Page 105 - Tafsir of surat at tawba repentance

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“May Allaah pardon you. 63 Why did you grant them permission to
stay at home before it became obvious to you who was speaking the
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truth and you came to know who were the liars?”

Mujaahid said the verse was revealed about some people who advised others,
“Ask the Messenger of Allaah (r) to excuse you (from participating in the
expedition to Tabook). If he gives you permission, stay home, and if he doesn’t
permit you, stay home, (anyway).” Ibn Katheer said “The Most High is saying,
‘You shouldn’t have given permission to any of them to stay behind so you could
have known who was truthful in his display of obedience to you and who was
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lying. For they were firm in their intention to stay behind.’ ”
Verses were also revealed to correct wrong attitudes which were widespread
among the Muslims of that time. An example of such a revelation is the case of
the Battle of Hunayn. Muslims had left to do battle with the disbelievers feeling
that they were sure to be victorious, since their numbers exceeded that of the
enemy many times over. The enemy ambushed them and caused them to turn on
their heels and flee in defeat. However, after that initial lesson, Allaah gave them
success over the enemy in the same battle. Then, He revealed the following
verse:

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Muhammad Asad writes, “All the commentators agree...that this phrase, although expressed in
the form of an invocation, has the meaning of a statement—‘God pardons thee,’ or ‘has pardoned
thee.’ ” (The Message of the Qur’an, p. 266.)
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Soorah at-Tawbah (9):43.
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See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, vol. 2, p. 375.

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