in social life, in the same manner as it is incumbent for the followers to adopt the line of righteousness in their individual and’ private affairs.

8. The explanation of the sacred months has been given in Note No.269, Surah Baqarah. Here the meaning of the sacred months being over is that when the last of this series. i.e. Muharram may be over, you may settle your account with those polytheists with whom you had no treaty. It may be noted that the time limit of four months in Verse No.2 was given in the case of those polytheists with whom the Muslims had peace treaties and they were dishonouring them.

9. This ultimatum was given only to the polytheists of Arabia specifically because their case Commentary Dawatul Qur’an 599 S.9 S.9 600 Dawatul Qur’an was quite different from the case of other communities. Allah had raised Muhammad (Sallal Lahu Alaihi wa sallam) from amongst the Arabs only and had revealed His Book in their language.The truth had been made clear to them in no uncertain terms and it is the tradition of Allah that whenever, His message is conveyed to a community or a nation through His messenger and if the people of that nation do not accept that message and embrace His religion, He destroys that nation for their persistence in their rebellion against Allah and deprives them of their right to live on His land. Such people are lifeless and for people without life there is no place on the surface of the earth, but under its surface. Therefore, either of the two eventualities confront them, either the Divine wrath descends on them from the heaven or the companions of the Prophet exterminate them. Allah’s decision in the case of the Arab polytheists was, that a large number of them would be blessed for embracing Islam and the small number that would stick to polytheism would be destroyed with the swords of the prophet’s companions.

Those who do not know the circumstances under which these verses were revealed conclude that the Qu’ran commands them to kill the polytheists, wherever and whenever they find them, be it any part of the world, whether the situation is of war or of peace, the message of Allah has not been convincingly conveyed to them. This is a great misunderstanding, which is especially found among the non-Muslims in India. This misunderstanding can be removed only if the whole situation and the background is taken into consideration, and the sense of the verse is understood in its true perspective.

10. That is: Take effective steps against them, and leave nothing to chance in fighting against them.

11. That is: If these idolaters give up their polytheism and idolatry and accept Islam as their faith. and as a proof of their being Muslims they establish salat and pay zakat, then there is no cause for confronting them. They should neither be asked to account for the past behaviour nor should they be harassed in any way.

After the death of the Prophet (Sallal Lahu Alaihi Wasallam) when some Arabian tribes, who had earlier embraced Islam, refused to pay zakat. the first Khalifa, Abu Bakr (R) took military action against them. In view of this verse, and had said that those who would discriminate between salat and zakat (i.e. accepting the one and rejecting the other) would surely be opposed by him by use of force. – (Mishkat -Kitabuz Zakat).

This incident clarifies one more aspect of the importance of salat and zakat (prayer and compulsory charity), and that these two aspects of worship have the position of law in Islam, and it is within the duties of an Islamic government to forcefully implement them.

Today the negligence noticed among the Muslims in relation to salat and zakat is on account of the fact that there is no one to shock them out of their negligence.

12. If a polytheist asks for shelter during war in order to hear and understand Quran, then it is the duty of the Muslims that he should be given the required shelter and thereafter he should be safely conducted to his place of safety. And it is the proof of the fact that Islam’s war with the polytheists is for a very sacred cause and not for land grabbing or national enmity. Incidentally, from this verse it points becomes quite clear that for the purpose of propagation and dawah of Islam to introduce Qur’an to non- Muslims, the Muslims should induce them to read the Qu’ran. and to present the meaning of its verses in their languages, is very important and vital work, so that they may understand the words of their Lord.

13. This is a parenthetical sentence, as another point is being mentioned. Originally the discussion was about those polytheists whose treaties were terminated, but in between, through the use of this parenthetical sentence, those polytheists have been exempted from this command who had violated their treaties.

14. Near the Sacred Mosque means the place known as Hudaibiyah, which is within the limits of Haram (Sacred Mosque). In the month of Zil Qa’dah, 06 (A.H.) a treaty was made between the Muslims of Madina and the Quraish of Makkah. One of the conditions of this treaty was that every Arabian tribe was free to become the ally of either party to this treaty. On this occasion the tribe of Banu Khaza‘ah became an ally of the Prophet and his followers. Although in the beginning of 08 (A.H.) the Quraish had dishonoured the treaty of Hudaibiyah and in the month of Ramzan of 08 (A.H.) Makkah was conquered by Muslims, the treaty which was made with Banu Khaza ‘ah was allowed to run its course; and since they had not violated it, the Muslims were here directed to honour it as long as the said tribesmen would honour it.

15. In the Arabian society, tribal system was the order of the day. Therefore in all social affairs, ties of kinship played a very important part. Another thing which helped in keeping the relations smooth between the tribes was the treaty of peace among them. But the idolaters had adopted such a hard attitude in their antagonism towards Islam that they neither cared for any ties of kinship nor for any restrictions on account of any covenant. Whenever they got a chance they acted against the interests of Muslims. In such a situation it was difficult for the Muslims to honour the treaties made with them, since no treaty could survive, if both the parties to it did not honour it.

16. Here ‘Fasiq’ (transgressor) means those who break the pledges.

17. That is: in the revelations of Allah are hidden treasures of both the worlds, but these unknowing detractors preferred the mean worldly gains to Allah’s revelations and thus deprived themselves of the greatest good.

18. When, the worldly gains were fixed as the only aim in life, then how could they tolerate the message of religion, which was being given in order to fix the Hereafter as the aim in life. Therefore, they stood up as the blocking wall to debar others from going on to that path.

19. In Verse No.8 the attitude of the polytheists with the Muslims was described. In this verse it is stated that in the matter of their relationship with the Muslims the idolaters neither cared for the ties of kinship nor for their pledges. They had adopted an aggressive attitude.