Surah At-Tawbah 9:3
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ · Medinan · Verse 3 of 129
وَأَذَٰنٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ يَوْمَ ٱلْحَجِّ ٱلْأَكْبَرِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَرِىٓءٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ۙ وَرَسُولُهُۥ ۚ فَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِى ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
Translation
On the Day of the Great Pilgrimage [there will be] a proclamation from God and His Messenger to all people: ‘God and His Messenger are released from [treaty] obligations to the idolaters. It will be better for you [idolaters] if you repent; know that you cannot escape God if you turn away.’ [Prophet], warn those who ignore [God] that they will have a painful punishment.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
The third verse of Surah At-Tawbah is a profound declaration, and examining its specific word choices through the Wording lens reveals layers of meaning and intent.
A Public Proclamation
The verse begins with `وَأَذَانٌ` (wa 'adhan), meaning "and an announcement" or "proclamation." Scholars like al-Razi explain that `أذان` refers to a formal, public declaration, akin to the call to prayer, rather than just simple information. It signals that this message is to be made widely known and heard by all. This public announcement comes `مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ` (from Allah and His Messenger to all people), indicating its divine origin and universal reach.
The Day of Ultimate Gathering
This crucial announcement was made `يَوْمَ ٱلْحَجِّ ٱلْأَكْبَرِ` (on the Day of the Greater Hajj). While scholars like al-Razi and al-Zamakhshari mention debates about whether this refers to the Day of Arafah or the Day of Nahr (Eid al-Adha), the core significance, as al-Razi points out, is that it was a day of "the greatest gathering" (`الجمع الأعظم`). By choosing this day, Allah ensured the message would reach the maximum number of people and become widely known, leaving no one with an excuse of ignorance. Ibn Ashur notes that the very term "Hajj al-Akbar" may have gained its prominence from this verse, emphasizing its unique importance.
Clear Dissociation
The content of this proclamation is `أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَرِىٓءٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ۙ وَرَسُولُهُۥ` (that Allah is dissociated from the polytheists, and His Messenger). The grammatical form of `وَرَسُولُهُۥ` (and His Messenger) is particularly poignant. It is in the nominative form, which implies "and His Messenger *is also* dissociated" rather than being directly connected to Allah's dissociation in a way that could be misunderstood. Ibn Ashur highlights this as a profound Quranic nuance, making it clear that the Prophet's dissociation from polytheism is an independent, firm stance, parallel to Allah's own. This distinction avoids any ambiguity that could arise from other grammatical constructions. The re-statement of the declaration here, after previous mentions, serves, as Ibn Ashur explains, to clarify the message for all types of listeners, leaving no room for excuses.
A Choice and its Consequences
Following this stark declaration, the verse offers a clear path: `فَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ` (So if you repent, it is better for you). This concise phrasing emphasizes the immediate benefit of turning away from polytheism. Conversely, `وَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِى ٱللَّهِ` (But if you turn away, then know that you cannot frustrate Allah). The phrase `غير معجزي الله` means "you cannot escape Allah's power" or "you cannot weaken Him." It is a severe warning, underscoring Allah's absolute power and the futility of resistance.
Glad Tidings of Torment
The verse concludes with a striking rhetorical device: `وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ` (And give glad tidings to those who disbelieve of a painful torment). `بشر` (bashshir) usually means "to give good news" or "glad tidings." Here, as Ibn Ashur explains, it is used ironically or sarcastically (`tahakkum`) to intensify the warning. It is like saying, "Their happy news is a beating," conveying the absolute certainty and severity of the impending punishment, turning the expectation of pleasant news on its head. This choice of word powerfully communicates the terrifying reality awaiting those who persist in disbelief.
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah At-Tawbah 9:3 is discussed in 8 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah At-Tawbah 9:3 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.