Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 117

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Surely, Allah has relented towards the Prophet and the Emigrants (Muhajirīn) and the Supporters (the AnSār) 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.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Allah has certainly turned in mercy to the Prophet[[ The Prophet (ﷺ) is forgiven for exempting all those who came to him with excuses regardless of their honesty, or for seeking forgiveness for the polytheists. ]] as well as the Emigrants and the Helpers who stood by him in the time of hardship, after the hearts of a group of them had almost faltered. He then accepted their repentance. Surely He is Ever Gracious and Most Merciful to them.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Indeed, Allah has turned in mercy to the Prophet, the Emigrants and the Helpers who followed him in the hour of hardship [at Tabūk], after some of them were about to lose heart. Then He turned to them in mercy, for He is All-Gracious, Most Merciful to them.

A. J. Arberry

God has turned towards the Prophet and the Emigrants and the Helpers who followed him in the hour of difficulty, after the hearts of a part of them well-nigh swerved aside; then He turned towards them; surely He is Gentle to them, and All-compassionate.

Abdul Haleem

In His mercy God has turned to the Prophet, and the emigrants and helpers who followed him in the hour of adversity when some hearts almost wavered: He has turned to them; He is most kind and merciful to them.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Assuredly Allah hath relented toward the Prophet and the Muhajirs and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of distress after the hearts of a part of them had well-nigh swerved aside when He relented toward them. Verily He is unto them Tender, Merciful.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah turned with favour to the Prophet, the Muhajirs, and the Ansar,- who followed him in a time of distress, after that the hearts of a part of them had nearly swerved (from duty); but He turned to them (also); for He is unto them Most Kind, Most Merciful.

Abul Ala Maududi

Surely Allah has relented towards the Prophet, and towards the Muhajirun (Emigrants) and the Ansar (Helpers) who stood by him in the hour of hardship, although the hearts of a party of them had well-nigh swerved. (But when they gave up swerving from the Right Course and followed the Prophet), Allah relented towards them. Surely to them He is the Most Tender, the Most Merciful.

Ahmed Ali

God was kind to the Prophet, the emigrants, and the helpers of the faithful who followed him in the hour of distress. When a section of them were about to lose courage He turned to them in His mercy, for He is compassionate and kind.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Indeed Allah’s mercy inclined towards the Herald of the Hidden, and the Muhajirs and the Ansar who stood by him in the time of hardship, after it was likely that the hearts of a group among them would turn away – He then inclined towards them with mercy; indeed He is Most Compassionate, Most Merciful upon them.

Ali Quli Qarai

Certainly Allah turned clemently to the Prophet and the Emigrants and the Helpers, who followed him in the hour of difficulty, after the hearts of a part of them were about to swerve. Then He turned clemently to them—indeed, He is most kind and merciful to them

Ali Ünal

God has assuredly turned in mercy to the Prophet, as well as to the Emigrants and the Helpers who followed him in the time of hardship, when the hearts of a party among them had well-nigh swerved but God turned (also) to them in mercy (and protected against swerving). Surely for them He is All-Pitying, All-Compassionate.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Certainly, Allâh has turned with mercy to the Prophet and to the Emigrants and the Helpers who stood by him in the hour of distress (- in the expedition to Tabûk) after the hearts of some of the people were about to swerve (from the duty). Again He turned to them with mercy. In fact, He is towards them Most-Loving, Ever Merciful.

English Literal

God had forgiven on the prophet and the emigrants and the victoriors those who followed him in (the) hour (of) the difficulty/hardship from after what (the) hearts/minds (of) a group/party from them, was about to/almost deviate , then He forgave on them, that He truly is merciful/compassionate, merciful with them.

Faridul Haque

Indeed Allah’s mercy inclined towards the Herald of the Hidden, and the Muhajirs and the Ansar who stood by him in the time of hardship, after it was likely that the hearts of a group among them would turn away - He then inclined towards them with mercy; indeed He is Most Compassionate, Most Merciful upon them.

Hamid S. Aziz

Allah has now turned in mercy towards the Prophet and to the Muhajirin (those who migrated with him into exile), and towards the Ansar (helpers) who followed him in the hour of difficulty. After the heart of a party of them had well-nigh swerved aside, then He turned unto them in mercy. Verily, to them He is full of compassion and mercy.

Hilali & Khan

Allah has forgiven the Prophet (SAW), the Muhajirun (Muslim emigrants who left their homes and came to Al-Madinah) and the Ansar (Muslims of Al-Madinah) who followed him (Muhammad SAW) in the time of distress (Tabuk expedition, etc.), after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated (from the Right Path), but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of Kindness, Most Merciful.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Surely Allah’s is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He gives life and causes death. And besides Allah you have no friend nor helper.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Certainly Allah has turned (mercifully) to the Prophet and those who fled (their homes) and the helpers who followed him in the hour of straitness after the hearts of a part of them were about to deviate, then He turned to them (mercifully); surely to them He is Compassionate, Merciful.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Allah hath turned in mercy to the Prophet, and to the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of hardship. After the hearts of a party of them had almost swerved aside, then turned He unto them in mercy. Lo! He is Full of Pity, Merciful for them.

Muhammad Sarwar

God pardoned the Prophet, the Emigrants, the Helpers, and those who followed them, when the hearts of some of them almost deviated (from the truth) in their hour of difficulty. God forgave them because of His Compassion and Mercy.

Qaribullah & Darwish

In the hour of adversity, Allah turned (in mercy) to the Prophet, the Emigrants (of Mecca) and the Supporters (of Madinah) who followed him when some of their hearts were about to swerve away. He turned to them, indeed, He is Gentle, the Most Merciful.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the time of distress (Tabuk expedition), after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated (from the right path), but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of kindness, Most Merciful.

Wahiduddin Khan

God turned in mercy to the Prophet, and the emigrants and the helpers who followed him in the hour of hardship. After the hearts of a group of them had almost faltered, He turned towards them, for He was compassionate and merciful towards them.

Talal Itani

God has redeemed the Prophet, and the Emigrants, and the Supporters—those who followed him in the hour of difficulty—after the hearts of some of them almost swerved. Then He pardoned them. He is Kind towards them, Compassionate.

Tafsir jalalayn

God has truly relented, that is, He has [truly] perpetuated His relenting, to the Prophet and the Emigrants and the Helpers who followed him in the hour of hardship, that is, during the time of this [hardship], which was their predicament during the raid at Tabk, where two men would share a single date, ten men would take turns on one camel, and where the heat became so intense that they resorted to drinking filth; after the hearts of a party of them had almost deviated (read either as tazghu or yazghu), [had almost] inclined away from following him, in favour of staying behind due to the hardship that afflicted them, then He relented to them, by making them steadfast. Truly He is Gentle, Merciful to them.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Battle of Tabuk

Mujahid and several others said,

"This Ayah was revealed concerning the battle of Tabuk. They left for that battle during a period of distress. It was a year with little rain, intense heat and scarcity of supplies and water."

Qatadah said,

"They went to Ash-Sham during the year of the battle of Tabuk at a time when the heat was intense. Allah knew how hard things were, and they suffered great hardship. We were told that two men used to divide a date between themselves. Some of them would take turns in sucking on a date and drinking water, then give it to another man to suck on. Allah forgave them and allowed them to come back from that battle."

Ibn Jarir reported that Abdullah bin Abbas said that;

Umar bin Al-Khattab was reminded of the battle of distress (Tabuk) and Umar said, "We went with the Messenger of Allah in the intense heat for Tabuk. We camped at a place in which we were stricken so hard by thirst that we thought that our necks would be severed. One of us used to go out in search of water and did not return until he feared that his neck would be severed. One would slaughter his camel, squeeze its intestines and drink its content, placing whatever was left on his kidney.

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq said, `O Allah's Messenger! Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored, has always accepted your invocation, so invoke Allah for us.'

The Prophet said,

تُحِبُّ ذَلِكَ



Would you like me to do that?

Abu Bakr said, `Yes.'

The Prophet raised his hands and did not put them down until rain fell from the sky in abundance.

It rained and then stopped raining for a while, then rained again, so they filled their containers. We went out to see where the rain reached and found that it did not rain beyond our camp."'

Allah says;

لَقَد تَّابَ الله عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالَانصَارِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ فِي سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ

Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the time of distress,

Ibn Jarir said,

meaning "With regards to expenditures, transportation, supplies and water,

مِن بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِّنْهُمْ

after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated,

away from the truth, thus falling prey to doubting the Messenger's religion because of the distress and hardships they suffered during their travel and battle,

ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ

but He accepted their repentance.

He directed them to repent to their Lord and renew their firmness on His religion,

إِنَّهُ بِهِمْ رَوُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ



Certainly, He is unto them full of kindness, Most Merciful.