---

Names

The names of this surah include: At-Tawbah, Bara?ah [95] See: Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/227; Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 10/95. and Al-Fadihah. [96] See: Tafsir Ibn ?Atiyyah, 3/54; Tafsir Ibn Al-Jawzi, 2/230.
It was narrated that Sa?id ibn Jubayr said: I said to Ibn ?Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): Surat At-Tawbah? He said: At-Tawbah is Al-Fadihah (the exposer of the disbelievers and hypocrites). It is constantly revealed in it, wa minhum, wa minhum (and among them are some who), until they thought that there would be no one among them who would not be mentioned in it. [97] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 4882; Muslim, 3031.
It was narrated that Al-Bara? (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The last surah to be revealed was Surat Bara?ah. [98] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 4364; Muslim, 4364.
It was narrated that Zayd ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I went around collecting the Qur?an until I found the last part of At-Tawbah with Abu Khuzaymah Al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him): There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves At-Tawbah 9:128 until the end of Surat Al-Bara?ah. [99] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 7425.

Virtues and characteristics

Some of the senior Companions urged people to learn it:
?Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote: Learn Surat Bara?ah and teach your women Surat An-Nur. [100] Narrated by Sa?id ibn Mansur: At-Tafsir, 1003.
It was among the last surahs of the Holy Qur?an to be revealed.
It was narrated that Al-Bara? ibn ?Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The last surah to be revealed was Surat Bara?ah. [101] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 4364; Muslim, 4364.
This surah does not begin with ?Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful); more than one of the scholars narrated that there was consensus regarding that. [102] Those who narrated that there was consensus on that include: Makki, Abu Tahir Al-Muqri? and Ibn Al-Jawzi. See: Makki: At-Tabsirah fi?l-Qira?at As-Sab?, p. 248; Al-Muqri?: Al-?Unwan fi?l-Qira?at As-Sab?, p. 65; Ibn Al-Jawzi: An-Nashr fi?l-Qira?at As-Sab?, 1/264.

Makki or Madani?

Surat At-Tawbah is Madani, and it was narrated that there was consensus regarding that. [103] Those who narrated that there was consensus on that include Al-Qurtubi, Al-Fayruzabadi and Al-Biqa?i. see: Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, 8/61; Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/227; Al-Biqa?i: Masa?id An-Nazr, 1/151.

Objectives

The most important objectives of Surat At-Tawbah include:
Setting out guidelines that the believers must follow in their relationship with the polytheists, the People of the Book, and the hypocrites. [104] See: At-Tantawi: At-Tafsir Al-Wasit, 6/191.
Exposing the hypocrites, mentioning their types and characteristics, and exposing their misdeeds in the Muslim society. [105] See: Ibn Taymiyah: Majmu? Al-Fatawa, 7/466, 28/437; At-Tantawi: At-Tafsir Al-Wasit, 6/191.
Explaining many of the rulings on guidelines needed by the nascent state. [106] See: At-Tantawi: At-Tafsir Al-Wasit, 6/193.

Topics

The most significant topics addressed in Surat At-Tawbah include:
Disavowal of the polytheists and the command to fight them, cancel the covenants with them and prevent them from entering Al-Masjid Al-Haram; the prohibition on taking them as allies, even if they are relatives.
Reference to the battle of Hunayn; teaching the believers how to sincerely put their trust in Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted,.
Declaration of war against the People of the Book among the Arabs, until they give the jizyah, and noting that they are not much different from the polytheists, and that their strength and wealth will not avail either of the groups anything; condemning what the Jews and Christians say about ?Uzayr and ?Isa (peace be upon them); affirming the message of the sincere and truthful Messenger; criticising the Jewish rabbis for their consuming wealth unlawfully.
The sanctity of the sacred months; defining the order of the months of the year as prescribed in Islamic teachings; abolishing the postponing of sacred months that was practised during the Jahiliyyah.
Urging jihad and general mobilisation in Allah?s cause, offering wealth and lives, and not being content with the life of this world and its glamour.
Allah?s help for His Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and his companion Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, and His protecting them from being seen by the disbelievers.
Highlighting the characteristics of the hypocrites and their conspiracies, and how they caused harm to the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) with their words, deeds and false oaths; their enjoining evil and forbidding good; their breaking their promises and mocking the weak believers; the command to strive against them and the prohibition on seeking their help; the command to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) not to pray for forgiveness for those of them who were still alive or to offer the funeral prayer for those of them who died; their giving false excuses.
Mention of the Bedouin, criticising some groups among them and praising others.
Mention of the first and foremost to believe among the Muhajirun and Ansar, and highlighting their virtue; those who admitted their shortcomings; accepting charity from the poor and accepting the repentance of the penitent.
The building with ill intent of ?a mosque for the purpose of spreading mischief?, and the hypocrites? plotting against the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and his Companions. ?
The building of Masjid Quba? which was founded on obedience and righteousness, and that it is more appropriate for the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to pray in this mosque.
Allah?s making a deal with His slaves to purchase their souls and wealth, and give them Paradise in return for that.
Prohibition on praying for forgiveness for the polytheists.
Acceptance of the repentance of those who stayed behind from the Tabuk campaign.
Believers all going forth to seek knowledge and understanding of Allah?s religion, and to convey the message of Islam.
Reminding the Muslims of Allah?s favour by sending to them a Messenger from among them, and instilling in him characteristics that are all good for them; Allah?s command to His Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to put his trust in Him in all his affairs.

---