Tafsir Al-Jalalayn: At-Tawba, Ayah 97
Common Words
Other Scholars on This Ayah
Tafsir
(The wandering Arabs) the tribes of Asad and Ghatafan (are more hard in disbelief and hypocrisy) they are harder in disbelief and hypocrisy than others, (and more likely to be ignorant of the limits which Allah hath revealed) the obligations that Allah has revealed (unto His messenger) in the Scripture. (And Allah is Knower) of the hypocrites, (Wise) regarding the punishment He has decreed upon them; it is also said this means: Allah is Knower of he who abstains from learning, Wise in that He decreed that whoever does not learn remains ignorant.
Related Hadiths
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The main source of disbelief is in the east. Pride and arrogance are characteristics of the owners of horses and camels, and those bedouins who are busy with their camels...
The belief is among the Yemenites, and the unbelief is towards the East, and tranquillity is among those who rear goats and sheep, and pride and simulation is among the uncivil and rude owners of hors...
The summit of unbelief is towards the East and the pride and conceitedness is found among the owners of horses and camels who are rude and uncivil, people of the tents, and tranquillity is found among...
“The testimony of a Bedouin against a town-dweller is not permissible.”
There came the people of Yemen who are soft of hearts, tender in feelings: the belief is that of the Yemenites, the sagacity is that of the Yemenites and the summit of unbelief is towards the East.
The tribes of Ashja', Ghifar and Muzaina and from the tribe of Juhaina they are better than Banu Tamim, Banu Amir and the allies of Asad and Ghatfan.
"A City-dweller should not sell for a Bedouin."
The belief is among the Yemenites, the sagacity is that of the Yemenites.
Al-Jalalayn Commentary
The Bedouins the Arab nomads are more intense in unbelief and hypocrisy than the city-dwellers on account of their harshness and crude nature and their being too remote to hear the Qur’ān and are more likely not to know the bounds of what God has revealed to His Messenger in the way of rulings and legal prescriptions; and God is Knower of His creatures Wise in what He does with them.