The Majestic Quran

campaign. This partly explains the anger against them. However, as well as the hypocrites who made excuses, there were three sincere Muslims who put off their preparations until it was too late to join the campaign. They were forgiven because of their truthfulness and honest admission, but only after their sincerity had been severely tested over fifty days. The chapter takes its name, At-Tawbah, from God’s acceptance of their repentance. The Vitality of the Faithful The true believers are honoured as God’s property (111); people who “repent, worship, praise God, fast, bow, prostrate, enjoin good, forbid evil, and stay within the boundaries of God” (112). The dedicated companions are congratulated. “God is well pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him,” (100). Verse 122 urges them to take the learning of religion seriously. The contrast between the opening passage of the chapter and its end can’t go amiss; the beginning shows divine anger towards those who breached treaties, but the ending shows kind and loving nature of the beloved Messenger r . In some ways explaining the paradox of war and peace, the harshness of the battlefield is a reality of life as long as its purpose is to establish justice and remove human suffering. 1 God and His Messenger have cancelled any treaty you made with the idolaters. 2 So, you idolaters have four months to travel freely in the land; you cannot escape God’s grip , 10 God will disgrace the disbelievers. 3 An announcement of this will be made by God and His Messenger on the day of the great pilgrimage to all the people: “God and His Messenger are free of any previous obligation towards the idolaters. So, if you idolaters repent that will be best for you, but if you turn away, then beware you can’t escape God’s grip.” Give the disbelievers glad tidings of a painful punishment. 4 But the idolaters who haven’t broken their treaty, nor have