The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 743
PT. 10 AT-TAUBAH CH. 9 وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ مَّاتَ اَبَدًا And never pray thou for any. 84 وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَى قَبْرِهِ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُ وا بِاللهِ his grave; for they disbelieved وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَاتُوْا وَهُمْ فُسِقُونَ of them that dies, nor stand by in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were disobedient. 1236 وَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَاَوْلَادُهُمْ إِنَّمَا And their possessions and. 85 their children should not excite يُرِيدُ اللهُ أَنْ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ بِهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا thy wonder; Allah only intends وَتَزْهَقَ أَنْفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كُفِرُونَ to punish them therewith in this world and that their souls may depart while they disbelievers. 1237 are a9:55. Tabuk. But if, as some commentators think, it was revealed after his return to Medina, it would be taken to allude to what the hypocrites previously used to say regarding the said expedition. They thought that he would never return from the expedition alive. So the Quran, in this verse reminds them of what they used to say about the Holy Prophet, and of his safe return, contrary to their expectation. The particle (if), it should be noted, does not always express doubt but is often used as simply a conditional particle. Moreover, it is sometimes used not from the point of view of the speaker, but from that of the person addressed. The word is here used by God and it is obvious that God had no doubt as to the safe return of the Prophet. So it must be taken to express the state of mind of the hypocrites. 1236. Commentary: This verse prohibits Muslims from saying the funeral Prayer for hypocrites who are disbelievers at heart. When 9:80 was revealed, the Holy Prophet thought that it was still open to him to perform the funeral service of a hypocrite if he should so choose; and when therefore 'Abdullah bin Ubayy died, he performed the service for him. By the present verse, however, God definitely forbade the performance of funeral service for disbelieving hypocrites. As a matter of principle, he who dies in a state of disbelief (whether he be an open disbeliever or a proved hypocrite) forfeits all claims on the prayers of the Faithful. His case is in the hands of God. He may punish or forgive him, as He may think fit. See also 9:80 above. 1237. Commentary: See note on 9:55 above. 1183