Page 147 - Tafsir of surat at tawba repentance

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“And when Allaah took the solemn pledge of those who were given a
Book (of revelation), (saying to them), ‘Make it known to mankind,
and do not conceal it!’ But they cast this (pledge) behind their backs
and bartered it away for a trifling gain; and how evil was their
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bargain.”
Ibn ‘Abbaas then said, “When Allaah’s Messenger (r) asked them about
something, they concealed it from him and gave something else in its place. They
then went out, making him think that they had informed him about what he had
asked and they sought his praise and thanks. They were also very happy about
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having been able to hide from him what he asked about.” Hence, the verse does
not refer to everyone who is happy about what they have done, but specifically
those who are happy about being given books of revelation, yet they hide its
meanings from those who wish to know the truth.

3. The reason for revelation sometimes clarifies the laws which may be deduced
from the verses. The obvious meaning of the verse may imply a particular law,
whereas the circumstances under which the verse was revealed indicate another
law. For example, ‘Urwah once said to his aunt ‘Aa’ishah, wife of the Prophet
(r), “Do you know the verse,

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‘Verily as-Safaa and al-Marwah are among the shrines of Allaah, so
there is no sin on anyone who walks between them when making hajj
or ‘umrah’?

I do not feel that there is any sin on one who does not walk between them.”
‘Aa’ishah replied, “What a terrible thing you have said, O my nephew! Verily, if
the (verse) meant as you interpreted it, it would have been, ‘So there is so sin on
anyone who does not walk between them.’ But verily, it was revealed because the

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Soorah Aal ‘Imraan (3):187.
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Collected by al-Bukhaaree (Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 6, p. 73-4, no. 91) and Muslim (Sahih
Muslim, vol. 4, p. 1458, no. 6687).

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