Draft:Verse 102 of Sura al-Tawba

Verse 102 of Sura al-Tawba

Verse's Information
Name	Verse 102 of Sura al-Tawba
Sura	al-Tawba
Verse	102
Juz'	11
Content Information
Place of Revelation	Medina
About	The group who did not participate in the Battle of Tabuk, then regretted it and repented, and God accepted their repentance

Qur'an 9:102 (Verse 102 of Sura al-Tawba) concerns Abu Lubaba al-Ansari and several companions of the Prophet (s) who did not participate in the Battle of Tabuk; they subsequently regretted their action and repented, and God accepted their repentance. According to exegetes, this verse indicates that timely confession paves the way for repentance. The structure of this verse demonstrates the reinforcement of hope in those who confess their sins.

Strengthening Hope in Confessors of Sin

Verse 102 of Sura al-Tawba was revealed concerning a group of Muslims who ignored the command of the Prophet (s) to go to the Battle of Tabuk. This group also had righteous deeds and confessed their mistake; for this reason, their repentance was accepted.

“ وَآخَرُونَ اعْتَرَفُوا بِذُنُوبِهِمْ خَلَطُوا عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَآخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ

[There are] others who have confessed to their sins, having mixed up righteous conduct with other that was evil. Maybe Allah will accept their repentance. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful. ” — Qur'an 9: 102

According to Abd Allah Jawadi Amoli, a Shi'a exegete, the structure of Verse 102 of Sura al-Tawba and the verbs and descriptions used in it lead to strengthening the spirit of hope in those who confess their sins and making them hopeful of forgiveness:

• Prioritizing confession over the sin in the phrase "and others who have confessed their sins" (وَآخَرُونَ اعْتَرَفُوا بِذُنُوبِهِمْ).
• Mentioning the righteous deed before the bad deed: "they have mixed a righteous deed and another that was evil" (خَلَطُوا عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَآخَرَ سَيِّئًا).
• Using the verb "ʿasā" (عَسَى; it may be/perhaps) to revive hope in hearts and to maintain a state between fear and hope (khawf wa rajāʾ).
• Strengthening the side of hope (rajāʾ) by using the emphasis particle "inna" (إِنَّ; surely) and the two attributes Ghafūr (All-Forgiving) and Raḥīm (All-Merciful): "Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful" (إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ).

Occasion of Revelation

The occasion of revelation of this verse is considered to be regarding Abu Lubaba al-Ansari and several other companions of the Prophet (s) who refrained from participating in the Battle of Tabuk. However, when they heard the verses rebuking the violators, they regretted their action, tied themselves to one of the Pillars of the Prophet's Mosque, and took an oath not to untie themselves until the Prophet (s) untied them. The Messenger of God (s) said: "I also take an oath that I will not do such a thing unless God permits me." Verse 102 of Sura al-Tawba was revealed, God accepted their repentance, and the Prophet (s) untied them from the column of the mosque.

According to some other narrations, this event is related to the role of Abu Lubaba al-Ansari in the incident of Banu Qurayza. The Banu Qurayza, who were a group of Jews, consulted him on whether to submit to the judgment of the Prophet (s) or not.He said (or gestured): "If you submit, you will all be beheaded!" Then he regretted this statement, repented, tied himself to the pillar of the mosque, and Verse 102 of Sura al-Tawba was revealed, and God accepted his repentance. This pillar became famous as the Pillar of Repentance (Ustuwanat al-Tawba) and holds a special virtue and status among Muslims.