Surah Taubah >> Currently viewing Surah Taubah Ayat 43 (9:43)

Surah Taubah Ayat 43 in Arabic Text

عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَتَعۡلَمَ ٱلۡكَٰذِبِينَ,
‘Afal laahu ‘anka lima azinta lahum hattaa yatabai yana lakal lazeena sadaqoo wa ta’lamal kaazibeen

English Translation

Here you can read various translations of verse 43

Sahih International
May Allah pardon you, [O Muhammad]; why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.

Yusuf Ali
Allah give thee grace! why didst thou grant them until those who told the truth were seen by thee in a clear light, and thou hadst proved the liars?

Abul Ala Maududi
(O Prophet), may Allah forgive you! Why did you give them leave to stay behind before it became clear to you as to who were truthful and who were liars?

Muhsin Khan
May Allah forgive you (O Muhammad SAW). Why did you grant them leave (for remaining behind, you should have persisted as regards your order to them to proceed on Jihad), until those who told the truth were seen by you in a clear light, and you had known the liars?

Pickthall
Allah forgive thee (O Muhammad)! Wherefor didst thou grant them leave ere those who told the truth were manifest to thee and thou didst know the liars?

Dr. Ghali
Allah be clement towards you! (i.e., the prophet) Why did you give them permission, (i.e., permission to be excused form fighting) till it was evident to you the ones of them who (strive) sincerely, and you know the liars?.

Abdel Haleem
God forgive you [Prophet]! Why did you give them permission to stay at home before it had become clear to you which of them spoke the truth and which were liars?

Muhammad Junagarhi
اللہ تجھے معاف فرما دے، تو نے انہیں کیوں اجازت دے دی؟ بغیر اس کے کہ تیرے سامنے سچے لوگ کھل جائیں اور تو جھوٹے لوگوں کو بھی جان لے

Quran 9 Verse 43 Explanation

For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Taubah ayat 43, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.

Ala-Maududi

(9:43) (O Prophet), may Allah forgive you! Why did you give them leave to stay behind before it became clear to you as to who were truthful and who were liars?[45]


45. Allah did not approve of the exemption which the Prophet (peace be upon him) had granted to the hypocrites who had put forward lame excuses. Though he knew it well that they were inventing false excuses, he gave them leave to stay behind because of his inherent kindness. But Allah warned him that such a leniency was not well placed as he gave them an opportunity of hiding their hypocrisy. Had they remained behind without getting an exemption, the false profession of their faith would have been exposed.

Ibn-Kathir

43. May Allah forgive you. Why did you grant them leave, until those who told the truth were manifest to you, and you had known the liars 44. Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, would not ask your leave to be exempted from fighting with their properties and their lives; and Allah is the All-Knower of those who have Taqwa. 45. It is only those who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts are in doubt that ask your leave. So in their doubts they waver.


Moderately criticizing the Prophet for allowing the Hypocrites to stay behind

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Awn said, “Have you heard criticism softer than this, starting with forgiveness before criticism,

﴿عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ﴾

(May Allah forgive you. Why did you grant them leave…)” Muwarriq Al-`Ijli and others said similarly. Qatadah said, “Allah criticized him as you read here, then later revealed to him the permission to allow them to lag behind if he wants, in Surat An-Nur,

﴿فَإِذَا اسْتَـْذَنُوكَ لِبَعْضِ شَأْنِهِمْ فَأْذَن لِّمَن شِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ﴾

(So if they ask your permission for some affairs of theirs, give permission to whom you will of them) ﴿24:62﴾.” `Ata’ Al-Khurasani said similarly. Mujahid said, “This Ayah was revealed about some people who said, `Ask permission from the Messenger of Allah ﴿to stay behind﴾, and whether he agrees, or disagrees, remain behind!”’ Allah said,

﴿حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ﴾

(…until those who told the truth were manifest to you), in reference to valid excuses,

﴿وَتَعْلَمَ الْكَـذِبِينَ﴾

(and you had known the liars) Allah says, `Why did you not refuse to give them permission to remain behind when they asked you, so that you know those who truly obey you and the liars, who were intent on remaining behind even if you do not give them permission to do so, Allah asserts that none who believe in Allah and His Messenger seek his permission to remain behind from fighting,

﴿لاَ يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ﴾

(would not ask your leave), to stay behind from Jihad,

﴿الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ أَن يُجَـهِدُواْ بِأَمْوَلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ﴾

(Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, to be exempted from fighting with their properties and their lives.) because they consider Jihad an act of worship. This is why when Allah called them to perform Jihad, they obeyed and hasten to act in His obedience,

﴿وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَإِنَّمَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ﴾

(and Allah is the All-Knower of those who have Taqwa. Those who ask your leave), to remain behind, without a valid excuse,

﴿الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ﴾

(those who believe not in Allah and the Last Day), they do not hope for Allah’s reward in the Hereafter for their good actions,

﴿وَارْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ﴾

(and whose hearts are in doubt), about the validity of what you brought them,

﴿فَهُمْ فِى رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ﴾

(so in their doubts they waver.) They waver in doubt, taking one step forward and one step back. They do not have a firm stance in anything, for they are unsure and destroyed, neither belonging to these nor to those. Verily, those whom Allah misguides, will never find a way for themselves to guidance.

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surah taubah ayat 43
surah taubah ayat 44
surah taubah ayat 45
surah taubah ayat 46
surah taubah ayat 47

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