ﱁ ﱂ ﱃ ﱄ ﱅ ﱆ ﱇ ﱈ ﱉ ﱊ ﱋ ﱌ ﱍ ﱎ ﱏ ﱐ ﱑ ﱒ ﱓ ﱔ ﱕ ﱖ ﱗ ﱘ ﱙ ﱚ ﱛ ﱜ ﱝ ﱞ ﱟ ﱠ
They will make excuses to you when you have returned to them. Say, "Make no excuse - never will we believe you. Allah has already informed us of your news. And Allah will observe your deeds, and [so will] His Messenger; then you will be taken back to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do."
Tafsir
Verse range: 9:93-94
[9:93] Innamā as-sabīlu ‘alā alladhīna yasta’dhinūna laka wa hum aghniyā’
The way (of blame/punishment) is only upon those who ask exemption from you while they are rich.
[9:94] Radiū bi an yakūnū ma‘a al-khawallafi fataba‘a Allāhu ‘alā qulūbihim fahum lā ya‘lamūn.
They are content to be with those who remain behind (from Jihad), and Allāh has set a seal upon their hearts, so they do not know.
Issue 1: The Meaning of As-Sabīl (The Way/Blame)
When Allāh stated in the previous verse, "There is no way (of blame) upon the doers of good" (ما على المحسنين من سبيل), some commentators understood this negation to be specific only to the matter of Jihad and fighting.
In this verse, Allāh states that the "way" (as-sabīl) is upon those who ask exemption (the hypocrites). This implies that the negation in the first verse was specific to Jihad, and the affirmation here is also specific to Jihad.
The meaning is: The path of accountability and blame is firmly established against these rich men who seek exemption from accompanying you (in battle). Their obligation to go forth to Jihad is incumbent, and they have absolutely no excuse for staying behind.
Addressing a Question:
Q: What is the significance of the word رضوا (They are content)?
A: It functions as a new clause, perhaps answering an implied question: "Why did they ask for exemption while they were rich?" The answer is: They were content (رضوا) with ignominy, lowliness, and being counted among those who stay behind (الخوالف).
The Seal on Their Hearts:
وطبع الله على قلوبهم (And Allāh has set a seal upon their hearts). The reason for their aversion to Jihad is that Allāh has sealed their hearts. Because of this seal, they cannot comprehend the benefits of Jihad, whether in this world or the next.
The Rejection of Excuses:
[9:95] Ya‘tadhirūna ilaykum idhā raja‘tum ilayhim qul lā ta‘tadhirū lan nu’mina lakum qad nabba’anā Allāhu min akhbārikum...
They will make excuses to you when you return to them. Say, "Make no excuses; we will never believe you. Allāh has already informed us of your news..."
The reason given for rejecting their excuses (لن نؤمن لكم) is that the goal of the one making an excuse is for it to be accepted. If one knows that the people being addressed already know he is lying, he must cease making excuses.
The reason for the lack of belief (قد نبأنا الله من أخباركم) is that Allāh informed His Messenger of the malice, deceit, and hypocrisy hidden in their inner selves. Therefore, it is impossible for the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to believe their excuses.
The Observation of Deeds:
[9:96] ...wa sayarā Allāhu ‘amalakum wa Rasūluhu...
"...and Allāh will see your deeds, and His Messenger will (see them)..."
They used to outwardly display love for the Messenger and the believers, showing compassion and a desire to support them when presenting their excuses. Allāh says: وسيرى الله عملكم (And Allāh will see your deeds)—will you remain steadfast upon the sincerity and purity you outwardly display, or not?
The Final Return:
[9:96] ...thumma turaddūna ilā ‘ālami al-ghaybi wa ash-shahādati...
"...then you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed..."
Addressing a Question:
Q: Since Allāh said, "Allāh will see your deeds," why did He not immediately follow it with, "then you will be returned to Him"? What is the benefit of adding the word ثم (then)?
A: Describing Allāh as the Knower of the Unseen and the Witnessed (عالم الغيب والشهادة) serves as a severe warning and strong admonition. It indicates that He is fully aware of their hidden malice, their hearts filled with lies and scheming, even if their outward actions appear otherwise.
[9:97] Sayaḥlifūna billāhi lakum idhā inqalabtum ilayhim lita‘raḍū ‘anhum fa a‘riḍū ‘anhum innahum rijsun wa ma’wāhum jahannamu jazā’an bimā kānū yaksibūn.
They will swear to Allāh to you when you return to them so that you may turn away from them. So turn away from them. Indeed, they are filth, and their refuge will be Hell, as a recompense for what they used to earn.
[9:98] Yaḥlifūna lakum litarḍaw ‘anhum fa in tarḍaw ‘anhum fa inna Allāha lā yarḍā ‘ani al-qawmi al-fāsiqīn.
They swear to you so that you may be pleased with them. But if you are pleased with them, then indeed Allāh is not pleased with the defiantly disobedient people.
