Tafsir of At-Tawbah 9:80

Tafsir of Surah At-Tawbah (9:80)

Verse: {استغفر لهم أو لا تستغفر لهم إن تستغفر لهم سبعين مرة فلن يغفر الله لهم ذلك بأنهم كفروا بالله ورسوله والله لا يهدي القوم الفاسقين}

(Whether you ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them—even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times—Allah will never forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.)

Issue 1: The Context of the Revelation

It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (RA) that when the first verses concerning the hypocrites were revealed, they came to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and asked him to seek forgiveness for them. The Prophet (PBUH) replied that he would seek forgiveness for them, and he began to do so. Then, this verse was revealed, and the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) ceased asking forgiveness for them.

Al-Hasan narrated that they used to come to the Prophet (PBUH), offer excuses, and say, "We intended nothing but good and reconciliation." Then this verse was revealed.

Al-Asamm narrated that 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul used to stand up when the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) delivered a sermon and say, "This is the Messenger of Allah, whom Allah has honored, exalted, and aided." After the Battle of Uhud, when the Prophet (PBUH) stood in that position, 'Umar said to him, "Sit down, O enemy of Allah! Your disbelief has become manifest," and the people confronted him from all sides. He left the mosque and did not pray. A man from his people met him and asked what kept him away. He recounted the story. The man told him to return to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) so he might seek forgiveness for him. He replied, "I do not care whether the Messenger seeks forgiveness for me or not." Then the verse {And when it is said to them, "Come, let the Messenger of Allah seek forgiveness for you," they turn their heads away...} (Al-Munafiqun: 5) was revealed. The hypocrites came after Uhud offering excuses and false pretenses for the Prophet (PBUH) to seek forgiveness for them.

Issue 2: The Meaning of "Seventy Times"

{Even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times—Allah will never forgive them.}

Al-Sha'bi narrated that 'Abdullah ibn 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul invited the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) to the funeral prayer of his father. The Prophet (PBUH) asked, "Who are you?" He replied, "I am Al-Hubab ibn 'Abdullah." The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Rather, you are 'Abdullah ibn 'Abdullah, for Al-Hubab is Satan." Then he recited this verse.

Al-Qadi stated that the apparent meaning of {Whether you ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them} indicates that the people requested the Prophet (PBUH) to seek forgiveness for them. The narrations mentioned above support this. The closest interpretation connecting this verse to the preceding one is what Ibn Abbas (RA) mentioned: that those who were slandering (in the previous verses) were the ones who requested forgiveness, and then this verse was revealed.

Issue 3: The Implication of Limiting the Number (Seventy)

Some scholars hold that specifying a particular number implies that the ruling for anything beyond that number is different (this is the view of those who affirm Dalil al-Khitab—the argument from silence/omission). They argue that when the verse {Even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times—Allah will never forgive them} was revealed, the Prophet (PBUH) said, "By Allah, I will exceed seventy times." He did not cease interceding for them until the verse {It is all the same for them whether you ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them} (Al-Munafiqun: 6) was revealed, at which point he stopped.

However, one could argue that the reverse inference is more appropriate. Since Allah the Exalted clarified to the Prophet (PBUH) that forgiveness would absolutely not be granted to them, it is established that the situation beyond the mentioned number is the same as the situation within that number. This indicates that restricting the ruling to the number does not necessitate that the ruling for what is beyond it must be different.

Issue 4: Whether the Prophet (PBUH) Actually Engaged in Seeking Forgiveness

Some scholars say that the Prophet (PBUH) was engaged in seeking forgiveness for them, and Allah prevented him from doing so. Others say that the hypocrites requested the Prophet (PBUH) to seek forgiveness for them, and Allah forbade him from doing so. A prohibition of an act does not necessarily imply that the prohibited action was already being performed.

We argue that the Prophet (PBUH) did not engage in seeking forgiveness for them for several reasons:

1. The Hypocrite is a Disbeliever: It is established in the Prophet's (PBUH) Law that seeking forgiveness for a disbeliever is not permissible. This is why Allah commanded His Messenger to emulate Abraham (PBUH) except in his statement to his father, {I will certainly ask forgiveness for you} (Al-Mumtahanah: 4). If this prohibition was well-known in the Law, how could he have proceeded to do it?
2. Ineffectiveness of Intercession: The intercession of one person for another does not benefit the latter if that person persists in wickedness and disobedience.
3. Encouragement to Sin: His proceeding to seek forgiveness for the hypocrites would be akin to encouraging them to persist in sin.
4. Maintaining Status: If Allah would not answer his supplication, the Prophet's (PBUH) prayer would be rejected by God, which would diminish his high status.
5. Equality of Acceptance: If this supplication were acceptable from the Prophet (PBUH), then a small amount of it would yield the same result as a large amount in terms of acceptance.

Therefore, the intended meaning of this statement is that when the people requested him to seek forgiveness for them, Allah prevented him from doing so. The mention of the number seventy is not intended to limit the prohibition, but rather it is like when someone asks you for a favor, and you say, "Even if you asked me seventy times, I would not grant it to you," without meaning that you would grant it if he asked seventy-one times.

What confirms this interpretation is Allah's statement: {That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger}. He clarified that the reason the Prophet's (PBUH) intercession would not benefit them, even if it reached seventy times, is their disbelief and transgression. This reason remains valid even if the number is exceeded. Thus, this reasoning proves that the intent was to remove any hope that the Prophet's (PBUH) intercession would benefit them while they persisted in disbelief.

This is further confirmed by His statement: {And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people}. This means their transgression prevents guidance. Therefore, what we have stated is correct.

Issue 5: The Significance of the Number Seventy

Later commentators on the Qur'an stated that seventy is a number representing the maximum or totality among the Arabs, as it encompasses all the numbers from one to ten (seven times ten). The number seven is considered noble because it is the count of the heavens, the earth, the seas, the regions, the stars, and the limbs (in some contexts).

Some said this number was specified here because it is narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) performed Takbir (saying Allahu Akbar) seventy times over Hamzah. It is as if the verse implies a comparison: {Even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times...} is juxtaposed with the verse about charity: {The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a grain that grows seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains} (Al-Baqarah: 261). The Prophet (PBUH) also said, "A good deed is multiplied tenfold up to seven hundred times." When Allah mentioned this number in the context of multiplying rewards for the Prophet (PBUH), it became a basis for this context (of prohibition/negation).

Verse: {فَرِحَ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ بِمَقْعَدِهِمْ خِلَافَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَكَرِهُوا أَن يُجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَقَالُوا لَا تَنفِرُوا فِي الْحَرِّ ۗ قُلْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرًّا لَّوْ كَانُوا يَفْقَهُونَ * فَلْيَضْحَكُوا قَلِيلًا وَلْيَبْكُوا كَثِيرًا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ}

(The ones left behind rejoiced in their staying behind the Messenger of Allah, and they disliked to strive (in the cause of Allah) with their wealth and their lives. And they said, "Do not go forth in the heat." Say, "The fire of Hell is more intense in heat." If only they understood. * So let them laugh a little and weep much as compensation for what they used to earn.)