Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 2

Mufti Taqi Usmani

So, move in the land freely for four months, and be aware that you can never frustrate Allah, and that Allah is going to disgrace the disbelievers.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

“You ˹polytheists˺ may travel freely through the land for four months, but know that you will have no escape from Allah, and that Allah will disgrace the disbelievers.”[[ This is the only sûrah in the Quran that does not begin with: “In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.” The reason is that this sûrah is considered to be a continuation of the previous one, and that it begins with an open termination of treaties not fully respected by the polytheists. Since this constitutes a declaration of war, it would not be fitting to open with the mention of Allah’s compassion and mercy.]]

Ruwwad Translation Center

“Therefore move freely in the land for four months, but know that you cannot escape Allah, and that Allah will humiliate the disbelievers.”

A. J. Arberry

'Journey freely in the land for four months; and know that you cannot frustrate the will of God, and that God degrades the unbelievers.'

Abdul Haleem

you [idolaters] may move freely about the land for four months, but you should bear in mind both that you will not escape God, and that God will disgrace those who defy [Him].

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Go about, then, in the land for four months. And know that verily ye cannot escape Allah, and that verily Allah is the humiliator of the infidels.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Go ye, then, for four months, backwards and forwards, (as ye will), throughout the land, but know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah (by your falsehood) but that Allah will cover with shame those who reject Him.

Abul Ala Maududi

"You may go about freely in the land, for four months, but know well that you will not be able to frustrate Allah, and that Allah will bring disgrace upon those who deny the Truth."

Ahmed Ali

(They can) move about for four months freely in the land, but should know they cannot escape (the law of) God, and that God can put the unbelievers to shame.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Travel freely in the land for four months, and bear in mind that you cannot escape from Allah, and that Allah will humiliate the disbelievers.

Ali Quli Qarai

Travel [unmolested] in the land for four months, but know that you cannot frustrate Allah, and that Allah shall disgrace the faithless.

Ali Ünal

(O you polytheists who always break the treaties you have entered into!) You may go about freely in the land for four months (making whatever war preparations you wish). But know that you can never escape (the Power of God, nor frustrate His will), and that God will bring disgrace upon the unbelievers.

Amatul Rahman Omar

So you may go about (freely O you breakers of the treaties!) in the land for four months (since the date of this declaration), and know that you cannot frustrate (the will of) Allâh, and (know) that Allâh will humiliate the disbelievers.

English Literal

So walk/go/travel in the earth/Planet Earth, four months, and know that you are not disabling/frustrating God, and that God is shaming/scandalizing those who disbelieved.

Faridul Haque

Travel freely in the land for four months, and bear in mind that you cannot escape from Allah, and that Allah will humiliate the disbelievers.

Hamid S. Aziz

Travel freely in the land for four months, but know that you cannot make Allah helpless, and that Allah will confound (or humiliate) the disbelievers.

Hilali & Khan

So travel freely (O Mushrikun - see V. 2:105) for four months (as you will) throughout the land, but know that you cannot escape (from the Punishment of) Allah, and Allah will disgrace the disbelievers.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

A declaration of immunity from Allah and His Messenger to those of the Idolaters with whom you made an agreement.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

So go about in the land for four months and know that you cannot weaken Allah and that Allah will bring disgrace to the unbelievers.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Travel freely in the land four months, and know that ye cannot escape Allah and that Allah will confound the disbelievers (in His Guidance).

Muhammad Sarwar

However, during the four sacred months, they (pagans) may travel peacefully through the land. Know (pagans) that you cannot make God helpless, but it is God who has the power to disgrace the unbelievers.

Qaribullah & Darwish

'For four months you shall journey freely in the land. But know that you shall not render Allah incapable, and that Allah will humiliate the unbelievers'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

So travel freely (O Mushrikin) for four months (as you will) throughout the land, but know that you cannot escape (from the punishment of) Allah; and Allah will disgrace the disbelievers.

Wahiduddin Khan

So go about in the land for four months, but know that you cannot frustrate the plan of God and that God will disgrace those who deny the truth.

Talal Itani

So travel the land for four months, and know that you cannot escape God, and that God will disgrace the disbelievers.

Tafsir jalalayn

`Journey freely, travel in security, O idolaters, in the land for four months -- beginning with [the month of] Shawwl, on the basis of what will come shortly -- after which there will be no security for you, and know that you cannot escape God, that is, you shall [not] elude His punishment, and that God degrades the disbelievers', humiliating them in this world by having them killed, and in the Hereafter, by [sending them to] the Fire.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

فَسِيحُواْ فِي الَارْضِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ


to those of the Mushrikin, with whom you made a treaty. So travel freely (Mushrikin) for four months (as you will) throughout the land,

This Ayah refers to idolators who had indefinite treaties and those, whose treaties with Muslims ended in less than four months. The terms of these treaties were restricted to four months only. As for those whose term of peace ended at a specific date later (than the four months), then their treaties would end when their terms ended, no matter how long afterwards, for Allah said,
فَأَتِمُّواْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ إِلَى مُدَّتِهِمْ
(So fulfill their treaty for them until the end of their term). (9;4)
So whoever had a covenant with Allah's Messenger then it would last until its period expired, this was reported from Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi and others.
We will also mention a Hadith on this matter. Abu Ma`shar Al-Madani said that Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi and several others said,
"The Messenger of Allah sent Abu Bakr to lead the Hajj rituals on the ninth year (of Hijrah). He also sent Ali bin Abi Talib with thirty or forty Ayat from Bara'ah (At-Tawbah), and he recited them to the people, giving the idolators four months during which they freely move about in the land. He recited these Ayat on the day of Arafah (ninth of Dhul-Hijjah). The idolators were given twenty more days (till the end) of Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, Safar, Rabi Al-Awwal and ten days from Rabi Ath-Thani.
He proclaimed to them in their camping areas, `No Mushrik will be allowed to perform Hajj after this year, nor a naked person to perform Tawaf around the House."'

So Allah said,

وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِي اللّهِ وَأَنَّ اللّهَ مُخْزِي الْكَافِرِينَ



but know that you cannot escape (from the punishment of) Allah; and Allah will disgrace the disbelievers