لَـقَدْ تَّابَ اللّٰهُ عَلَى النَّبِىِّ وَالْمُهٰجِرِيْنَ وَالْاَنْصَارِ الَّذِيْنَ اتَّبَعُوْهُ فِىْ سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيْغُ قُلُوْبُ فَرِيْقٍ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ اِنَّهٗ بِهِمْ رَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ (117)
Quran Ayah Data not found….for Surah:9, Ayah:117 and Translation:24
Quran Surah:9 Ayah:117
“Surely, Allah has relented towards the Prophet and the Emigrants (Muhajirin) and the Supporters (the Ansar) who followed him in the hour of hardship after the hearts of a group of them were about to turn crooked, then He relented towards them. Surely, to them He is Very-Kind, Very-Merciful.”
Is there anyone among us who does not want Allah’s favours and bounties to be bestowed upon him? But, do we know how to be worthy of receiving of them? This is something important that we being directed through the verse appearing above. Let’s try to find out what is that special thing?
The word ‘توبہ’ literally means to turn. But, the meaning or sense of a word is generally changed considering the thing or action it is referred to. Hence, when the same is referred to a slave, it means to return from or repent of sins, abstain from sins or ask forgiveness for sins as also this word is generally used for the same meaning.But when the same word is used to Allah, the Almighty, it refers to accepting the repentance, being kind to a man.
The same case is with the word ‘صلوٰۃ’, when it is used for a slave, it refers to supplicating for mercy. While when the same word is used for Allah, the Almighty, it refers to shower His mercy upon someone.
In the phrase لَقَدْ تَّابَ اللّٰهُmeaning“Surely, Allah has relented” the verb is used in past form with great emphasize on it. But, there is no mention of the people towards whom Allah was relented. However, there are special characteristics as follows: (1) Towards ‘Nabi’ Messenger (2) ‘Muhajireen’ Emigrants (3) ‘Ansar’ Supporters.
The reason a way of description employed here in characteristic form is that anyone who equips himself with the characteristics mentioned above, he may be worthy of receiving Allah’s mercy and favours.
The first and foremost characteristic mentioned here is that of being ‘Nabi’ Messenger. It is a terminology used for a servant of Allah, the Almighty chosen for communicating his message to His creatures. Since the Holy Prophet ﷺwas the last prophet, now there is no one to whom this terminology can be used. However, the message the Holy Prophet ﷺ was sent with still exists and the task of communicating it to the whole mankind is still existing, on the top of it, the Holy Prophet ﷺhimself has emphacized on it saying بلّغوا عنّی ولو آیۃ preach whatever you received from me even if it is a verse. At another place he says فلیبلّغ الشاھد الغائب let the present one to communicate it to one who is absent. Hence, it is the message having propagated which we can pay the debt of being his heir and thus be worthy of receiving Allah’s mercy and favours.
The second characteristic mentioned here is ‘Muhajireen’the emigrants, meaning abstaining from every wicked thing for the sake of Allah, the Almighty as commanded probably through the second or third revelation as:
”وَ الرُّجزَ فَاھجُر “ (المدثر :۵(
“And keep away from filth.”
Thus, it was the first form of migration which you may also call the first stage of migration. There is also another form of migration which does not necessarily mean that anything one keeps away from is filth. Rather, it may also be a dearest one, but one keeps away from it solely for seeking Allah’s pleasure when required and it may also titled as migration. Since the blessed companions of the Holy Prophet ﷺsacrificed all these things having migrated to Abyssinia and Madeenah, they were also blessed with the title of ‘Muhajireen’ and ranked with the same status.
With regard to what importance migration occupies in Islam, keeping in mind the following event is sufficient to understand it. It goes like this that when an issue regarding determining the beginning of Islamicyear came under consideration, it was the migration which was preferred as compared to many other propositions. It was under the leadership of Hazrat Umar (R.T.A.) that all the companions agreed upon it and the Islamic calendar was named as the year of migration. Thus, it is the Islamic Calendar which reminds us of the lesson of Hijrah. Regrettably, these days, neither we use the Islamic calendar nor we remember this message. Really, how far we are in the sense of migration in our practical life? It is something needs no mention, so, how in such regrettable condition can we be worthy of receiving Allah’s kindness.
The third characteristic mentioned here is‘Ansar’i.e.thesupporters. Though the way someone helps another person based on a human urge of kindness is also referred as ‘Nusrat’ help, but it terminology which applies to the help extended with intention to preach Islam and make it dominant over other religions.Hence, when the believers were persecuted in Makkah, the people of Madeenah extender their helping hand to them, they invited them there and gave them all-round support. It was the reason that they were titled as ‘Ansar’.
Though it was synonymous to take a great risk, despite it they willingly did so as also evident enough from the expression of HazrqtUbadah bin Nadlah Ansari (R.T.A.): “O BanuKhazraj! Do you know on what thing are you taking an oath of allegiance? It is the battle of Arab and Ajam on which you are taking an oath of allegiance. You must know that it will cause the destruction of both your lives and properties and the extermination of you nobles. If you leave them in such condition, I swear by Allah that you will be subject to insult both here and in Hereafter. Only if you keep your words and keep hold of your oath, there is nothing better than it in both the worlds which are supposed to attain.”
It was then that the believers of Madeenah kept their words and fulfilled it in such a way that has no parallel in human history. They managed to provide residence to the emigrants of Makkah and shared them in their property, on the top of it, they divorced one of their wives for their sake and get them married to them. Even they shared them in their inheritance.
They began to prefer the relation of brotherhood established between them over their blood relations and supported them in every possible problem and difficulty. They stood firm against their enemies and sacrificed their everything for the same of Allah, the Almighty and His beloved Messenger ﷺ. It was the phenomenon of their help and support that caused them to be known as ‘Ansar’. Do the preachers and propagators of Islam receive even the 10th percent of this support and help these days on our part? Then, how can we expect Allah, the Almighty to be kind towards us?
اتَّبَعُوْهُ فِىْ سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ “They followed him in the hour of hardship.”In order to understand the sense of these words, it is must for to know its background first. In reality, this verse was revealed on the occasion of the Battle of Tabook, a battle distinguishing between right and wrong, since the blessed companions had made a public announcement in it the participation in which was compulsory for each and everyone.
This battle took place in utter destitution and starvation. They lacked in provision of journey and other sources to such extent that ten of them had to ride the same camel turn by turn and had to live on sucking the date-nuts. Once it so happened that they had to quench their thirst through squeezing water from the entrails of the camels. It was the crucial moment that the faith of many of them was staggering, rather some of them kept behind despite having no prescribed excuse. But, when some of them realized their mistake, they joined them while some remained behind, as a result, their repentance was answered after they had to undergo the punishment of social boycott.
The same thing is mentioned in the same and following verses which indicate the fact that though the negligence and disinclination in the struggle of the Truth and Falsehood is a gravest sin and repenting of it is must even if it is not based on bad intention. However, if a man even realizes his mistake, Allah, the Almighty forgives him and shows His mercy to him. Says a poet:
کہہ کے لبیک مغفرت دوڑے
توبہ عاصی اگر کرے دل سے
Meaning, forgiveness is certain to be granted to one only if the sinner turns to Allah, the Almighty with a faithful repentance.
So to speak, Allah, the Almighty is ever ready to forgive and show His mercy provided one repents of his sins sincerely. But, if a man never intends to do so, then Allah, the Almighty is the most Self-Sufficient of Allah. On the other hand, if one repents of it, he proves to be worthy of Allah’s mercy just like Hazrat Adam (A.S.). On the contrary, if he is not opting to do so, he is rejected on and accursed just like Satan. Now, it’s up to us what way should we lead our lives? Do we not desire Allah’s mercy? Then, our only hall-mark should be تُوْبُوْٓا اِلَى اللّٰهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوْحًاi.e.“Turn to Allahwith a faithful repentance.”