Skip to content
Assabile
English

Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 5

سورة التوبة، الآية ٥

9:5 Juz 10 Hizb 19 Page 187 of the mushaf Medinan surah

Text of verse 9:5

فَإِذَا ٱنسَلَخَ ٱلْأَشْهُرُ ٱلْحُرُمُ فَٱقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَٱحْصُرُوهُمْ وَٱقْعُدُوا۟ لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ فَإِن تَابُوا۟ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَخَلُّوا۟ سَبِيلَهُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ۝٥

Transliteration

fa-idhā insalakha l-ashhuru l-ḥurumu fa-uq'tulū l-mush'rikīna ḥaythu wajadttumūhum wakhudhūhum wa-uḥ'ṣurūhum wa-uq'ʿudū lahum kulla marṣadin fa-in tābū wa-aqāmū l-ṣalata waātawū l-zakata fakhallū sabīlahum inna l-laha ghafūrun raḥīmun

Translation

And when the inviolable months464 have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakāh, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

Notes

[464] The four months mentioned in verse 2, in which the disbelievers were allowed free movement within the land. Other scholars have interpreted them as "the sacred months," i.e., Muḥarram, Rajab, Dhul-Qaʿdah and Dhul-Ḥijjah.

Translation in another language
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary Read in the surah

Verse 5 of Surah At-Tawbah (9:5), a Medinan surah, is in juz 10, on page 187 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.

Listen to verse 5 of Surah At-Tawbah

78 recitations by 72 reciters: pick one and it plays in the player.

All voices (78)

Tafsir of verse 5

Al-Mukhtasar

With the ending of the sacred months (Dhū Al-Qa‘dah, Dhū Al-Ḥijjah, Muḥarram and Rajab), during which you assured your enemies of safety, kill the idolaters wherever you meet them. Besiege them in their fortresses and lie in wait for them on their paths. If they repent to Allah from their idolatry, establish the prayer and give the Zakat from their wealth, they become your brothers in Islam and you must not fight them any longer. Allah is Forgiving and Compassionate towards those of His servants who repent to Him.

Tafsir of the whole Surah At-Tawbah

Other translations of verse 5

Then when the [four] sacred months6 are over, kill the polytheists wherever you find them, seize them, besiege them and lie in wait for them on every route7. But if they repent, establish prayers and give zakah, then set them free, for Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful8.

Notes

[6] i.e., Muharram, Rajab, Dhul-Qa‘dah and Dhul-Hijjah.
[7] Some prominent scholars of Islam are of the opinion that this applies especially to combatant disbelievers who pose a threat to Muslims.
[8] The next few verses reveal who these really are and why they deserve such retaliatory measures.

Then when the Sacred Months (the 1st, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islâmic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikûn (See V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give Zakât, then leave their way free. Verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.1

Notes

[1] a) (V.9:5) See the footnote of (V.2:193).
b) Narrated Abû Hurairah رضي الله عنه : When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم died and Abû Bakr became his successor and some of the Arabs reverted to disbelief, ‘Umar said, "O Abû Bakr! How can you fight these people although Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, " I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: La ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh), and whoever said La ilâha illallâh will save his property and his life from me, unless (he does something for which he receives legal punishment) justly, and his account will be on Allâh?" Abû Bakr said, "By Allâh! I will fight who ever differentiates between Salât (prayers) and Zakât, as Zakât is the right to be taken from property (according to Allâh’s orders). By Allâh! If they refused to pay me even a kid they used to pay to Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, I would fight with them for withholding it," ‘Umar said "By Allâh! It was nothing, but I noticed that Allâh opened Abû Bakr’s chest towards the decision to fight, therefore I realized that his decision was right." (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.9, Hadîth No 59).

Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

So, when the prohibiting months are drawn away, (Literally: stripped away) then kill the associators wherever you find them, and take them, and detain them, and sit (in wait) for them at every place of observation (i.e., ambush). But, in case they repent, and keep up the prayer, and bring the Zakat, (i.e., pay the obligatory poor-dues) then let them go their way; (Literally: pass on their way) surely Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful..

Verse 5 word by word

  1. فَإِذَا fa-idhā Then when
  2. ٱنسَلَخَ insalakha have passed س ل خ
  3. ٱلْأَشْهُرُ l-ashhuru the sacred months ش ه ر
  4. ٱلْحُرُمُ l-ḥurumu the sacred months ح ر م
  5. فَٱقْتُلُوا۟ fa-uq'tulū then kill ق ت ل
  6. ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ l-mush'rikīna the polytheists ش ر ك
  7. حَيْثُ ḥaythu wherever ح ي ث
  8. وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ wajadttumūhum you find them و ج د
  9. وَخُذُوهُمْ wakhudhūhum and seize them أ خ ذ
  10. وَٱحْصُرُوهُمْ wa-uḥ'ṣurūhum and besiege them ح ص ر
  11. وَٱقْعُدُوا۟ wa-uq'ʿudū and sit (in wait) ق ع د
  12. لَهُمْ lahum for them
  13. كُلَّ kulla (at) every ك ل ل
  14. مَرْصَدٍ marṣadin place of ambush ر ص د
  15. فَإِن fa-in But if
  16. تَابُوا۟ tābū they repent ت و ب
  17. وَأَقَامُوا۟ wa-aqāmū and establish ق و م
  18. ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ l-ṣalata the prayer ص ل و
  19. وَءَاتَوُا۟ waātawū and give أ ت ي
  20. ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ l-zakata the zakah ز ك و
  21. فَخَلُّوا۟ fakhallū then leave خ ل و
  22. سَبِيلَهُمْ sabīlahum their way س ب ل
  23. إِنَّ inna Indeed
  24. ٱللَّهَ l-laha Allah
  25. غَفُورٌ ghafūrun (is) Oft-Forgiving غ ف ر
  26. رَّحِيمٌ raḥīmun Most Merciful ر ح م

Hadiths that cite this verse

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 25

I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish prayer, and pay Zakah

"I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish prayer, and pay Zakah; if they do so, they protect their blood and properties from me, except through the right of Islam; and their reckoning is with…

أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَشْهَدُوا أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلاَةَ، وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ، فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ عَصَمُوا مِنِّي دِمَاءَهُمْ…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 6 other versions Explained

Verses related to verse 5

Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse

  • At-Tawbah 9:36

    إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَقَٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

    Indeed, the number of months with Allāh is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allāh [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion [i.e., way], so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allāh is with the righteous [who fear Him].

  • At-Tawbah 9:2

    فَسِيحُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِى ٱللَّهِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخْزِى ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

    So travel freely, [O disbelievers], throughout the land [during] four months but know that you cannot cause failure to Allāh and that Allāh will disgrace the disbelievers.

  • Al-Baqarah 2:191

    وَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَخْرِجُوهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ أَخْرَجُوكُمْ وَٱلْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ ٱلْقَتْلِ وَلَا تُقَٰتِلُوهُمْ عِندَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ حَتَّىٰ يُقَٰتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ فَإِن قَٰتَلُوكُمْ فَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ كَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

    And kill them [in battle] wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al-Ḥarām until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.

  • At-Tawbah 9:11

    فَإِن تَابُوا۟ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَنُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ

    But if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakāh, then they are your brothers in religion; and We detail the verses for a people who know.

  • At-Tawbah 9:29

    قَٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَلَا بِٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَلَا يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَلَا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ ٱلْحَقِّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ حَتَّىٰ يُعْطُوا۟ ٱلْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَٰغِرُونَ

    Fight against those who do not believe in Allāh or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allāh and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth [i.e., Islām] from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.

  • Al-Hujurat 49:9

    وَإِن طَآئِفَتَانِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱقْتَتَلُوا۟ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِنۢ بَغَتْ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا عَلَى ٱلْأُخْرَىٰ فَقَٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّتِى تَبْغِى حَتَّىٰ تَفِىٓءَ إِلَىٰٓ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ فَإِن فَآءَتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمَا بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَأَقْسِطُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ

    And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allāh. And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allāh loves those who act justly.

Verses with similar wording

They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.

  • Al-Anfal 8:69

    فَكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا غَنِمْتُمْ حَلَٰلًا طَيِّبًا وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

    So consume what you have taken of war booty [as being] lawful and good, and fear Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

  • Al-Baqarah 2:199

    ثُمَّ أَفِيضُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَفَاضَ ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

    Then depart from the place from where [all] the people depart and ask forgiveness of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

  • Al-Ma’idah 5:34

    إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَقْدِرُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

    Except for those who return [repenting] before you overcome [i.e., apprehend] them. And know that Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

  • Al-Ma’idah 5:39

    فَمَن تَابَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ظُلْمِهِۦ وَأَصْلَحَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

    But whoever repents after his wrongdoing and reforms, indeed, Allāh will turn to him in forgiveness. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

  • Al-Baqarah 2:182

    فَمَنْ خَافَ مِن مُّوصٍ جَنَفًا أَوْ إِثْمًا فَأَصْلَحَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

    But if one fears from the bequeather [some] error or sin and corrects that which is between them [i.e., the concerned parties], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

  • At-Tawbah 9:102

    وَءَاخَرُونَ ٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ خَلَطُوا۟ عَمَلًا صَٰلِحًا وَءَاخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

    And [there are] others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed [i.e., polluted] a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allāh will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

All similar verses of Surah At-Tawbah

The names of Allah in this verse

Go further

English
Monday, October 26, 2026 15 جمادى الأولى 1448 هـ

About Privacy