Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | THE EARTH’S SUFFOCATING EXPANSEfeelings and the worship they offer. Their other qualities are concerned withthe duties under this deal, which requires them to work for the establishmentof the divine faith on earth, enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, andto see to it that God’s bounds are respected: “[It is a triumph for] those who turnto God in repentance, who worship and praise Him, who contemplate [God and Hiscreation], who bow down and prostrate themselves, who enjoin the doing of what isright and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and keep within the limits set out by God.Give you [Prophet] glad tidings to the believers.” (Verse 112)• The verses that follow in this passage show that relations between thebelievers who make this deal and all others, including their close relatives, aresevered. The two groups move in opposite directions, towards opposite ends.Those who are party to this deal go to heaven, while the others go to hell. Thetwo meet neither in this world nor in the next. Hence, blood relationshipscannot establish a bond between the two: “It is not for the Prophet and thebelievers to pray for the forgiveness of those who associate partners with God, eventhough they may be their close relatives, after it has become clear that they are destinedfor the blazing fire. Abraham prayed for the forgiveness of his father only because of apromise he had made to him. But when it became clear to him that he was God’senemy, he disowned him; Abraham was most tender-hearted, most clement.” (Verses113-114)• A believer’s loyalty must be purely to God. It is on the basis of this unifiedloyalty that all ties and bonds are established. Here we have a clear statementby God clarifying all issues and leaving no room for error. It is more thanenough for the believers that they have God’s protection and support. Withthese promised by the One who is the master of the universe, they neednothing from anyone else: “Never will God let people go astray after He has giventhem guidance until He has made plain to them all that they should avoid. God hasperfect knowledge of all things. To God belongs the kingdom of the heavens and theearth; He alone gives life and causes death. Besides God, you have none to protect orsupport you.” (Verses 115-116)• With the nature of the deal being such, reluctance to join an expeditionserving God’s cause is a very serious matter. However, God has pardonedthose whom He knew to have good intentions and a firm resolve to do theirduty after having once failed. Thus, He turned to them in mercy: “God hasassuredly turned in His mercy to the Prophet, the Muhājirīn and the Anşār, whofollowed him in the hour of hardship, when the hearts of a group of them had almostfaltered. Then again He turned to them in mercy; for He is compassionate towardsthem, merciful. And [so too] to the three who were left behind: when the earth, vast asit is, seemed to close in upon them, and their own souls had become too constricted,209