Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | THE EARTH’S SUFFOCATING EXPANSEsee them at the moment when a new sūrah is revealed, with some of them looking ateach other winking and wondering: “Is anyone watching?” (Verse 127) Then they feelthat the believers are preoccupied with their own business, so they go out stealthily,hoping not to be noticed: “Then they turn away.” (Verse 127) But the eye which neverloses sight of anything follows them with a curse that suits their suspicious deed:“God has turned their hearts away.” (Verse 127) Their hearts are turned away from theright guidance. They deserve to remain deep in error, “for they are people devoid ofunderstanding.” (Verse 127) This is because they have kept their hearts and mindsidle, unable to function properly. All of this scene is portrayed so skilfully andvividly using only a few words.The Prophet’s Relationship with the BelieversThe sūrah concludes with two verses which different reports suggest wererevealed in Makkah or Madinah. We are inclined to support the latter view, as theseverses fit with various aspects of the last passage in the sūrah and with its generalmessage. The first of these two verses explains the bond between God’s Messengerand his people, and how compassionate and full of concern he was for them. This isperfectly fitting with the tasks assigned to the Muslim community who are requiredto support the Messenger, convey his message, fight his enemies and endurewhatever trouble or hardship they may face in doing so. The final verse directs theMessenger to rely only on his Lord when people turn away from him. It is sufficientfor him to have God’s help and support.“Indeed there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves: one who grieves muchthat you should suffer; one who is full of concern for you; and who is tender and full ofcompassion towards the believers. Should they turn away, then say to them: ‘God is enoughfor me! There is no deity other than Him. In Him have I placed my trust. He is the Lord of theMighty Throne.’” (Verses 128-129) The statement here does not say ‘a Messenger fromamong you’ has come to you. Instead it describes the Messenger as being one ‘fromamong yourselves’ to add connotations of closer contact and firmer ties. It shows thetype of bond that exists between them and their Messenger. He is one of them, withvery close contact between them, and he feels for them.Another characteristic of this Messenger is that he is “one who grieves much that youshould suffer.” (Verse 128) He is keen that you should come to no hardship. He is also“full of concern for you... tender and full of compassion towards the believers.” (Verse 128)He would never lead you to ruin. If he calls on you to strive for God’s cause, and toendure any difficulty in doing so, then you should know that he does not take thislightly, and that there is no cruelty in his heart. His call is a manifestation ofcompassion. He simply does not like to see you humiliated. He is too concerned thatyou should not suffer the ignominy of sin. He is keen that you should have the250