Question (Q-60)
The Scholars of At Tafsīr (Exegesis) have stated that Sūrah At Tawbah (9:75) was revealed in relation to Tha’labah Ibn Hātib. However he was a Badrī Sahābī (a Companion who participated in the Battle of Al Badr) and was promised Paradise and forgiveness. So why has he been condemned in this Blessed Verse?
“And among them are those who made a covenant with Allah (تعالى) that, “If He gives us by His munificence, we will surely give charity and surely become righteous.” (Sūrah At Tawbah, 9:75)
Answer:
Many Scholars of At Tafsīr (Exegesis) have stated that Verse 75 of Sūrah At Tawbah was revealed in relation to Tha’labah Ibn Hātib. The Blessed Verse states,
ومنهم من عٰهد اللّٰه الاٰية
“And among them are those who made a covenant with Allah (تعالى) that, “If He gives us by His munificence, we will surely give charity and surely become righteous.” (Sūrah At Tawbah, 9:75)
They have written a detailed account in this regard in which they stated that his Zakāh was not accepted by the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ) nor was it accepted by Sayyidunā Abū Bakr, Sayyidunā ‘Umar and Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān (رضى الله عنهم). He passed away during the era of Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān (رضى الله عنه).
It is furthermore stated in the Holy Qur’ān,
فاعقبهم نفاقاً في قلوبهم إلي يوم يلقونه
“So following this, Allah put hypocrisy in their hearts until the day when they will meet Him.” (Sūrah At Tawbah, 9:77)
The Leading Scholars of Islām agree that Tha’labah Ibn Hātib was a Badrī Sahābī (a Companion who participated in the Battle of Al Badr). Allah (تعالى) has promised Heaven and forgiveness for the Sahābah (Companions) who fought in that battle.
“The Scholars agree that Tha’labah Ibn Hātib was a Badrī Sahābī and it is proven that the Noble Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ) said, “No one who was present in Badr and Hudaibiyyah will enter Hell.” He (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ) also said to the people of Badr, that Allah (تعالى) said to them, “Do whatever you wish. Indeed, I have forgiven you.” (Al Hāwī lil Fatāwā, Volume 2, Page 91, Published in Beirut)
The Noble Qur’ān testifies to their greatness and excellence in Sūrah Al Mumtahinah.
The solution to this extremely important matter has been provided by the Scholars of Islām in the following ways;
There were two people by the name of Tha’labah Ibn Hātib. One person was the Great and Honourable Badrī Sahābī (رضى الله عنه) and the other was a hypocrite (Munāfiq) who refused to pay Zakāh. The aforementioned Verses of Sūrah At Tawbah condemn the hypocrite. The Badrī Sahābī (رضى الله عنه) was martyred in the Battle of Uhud and the hypocrite died during the Caliphate of Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān Al Ghanī (رضى الله عنه). It is based upon this that Al Imām Jalāluddīn As Suyūtī (رضى الله عنه) wrote, “It is evident that these were two different people.”
(Al Hāwī lil Fatāwā, Volume 2, Page 91, Published in Beirut)
Ibn Hajr Al ‘Asqalānī and Ibn Al Athīr stated, “It is clear that this individual is a different person to the Companion.” (Al-Isābah, Volume 1, Page 517 / Fath ul Bārī, Volume 3, Page 266 / Usd ul-Ghābah, Volume 1, Page 464)
Ibn Al Athīr also stated, “One explanation is that this person is different to the Companion. This is undoubtedly the reality.”
The hypocrite was also referred to as Tha’labah Ibn Hātib. It is clearly stated in Tafsīr Rūh Al Ma’ānī, “This Verse was revealed regarding Tha’labah Ibn Hātib, who was also known as Ibn Abī Hātib. He was from a tribe Banū Umayyah Ibn Zaid. He was not the Badrī Sahābī because the Badrī Sahābī was martyred in the Battle of Uhud.”
(Rūh ul Ma’ānī, Volume 5, Page 332, Al-Hāwī lil Fatāwā Volume 2, Page 91)
A group from the Scholars of At Tafsīr committed a faux pas as they mentioned the Badrī Sahābī instead of the hypocrite whilst explaining the circumstances behind the revelation of the aforementioned Verses of Sūrah At Tawbah.
Al Imām Al Qurtubī (رضى الله عنه) wrote, “Whatever is narrated from him is not Sahīh (authentic).” (Tafsīr Al Qurtubī, Volume 8, Page 133)
It has also been mentioned in the Tafsīr (Exegesis) of Sūrah Al Ahzāb, Verse 53, that it was revealed in relation to one of the ten Companions promised Jannah, Sayyidunā Talhah (رضى الله عنه), whereas it was revealed in relation to Talhah Ibn ‘UbaidIllah Ibn Musāfi’ At Taimī who was the fool who had said that he would certainly marry Sayyidah Ā’ishah (رضي الله ﺗﻌﺎﻟﯽٰعنها) after the Messenger of Allah (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ) passed away. The name of the Honourable Companion was Sayyidunā Talhah Ibn ‘UbaidIllah Ibn ‘Uthmān At Taimī (رضى الله عنه). (Al-Hāwī lil Fatāwā, Volume 2, Page 91)
The aforementioned Verses of Sūrah At Tawbah were revealed in relation to the hypocrites, Nabtal Ibn Al Hārith, Jad Ibn Qais and Mu’attab Ibn Qushair etc. (Tafsīr Al Qurtubī, Volume 8, Page 133, Sūrah Al-Tawbah)
Therefore, the explanation that Al ‘Allāmah Ghulām Rasūl Sa’īdī has given in Tafsīr Tibyān ul Qur’ān whilst writing the Exegesis of Sūrah At Tawbah is correct and accurate.
Allah (تعالى) is Most Knowing.
Written by Muftī Shamsulhudā Khān Misbāhī (Allah preserve him)
