Tafsir of At-Tawbah 9:75

It is narrated that Tha‘labah ibn Hatib said: "O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah to grant me wealth." The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: "O Tha‘labah, a little for which you are grateful is better than a lot which you cannot handle."

He persisted, saying: "By the One who sent you with the truth, if Allah grants me wealth, I will surely give every rightful owner his due." So, the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed for him. He acquired sheep, and they multiplied like worms until Medina became too small for them. He moved to a valley and became cut off from the congregational prayers and the Friday prayer.

When the Prophet (ﷺ) asked about him, he was told: "His wealth has grown so much that no valley can contain it." The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Woe to Tha‘labah."

The Prophet (ﷺ) then sent two collectors to gather the zakat. People met them with their charity, but when they reached Tha‘labah and asked for it, showing him the Prophet’s letter detailing the obligatory dues, he said: "This is nothing but jizyah (tribute); this is the sister of jizyah. Go back until I consider my opinion."

When they returned, the Prophet (ﷺ) said—before they could even speak—"Woe to Tha‘labah," twice. Then this verse was revealed.

Tha‘labah came with the charity, but the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Allah has forbidden me from accepting it from you." He began putting dust on his head, and the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "This is your own doing; I commanded you, but you did not obey me."

The Prophet (ﷺ) passed away, and Tha‘labah brought it to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), who refused to accept it. He then brought it to ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) during his caliphate, who also refused. He died during the time of ‘Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him).

"We will surely give charity and be among the righteous" It is recited as lanasaddaqa and lanakunanna with a light nun in both. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "He means the Hajj."

"So He penalized them" According to al-Hasan and Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with them), the pronoun refers to "stinginess." Meaning: He caused them to inherit stinginess.

"Hypocrisy in their hearts" A firmly rooted hypocrisy, because it (the stinginess) was the cause and invitation to it. The apparent meaning is that the pronoun refers to Allah (Mighty and Majestic is He). The meaning is: He abandoned them to their own devices until they became hypocrites, and their hypocrisy became firmly rooted in their hearts, never to depart until they die, due to their breaking the promise they made to Allah regarding charity and righteousness, and their being liars. From this comes the saying: "Breaking a promise is one-third of hypocrisy."

It is also recited as yukadhdhibun (with a shaddah), and alam ta‘lamu (with a ta), as narrated from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).

"Do they not know that Allah knows their secret and their private conversations and that Allah is the Knower of the unseen?"