Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | THE EARTH’S SUFFOCATING EXPANSEfinishing the dawn prayer that God had pardoned us. People moved fast togive us that happy news. A man came at speed on horseback to bring me thenews, while another from the tribe of Aslam went on top of the mountain toshout it to me. His voice was quicker than the horse. When I heard that man’svoice giving me the happiest piece of news I ever received, I gave him mytwo garments as a gesture of gratitude. By God, they were the only clothes Ihad at the time. I borrowed two garments and went quickly to the Prophet.People were meeting me in groups, saying, ‘Congratulations on beingforgiven by God.’ I entered the mosque and saw the Prophet sitting with agroup of people around him. Ţalĥah ibn `Ubaydullāh came quickly towardsme, shook my hand and congratulated me. He was the only one from theMuhājirīn to do that. I will never forget Ţalĥah’s kindness.Such was the true value of events in that community. An accepted repentance wasgiven such importance that a man would ride on horseback to deliver the news to itsrecipient, and another would go to the top of a mountain to shout it over so that hecould be faster than the herald on horse. Joy felt by a brother and genuinecongratulations are felt as a kindness that will never be forgotten by yesterday’soutcast who has just been rehabilitated. His is a day that is fittingly described by theProphet: “Rejoice, for this is your happiest day since you were born!” As Ka`b says,the Prophet’s face was shining with delight. How kind and compassionate theProphet was that his face beamed with pleasure because three of his Companionshad been returned to the fold.This, then, was the story of the three people who were left behind until Godaccepted their repentance. We have highlighted some of the impressions it gives usof the life of the early Muslim community and its values. As related by one of thethree people who went through its experience, the story brings clear before ourminds the meaning of the verse which states: “when the earth, vast as it is, seemed toclose in upon them, and their own souls had become too constricted, they realized that therewas no refuge from God except by returning to Him.” (Verse 118)“When the earth, vast as it is, seemed to close in upon them.” (Verse 118) What is theearth? Its world is that of its inhabitants and the values that are upheld by them. Itsexpanse is as vast as the relationships between its people make it to be. Hence thedescription here is very truthful in its practical significance, as much as it is truthfulin its artistic beauty. It shows the whole expanse of the earth becoming too narrowfor those three. Its outer limits are brought too near to make it extremely tight,closing in on them. “And their own souls had become too constricted.” (Verse 118) It is asif their souls are a sort of a container that has become too small and tight. They canhardly breathe as it tightens over them. What happened then was that “they realizedthat there was no refuge from God except by returning to Him.” (Verse 118) That applies to236