Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

way and feeling one’s guilt are indications of an alert and sensitive conscience.Hence, repentance is likely to be accepted and forgiveness is likely to follow. God hascertainly accepted their repentance and forgiven them.God says to His Messenger, Muĥammad (peace be upon him): “Take a portion oftheir money as charity, so that you may cleanse and purify them thereby; and pray for them:for your prayers are a source of comfort for them. God hears all and knows all.” (Verse 103)Those were people with alert consciences which prompted their regret andrepentance for what they had done. Hence they deserved to be reassured and toreceive the sympathy which opened up for them hopeful prospects. As the Prophetwas moulding a whole community and establishing a system, he felt he needed towait for instructions from God regarding their cases. Al-Ţabarī reports on theauthority of Ibn `Abbās: “When the Prophet released Abū Lubābah and his twoCompanions, they brought him some money and said: ‘Take this money of ours andgive it away as Şadaqah, i.e. charity, and pray for us.’ In other words they requestedhim to pray for their forgiveness and for the purity of their souls. The Prophet said: `Iam not taking any of it until I have received instructions.’ God then revealed thisverse: ‘Take a portion of their money as charity, so that you may cleanse and purify themthereby; and pray for them: for your prayers are a source of comfort for them.’ (Verse 103)The Prophet then did as he was instructed.”Thus we see how God favoured them with His acceptance as He knew that theywere good at heart, sincere in their repentance. He ordered His Messenger to takesome of their money for charitable uses, and to pray for them. Taking charity fromthem brought them back as full members of the Muslim community. They could onceagain share in its duties and participate in meeting its responsibilities. They werethus neither rejected nor expelled. Their charitable donation added to the purity oftheir hearts. The Prophet’s prayer on their behalf gave them reassurance.“God hears all and knows all.” (Verse 103) He hears supplications and prayers, andHe knows what is in peoples’ hearts. He judges all in accordance with what He hearsand knows, for He is indeed the One who hears all and knows all. It is He whomakes the final judgement on His servants, accepting their repentance and theircharity. His Messenger, the Prophet Muĥammad (peace be upon him), carries outwhat God commands. He does not initiate any part of this himself.To establish this fact God says in the following verse: “Do they not know that it isGod alone who accepts repentance from His servants, and He is truly the One who takescharitable offerings, and that God is the only One to accept repentance and bestow mercy?”(Verse 104) This is a form of question which signifies an emphatic statement,meaning: let them know that it is God who accepts repentance, takes charitableofferings and bestows mercy on His servants. None of this belongs to anyone besideGod. As al-Ţabarī says: “When the Prophet refused to release those who tied197