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Tafsir of Al-Ahzab 33:23-25

Surah Al-Ahzab 33:25

ﱨ ﱩ ﱪ ﱫ ﱬ ﱭ ﱮ ﱯ ﱰ ﱱ ﱲ ﱳ ﱴ ﱵ ﱶ ﱷ ﱸ ﱹ

And Allah repelled those who disbelieved, in their rage, not having obtained any good. And sufficient was Allah for the believers in battle, and ever is Allah Powerful and Exalted in Might.

Tafsir

Mafatih al-Ghayb

Verse range: 33:23-25

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Al-Ahzab (33): Verses 23–25

Verse 23:

From the believers are men who fulfilled their covenant with Allah.

This points to their fulfillment of the covenant they made with God: that they would not abandon their Prophet except by death.

  • "So some of them have fulfilled their term (i.e., died)": Meaning, they fought until they were killed, thus fulfilling their vow. An-Nuhb (النحب) means the vow or pledge.
  • "And some of them are still waiting": They are still in the fighting, awaiting martyrdom as a fulfillment of the covenant.
  • "And they have not altered [their commitment] in the least": Unlike the hypocrites, who said, "We will not turn our backs," but then they changed their word and fled.

Verse 24:

That Allah may reward the truthful for their truthfulness...

This means that God will reward them for the truthfulness of what He promised them in this world and the Hereafter, just as they were truthful in fulfilling their promises to Him.

  • "...and punish the hypocrites if He wills, or accept their repentance if He wills."

This conditional statement ("if He wills") applies to the hypocrites whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) had not yet despaired of believing. Indeed, some of them believed afterward.

  • "And Allah is Ever Forgiving, Merciful."

This means He concealed their sins (Forgiving) and bestowed faith upon them (Merciful). This interpretation applies to those who believed later.

Alternatively, we can say: God punishes the hypocrites even though He is Forgiving and Merciful, due to the magnitude of their sin and the severity of their crime. If their offense had been lesser, He would have forgiven them.

Then, God explained some of the rewards He gave the truthful for their truthfulness:

Verse 25:

And Allah repelled those who disbelieved in their rage.

Meaning, despite their intense anger, they did not satisfy their hearts or achieve their objective.

  • "Allah sufficed the believers against fighting."

Meaning, He did not necessitate that they fight extensively.

  • "And Allah is Ever Strong, Mighty."

Meaning, He is not in need of their fighting; He is Mighty and capable of utterly destroying the disbelievers and humiliating them.

Verse 25 (Cont.):

And He brought down those who supported them from the People of the Scripture from their fortresses and cast terror into their hearts. A party you killed and a party you took captive.