Tafsir of At-Tawbah 9:28

"O you who have believed..."

"The Najs (unclean):" This is a verbal noun (masdar), similar to saying najisa najasan (he was unclean) or qadhura qadhuran (he was filthy). Its meaning is "possessors of uncleanness," because they harbor shirk (polytheism), which is equivalent to filth, and because they do not purify themselves, perform ghusl, or avoid impurities; thus, impurity is inseparable from them. Alternatively, they are treated as if they are the impurity itself, as an exaggeration in describing them.

• Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): Their very persons are unclean, like dogs and swine.
• Al-Hasan: Whoever shakes hands with a polytheist should perform ablution.
• The Schools of Jurisprudence: The majority of scholars hold views contrary to these two opinions.

It is also recited as nijs (with a kasra on the nun and a sukun on the jim), assuming the omission of the described noun, as if to say: "The polytheists are merely an unclean species (jins) or an unclean type (darb)." It most often appears following the word rijs (filth), and it is a lighter form of najis, similar to kabd for kabad.

"So let them not approach the Sacred Mosque:" Meaning, let them not perform Hajj or Umrah, as they used to do during the Pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah).

"After this year of theirs:" Meaning, after the Hajj of this year, which is the ninth year of the Hijrah, when Abu Bakr was appointed to lead the pilgrimage. This is the school of Abu Hanifa and his companions. This is supported by the words of Ali (may Allah honor his face) when he proclaimed Bara'ah (the declaration of immunity): "Let no polytheist perform Hajj after this year of ours." According to them, they are not prohibited from entering the Sacred Precinct (Haram), the Sacred Mosque, or other mosques.

• Al-Shafi'i: They are prohibited specifically from the Sacred Mosque.
• Malik: They are prohibited from it and from all other mosques.
• Ata' (may Allah be pleased with him): The intent of "Sacred Mosque" is the entire Sacred Precinct (Haram), and Muslims must not allow them to enter it. The prohibition of the polytheists from approaching it refers to the prohibition of Muslims from enabling them to do so.
• Another view: The intent is that they be prevented from managing the Sacred Mosque or overseeing its affairs, and they should be removed from such roles.

"And if you fear poverty:" Meaning, poverty due to preventing the polytheists from Hajj and the loss of the benefits and earnings you gained from their arrival.

"Allah will enrich you from His bounty:" From His giving, or from His grace in another way. He sent down rain upon them in abundance, which increased their crops and provisions. The people of Tabala and Jurash embraced Islam and brought food and necessities to Mecca, which proved more beneficial to them than what they feared losing due to poverty.

• Ibn Abbas: Satan cast fear into their hearts, saying, "From where will you eat?" So Allah commanded them to fight the People of the Book and enriched them through the Jizya (tribute).
• Another view: Through the conquest of lands and the spoils of war.

It is also recited as ‘a'ilah, meaning the verbal noun (like ‘afiyah), or as a state (hal) of being in poverty.

"If He wills:" If wisdom dictates your enrichment and it is in the interest of your religion.

"Indeed, Allah is Knowing:" Of your conditions.

"Wise:" He does not give or withhold except with wisdom and correctness.

"Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizya willingly while they are humbled."