Surah Bara`ah is very significant in different aspects. Out of 114 Surahs in the Quran in 1 Surah the Bismillah at the beginning of the Surah (1:1) and in another Surah the Bismillah inside the Surah (27:30) are numbered verses, and in 112 Surahs the Bismillah are unnumbered verses while the Bismillah is missing in Surah Bara`ah at the beginning, even there is contradiction about its name, which is confirmed to be Bara`ah not al-Tawbah, and this Surah has been tempered by including 2 verses at the end and the Surah consists of 127 verses not of 129 verses, which has also been confirmed. However, the following table gives a fact that in Surah al-Faatihah the Bismillah is a first verse while the extra Bismillah is a numbered verse inside the Surah al-Naml being total number of Bismillah equal to the total number of Surahs in the Quran [2 + 112 = 114 = 19×6], a proof of mathematical coding of Quran:
Note: The sum of the total of surah and verse numbers of 2 numbered Bismillah (1:1 and 27:30) in the Quran and the total no of unnumbered Bismillah (112) in the Quran is multiple of 19 being a Quran’s code is a physical proof that Bismillah is omitted at the beginning of the surah Bara`ah according to God’s will and the first verse of surah al-Faatihah is Bismillah in which there should not be any doubt about it even some of us may differ about it.
Here is the English translation of surah Bara`ah (Surah 9) with sub titles reflecting to its Arabic text and grammar to better understand the message in the surah.
Ultimatum to the idol worshippers on a great day of Hajj
- An ultimatum from God and His messenger to those among the partner-makers whom you have made a treaty with (9:1). So travel in the land for four months and know that you have no escape from God, and that God has been the Disgracer of the disbelievers (9:2). And an announcement from God and His messenger to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage that God has been free of any obligation to the partner-makers, and so has been His messenger. So, if you have repented, then it has been better for you; and if you have turned away, then know that you have no escape from God. And give warning of a painful retribution to those who have disbelieved (9:3). Except for those among the partner-makers whom you have made a treaty with, then they have not failed you in anything, nor have they supported anyone against you; so fulfill to them their treaty until their term. Indeed, God loves the righteous (9:4).
Note: There has been an announcement on a day of Hajj that the idol worshippers can travel four months freely if they have made a treaty with the believers, while it is best for them if they have repented but if they turned away, they cannot escape from God.
Fighting when four months have passed and expired the treaty
- Then when the sacred months have passed, then kill the partner-makers wherever you have found them, and capture them, and besiege them, and sit in ambush for them at every place of ambush. Then if they have repented and have established the salat prayers and have given the zakat, then clear their way. Indeed, God is Forgiving, Merciful (9:5). And if any of the partner-makers has sought your protection, then grant him protection until he hears the word of God, then escort him to his place of security. That has been because they are a people who do not know (9:6). How can there be for the partner-makers a treaty with God and His messenger, except for those whom you have made a treaty with at the Sacred Masjid? So as long as they have been straight with you, be straight with them. Indeed, God loves the righteous (9:7).
Note: The believers shall fight against the idol worshippers when the four months have passed and expired the treaty, and will do what they can do to establish a religion for God but if they have repented and have observed the salat prayers, they should be let them go. However, if they have made any treaty with the idol worshippers at the Sacred Masjid will fulfill it as long as they fulfill it as God loves the righteous.
Those who come over disregarding kinship or covenant are disobedient
- How would it be, while if they come over you not regarding of kinship with you, nor any covenant? They satisfy you with their mouths, while it refuses their hearts, and most of them are disobedient (9:8).They have exchanged of God’s revelations for a little price, so they have hindered from His path. Indeed, it has been evil for them what they have committed to do (9:9). They do not regard kinship towards any believer, nor any covenant; and those – they are the transgressors (9:10). But if they have repented and have established the salat prayer and have given the zakat, then they are your brethren in the religion. And We detail the revelations for a people who know (9:11).
Note: Those who come over the believers disregarding kinship or covenant trying to please with their mouths as well as exchange God’s revelations with a little price and hinder from His path are the transgressors while if they establish salat prayer and pay zakat, they are brothers in the religion.
The believers should only fear God
- And if they have broken their oaths after their treaty, and have defamed about your religion, then you shall fight leaders of the disbelief. Indeed, they have no oaths for them that they may refrain (9:12). Would you not fight a people who have broken their oaths and have determined to drive out the messenger, and they have initiated the attack against you first? Do you fear them? While God is more worthy that you fear Him, if you have been believers (9:13). Fight them; God will punish them by your hands and will disgrace them, and will give you victory over them, and will heal the breasts of a believing people (9:14). And He will remove anger from their hearts. And God accepts repentance of whomever He wills. And God is Knower, Wise (9:15).
Note: Those who are believers will fight those who have broken their oaths and have defamed their religion and have determined to drive out the prophet as God wants to punish them by the hands of the believers while He will give victory over them and will heal the breasts of a people who are believers and will remove anger in their hearts.
Idol worshipers are witnesses of their own disbelief
- Or have you thought that you would be left, while God has not yet made evident those who have strived among you, and they have taken none other than God, nor His messenger, nor the believers as intimates? And God is Cognizant of what you do (9:16). It has not been for the partner-makers that they maintain the masjids of God, while being witnesses against themselves of disbelief. Those—their deeds have been worthless, and in the Fire they will be dwellers (9:17). He only maintains the masjids of God whoever has believed in God and the Last Day, and has established the salat prayer, and has given the zakat, and has feared none except God. Then it has been that those will be among the guided ones (9:18).
Note: God has made it evident that those who are striving in His cause among the people taking Him as God being intimates with His messenger and the believers. Even though the idol worshippers are maintaining God’s Masjid but have made worthless of their deeds because of their disbelief will be abiding in the Fire forever. On the other hand, those who are maintaining God’s masjids believing in God and Last Day, establishing salat prayers, and giving zakah, do not fear except God would be the guided ones.
With God there is a great reward
- Have you made the providing of water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of the Sacred Masjid like whoever has believed in God and the Last Day and has strived in the path of God? They do not equal with God, and God does not guide the wrongdoing people (9:19). Those who have believed and have emigrated and have strived in the path of God with their wealth and their lives are greater in rank with God, and those—they are the successful ones (9:20). Their Lord gives them good news of mercy from Him and acceptance, and gardens for them—in them is everlasting bliss (9:21). Dwellers in them forever. Indeed, God—with Him is a great reward (9:22).
Note: The believers who have only done the righteous deeds as specified by God will receive His mercy and acceptance to enter in the Paradise as a great reward from Him.
The people with whom the believers should not make allies
- O you who have believed, do not take your fathers and your brothers as allies if they have preferred disbelief over belief. And whoever takes them as allies among you, then those—they are the wrongdoers (9:23). Say, “If your fathers, and your sons, and your brothers, and your spouses, and your relatives, and wealth you have earned, and commerce you fear its decline, and homes you delight in are more beloved to you than God, and His messenger, and striving in His path, then wait until God brings His command.” And God does not guide the disobedient people (9:24).
Note: The believers must prefer the belief over the disbelief, and would not make allies with the wrongdoing and disobedient people even they are their fathers, brothers, sons, spouses and relatives.
Victory comes from God not from a great number of forces
- Certainly, God has helped you in many battlefields—and on the Day of Hunayn, when your great number has pleased you, but it did not avail you of anything; and the earth has straitened for you despite its vastness, then you have turned back fleeing (9:25). Then God has sent down His tranquility upon His messenger and upon the believers. And He has sent down forces you did not see, while He has punished those who have disbelieved, and that is the recompense of the disbelievers (9:26). Then God accepts repentance after that for whomever He wills, and God is Forgiving, Merciful (9:27).
Note: When the believers fought against the disbelievers being pleased with a great number could not bring victory for them but the victory came for them from God when He sent invisible soldiers to fight with them along with sending tranquility upon His messenger and the believers.
Preventing the idol worshippers to enter the Sacred Masjid
- O you who have believed; indeed, the partner-makers are impure, so let them not come near the Sacred Masjid after this year of them. And if you have feared poverty, then God will enrich you from His bounty, if He wills. Indeed, God is Knower, Wise (9:28). Fight those who do not believe in God, nor in the Last Day, nor do they forbid what God and His messenger have forbidden, nor do they acknowledge the religion of truth from those who have been given the scripture, until they pay the tax from willingness, while they are subdued (9:29).
Note: The believers will fight the idol worshippers to prevent them to enter the Sacred Masjid being impure and also those who do not believe in God, and Last Day, and do not make unlawful what God has made unlawful, and also those who do not acknowledge a religion of the truth from the people of scripture who do not pay taxes.
Association of partners with God is to extinguish His light by mouth
- And the Jews have said, “Ezra is a son of God,” and the Christians have said, “The Messiah is a son of God!” That is their saying with their mouths. They imitate the saying of those who have disbelieved before. God has destroyed them. How are they deluded! (9:30)? They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords other than God, and the Messiah, son of Mary, while they have not been commanded except to worship One God. There is no god except He. Glory is to Him above of what they associate (9:31). They want to extinguish the light of God with their mouths, while God refuses except that He perfects His light, even if the disbelievers dislike (9:32). He is the One who has sent His messenger with the guidance and a religion of the truth that He makes it prevail over all religion, even if the partner-makers have disliked it (9:33).
Note: Extinguishment of God’s light by associating partners with Him and taking of the religious leaders and clergymen as lords, who take people’s money with the falsehood and hinder from God’s path making them stingy in spending from their wealth are horrendous crimes, which can be overcome if we would practice religion following a guidance and a religion of the truth God has sent down with His messenger.
Punishment for consuming people’s money and hoarding of gold and silver
- O you who have believed; indeed, many of the rabbis and the monks surely consume the wealth of the people with falsehood and they hinder from the path of God. And those who hoard gold and silver, while they do not spend them in the path of God; so give them news of a painful punishment (9:34). A Day heats upon it in the fire of Hell, and then brands with it their foreheads, and their flanks, and their backs: “This is what you had hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you had been hoarding.” (9:35).
Note: God has warned us about consuming people’s money illicitly and hoarding of wealth instead of spending it in His path, and has given an example of punishment with the hoarded gold and silver, which will be used to brand foreheads, sides and backs of those who have hoarded them heating in the fire of Hell.
Changing of sacred months is a sign of disbelief
- Indeed, the number of months with God is twelve months in God’s ordinance, a day He had created the heavens and the earth. Among them four are sacred. That is the established religion; so do not wrong yourselves in them. But fight the partner-makers all together as they fight you, and know that God is with the righteous (9:36). Indeed, the postponing is an increase in disbelief; is led astray by it those who have disbelieved. They make it lawful one year and make it unlawful another year to adjust a number which God has made unlawful, so making lawful what God has made unlawful. The evil of their deeds has been made fair-seeming to them, and God does not guide the disbelieving people (9:37).
Note: Fighting is prohibited in four sacred months unless the disbelievers attack the believers while changing of sacred months is disbelieving because of what God has made unlawful making it lawful. It is unfortunate to mention that the so called Muslim community has corrupted the sacred months changing them with the regular months from Zul-Hijjah, Muharram, Rabi I and Rabi II (12th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd) to Rajab, Zul-Qi’dah, Zul-Hijjah, and Muharram (7th, 11th, 12th, 1st months), while God has decreed Hajj during the sacred months making fighting a sacrilege in them.
Commandment for the believers to fight in the God’s path
- O you who have believed, what is the matter for you when it has been said to you, ‘Go forth in God’s path,’ you have clung to the ground? Have you been pleased with the life of the world rather than the Hereafter? But what is the enjoyment of the life of the world in the Hereafter except a little (9:38). If you do not go forth, He will punish you a painful punishment, and will replace you with a people other than yourselves, and you cannot harm Him in anything. And God has power over everything (9:39. If you do not help him, then certainly God has helped him. When those who had disbelieved drove him out, being second of two. When they both were in the cave, when he says to his companion, “Do not grieve; indeed, God is with us.” Then God had sent down His tranquility upon him, and had supported him with forces you did not see, and made the word of those who had disbelieved the lowest, while God’s word — it is the highest. And God is Almighty, Wise (9:40).
Note: God has commanded the believers to fight against the disbelievers to help the prophet, even if they do not help him He will him what He has done when he has been in the cave with his companion. While we know that He is our Protector, the best Protector and the best Helper.
Those who make excuses to participate in fighting are disbelievers
- Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in God’s path. That is better for you, if you had been knowing (9:41). If it had been a gain near and a journey easy, surely they would have followed you, but the distance became long for them. And they will swear by God: ‘If we had been able, surely we would have come forth with you.’ They destroy themselves, while God knows that indeed they are surely liars (9:42). God has pardoned you: why have you granted leave for them until it is evident to you those who have been truthful and you know the liars (9:43). Do not ask your permission those who believe in God and the Last Day that they strive with their wealth and their lives. And God is Knower of the righteous (9:44). Only ask your permission those who do not believe in God and the Last Day and their hearts have doubted. So they in their doubt – they waver (9:45). And if they had wished the going forth, surely they would have prepared for it a preparation. But God has disliked their sending forth, so He has made them lag behind, and it has been said, “Sit with the sedentary.” (9:46). If they had gone forth among you, they would not have increased you except in confusion, and surely they would have hurried in your midst seeking for you dissension. And among you are listening ones to them, and God is Knower of the wrongdoers (9:47). Certainly, they had sought the dissension before and had turned upside down the matters for you until the truth came and God’s command became evident, while they are disliking ones (9:48). And among them whoever says, “Give me permission, and do not put me to a test.” Of course, in the test they have fallen; indeed, Hell is surely surrounding of the disbelievers (9:49).
Note: God has commanded the believers to fight against the disbelievers in His path with whatever they have but it exposes the liars and the truthful ones from the believers for their dissension.
The disbelievers want to see the prophet in distress
- If befalls you a good, it distresses them, while if befalls you an adversity, they say, “We have taken our matter before,” and they turn away while they are rejoicing ones (9:50). Say, “Will not befall us except what God has decreed for us; He is our Protector, and upon God let put trust the believers.”(9:51). Say, “Do you wait for us except for one of the two best, while we wait for you that God will afflict you with a punishment from near Him, or by our hands? So, wait; indeed, we are with you waiting ones.”(9:52).
Note: The disbelievers wish to see the prophet to be a loser but nothing happens to us except what God wills being our Protector while He has punished them by the hands of the believers who fight against them until victory or to be martyrs.
Good deeds from the disobedient are not acceptable to God
- Say, “Spend in willingness or unwillingness, it will not be accepted from you; indeed, you had been a people who are disobedient ones.” (9:53). And what has prevented them that their spendings are not accepted from them except that they have disbelieved in God and in His messenger, and they do not come to the prayer except while they are lazy ones, nor do they spend except while they are unwilling ones.”(9:54). So let not impress you their wealth, nor their children. God only intends to punish them with it in the life of the world, and that depart their souls while they are disbelieving ones 9:55).
Note: Good deeds from those who do not believe in God and His messenger are not accepted by God and what has been given to them in the earth to punish them with it while their souls depart being the disbelievers. Thus, those of us who are doing good deeds should verify to confirm that their deeds are being accepted by God.
Recipients of charities
- And they swear by God that they are surely from you, while they are not from you; but they are a people who fear (9:56). If they find a refuge, or caves, or a place to enter, surely they would have turned to it, while they run wildly (9:57). And among them whoever criticizes you about the charities, then if they have been given from it, they have been pleased, but if they have not been given from it, immediately they are displeased (9:58). And if they had been satisfied with what God has given them and His messenger, and they had said, ‘Our sufficiency is God; God will give us from His bounty and His messenger. Indeed, we are turning hopes to God (9:59). The charities are only for the poor, and the needy, and the collectors over it, and those whose hearts are brought together, and in the necks, and for the debtors, and in God’s path, and for the wayfarer: an ordinance from God. And God is Knower, Wise (9:60).
Note: There were those who had pretended that they have been with the messenger and among them there were those who criticize about the charities; when they have given them from the charities they were pleased but when they have not been given them from the charities they were displeased while God has specified the recipients of the charities – the poor, the needy, the collectors of them, those who are inclined to their hearts, in freeing of the slaves, the debtors, the travelling alien and being in God’s path.
The believers should please God
- And among them are those who hurt the Prophet, and they say, “He is an ear.” Say, “An ear of good for you. He believes in God and believes the believers, and a mercy for those who have believed among you.” And those who hurt the messenger of God, for them there is a painful punishment (9:61). TThey swear by God to you to please you, while God and His messenger are more worthy that they please Him, if they had been believers
(9:62). Do they not know that whoever opposes God and His messenger, then for him is a fire of Hell, being a dweller in it? That is the great humiliation (9:63).
Note: The believers make efforts that they please God and His messenger not the other believers.
The hypocrites and the disbelievers will suffer enduring punishment
- The hypocrites fear that a surah may be revealed about them to inform them of what is in their hearts. Say, “Mock; indeed, God will bring forth what you fear.” (9:64). And if you have asked them, they will surely say, “We had only been talking and playing.” Say, “Is it with God, His verses, and His messenger that you had been mocking?” (9:65). Make no excuse; certainly, you have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon a party among you, We will punish a party because of that they had been criminals (9:66). The hypocrite men and the hypocrite women – each of them is from the other; they enjoin the evil and forbid the right, and they withhold their hands. They have forgotten God, so He has forgotten them. Indeed, the hypocrites – they are the disobedient (9:67). God has promised the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women, and the disbelievers, the fire of Hell, as dwellers in it forever. It is their sufficiency, and God has cursed them, and for them is an enduring punishment (9:68).
Note: The hypocrites mock regarding a revelation of a surah about them what is in their hearts. They do not understand that they are mocking about God and His revelations and His messenger. God has promised the hypocrites men and the hypocrites women and the disbelievers Hell wherein they will be abiding forever.
The hypocrites and disbelievers make their deeds worthless
- Like those who from before yourselves: they had been mightier than you in strength and more abundant in wealth and children. So they have enjoyed of their portion, so you have enjoyed of your portion like had enjoyed those from before yourselves of their portion, and you have indulged like that which they have indulged. Those – has become worthless their deeds in the world and the Hereafter, and those – they are the losers (9:69). Has there not come to them the news of those from before themselves: the people of Noah, and Aad, and Thamud, and the people of Abraham, and the companions of Madyan, and the overturned towns? There had come to them their messengers with the clear proofs. Then it had not been God that He would wrong them, but they had been doing wrong to themselves (9:70).
Note: The hypocrites and the disbelievers may reflect to the destruction of past communities that they do not make their deeds worthless to suffer in the world as well as in the Hereafter while God had not done anything wrong to them but they had done wrong to themselves.
How can succeed the believing men and women
- And the believing men and the believing women – each of them are allies of the other; they enjoin the right and forbid the evil, and they establish the salat prayer and give the zakat, and they obey God and His messenger. Those – God will have mercy on them; indeed, God is Almighty, Wise (9:71). God has promised the believing men and the believing women gardens flowing rivers their beneath, as dwellers therein forever, and the blessed dwellings in gardens of eternity; while a pleasure from God is greater. That – it is the greatest success (9:72).
Note: The believing men and women can admit to the Paradise being allies to each other, and enjoining to the right and forbidding from the wrong, and observing salat prayer and giving zakah, while the salat prayer is the prime source of nourishing our souls and what we ask to our Lord in the prayer is to guide us to the straight path through praising and glorifying Him.
Dealing with hypocrites and disbelievers when their destination is Hell
- O you Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern on them. And their abode is Hell, and it has been miserable as a destination (9:73). They swear by God that they have not said, and certainly they have said a word of disbelief, and they have disbelieved after their submission, and they have planned what they could not attain. And they had not resented except that God had enriched them and His messenger from His bounty. So if they repent, it would be better for them; and if they turn away, God will punish them with a painful punishment in the world and the Hereafter. And for them in the earth there is no protector nor a helper (9:74). And among them is whoever has pledged to God: “If He has given us from His bounty, surely we will definitely give charity and surely we will definitely be among the righteous.”(9:75). Then when He had given them from His bounty, they became stingy with it, and they turned away while they were averse ones (9:76). So He requited them with hypocrisy in their hearts until a day they will meet Him, because of that they broke with God what they had promised Him, and because they had been doing wrong (9:77). So He requited them with hypocrisy in their hearts until a day they will meet Him, because of that they broke with God what they had promised Him, and because they had been lying (9:78). Those who criticize the voluntary givers among the believers concerning the charities, and those who do not find except their effort, so they ridicule them; God has ridiculed them, and for them is a painful punishment (9:79).
Note: Prophet and the believers were asked to be stern on the hypocrites and disbelievers as their destination is Hell for what they have said is disbelief but they do not recognize it and what they have planned cannot attain. In addition, what they have promised to God do not fulfill it and criticize those who give much to the charities and those who cannot give enough to the charities.
It has been decreed to believe in God and His messenger
- Ask forgiveness for them, or do not ask forgiveness for them; if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, then God will never forgive them. That is because of that they have disbelieved in God and His messenger, and God does not guide the disobedient people (9:80).
Note: Anyone whoever expects God’s forgiveness must believe in God and His message given to the prophet for which he is a messenger while He does not guide the disobedient people.
The hypocrites and disbelievers rejoice their staying behind
- There has rejoiced those being left behind in their staying behind contrary to the messenger of God, and they have disliked to strive with their wealth and their lives in God’s path, while they said, ‘Do not go forth in the heat.’ Say, ‘The fire of Hell is more intense in heat,’ if they had been understanding (9:81). So, let them laugh a little, and let them cry much; a recompense because of what they had been earning (9:82). So if God has returned you to a group of them, and they ask you permission for going out, then say, “You will never ever go out with me, and you will never fight with me against an enemy. Indeed, you have been satisfied with the sitting the first time, so sit with those who remain behind.” (9:83). And do not pray ever over any of them who has died, nor do you stand by his grave. Indeed, they have disbelieved in God and His messenger, and they have died while they were disobedient ones(9:84). And let not impress you their wealth and their children; God only intends that He punish them with it in the world, and that depart their souls while they are disbelievers (9:85). And when has been sent down a surah that, ‘Believe in God and strive with His messenger,’ have asked your permission the possessors of affluence among them, and they said, “Leave us—we will be with those who stay home.” (9:86). They have been satisfied with that they would be with those who remain behind, and it has been sealed upon their hearts, so they do not understand (9:87).
Note: The hypocrites and disbelievers had disliked to strive in the cause of God with their wealth and lives staying behind and had been satisfied with sitting of those who were staying behind. The prophet and the believers will not pray the funeral prayer for them nor do they stand by their graves while they have died as disbelievers being disobedient to God and His messenger.
Paradise is for those who have believed and strived for God with their wealth and lives
- But the messenger and those who have believed with him, have strived with their wealth and their lives; and those – for them are the good things, and those – they are the successful ones (9:88). God has prepared for them gardens flowing rivers their beneath, as dwellers therein; that is the great success (9:89).
Note: The prophet and those who have believed with him, and have strived with their wealth and lives in God’s path are the successful ones, who will be in gardens abiding therein forever.
Among Arabs who were worse in disbelief and hypocrisy
- And there has come the excuse-makers among the desert Arabs that it be permitted for them, and has sat those who had lied to God and His messenger. There will strike those who had disbelieved among them a painful punishment (9:90). There has not been any blame upon the weak, nor upon the sick, nor upon those who do not find what they spend, when they have been sincere to God and His messenger. There is not against the good-doers any way; and God is Forgiving, Merciful (9:91). Nor is there blame upon those who when they have come to you that you might provide them with mounts you said I do not find that which I can carry you upon. They had turned back while their eyes were overflowing with tears out of sorrow that they could not find what to spend (9:92). The blame is only upon those who ask your permission while they are rich. They have been satisfied to be with those who stay behind, and God has sealed their hearts so they do not know (9:93). They make excuses to you when you have returned to them. Say, “Do not make excuses; we will never believe you. Certainly, God has informed us of your news.” And God will see your deeds, and so will His messenger. Then you will be brought back to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you had been doing (9:94). They will swear by God to you when you had returned to them from war that you may turn away from them. So turn away from them; indeed, they are an impurity, and their refuge is Hell as a recompense for what they had been earning (9:95). They swear to you that you may be pleased with them; even if you have been pleased with them, then indeed, God has not been pleased with the defiantly disobedient people (9:96). The Arabs are worse in disbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely not to know the limits of what God has sent down to His messenger. And God is Knower, Wise.(9:97). And among the Arabs is whoever considers what he spends as a loss and has awaited misfortunes for you. Upon them has been the misfortune of evil. And God is Hearer, Knower (9:98).
Note: The Arabs made excuses to get permission from the prophet to sit with those who had lied to God and His messenger while the believers did not believe them as they know from God that they are liars but God knows that who are not to be blamed for staying behind. They may swear when the believers have returned from the war to satisfy them while the believers may be satisfied but God is not satisfied with them as He knows they are worse in disbelief as well as hypocrisy and consider spending is a loss, and they await misfortune for the prophet and the believers.
Among Arabs who were righteous believers in God and the Last Day
- And among the Arabs is whoever believes in God and the Last Day and has taken what he spends to be a means of nearness to God and supporting of the messenger. No doubt! Indeed, it has been a means of nearness for them. God will admit them into His mercy. Indeed, God is Forgiving, Merciful (9:99). And the foremost, the first among the emigrants and the supporters, and those who have followed them in righteousness, God has been pleased with them, and they have been pleased with Him. And He has prepared for them gardens, flowing rivers their beneath, as dwellers therein forever. That is the great success (9:100).
Note: Whoever among the Arabs has believed in God and the Last Day, and has considered whatever they have spent is a means of nearness with God and providing support to the messenger will admit to His mercy. Thus, God is pleased with the emigrant and the supporters, and those who have followed them in righteousness, has prepared for them gardens, flowing the rivers of their underneath to abide therein forever.
Believers surrounded by hypocrites from the Arabs and the people of Madinah
- And among whoever is around you of the Arabs are hypocrites, and from the people of the city. They have been persistent on hypocrisy; you do not know them, We know them. We will punish them twice, then they will be returned to a great punishment (9:101). And others who have confessed their sins; they have mixed a righteous deed and another that is evil. It has been hoped that God will turn to them; indeed, God is Forgiving, Merciful (9:102). Take a charity from their wealth to purify them and to strengthen them by it, and you shall support them. Indeed, your support is a reassurance for them, while God is Hearer, Knower (9:103). Do they not know that God is He who accepts repentance from His servants and takes charities, and that God, He is the Acceptor of repentance, the Merciful? (9:104). Say, “Do, then God will see your deed, and His messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, then He will inform you of what you had been doing.” (9:105). And others have been deferred for God’s decision; whether He will punish them, or He will turn to them. And God is Knower, Wise (9:106).
Note: Hypocrites will be punished twice before the great punishment while others who have corrupted their righteous deeds with the evil deeds, God may turn to them, and prophet was asked to take charity from them to purify and strengthen them, and to advise them for reassurance of their hearts, and God will inform them of what they have done to accomplish when they will be brought back to Him.
The believers would not pray except in God’s masjids
- And those who have taken a mosque for causing harm and disbelief, and division among the believers, and as a station for whoever has warred against God and His messenger before; while surely, they swear, “We have not intended except good,” and God bears witness that indeed, they are surely liars (9:107). Do not ever pray in it. Surely, a mosque which has been founded on righteousness from the first day is more worthy that you pray in it. In it are men who love that they will purify themselves, and God loves the purified ones (9:108). Is then whoever has founded his building on righteousness from God and pleasure better, or whoever has founded his building on an edge of a cliff about to collapse so that it has collapsed with him into the fire of Hell? And God does not guide the wrongdoing people (9:109). Their building which they have built will not cease to be a source of doubt in their hearts, unless their hearts have been cut into pieces. And God is Knower, Wise (9:110).
Note: God has forbidden the believers not to pray in the masjids which are not God’s masjids, and His masjids are those which have been founded on the righteousness from the first day is more worthy that they will pray in them.
God has purchased wealth and lives of believers with the Paradise
- Indeed, God has purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth with that Paradise has been for them. They fight in the path of God, so they kill and they are killed. A true promise from Him in the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Quran. And whoever is more faithful to his promise than God? So rejoice in your business which you have dealt in it. And that, it has been the great success (9:111). The repenters, the worshipers, the praisers, the wanderers, the bowers, the prostrators, the enjoiners of the right and the forbidders of the wrong, and the keepers of the limits of God—and give good news to the believers (9:112).
Note: God has informed the true believers of their reward, which has been mentioned in the Torah, and the Gospel and the Quran, while He has given detailed criteria of the believers that none of them miss such great reward, the Paradise.
Abraham had made mistake asking forgiveness for his father
- It has not been for the prophet and those who have believed that they would ask forgiveness for the partner-makers, even if they have been their nearest kins, after what has become clear to them that they are dwellers of the Hellfire (9:113). And it has not been for Abraham asking forgiveness for his father except because of a promise he had promised it to him. Then when it had become clear to him that he is an enemy to God, he had disassociated from him. Indeed, Abraham was surely compassionate, forbearing (9:114).
Note: The prophet and the believers would not ask forgiveness for the idol worshipers even they are their kins as the idol worshipers are enemy of God, and Abraham made mistake when he had asked forgiveness for his father, who was an enemy of God being an idol worshiper.
God is Protector of believers and His prophet
- And it has not been for God that He lets go astray a people, after when He had guided them, until He makes clear to them what they fear. Indeed, God is Knower of everything (9:115). Indeed, God, to Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He gives life and causes death. And there has not been for you, other than God, any protector nor any helper (9:116). That certainly, God has turned with mercy upon the prophet, and the emigrants and the supporters who have followed him at the time of difficulty, after what had been about to deviate the hearts of a party of them, then He had turned with mercy upon them. Indeed, He is upon them kind, Merciful (9:117). And upon the three of those who had been left behind—until when the earth had straitened for them despite its vastness, and their souls had straitened for them, and they were certain that there is no refuge from God except to Him—then He had turned to them that they may repent. Indeed, God, He is the Acceptor of repentance, the Merciful (9:118). O you who have believed, you shall fear God, and you shall be with the truthful ones (9:119).
Note: God has turned to the prophet, and emigrants and the helpers, who have followed the prophet at the difficult time. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and He gives life and causes death. However, those who had straitened for them their souls, and if they have repented, He has turned to them as He is Acceptor of repentance as well as Merciful.
Fighting has been decreed for the people of Madinah and Arabs around it
- t has not been for the people of the city and whoever is around them of the Arabs that they remain behind a messenger of God, nor that they prefer their lives to his life. That is because neither thirst nor fatigue nor hunger afflicts them in the path of God, nor do they take any step that angers the disbelievers, nor do they inflict any infliction upon an enemy, except that it has been decreed for them because of it a righteous deed. Indeed, God does not fail to reward the good-doers (9:120). And they do not spend any spending lesser nor greater, nor do they cross a valley, except that it has been decreed for them that God may reward them best for what they had been doing (9:121).
Note: Those who had believed should not remain behind after God’s messenger nor should they prefer their lives to his life, and if they do what has been decreed for them to do, God will reward them for what they have done to accomplish.
Commandment for the believers to update knowledge in the religion
- And it has not been for the believers that they go forth all together; so why has there not gone forth a company from every group among them that they obtain understanding in the religion and that they warn their people when they have returned to them, so that they be aware (9:122).
Note: Quran when being revealed is a source of religious knowledge and all believers should know it to understand the religion for them to practice it in a right way.
Commandment for the believers to fight against their disbelieving relatives
- O you who have believed, you shall fight those who would be close to you of the disbelievers, and let them find harshness in you, while you shall know that God is with the righteous (9:123).
Note: There should not be any sympathy for the disbelievers even they are close to the believers being a war strategy to win war to establish religion for God while God has been with the righteous.
When a surah has been revealed increases faith of the believers
- And whenever there has been sent down a surah, then from them is whoever says, “Which of you has this increased in faith?” As for those who have believed, then it has increased them in faith, and they rejoice (9:124). And as for those in whose hearts is a disease, then it has increased them in evil to their evil, and they have died while they are disbelievers (9:125). Do they not see that they are tested in every year once or twice? Then they do not repent nor do they take heed (9:126). And whenever a surah has been sent down, they have looked at one another, “Does anyone see you?” Then they have turned away. God has turned away their hearts because they are a people who do not understand (9:127).
Note: Quran has been divided into surahs, and when a surah has been revealed, it has increased faith of the believers while it has increased evil of the disbelievers as their hearts have turned away from it as they do not understand, while they cannot repent nor can they take heed.
Summary
Surah Bara`ah) (Surah 9: Ultimatum) is about war and treaty when prophet has been among the people, which can be reviewed reflecting to: association of partners with God is a horrendous crime being an effort to extinguish His light by mouth; changing sacred months is a sign of disbelief because of what God has made unlawful to make it lawful; taking of religious leaders and clergymen as lords, who take people’s money with the falsehood and hinder from God’s path; idol worshipers are witnesses of their own disbelief; good deeds of the disbelievers are not accepted by God and the believers will prevent the idol worshippers to enter the Sacred Masjid as they are impure; practicing religion following a guidance as the guidance and a religion of the truth God has sent down with His messenger; God has not only decreed fighting to establish His religion for the believers but also to expose the hypocrites and the disbelievers among the believers; the hypocrites and the disbelievers have made their deeds worthless staying behind, which they rejoice; the prophet and the believers were forbidden for making burial pray for those who have died as disbelievers and also not to stand by their graves; He has decreed believing in Him and His messenger; He has specified how the believing men and women can admit into Paradise and Paradise is for those who have believed and strived in the God’s path with their wealth and lives; He has purchased the believers’ wealth and lives with the Paradise; the Arabs are worse in disbelief and hypocrisy; the believers would not pray except in God’s masjids, and God’s masjids are those which have been founded on righteousness from the first day; the believers will update their knowledge in the religion and when a surah has been revealed increases faith of the believers, and God has not only addressed Muhammad as messenger and prophet but also what has been revealed to him has been mentioned as His messenger in the Surah.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (09/03/2021).