Tafsir of Surah At-Talaq Ayah 1–3 Rules of Divorce and the Waiting Period for the Divorcee

65:1 O Prophet, when you divorce women, divorce them during the purity period and calculate the period, and fear Allah, your Lord. Do not drive them out of their homes, nor should they leave unless they commit clear immoral conduct. These are the limits set by Allah, and whoever transgresses the limits set by Allah has wronged himself. You do not know that Allah may bring about something.

65:2 And when their appointed term is about to end, retain them honorably, or part from them honorably. And make two just men among yourselves witnesses and establish the testimony for the sake of Allah. That is an admonition for whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day. And whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for him.

65:3 And He will provide for him from whence he never imagines. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He shall suffice him. Surely, Allah shall fulfill His decree; Allah has appointed a measure for everything.

Tafsir

65:1 O Prophet, when you divorce women, divorce them during the purity period and calculate the period, and fear Allah, your Lord. Do not drive them out of their homes, nor should they leave unless they commit clear immoral conduct. These are the limits set by Allah, and whoever transgresses the limits set by Allah has wronged himself. You do not know that Allah may bring about something.

O noble Messenger of Allah and the believers, when you want to divorce your wives, you should divorce them during the purity period of their menstruation.

 In other words, when a believer wishes to divorce his wife, he should divorce her during her period of purity, and no sexual intercourse should take place between them during that period.

Although these words are specifically addressed to Messenger Muhammad, the ruling is general and applies to both Messenger Muhammad and his nation. This manner of address honors Messenger Muhammad and demonstrates his high rank with Allah, Exalted be He.

The Ayah clearly states that it is unlawful to divorce one's wife during her period of menstruation.

Nafa narrated that Abdul Allah ibn Umar divorced his wife during her period of menstruation at the time of Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him]. Then Umar Ibn Al-Khattab asked Messenger Muhammad about the matter. Messenger Muhammad said to him:

"Tell him to revoke the divorce and wait until she is purified of her menstruation. Then she menstruates and is purified of her menstruation. Then he may keep her as his wife if he wishes, or divorce her before having sexual intercourse with her. That is the waiting period that Allah has commanded the believers to observe."

Nafa also narrated that Abdul Allah ibn Umar told him that he had divorced his wife during her period of menstruation. His father, Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, informed Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him] of the matter. Thereupon, Messenger Muhammad said:

"Tell Abdul Allah to revoke the divorce and keep his wife with him until she is purified of her menstruation. Then he should wait until she menstruates for the second time and is purified of her menstruation. After that, he may divorce her before having sexual intercourse with her, or, if he wishes, he may keep her as his wife. That is the waiting period that Allah has commanded the believers to observe."

Types of Divorce

There are two types of divorce:

1.      Divorce that complies with the teachings of the Sunnah of Messenger Muhammad. In this type of divorce, the husband divorces his wife during her period of purity, provided that no sexual intercourse has taken place during that period. After that, if he wishes, he may divorce her, and her waiting period begins from the time the divorce takes place.

2.     Divorce that does not comply with the teachings of the Sunnah of Messenger Muhammad. In this type of divorce, the husband divorces his wife during her period of menstruation, or during her period of purity after sexual intercourse has taken place during that period. This divorce takes effect, but the husband is sinful in this case.

And calculate the period.

O believers, you should calculate the waiting period of the divorce so that it is completed correctly. It consists of three complete menstruation periods, or three complete periods of purification.

It is obligatory to calculate the waiting period accurately in order to observe all the rulings related to divorce.

And fear Allah, your Lord.

O believers, fear Allah and obey His commands. Do not cause your divorcées to suffer by prolonging their waiting period, thereby preventing them from remarrying.

The intended meaning is to warn against negligence regarding the rulings of divorce and the waiting period of the divorcées.

Do not drive them out of their homes, nor should they leave unless they commit clear immoral conduct.

O believers, fear Allah and do not drive your divorcées out of their homes before their waiting period ends, nor should the divorcées leave their homes unless they commit clear immoral conduct.

The intended meaning is to forbid husbands from driving their divorcées out of their homes and to forbid the divorcées from leaving their homes before the completion of their waiting period unless they commit clear immoral conduct.

It should be noted that the Ayah says, "their homes," indicating that the divorcées have the right to remain in the homes of their husbands during the waiting period. Therefore, the scholars deduce from this Ayah that a divorcée should neither be driven out of her home nor leave it during the waiting period of divorce unless there is a necessary reason to do so.

These are the limits set by Allah, and whoever transgresses the limits set by Allah has wronged himself.

These rulings mentioned in the Ayah are the limits set by Allah, which you are prohibited from transgressing. You must always comply with them and apply them. Whoever transgresses the limits set by Allah has wronged himself and made himself liable to severe punishment.

You do not know that Allah may bring about something.

This Ayah encourages the believers to comply with the aforementioned rulings and invites reconciliation between the husband and his wife rather than hastily pursuing divorce.

O believer, follow the method mentioned in this Ayah in your marital life and comply with the rulings of divorce. Do not divorce your wife during her period of menstruation, and do not drive her out of her home before her waiting period has ended.

Moreover, do not close the door to reconciliation between you; rather, keep it open. You do not know that Allah may bring about something between you and your wife. Perhaps hatred may change into love, and disagreement may change into harmony.

In summary, this Ayah embodies the most sublime guidance for healing hearts that are on the verge of separation. It calls people to prudence and carefulness and keeps the door of reconciliation open even after disagreement has reached the point of separation. This is because hearts are in the Hand of Allah. It is easy for Him to change hatred into love. By His perfect will, Allah can make a husband love his wife after having hated her, and He can make him desire to remain with her after having intended to divorce her. Indeed, Allah is Able to do all things.

65:2 And when their appointed term is about to end, retain them honorably, or part from them honorably. And make two just men among yourselves witnesses and establish the testimony for the sake of Allah. That is an admonition for whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day. And whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for him.

This Ayah explains the rights of the husband and the wife when divorce takes place.

O believers, Allah has prescribed the rulings of divorce. When the waiting period of the divorcée is about to end, you may either retain your wives honorably or separate from them permanently in an honorable manner by giving them all their rights.

It is worth noting that the Ayah mentions retaining the wife before mentioning separation from her. This indicates that preserving the marital relationship is preferable whenever it serves the best interests of married life.

And make two just men among yourselves witnesses and establish the testimony for the sake of Allah.

O believers, you should appoint two just men from among yourselves as witnesses when deciding to divorce your wives or when taking back your divorcées into the marriage after resolving, as much as possible, the causes of dispute and disagreement between you.

Moreover, you should establish the testimony for the sake of Allah and give it honestly, without favoritism or partiality toward either party, whether the testimony is in favor of one party or the other.

This Ayah indicates that testimony must always be given truthfully and honestly, regardless of the time or place in which it is given.

That is an admonition for whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day.

The aforementioned rulings concerning divorce—such as calculating the waiting period accurately and not driving the divorcée out of the marital home until her waiting period has ended—are an admonition and a warning for whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day. Such believers comply with these rulings and act according to their requirements.

It should be noted that the Ayah specifically refers to those who believe in Allah and the Last Day because they are the ones who benefit from these rulings and apply them properly.

And whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for him.

Then Allah, Exalted be He, gives glad tidings to His servants who fear Him and comply with His commandments.

Whoever fears Allah in all his statements and deeds by obeying His commands and avoiding His prohibitions, Allah, out of His mercy and generosity, will make a way out for him from the afflictions and difficulties of this world and the Hereafter. Allah will also protect him from the agonies of death and the horrors of the Day of Judgment.

65:3 And He will provide for him from whence he never imagines. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He shall suffice him. Surely, Allah shall fulfill His decree; Allah has appointed a measure for everything.

Furthermore, Allah will provide those who fear Him with the best provision in this world and the Hereafter and will provide for them from sources they could never imagine. Indeed, the means of Allah's provision are known only to Allah, Exalted be He.

Verily, these glad tidings strengthen the believer's heart and encourage him to obey Allah to the best of his ability. They also demonstrate that fearing Allah is the true means of deliverance from the afflictions of this world and the Hereafter, as well as from the agonies of death.

And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He shall suffice him. Surely, Allah shall fulfill His decree; Allah has appointed a measure for everything.

Whoever puts his trust in Allah, Allah will suffice him in all his affairs. Allah will fulfill His decree and enable him to attain all his objectives, for nothing can stand before the will and power of Allah, Exalted be He.

Verily, Allah has appointed a measure for everything before its existence, and He perfectly knows how, where, and when it will take place.

Allah has appointed a measure for everything.

Verily, Allah has appointed a measure for everything. Some people may feel that it is impossible or unlikely for their needs to be fulfilled or for their afflictions to be removed, and so they fall into despair. However, they forget that Allah is All-Able and All-Powerful. By His will, Allah can change a person's condition from affliction to prosperity and happiness in the blink of an eye. Therefore, O people, do not despair of the mercy of Allah.

Learned Lessons from Surah At-Talaq Ayah 1–3

·         Divorce is permissible in Islam, provided that the parties involved comply with the teachings and rulings of Islamic Shariah related to divorce. However, a husband should divorce his wife only when there is no remaining possibility of preserving the marriage. When he decides to divorce her, he should pronounce only one divorce at a time, thereby giving both himself and his wife an opportunity to reconsider the causes that led to the breakdown of their relationship and to rectify them, if possible.

·         A husband should divorce his wife during her period of purity, provided that no sexual intercourse has taken place during that period. After the divorce is pronounced, the calculation of the waiting period begins.

·         The waiting period of divorce for a menstruating woman consists of three menstrual cycles.

·         The waiting period of divorce should be calculated accurately.

·         A husband must not drive his divorced wife out of the marital home during her waiting period.

·         It is permissible to drive the divorced wife out of the marital home during the waiting period if she commits clear immoral conduct.

·         The rulings of divorce mentioned in Surah At-Talaq are among the limits set by Allah. It is impermissible to transgress them. Whoever transgresses the limits set by Allah wrongs himself. For example, a husband may later regret divorcing his wife and wish to restore the marriage. If he has complied with the rulings of Islamic Shariah regarding divorce, he can do so with ease. However, if he has ignored those rulings and transgressed the limits set by Allah, he may regret his actions and find no lawful way to restore the marriage.

·         When the waiting period is about to end, the husband may either take his divorcée back into the marriage or terminate the marriage permanently. In either case, he must act honorably and refrain from doing anything that would harm the divorcée.

·         It is recommended to appoint two just men as witnesses to the divorce and to the husband's restoration of his wife to the marriage in order to prevent future disputes.

·         A true believer is one who is pleased with the rulings prescribed by Allah and benefits from the admonitions of the Quran.

·         Whoever fears Allah by complying with His commandments and avoiding His prohibitions, Allah will make a way out for him from the afflictions and difficulties of this world and the Hereafter.

·         Whoever puts his trust in Allah, Allah will suffice him in all his affairs. Allah has appointed a measure for everything, and whatever Allah decrees for the believer is good, whether the believer realizes it or not. Therefore, the believer should be content with all the decrees of Allah.

 

Introduction to English Translation and Tafsir of Surah At-Talaq

 

Name of the Surah

This Surah is called At-Talaq (The Divorce) because it discusses the rules related to divorce and the waiting period of the divorcee. It begins by addressing Messenger Muhammad:

65:1 O Prophet, when you divorce women, divorce them during the purity period and calculate the period,

Relationship between Surah At-Taghabun and Surah At-Talaq

Surah At-Talaq comes after Surah At-Taghabun in the written copy of the Quran. Surah At-Taghabun mentions that one's wife and children may become enemies to him, which may lead to divorce and refraining from spending on one's children. Therefore, Surah At-Talaq addresses the rules related to divorce and spending on the divorcee and the children.

Surah At-Taghabun also refers to the perfect knowledge of Allah and that He knows the seen and the unseen. Likewise, Surah At-Talaq refers to the perfect knowledge of Allah with regard to the interests of women and the rules related to their divorce.

Most Important Topics Discussed in the Surah

As Surah At-Talaq was revealed in Al-Madinah, it discusses Islamic rulings regulating family affairs before and after divorce.

Surah At-Talaq begins by explaining the rules concerning divorce in accordance with Islamic law. Specifically:

• Divorce must take place during the purity period of the divorcee.
• In other words, divorce should take place after the divorcee has completed her menstruation and entered the period of purity. At that point, the divorce may take place, and the calculation of the waiting period may begin.
• The Surah also emphasizes that fear of Allah must be observed at all times, especially when spouses are about to end their marital relationship.
• Furthermore, the Surah commands husbands either to continue the marital relationship with kindness or to divorce their wives with kindness.
• It also highlights that fear of Allah and reliance upon Him should be maintained at all times.

65:1 O Prophet, when you divorce women, divorce them during the purity period and calculate the period, and fear Allah, your Lord. Do not drive them out of their homes nor should they leave unless they clear commit immoral conduct. These are the limits set by Allah and whoever transgresses the limits set by Allah – he has wronged himself. You do not know that may Allah bring about something.

The Surah then explains the waiting periods for different categories of women:

• A woman who has reached menopause has a waiting period of three months.
• A young woman who has not reached the age of puberty also has a waiting period of three months.
• A pregnant woman remains in her waiting period until she gives birth.

65:4 And those of your women, who have passed the age of menstruation, if you are unsure, their waiting period is three months and those who have not menstruated too, and the pregnant, their waiting period, is until they give birth. And whoever fears Allah, Allah will make his affair easy for him.

As the rules related to the waiting period of women are mentioned, the Surah also addresses the rules concerning spending and housing during the waiting period, the payment for suckling, and the determination of appropriate compensation in such situations. The discussion of these rulings is accompanied by repeated commands to fear Allah so that wrongdoing does not occur.

65:6 Let them dwell where you dwell according to your means, and do not harass them to straiten their conditions. If they are pregnant, then spend on them until they give birth to their babies. And if they suckle your child, give them their compensation. And you should advise one another honorably and if you have a disagreement, then another woman may suckle for him.

Finally, Surah At-Talaq concludes by warning against violating the rules of divorce and transgressing the limits set by Allah, Exalted be He. It also threatens wrongdoers with a punishment similar to that which befell the former nations that transgressed the limits set by Allah. Furthermore, the command to fear Allah at all times is repeated.

The Surah also states that reciting the revelation of Allah to bring the believers out of darkness into light is the duty of Messenger Muhammad. It further refers to the great reward for believing in the Oneness of Allah and performing righteous deeds for His sake.

Finally, the Surah presents conclusive evidence confirming the comprehensive power and knowledge of Allah by referring to the creation of the seven heavens and the seven earths, as well as the descent of the revelation and command of Allah throughout the heavens and the earth.

65:8 How many a town insolently disobeyed the command of its Lord and His Messengers; and then We called it to a severe reckoning and punished it with a horrible punishment.

65:9 So it tasted the evil consequence of its affair and the end of its affair was loss.

65:12 It is Allah, Who created seven heavens and of the earth their like, between them the command descends, that you may know that Allah has power over all things and that Allah has encompasses all things with knowledge.

 

Tafsir Surah At-Taghabun Ayah 14–18 The Trial of Wealth and Children

 

64:14 O you who believe, truly, among your wives and children there is an enemy to you; so beware of them. And if you pardon, overlook, and forgive, then surely Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Merciful.

64:15 Your wealth and your children are only a trial, and with Allah is a great reward.

64:16 So fear Allah as much as you can; and listen, obey, and spend, that is better for yourselves. And whoever is guarded against the avarice of his soul, those—they are the successful.

64:17 If you lend to Allah a goodly loan, He will multiply it for you and forgive you. And Allah is All-Thankful, All-Forbearing.

64:18 He is the Knower of the unseen and the seen; He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

Relationship with the Previous Part

In the previous part, the believers were commanded to obey Allah and His Messenger Muhammad. In this part, they are warned about the trial of wives and children if these relationships lead them to neglect righteous deeds. Furthermore, the believers are informed that their wealth and children are a trial. Therefore, they should beware of giving them priority over fulfilling their religious duties. They are also commanded to fear Allah and spend for His sake as much as they can. By doing so, they will attain Allah's forgiveness and abundant reward.

Cause of Revelation

Imam Muhammad Bin Jarir At-Tabari mentions that the following Ayah was revealed concerning some believers who intended to emigrate to Al-Madinah for the sake of Allah. However, their wives and children discouraged them from doing so. Thus, Allah, Exalted be He, revealed:

[64:14 O you who believe, truly, among your wives and children there is an enemy to you; so beware of them. And if you pardon, overlook, and forgive, then surely Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Merciful.]

Abdul Allah Bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, was asked about the following Ayah:

[64:14 O you who believe, truly, among your wives and children there is an enemy to you; so beware of them. And if you pardon, overlook, and forgive, then surely Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Merciful.]

He said,

"These were men who embraced Islam in Makkah and wished to join Messenger Muhammad in Al-Madinah. However, their wives and children discouraged them from doing so and refused to accompany them to Al-Madinah. When they later joined Messenger Muhammad in Al-Madinah, they found that the believers had learned much about Islam. Consequently, they wanted to punish their wives and children. Then Allah, Exalted be He, revealed:

[64:14 O you who believe, truly, among your wives and children there is an enemy to you; so beware of them. And if you pardon, overlook, and forgive, then surely Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Merciful.]"

Tafsir

64:14 O you who believe, truly, among your wives and children there is an enemy to you; so beware of them. And if you pardon, overlook, and forgive, then surely Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Merciful.

O you who believe in Allah and His Messenger Muhammad, truly, among your wives and children are those who become enemies to you when they cause you to neglect righteous deeds that will benefit you in the Hereafter. Therefore, beware of them, and do not allow them to discourage you from seeking the pleasure of Allah. Beware of giving preference to your wives and children over obeying the commands of Allah and performing righteous deeds for His sake.

The enmity referred to in this Ayah includes both religious and worldly enmity. In other words, wives and children may have harmful intentions toward their husbands and fathers because of differences in creed, character, or disposition.

In other words, O you who believe in Allah and His Messenger Muhammad, some of your wives and children may oppose you in matters relating to religion or worldly affairs. Therefore, beware of them, and do not obey them in matters that contradict the teachings of Islam, for no created being should be obeyed at the expense of disobeying the Creator, Allah.

And if you pardon, overlook, and forgive, then surely Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Merciful.

O believers, if you pardon your wives and children, overlook their mistakes, and forgive them, then surely Allah is All-Forgiving and All-Merciful. He will reward you immensely, for He loves those who forgive others and show mercy.

64:15 Your wealth and your children are only a trial, and with Allah is a great reward.

O people, your wealth and your children are nothing but a trial and a test. They may lead you to disobey Allah by encouraging you to seek unlawful earnings, neglect His rights, and commit sins and unrighteous deeds. Therefore, you should remember that with Allah is a great reward for those who give preference to obeying Him over satisfying their attachment to wealth and children.

64:16 So fear Allah as much as you can; and listen, obey, and spend, that is better for yourselves. And whoever is guarded against the avarice of his soul, those—they are the successful.

O believers, beware of Allah's punishment and strive to protect yourselves from it by fulfilling His commands and avoiding His prohibitions. Fear Allah to the best of your ability. Listen attentively to the commands of Allah, obey Allah and His Messenger Muhammad, and spend from what Allah has provided you for His sake. Do not be stingy in spending on righteous causes. This is better for yourselves, as it will bring you happiness in this worldly life and in the Hereafter.

Qatada said,

"[64:16 So fear Allah as much as you can; and listen…] This is permission Allah has given to His slaves, and He is Merciful towards His slaves. [O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims.] [Q. 3:102] This Ayah was revealed earlier. Then Allah, Exalted be He, lightened the matter for His slaves and subsequently revealed: [64:16 So fear Allah as much as you can; and listen…] As much as you can, O son of Adam. Messenger Muhammad took the pledge of allegiance from the believers to listen and obey according to their ability."

And whoever is guarded against the avarice of his soul, those—they are the successful.

Whoever Allah protects from the avarice of his own soul and enables to spend on righteous causes for His sake will be among the successful.

64:17 If you lend to Allah a goodly loan, He will multiply it for you and forgive you. And Allah is All-Thankful, All-Forbearing.

If you sincerely and willingly spend some of your wealth on righteous causes that please Allah, He will multiply your reward. Out of His generosity, He multiplies one good deed tenfold, seven hundredfold, or even more. He will also forgive your sins.

Allah is All-Thankful and All-Forbearing. He grants immense reward for even the smallest righteous deed and forgives and pardons sins. Furthermore, Allah does not hasten to punish sinners. Rather, He gives them time to repent sincerely and amend their mistakes.

64:18 He is the Knower of the unseen and the seen; He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

Allah is the Knower of the unseen and the seen. His knowledge is perfect, and nothing is hidden from Him.

Allah is the All-Mighty and the All-Wise. Nothing can stand against His perfect will and power, and He manages the affairs of the universe with perfect wisdom.

The Learned Lessons from Surah At-Taghabun Ayah 14–18

·         Allah, Exalted be He, warns the believers of the potential danger posed by their wives and children. They may become a source of religious or worldly harm by encouraging them to neglect the commands of Allah. For example, they may discourage them from spending for the sake of Allah or from emigrating in His cause.

·         A person's wife and children are not enemies in themselves. Rather, their unrighteous influence becomes harmful if a believer obeys them at the expense of obeying the commands of Allah.

·         Forgiveness and pardon are better than punishment and revenge. Allah encourages the believers to overlook the mistakes of others and respond with mercy whenever appropriate.

·         Allah is All-Forgiving and All-Merciful. He forgives those who sincerely repent of their sins and perform righteous deeds. Out of His mercy and generosity, He does not hasten to punish sinners; rather, He grants them opportunities to repent and return to Him.

·         With Allah is the greatest reward: Paradise and its everlasting bliss.

·         True fear of Allah is demonstrated by obeying His commands and avoiding His prohibitions to the best of one's ability.

·         The believers are required to listen to, obey, and adhere to the commands of Allah and His Messenger Muhammad.

·         The believers are encouraged to spend part of their wealth for the sake of Allah. Their spending will be rewarded abundantly, for Allah multiplies the reward of righteous deeds many times over.

·         Success belongs to those whom Allah protects from the avarice and greed of their own souls, enabling them to give generously for His sake.

·         Allah is All-Knowing. He knows both the unseen and the seen, and nothing is hidden from His perfect knowledge.

·         Allah is the All-Mighty. Nothing can overcome His perfect power or prevent the fulfillment of His will.

·         Allah is the All-Wise. He manages the affairs of the universe with perfect wisdom, and all His decrees are based on absolute justice and wisdom.

 

Tafsir Surah At-Taghabun Ayah 11–13 Everything Is Subject to the Will of Allah

64:11 No affliction befalls save by the leave of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah, He will guide his heart. And Allah is All-Knowing of all things.

64:12 And obey Allah and obey the Messenger. Then, if you turn away, it is only upon Our Messenger the clear proclamation.

64:13 Allah, there is no god but He. And on Allah, let the believers put their trust.

Relationship with the Previous Part

The previous part mentions that people will be divided into two groups: the inhabitants of Paradise and the dwellers of Hell. It also commands people to believe in the Oneness of Allah and perform righteous deeds for the sake of Allah. This part then explains that everything that happens in the universe takes place by the perfect will of Allah. It also commands people to obey His commands and avoid His prohibitions, obey His Messenger Muhammad, and rely on Him alone.

Tafsir

64:11 No affliction befalls save by the leave of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah, He will guide his heart. And Allah is All-Knowing of all things.

Whatever affliction befalls a person happens by the leave of Allah. A person should do his best to attain beneficial things and ward off harmful ones, and then rely on Allah to guide him and grant him what He knows is best for him. However, achieving results depends on the will of Allah.

And whoever believes in Allah, He will guide his heart. And Allah is All-Knowing of all things.

Whoever believes in Allah, knows that whatever befalls him is by the will of Allah, and then patiently submits to the will of Allah, Allah will guide his heart to the right path and reward him abundantly. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing of all things, and nothing is hidden from His perfect knowledge.

Abdul Allah Bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, said:

‘[And whoever believes in Allah, He will guide his heart.] Allah will guide his heart to certainty. He will know that what befell him will never miss him, and whatever missed him would never befall him.’

Alqama said:

‘[And whoever believes in Allah, He will guide his heart.] He is a man who is afflicted with an affliction, and he knows that it happened by the leave of Allah. Then, he submits and is pleased with it.’

64:12 And obey Allah and obey the Messenger. Then, if you turn away, it is only upon Our Messenger the clear proclamation.

O people, obey the commands of Allah and His Messenger Muhammad and avoid their prohibitions. Then, if you turn away from abiding by the commands of Allah and His Messenger Muhammad, the consequence of your sins will be upon yourselves, and you will harm none but yourselves. The duty of the Messenger of Allah is only the clear proclamation, which he fulfilled properly.

64:13 Allah, there is no god but He. And on Allah, let the believers put their trust.

O people, Allah, there is no god but He. Only Allah deserves sincere worship. And on Allah let the believers put their trust, and on Him let the believers place their hope. He, Exalted be He, is the only Creator, and all matters are under His perfect will.

The Learned Lessons from Surah At-Taghabun Ayah 11–13

• It is obligatory to be pleased with the decree of Allah, whether good or evil, as everything that happens in the universe takes place by the will of Allah.
• Whoever firmly believes and knows that nothing happens except by the leave of Allah, Allah will guide his heart to patiently accept and be pleased with His decree. If he is blessed with a blessing, he thanks Allah, and if he is afflicted with an affliction, he remains patient.
• Allah is All-Knowing, and nothing is hidden from His perfect knowledge. He knows those who submissively accept and are pleased with His decree and those who do not.
• Afflictions in the life of this world are not signs of Allah's displeasure, and success in this world is not a sign of His pleasure.
• The believers should comfort themselves when afflictions befall them and occupy themselves with obeying Allah and His Messenger. If they turn away from abiding by the commands of Allah, the duty of the Messenger of Allah is only the clear proclamation of the message of Allah.
• People must worship Allah alone, as there is no god worthy of worship but Him. Allah is the Creator of the universe and all that is in it. They must also rely on Allah in all their affairs after taking the necessary means to achieve their desired goals.

 

Tafsir Surah At-Taghabun Ayah 8–10 Commanding Belief in the Oneness of Allah and Warning of the Horrors of the Day of Judgment

 

64:8 So, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Light which We have revealed. And Allah is well aware of what you do.

64:9 On the day that He will gather you for the Day of Gathering, that is the Day of Mutual Loss and Gain. And whoever believes in Allah and performs righteous deeds, He will absolve him of his sins and admit him into gardens underneath which rivers flow, to abide therein forever. That is the great success.

64:10 And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs, those shall be the inhabitants of the Fire, to abide therein forever. And what an evil end!

Relationship with the Previous Part

The previous part sheds light on the proofs of the Oneness of Allah, divinity, and prophethood. It also refutes the claims of the deniers of resurrection on the Day of Judgment and refers to the punishment that befell them because of their disbelief in the Oneness of Allah and their refusal to believe in the Messengers of Allah. This part then invites people to believe in Allah alone, His Messenger Muhammad, the Quran, and resurrection on the Day of Judgment. It notes that acknowledging resurrection on the Day of Judgment is one of the requirements of belief in Allah and His Oneness. Furthermore, it warns of reckoning and recompense on the Day of Judgment and elaborates on some aspects of mutual loss and gain on that day. 

Tafsir

64:8 So, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Light which We have revealed. And Allah is well aware of what you do.

O disbelievers, truly, raising people from their graves on the Day of Judgment for reckoning and recompense is easy for Allah. Therefore, you should believe in the Oneness of Allah, His Messenger Muhammad, and the Quran. Allah revealed the Quran to His Messenger Muhammad as a light that guides people to attain happiness in this world and the Hereafter. It brings people out of the darkness of disbelief into the light of belief in the Oneness of Allah. Verily, Allah is well aware of all people's statements and deeds, and nothing is hidden from His perfect knowledge. Allah, Exalted be He, will justly recompense people for all their statements and deeds on the Day of Judgment.

64:9 On the day that He will gather you for the Day of Gathering, that is the Day of Mutual Loss and Gain. And whoever believes in Allah and performs righteous deeds, He will absolve him of his sins and admit him into gardens underneath which rivers flow, to abide therein forever. That is the great success.

The Ayah warns of the horrors of the Day of Gathering, namely, the Day of Judgment. It is called the Day of Gathering because Allah will gather all people on this day. It is also called the Day of Mutual Loss and Gain because the disbelievers will be the losers and the believers will be the gainers on this day.

O noble Messenger Muhammad, say to the deniers of the occurrence of the Day of Judgment: “You shall be raised from your graves for reckoning on the Day of Judgment, and you shall be informed of all your deeds and statements. On the Day of Gathering and Mutual Loss and Gain, Allah, Exalted be He, will gather all creatures for reckoning. The people of truth, the believers, shall be the gainers, as they will enter Paradise, where they shall enjoy lasting happiness. On the other hand, the people of falsehood, the disbelievers, shall be the losers, as they will enter Hell, where they shall suffer lasting and painful punishment.”

And whoever believes in Allah and performs righteous deeds, He will absolve him of his sins and admit him into gardens underneath which rivers flow, to abide therein forever. That is the great success.

Whoever believes in the Oneness of Allah and in what the Messengers of Allah brought, and performs righteous deeds by obeying the commands of Allah and avoiding His prohibitions, Allah will absolve him of his sins and admit him into Paradise, underneath which rivers flow, where he will abide forever. Indeed, that is the great success, beyond which there is no greater success.

64:10 And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs, those shall be the inhabitants of the Fire, to abide therein forever. And what an evil end!

Those who disbelieve in the Oneness of Allah and His Messengers and deny the signs that confirm His Oneness and perfect ability shall be the inhabitants of the Fire, where they will abide forever. Indeed, Hell is an evil end and abode.

The Learned Lessons from Surah At-Taghabun Ayah 8–10

• Allah commands people to believe in His Oneness, His Messenger Muhammad, and the Quran, which He revealed to guide people to the right path. If they disbelieve, a punishment similar to that which befell the former disbelieving nations will befall them.
• The Ayat warn people of the horrors of the Day of Judgment. On that day, Allah will gather all people for reckoning and recompense. The disbelievers will be the losers, and the believers will be the gainers.
• The believers in the Oneness of Allah will enter Paradise by the will and mercy of Allah, where they will enjoy lasting happiness. On the other hand, the disbelievers will enter Hell, where they will suffer severe punishment because of their disbelief in the Oneness of Allah.