The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 731
PT. 10 AT-TAUBAH CH. 9 وَمِنْهُمُ الَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ النَّبِيَّ وَيَقُولُونَ And among them are those. 61 who annoy the Prophet and say, هُوَ ا ذُنَّ قُلْ أَذُنَ خَيْرٍ لَّكُمْ يُؤْمِن He gives ear to all. Say, His giving ear to all is good for you; بِاللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةٌ he believes in Allah and believes لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ اللهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمُ the Faithful, and is "a mercy for those of you who believe. ' And those who annoy the Messenger of Allah shall have a grievous punishment. 1216 a9:128; 21:108. who are employed in collecting promoting social relations. See also Zakah, or in keeping an account 2:178. thereof or in the performance of any other duty connected therewith. The words, whose hearts are to be reconciled, mean those whose hearts are sincerely inclined towards Islam but who, owing to their having become disconnected with their former society, stand in need of monetary help. The term extends to new converts also. The word, slaves, signifies, besides actual slaves, captives and such persons as are called upon to pay blood money to secure their freedom. The expression, for those in debt, means those who are unable to pay their debts or those who have suffered an extraordinary loss in trade, etc. The words, for the cause of Allah, imply every good or pious work commanded by God. The term (the wayfarer) includes those stranded on a journey for lack of money; or those who travel in search of knowledge or for 1171 1216. Commentary: excess The hypocrites, by using the words, li. e. he gives ear to all, (lit. "he is all ear") with regard to the Holy Prophet, meant to say that he was always listening to the reports of his reporters and thus, by reason of the of this practice, he had become, as it were, the very organ of hearing. The verse replies to this taunt of the hypocrites by saying that the Prophet did indeed receive reports but this practice was essential for good administration; for if he who is in power does not keep himself well- informed, he cannot rule with justice. Moreover, by using the words, is good for you, the verse hints that though the Prophet did listen to reports about the machinations of the hypocrites, he never punished them merely on the basis of these reports without first ascertaining whether they were true or false, and even