Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (8) Surah: At-Tawbah
كَيۡفَ وَإِن يَظۡهَرُواْ عَلَيۡكُمۡ لَا يَرۡقُبُواْ فِيكُمۡ إِلّٗا وَلَا ذِمَّةٗۚ يُرۡضُونَكُم بِأَفۡوَٰهِهِمۡ وَتَأۡبَىٰ قُلُوبُهُمۡ وَأَكۡثَرُهُمۡ فَٰسِقُونَ
(8) How ˹can it be˺[2025], when if they were to have the upper hand over you, they would have no respect for either kinship or oaths concerning you! They placate you with their mouths[2026], but their hearts ˹vehemently˺ refuse; indeed most of them are transgressors[2027].
[2025] The exclamation is repeated here with an explanation (cf. al-Biqāʿī, Naẓm al-Durar); should circumstances turn to the Associators’ advantage, they would be ruthless with the Believers, sparing not the slightest thought to considerations of any form of relationship that tied them with the Believers (illan) or word of honour (dhimmah) (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī).
[2026] However, now that the fact of the matter being that the Believers are the ones who are in a stronger position, the Associators try to appease them, only scantily hiding the pure hatred which their hearts are full of. Elsewhere, God vividly describes this state of affairs: “You who Believe, do not take as ˹intimate˺ confidants anyone who is not of your own: they will stop at nothing to cause you destruction; they wish you hardship; hatred reeks from their mouths but what their breasts conceal is ˹much˺ greater. We have explained the signs clearly for you, if only you are perceptive. *Here you are, you love them but they do not love you; you Believe in the whole Book; ˹but˺ when they meet you they say: “We Believe!” yet when they are alone they bite their fingertips out of rage at you. Say ˹Muhammad˺: “Die of your rage”; Allah knows what lurks in the chests! *Should a good thing come your way, they become saddened by it, and it elates them if a calamity befalls you. But if you forbear and are Mindful you will not be harmed in the least by their guile—Allah encompasses what they do” (3: 118-120).
[2027] They cannot be trusted because they constantly renege on their pledges, break their promises and do not uphold their word of honour (cf. al-Rāzī, al-Qurṭubī, al-Saʿdī): “Among them are the ones with whom you ˹Muhammad˺ forged ˹peace˺ pacts, then they break their pact every time; never are they Mindful” (8: 56).
[2026] However, now that the fact of the matter being that the Believers are the ones who are in a stronger position, the Associators try to appease them, only scantily hiding the pure hatred which their hearts are full of. Elsewhere, God vividly describes this state of affairs: “You who Believe, do not take as ˹intimate˺ confidants anyone who is not of your own: they will stop at nothing to cause you destruction; they wish you hardship; hatred reeks from their mouths but what their breasts conceal is ˹much˺ greater. We have explained the signs clearly for you, if only you are perceptive. *Here you are, you love them but they do not love you; you Believe in the whole Book; ˹but˺ when they meet you they say: “We Believe!” yet when they are alone they bite their fingertips out of rage at you. Say ˹Muhammad˺: “Die of your rage”; Allah knows what lurks in the chests! *Should a good thing come your way, they become saddened by it, and it elates them if a calamity befalls you. But if you forbear and are Mindful you will not be harmed in the least by their guile—Allah encompasses what they do” (3: 118-120).
[2027] They cannot be trusted because they constantly renege on their pledges, break their promises and do not uphold their word of honour (cf. al-Rāzī, al-Qurṭubī, al-Saʿdī): “Among them are the ones with whom you ˹Muhammad˺ forged ˹peace˺ pacts, then they break their pact every time; never are they Mindful” (8: 56).
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (8) Surah: At-Tawbah
Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an into English - in progress - translated by Dr. Walid Bleihesh Al-Omari.