Tafsir of At-Tawbah 9:62

Surah At-Tawbah (The Repentance): Verse 62

يحلفون بالله لكم ليرضونا (They swear to you by Allah, to please you...)

Exegesis:

This verse describes another type of the hypocrites' vile actions: their resorting to false oaths.

Interpretations regarding the context:

1. Continuation of previous actions: This is based on what preceded it. Meaning, they harm the Prophet (PBUH) and speak ill of him, and then they swear to you (the believers).
2. Specific incident (Tabuk): It is narrated that this descended concerning a group of hypocrites who stayed behind from the expedition of Tabuk. When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) returned to Medina, they came to him, offered excuses, and swore oaths. The verse was revealed concerning them.
3. Meaning of the oath: They swore that they did not say what was reported about them, in order to please the believers with their oaths. However, what was obligatory was to please Allah with sincerity and repentance, not by displaying what they concealed internally. This is similar to His saying: “And when they meet those who believe, they say, ‘We believe,’…” (Al-Baqarah: 8).

Regarding the phrase: {ليرضوه} (to please Him [Allah])

This follows the mention of Allah and the Messenger. There are several interpretations for singling out Allah here:

1. Exaltation of Allah: Allah (SWT) should not be mentioned generally alongside others; He must be singled out for mention out of reverence for Him.
2. Ultimate Goal: The purpose of all acts of obedience and worship is Allah; therefore, only His mention suffices. It is narrated that one of the disbelievers raised his voice and said, "I repent to Allah, and I do not repent to Muhammad." The Messenger (PBUH) heard this and said, "The truth has been placed in its rightful owner."
3. Ellipsis (Omission): It is possible that the intended meaning was "to please them both (Allah and His Messenger)," and mentioning one suffices, similar to the poetry:

   “We are pleased with what we have, and you with what you have, And the opinion differs.”

4. Knowledge of the Unseen: Allah (SWT) is the Knower of secrets and intentions. The sincerity of the heart is known only to Allah; for this reason, Allah (SWT) is singled out for mention.
5. Conformity: Since the Messenger's pleasure must conform to Allah's pleasure, and contradiction between them is impossible, mentioning one suffices. It is like saying, "Zayd's kindness and his generosity benefited and supported me."
6. Implied Subject: The implied meaning is: "Allah is more worthy that you should please Him, and so is His Messenger."

Regarding the phrase: {إن كانوا مؤمنين} (if they are believers)

There are two views:

1. If they are believers in what they claim (i.e., if their claim of faith is true).
2. They were aware of the truthfulness of the Messenger's religion, yet they persisted in disbelief out of envy and obstinacy. This is why Allah (SWT) said, “if they are believers.”

Significance of the Verse:

The verse indicates that Allah's pleasure is not attained merely by outwardly professing faith, unless it is accompanied by sincere belief in the heart. This refutes the view of the Karramiyyah sect, who claim that faith consists only of verbal utterance.

ألم يعلموا أنه من يحادد الله ورسوله فأن له نار جهنم خالدا فيها ذلك الخزي العظيم (Do they not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger - indeed, for him is the fire of Hell, remaining therein forever? That is the great disgrace.)