Tafsir of At-Tawbah 9:99

Surah At-Tawbah (9): 99

Translation and Exegesis (Based on Mafatih al-Ghayb)

After Allah (Exalted is He) clarified that among the Bedouins (A'rab) there are those who consider their spending in the cause of Allah as a loss (مغرماً), He then clarified that among them are also righteous, believing, striving individuals who consider their spending in the cause of Allah as a gain (مغنماً).

Allah (Exalted is He) described this group with two characteristics:

1. Belief in Allah and the Last Day: This serves to remind us that faith (Iman) is a prerequisite for all acts of obedience, including Jihad.
2. Considering their spending as means for drawing near to Allah and the prayers of the Messenger: Regarding this point, there are two discussions:

• Discussion 1 (Linguistics of Qurbat): Al-Zajjaj stated that there are three permissible ways to pronounce the word Qurbat (plural of Qurbah - means of drawing near): * With a dammah on the ra' (قُرُبَات). * With a sukūn on the ra' (قُرْبَات). * With a fatḥah on the ra' (قُرْبَات).

• Discussion 2 (Meaning of Qurbat and Ṣalawāt): The author of Al-Kashshāf stated that Qurbāt (means of drawing near) is the second object of the verb yattakhidhu (considers). The meaning is that what they spend is for the sake of attaining closeness to Allah and the prayers of the Messenger. This is because the Messenger used to supplicate for the benefactors with goodness and blessings, and sought forgiveness for them, as seen in the narration, "O Allah, send blessings upon the family of Abu Awfa," and as Allah stated, {And pray for them} (9:103). Since their spending is a cause for attaining closeness and the Messenger's prayers, it is said that they consider what they spend as Qurbāt and Ṣalawāt.

Allah (Exalted is He) then testifies to the validity of their belief: {Verily, it is a means of drawing near to them} (referring to the spending being a means of drawing near to Allah and receiving the Messenger's prayers).

This is a testimony from Allah (Exalted is He) to the sincerity of the believer's conviction that his spending results in drawing near [to Allah] and receiving prayers.

Allah strongly affirmed this testimony using:

1. The particle of attention: {Verily} (أَلَا).
2. The particle of confirmation: {Indeed} (إِنَّهَا).

He further increased the emphasis by saying: {Allah will admit them into His Mercy}. We have previously mentioned that the addition of the Sīn (سـ) [in سَيُدْخِلُهُمْ] necessitates greater emphasis.

Then He stated: {Indeed, Allah is Forgiving} for their past misdeeds, and {Merciful} to them by granting them success in performing these acts of obedience.

• Recitation Note: Nafi' recited {أَلَا إِنَّهَا قُرْبَةٌ} with a dammah on the ra' (قُرُبَةٌ), which is the original form, softened to a sukūn (as in كُتُب and رُسُل). The original form is the dammah, and the sukūn is a form of lightening (takhfīf).

{And the foremost, the first among the Emigrants (Muhājirūn) and the Helpers (Anṣār), and those who followed them in goodness—Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. And He has prepared for them Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.}