Tafseer of The Repentance · At-Tawba · 9:102
And [there are] others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allah will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of His word: وَآخَرُونَ اعْتَرَفُوا بِذُنُوبِهِمْ خَلَطُوا عَمَلا صَالِحًا وَآخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ (102) ("And others who confessed their sins: they mixed a righteous deed with another, an evil one. It may be that Allah will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is forgiving, merciful." (9:102))
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: And among the inhabitants of Medina there are hypocrites who persist obstinately in hypocrisy, and among them are "others who confessed their sins," that is to say: they acknowledged their sins — they mixed a righteous deed. The Exalted, whose praise is exalted, means by the righteous deed which they mixed with the evil deed: their confession of their sins and their repentance over them; and the other, evil [deed] is: their remaining behind from the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, when he set out to war, and their failure to take part in the jihād with the Muslims.
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If someone were to ask: How is it said they mixed a righteous deed with another, an evil one, when the expression ought properly to be: "they mixed a righteous deed with another, an evil one"?
To this it is answered: The linguists of Arabic differed concerning that.
Some grammarians of Basra said: It is said thus, and it is permissible in Arabic that it means "with another," just as you say "the water and the plank became level," that is to say: with the plank; and "I mixed the water and the milk" [i.e. with the milk].
And another denied that it would be in accordance with their saying "the water and the plank became level." He argued for that by [pointing out] that the verb in "mixing" operates upon the first and the second [object], and that it is permissible to let either of the two precede the other, whereas letting "the plank" precede "the water" is not permissible in their saying "the water and the plank became level." And that was for them a proof that this differs from "mixing."
Abū Jaʿfar said: And the correct view concerning that, in my opinion, is: that it has the meaning of their saying "I mixed the water and the milk," in the sense of: I mixed it with the milk.
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— it may be that Allah will turn to them in forgiveness, He says: perhaps Allah will turn to them in forgiveness. And "it may be" (ʿasā) is, on Allah's part, a settled and fixed matter; its meaning is only: Allah will turn to them in forgiveness, but it is in the language of the Arabs as I have described. — indeed, Allah is forgiving, merciful, He says: indeed, Allah is the possessor of mildness and forgiveness toward whoever repents of his sins, and He covers them for him — "merciful" toward him, that He should [not] punish him for it.
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And the exegetes differed concerning what is meant by this verse, and the occasion for which it was revealed.
Some of them said: It was revealed concerning ten persons who had remained behind from the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, in the campaign of Tabūk; among them was Abū Lubāba. Seven of them bound themselves to the pillars upon the arrival of the Prophet, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, as repentance for their sin.
* Mention of who said that:
17136 — Al-Muthannā related to me, saying: Abū Ṣāliḥ related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word and others who confessed their sins: they mixed a righteous deed with another, an evil one, he said: they were ten men who had remained behind from the Prophet, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, in the campaign of Tabūk. When the return of the Prophet, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, drew near, seven of them bound themselves to the pillars of the mosque, and the passage of the Prophet, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, upon his return into the mosque lay past them.
When he saw them, he said: who are these who have bound themselves to the pillars? They said: this is Abū Lubāba with companions of his who remained behind from you, O Messenger of Allah, [and they have sworn that none shall release them] until you release them and accept their excuse. Then the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: and I swear by Allah, I shall not release them and shall not accept their excuse, until it is Allah who releases them; they turned away from me and remained behind from fighting with the Muslims! When that reached them, they said: and we shall not release ourselves until it is Allah who releases us! Then Allah, blessed and exalted is He, revealed: and others who confessed their sins: they mixed a righteous deed with another, an evil one; it may be that Allah will turn to them in forgiveness — and "it may be" is, on Allah's part, a settled and fixed matter. When it was revealed, the Prophet, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, sent to them, and he released them and accepted their excuse.
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And others said: No, they were six, one of them being Abū Lubāba.
* Mention of who said that:
17137 — Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word and others who confessed their sins: they mixed a righteous deed with another, an evil one; it may be that Allah, up to His word indeed, Allah is forgiving, merciful: and that was because the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, undertook the campaign of Tabūk, and Abū Lubāba together with five others remained behind from the Prophet, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him. Then Abū Lubāba and two men with him reflected [on their deed], and they repented and became convinced of their ruin, and said: "We are in shelter and ease among the women, while the Messenger of Allah and the believers with him are in the jihād! By Allah, we shall bind ourselves to the pillars, and we shall not release ourselves until it is the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, who releases us and accepts our excuse." So Abū Lubāba went and bound himself, and two men with him, to the pillars of the mosque, and there remained three men who did not bind themselves. Then the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, returned from his campaign, and his way passed through the mosque, and he came past them and said: who are these who have bound themselves to the pillars? They said: this is Abū Lubāba with companions of his who remained behind from the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, and they have bound themselves before Allah that they will not release themselves until it is you who release them and are pleased with them, and they have confessed their sins. Then the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, said: by Allah, I shall not release them until I am commanded to release them, and I shall not accept their excuse until it is Allah who excuses them; they remained behind from me and turned themselves away from the fighting and the jihād of the Muslims! Then Allah, out of His mercy, revealed: and others who confessed their sins: they mixed a righteous deed with another, an evil one; it may be that Allah will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is forgiving, merciful — and "it may be" is, on Allah's part, a settled and fixed matter. When the verse was revealed, the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, released them and accepted their excuse and overlooked their [sin].
* * *
And others said: Those who bound themselves to the pillars were eight in number.
* Mention of who said that:
17138 — Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, saying: Yaʿqūb related to us, on the authority of Zayd ibn Aslam: and others who confessed their sins: they mixed a righteous deed with another, an evil one; it may be that Allah will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is forgiving, merciful, he said: they are the eight who bound themselves to the pillars; among them were Kardam, Mirdās and Abū Lubāba.
17139 — Ibn Wakīʿ related to us, saying: Jarīr related to us, on the authority of Yaʿqūb, on the authority of Jaʿfar, on the authority of Saʿīd, he said: those who bound themselves to the pillars were: Hilāl, Abū Lubāba, Kardam, Mirdās and Abū Qays.
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And others said: They were seven.
* Mention of who said that:
17140 — Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word and others who confessed their sins: they mixed a righteous deed with another, an evil one; it may be that Allah will turn to them in forgiveness: it has been related to us that they were seven men who remained behind from the campaign of Tabūk. As for four of them, they mixed a righteous deed with another, an evil one: Jadd ibn Qays, Abū Lubāba, Ḥarām and Aws, and all of them belonged to the helpers (anṣār); and they are those concerning whom it was said: خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ ("Take from their wealth an alms by which you purify them," the verse).
17141 — Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Muḥammad ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda: they mixed a righteous deed with another, an evil one, he said: they are certain persons of those who remained behind at Tabūk; among them was Abū Lubāba, and among them was Jadd ibn Qays. Allah turned to them in forgiveness. Qatāda said: and they were not the three [who are spoken of elsewhere].
17142 — Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Abū Sufyān related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda: and others who confessed their sins, he said: they are seven; among them was Abū Lubāba. They had remained behind from the campaign of Tabūk, and they are not the three.
17143 — It was related to me, on the authority of al-Ḥusayn ibn al-Faraj, saying: I heard Abū Muʿādh say: ʿUbayd ibn Sulaymān informed us, saying: I heard al-Ḍaḥḥāk say concerning His word and others who confessed their sins: they mixed a righteous deed with another, an evil one: it was revealed concerning Abū Lubāba and his companions, who remained behind from the Prophet of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, in the campaign of Tabūk. When the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, returned from his campaign and was near Medina, they repented over their remaining behind from the Messenger of Allah and said: "We are in the shade, with food and women, while the Prophet of Allah is in the jihād and the hardship! By Allah, we shall bind ourselves to the pillars, and after that we shall not release ourselves until it is the Prophet of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, who releases us and accepts our excuse!" And they bound themselves, and there remained three who did not bind themselves to the pillars. Then the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, came from his campaign, and he came through the mosque, for that was his way, and he saw them and asked about them. He was told: they are Abū Lubāba and his companions, who remained behind from you, O Prophet of Allah, and they have done to themselves what you see, and bound themselves before Allah that they will not release themselves until it is you who release them! Then the Prophet of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, said: I shall not release them until I am commanded to release them, and I shall not accept their excuse until Allah excuses them; they turned themselves away from the campaign of the Muslims! Then Allah revealed: and others who confessed their sins, up to: it may be that Allah will turn to them in forgiveness — and "it may be" is, on Allah's part, a settled and fixed matter. Then the Prophet of Allah released them and accepted their excuse.
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And others said: No, by this verse Abū Lubāba in particular was meant, and his sin which he confessed and over which Allah turned to him in forgiveness was what befell him in the affair of [the tribe of] Banū Qurayẓa.
* Mention of who said that:
17144 — Ibn Wakīʿ related to us, saying: Ibn Numayr related to us, on the authority of Warqāʾ, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: and others who confessed their sins, he said: it was revealed concerning Abū Lubāba; he said to the Banū Qurayẓa what he said.
17145 — Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: and others who confessed their sins, he said: it is Abū Lubāba, when he said to [the Banū] Qurayẓa what he said; he pointed to his throat [meaning]: that Muḥammad would slaughter you if you submit to Allah's judgment.
17146 — Al-Muthannā related to me, saying: Abū Ḥudhayfa related to us, saying: Shibl related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: and others who confessed their sins, and he mentioned the like of that — except that he said: if you submit to his judgment.
17147 — Ibn Wakīʿ related to us, saying: Jarīr related to us, on the authority of Layth, on the authority of Mujāhid: Abū Lubāba bound himself to a pillar and said: I shall not release myself until Allah and His Messenger release me! He said: and the Prophet, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, released him; and concerning that this verse was revealed: and others who confessed their sins: they mixed a righteous deed, the verse.
17148 — Ibn Wakīʿ related to us, saying: al-Muḥāribī related to us, on the authority of Layth, on the authority of Mujāhid: and others who confessed their sins, he said: it was revealed concerning Abū Lubāba.
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And others said: No, it was revealed concerning Abū Lubāba because of his remaining behind at Tabūk.
* Mention of who said that:
17149 — Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Muḥammad ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, saying: al-Zuhrī said: Abū Lubāba was among those who remained behind from the Prophet, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, in the campaign of Tabūk. He bound himself to a pillar and said: by Allah, I shall not release myself from it, and I shall taste no food and no drink, until I die or Allah turns to me in forgiveness! He remained seven days without tasting food or drink, until he fell down unconscious. He said: then Allah turned to him in forgiveness, and afterward it was said to him: you have been forgiven, O Abū Lubāba! But he said: by Allah, I shall not release myself until it is the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, who releases me! He said: then the Prophet, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, came and released him with his own hand. Afterward Abū Lubāba said: O Messenger of Allah, it is part of my repentance that I leave the dwelling-place of my people where I committed the sin, and that I divest myself of all my wealth as alms to Allah and to His Messenger! He said: a third suffices for you, O Abū Lubāba.
* * *
And some of them said: By this verse the bedouins (al-aʿrāb) were meant.
* Mention of who said that:
17150 — Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās: and others who confessed their sins: they mixed a righteous deed with another, an evil one, he said: and he said that they belonged to the bedouins.
17151 — Ibn Wakīʿ related to us, saying: Yazīd ibn Hārūn related to us, on the authority of Ḥajjāj ibn Abī Zaynab, saying: I heard Abū ʿUthmān say: there is in the Qurʾān, for me, no verse more giving of hope for this community than His word and others who confessed their sins, up to: indeed, Allah is forgiving, merciful.
* * *
Abū Jaʿfar said: And the most correct of these statements concerning it is the statement of him who said: this verse was revealed concerning those who confessed the wrong of their deed, namely their remaining behind from the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessing and peace be upon him, and their failure to take part in the jihād with him and to set out for the campaign against the Byzantines (al-Rūm), when he departed for Tabūk; and that those concerning whom it was revealed were a group, one of them being Abū Lubāba.
And we said only: that is the most correct view therein, because Allah, whose praise is exalted, said: and others who confessed their sins, and thus He informed about the confession of a group of their sins; and the confessor of his sin who bound himself to the pillar at the siege of [the Banū] Qurayẓa was none other than Abū Lubāba alone. Since that is the case, and Allah, blessed and exalted is He, in His word and others who confessed their sins described a group with the confession of their sins, it is known that the group He thereby described is not the single [person]. Thus it has become clear that, since this description applies only to a group, and there is — according to what the transmitters of the biography (sīra) and the reports have transmitted and concerning which the exegetes agree — no group that did that except a group of those who remained behind from the campaign of Tabūk, then what we said concerning it is correct. And we said: "among them was Abū Lubāba," on account of the agreement of the authoritative evidence of the exegetes concerning that.
