Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | THE BASIS OF INTER-COMMUNAL RELATIONSProphet fulfilled God’s order and honoured his commitments under thesetreaties to their final dates. This is clearly stated in God’s revelations, andconfirmed by many reports attributed to the Prophet. 18If we discard the reports which are doubtful and overlook those which might havebeen coloured by the political differences between the Shiah and the Sunnis, we maysay with confidence that the Prophet sent Abū Bakr as the leader of pilgrimage thatyear. The reason for that was that the Prophet did not like to perform the pilgrimagewhen the idolaters continued with their abominable practice of doing the ţawāf, orthe ritual walk around the Ka`bah in the nude. After Abū Bakr had left forpilgrimage, the opening passage of this sūrah, Repentance, was revealed. The Prophetdespatched `Alī to join Abū Bakr and make the declaration. He did this outlining allits final provisions at the gathering which ensured that all people in Arabia would beaware of them. Among these provisions was the one which made it clear that noidolater would be allowed in Makkah to do the ţawāf or the pilgrimage.Al-Tirmidhī relates a report which quotes `Alī as saying: “God’s Messenger sentme after the revelation of the sūrah Repentance to announce four points: no one maydo the ţawāf naked, and no idolater may come near the Sacred Mosque after thatyear, and whoever had a treaty with God’s Messenger, their treaty would beobserved until it had expired, and that no one may enter heaven except one whosubmits totally to God.” This report is the most authentic in this connection.The Principles of International Relations“Disavowal by God and His Messenger [is hereby announced] to those of the idolaters withwhom you have made a treaty.” (Verse 1) This is a general declaration, carrying a sharprhythm, which outlines the basic principles that governed relations between theMuslims and the idolaters at the time, throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Thetreaties to which it refers were those that the Prophet had concluded with theidolaters in Arabia. The disavowal of these treaties by God and His Messengerdefines the attitude of every Muslim. It generates a very strong impression onMuslim minds to leave no room whatsoever for hesitation or second thought.This general statement is followed by qualifications and explanations: “[Announceto them:] You may go freely in the land for four months, but you must realize that you cannever escape God’s judgement, and that God shall bring disgrace upon the unbelievers.”(Verse 2) This statement clarifies the terms now given to the unbelievers: they aregiven a period of four months during which they can move about freely to carry outbusiness transactions, fulfil their commitments and modify their situations in peace.18 Al-Ţabarī, ibid., p. 66.49