Which Surah and Juz is Quran 9:120 from?

This ayah is from Surah At-Tawba (The Repentance), the 9th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 11.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 9:120?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sunan Ibn Majah, Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Sahih al-Bukhari.

What tafsir is available for Quran 9:120?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Abbas, Al-Jalalayn — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

Ayah 119

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّه...

9:120At-Tawba

Q: What does Quran 9:120 mean?

Quran 9:120 (Surah At-Tawba, Ayah 120) translates to: "It was not [proper] for the people of Madinah and those surrounding them of the bedouins that they remain behind after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allah or that they prefer themselves over his self. That is because they are not afflicted by thirst or fatigue or hunger in the cause of Allah, nor do they tread on any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they inflict upon an enemy any infliction but that is registered for them as a righteous deed. Indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of the doers of good."

Q: What topics does Quran 9:120 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Jihad, Allah, Reward for Good Deeds, Battle of Tabuk, Community Responsibility.

Ayah 121

وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ نَفَقَةًۭ صَغِيرَةًۭ وَلَا كَبِير...

مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُوا۟ عَن رَّسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَرْغَبُوا۟ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌۭ وَلَا نَصَبٌۭ وَلَا مَخْمَصَةٌۭ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَـُٔونَ مَوْطِئًۭا يَغِيظُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّۢ نَّيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عَمَلٌۭ صَٰلِحٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Maa kaana li ahlil Madeenati wa man hawlahum minal A'raabi ai yatakhallafoo 'ar-Rasoolil laahi wa laa yarghaboo bi anfusihim 'an nafsih; zaalika bi annahum laa yuseebuhum zama unw wa laa nasabunw wa laa makhmasatun fee sabeelil laahi wa laa yata'oona mawti'ai yagheezul kuffaara wa laa yanaaloona min 'aduwwin nailan illaa kutiba lahum bihee 'amalun saalih; innal laaha laa yudee'u ajral muhsineen

It was not [proper] for the people of Madinah and those surrounding them of the bedouins that they remain behind after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allah or that they prefer themselves over his self. That is because they are not afflicted by thirst or fatigue or hunger in the cause of Allah, nor do they tread on any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they inflict upon an enemy any infliction but that is registered for them as a righteous deed. Indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of the doers of good.

Themes in this ayah

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Striving in Allah's way98 Decree & what is written88 The Prophet ﷺ75 Qualities of the believers67 Patience56

Scores run 0–100: how strongly this ayah speaks to a theme. 70+ is central, 50+ is clear, under 50 is weak.

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9:120Ayah 1129

30 ayahs in At-Tawba are strongly about striving in Allah's way. This is one of them.

← Previous on Striving in Allah's way9:111Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise.Next on Striving in Allah's way →9:121Nor do they spend an expenditure, small or large, or cross a valley but that it is registered for them that Allah may reward them for the best of what they…

Tafsir

Scholars largely agree on this ayah

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 9:120→

It is not for the people of Medina and for the Bedouins who dwell around them to stay behind God’s Messenger when he sets out on a campaign and to prefer their lives to his life by guarding them against hardships which he the Prophet is content to suffer himself this statement is a prohibition expressed as a predicate; that prohibition against staying behind is because neither thirst nor toil nor hunger afflicts them in the way of God nor tread they any tread mawti’an is a verbal noun meaning wat’an that enrages the disbelievers nor gain any gain from the enemy of God be it through slaughter capture or plunder but a righteous deed is therefore recorded for them that they may be rewarded for it. Truly God does not leave the wage of the virtuous to go to waste that is the wage of those mentioned rather He rewards them.

“in Al-Madinah there are men who, every time you crossed a valley or travelled a road, they shared with you in the reward. They were kept behind by (legitimate) excuses.”

Sunan Ibn Majah #2500It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said:Hasan

“When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was returning from the campaign of Tabuk, and had drawn close to Al-Madinah, he said: ‘In Al-Madinah there are people who, as you traveled and crossed valleys, were with you.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, even though they are in Al-Madinah?’ He said: ‘Even though they were in Al-Madinah. They were kept behind by (legitimate) excuses.’”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #2557Anas said:Sahih

"When the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) arrived in Al-Madinah the Muhajirun came to him and said: 'O Messenger of Allah! We have not seen a people more willing to sacrifice when having a lot, nor more patient when having a little than the people whom we are staying among. Our provisions are so sufficient, and we share with them in their produce such that we fear that all our reward is gone. So the Prophet (s.a.w) said: "No. As long as you supplicate to Allah for them and praise (show gratitude to) them(for it)."

Sahih al-Bukhari #2724Narrated Anas:Sahih

While the Prophet (ﷺ) was in a Ghazwa he said, "Some people have remained behind us in Medina and we never crossed a mountain path or a valley, but they were with us (i.e. sharing the reward with us), as they have been held back by a (legal) excuse. "

Sahih al-Bukhari #4361Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:Sahih

During the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), some men among the hypocrites used to remain behind him (i.e. did not accompany him) when he went out for a Ghazwa and they would be pleased to stay at home behind Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) returned (from the battle) they would put forward (false) excuses and take oaths, wishing to be praised for what they had not done. So there was revealed:-- "Think not that those who rejoice in what they have done, and love to be praised for what they have not done.." (3.188)